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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 404,682 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 TV channels and 5 radio networks; growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally; fully transitioned to digital television in 2010; national private TV channels expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services; roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services

Internet country code [time series]

.ee

Internet users [time series]

total: 1,097,921 | percent of population: 87.2% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: range of regulatory measures competition and foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of high-quality voice, data, and Internet services available; one of the most advanced mobile markets in Europe; 5G trials for further growth commercially available by 2020; highest broadband penetration in Europe (2018) | domestic: 29 per 100 for fixed-line and 152 per 100 for mobile-cellular; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of the population files income tax returns online, and online voting - in local and parliamentary elections - has climbed steadily since first introduced in 2005; 85% of Estonian households have broadband access (2018) | international: country code - 372; landing points for the EE-S-1, EESF-3, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC and EESF-2 fiber-optic submarine cables to other Estonia points, Finland, and Sweden; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 362,117 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2017 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 1,904,425 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 152 (2017 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

grain, potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: 10.37 billion (2017 est.) | expenditures: 10.44 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

0% (31 December 2017 est.) | 0% (31 December 2016 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

4.2% (31 December 2017 est.) | 4.23% (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$809 million (2017 est.) | $443 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$19.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $18.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

34.8 (2015) | 35.6 (2014)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Estonia, a member of the EU since 2004 and the euro zone since 2011, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region, but its economy is highly dependent on trade, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks. Estonia's successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda, and sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Russia. The economy’s 4.9% GDP growth in 2017 was the fastest in the past six years, leaving the Estonian economy in its best position since the financial crisis 10 years ago. For the first time in many years, labor productivity increased faster than labor costs in 2017. Inflation also rose in 2017 to 3.5% alongside increased global prices for food and energy, which make up a large share of Estonia’s consumption. Estonia is challenged by a shortage of labor, both skilled and unskilled, although the government has amended its immigration law to allow easier hiring of highly qualified foreign workers, and wage growth that outpaces productivity gains. The government is also pursuing efforts to boost productivity growth with a focus on innovations that emphasize technology start-ups and e-commerce.

Exchange rates [time series]

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.92 (2017 est.) | 0.9 (2016 est.) | 0.9214 (2015 est.) | 0.885 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$13.44 billion (2017 est.) | $12.36 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

machinery and electrical equipment 30%, food products and beverages 9%, mineral fuels 6%, wood and wood products 14%, articles of base metals 7%, furniture and bedding 11%, vehicles and parts 3%, chemicals 4% (2016 est.)

Exports - partners [time series]

Finland 16.2%, Sweden 13.5%, Latvia 9.2%, Russia 7.3%, Germany 6.9%, Lithuania 5.9% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$25.97 billion (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$41.65 billion (2017 est.) | $39.72 billion (2016 est.) | $38.92 billion (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 50.3% (2017 est.) | government consumption: 20.4% (2017 est.) | investment in fixed capital: 24% (2017 est.) | investment in inventories: 2.2% (2017 est.) | exports of goods and services: 77.2% (2017 est.) | imports of goods and services: -74% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]

agriculture: 2.8% (2017 est.) | industry: 29.2% (2017 est.) | services: 68.1% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$31,700 (2017 est.) | $30,200 (2016 est.) | $29,600 (2015 est.) | note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4.9% (2017 est.) | 2.1% (2016 est.) | 1.7% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

27% of GDP (2017 est.) | 24.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 25.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.3% | highest 10%: 25.6% (2015)

Imports [time series]

$14.42 billion (2017 est.) | $13.23 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and electrical equipment 28%, mineral fuels 11%, food and food products 10%, vehicles 9%, chemical products 8%, metals 8% (2015 est.)

Imports - partners [time series]

Finland 14%, Germany 10.7%, Lithuania 8.9%, Sweden 8.5%, Latvia 8.2%, Poland 7.2%, Russia 6.7%, Netherlands 5.9%, China 4.7% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9.5% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.7% (2017 est.) | 0.8% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

670,200 (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 2.7% | industry: 20.5% | services: 76.8% (2017 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$3.102 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $2.407 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $2.045 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

21.1% (2016 est.)

Public debt [time series]

9% of GDP (2017 est.) | 9.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$345 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $352.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$14.78 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $11.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$10.96 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $9.396 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$27.05 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $22.19 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$24.25 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $20.97 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$14.78 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $11.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

39.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

5.8% (2017 est.) | 6.8% (2016 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

5.306 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

8.795 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

5.613 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

72% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

28% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

3.577 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

2.578 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

11.55 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access [time series]

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

481.4 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

481.4 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

28,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

27,150 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

35,520 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 45,228 sq km | land: 42,388 sq km | water: 2,840 sq km | note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area - comparative [time series]

about twice the size of New Jersey | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Estonia Print Image Description about twice the size of New Jersey

Climate [time series]

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Coastline [time series]

3,794 km

Elevation [time series]

mean elevation: 61 m | lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m | highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amounts of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen dramatically and the pollution load of wastewater at purification plants has decreased substantially due to improved technology and environmental monitoring; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands

Irrigated land [time series]

40 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 657 km | border countries (2): Latvia 333 km, Russia 324 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 22.2% (2011 est.) | arable land: 14.9% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 7.2% (2011 est.) | forest: 52.1% (2011 est.) | other: 25.7% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

Natural hazards [time series]

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Natural resources [time series]

oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud

Population distribution [time series]

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Terrain [time series]

marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond); Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru) | note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Capital [time series]

name: Tallinn | geographic coordinates: 59 26 N, 24 43 E | time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October | etymology: the Estonian name is generally believed to be derived from "Taani-linn" (originally meaning "Danish castle", now "Danish town") after a stronghold built in the area by the Danes; it could also have come from "tali-linn" ("winter castle" or "winter town") or "talu-linn" ("home castle" or "home town")

Citizenship [time series]

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution [time series]

history: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992 | amendments: proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2015 (2016)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia | conventional short form: Estonia | local long form: Eesti Vabariik | local short form: Eesti | former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic | etymology: the country name may derive from the Aesti, an ancient people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D.

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Brian RORAFF (since July 2019) | telephone: [372] 668-8100 | embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn | mailing address: use embassy street address | FAX: [372] 668-8265

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

Ambassador Jonatan VSEVIOV (since 17 September 2018) | chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 | FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 | consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Kersti KALJULAID (since 10 October 2016) | head of government: Juri RATAS (since 23 November 2016) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament | elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the highest number of votes; election last held on 29-30 August 2016, but three rounds were inconclusive; two electoral college votes on 24 September 2016 were also indecisive, so the election passed back to Parliament; on 3 October the Parliament elected Kersti KALJULAID as president; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament | election results: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; Parliament vote - Kersti KALJULAID (independent) 81 of 98 votes; note - KALJULAID is Estonia's first female president

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

Government type [time series]

parliamentary republic

Independence [time series]

20 August 1991 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers) | judge selection and term of office: the chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life | subordinate courts: circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts

Legal system [time series]

civil law system

Legislative branch [time series]

description: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 3 March 2019 (next to be held in March 2023) | election results: percent of vote by party - RE 28.9%, K 23.1%, EKRE 17.8%, Pro Patria 11.4%, SDE 9.8%, other 9%; seats by party - RE 34, K 26, EKRE 19, Pro Patria 12, SDE 10; composition - men 72, women 29, percent of women 28.7%

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy) | lyrics/music: Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS | note: adopted 1920, though banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; the anthem, used in Estonia since 1869, shares the same melody as Finland's but has different lyrics

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union restoring its statehood

National symbol(s) [time series]

barn swallow, cornflower; national colors: blue, black, white

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) or K [Juri RATAS] Estonia 200 [Kristina KALLAS] Estonian Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE [Mart HELME] Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE [Kaja KALLAS] Free Party or EV [Andres HERKEL] Pro Patria (Isamaa) [Helir-Valdor SEEDER] Social Democratic Party or SDE [Jevgeni OSSINOVSKI]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections

Introduction

Background [time series]

After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US and many other countries - it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004, formally joined the OECD in late 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2011.

Military and Security

Military and security forces [time series]

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Estonian Defence League (Reserves) (2019)

Military expenditures [time series]

2.14% of GDP (2019 est.) | 2% of GDP (2018) | 2.03% of GDP (2017) | 2.07% of GDP (2016) | 2.02% of GDP (2015)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service, conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; NCOs, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months (2016)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 104,024 /female 98,757) | 15-24 years: 8.8% (male 56,755 /female 52,711) | 25-54 years: 41.07% (male 258,727 /female 252,304) | 55-64 years: 13.63% (male 76,895 /female 92,759) | 65 years and over: 20.2% (male 85,900 /female 165,456) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Estonia Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Estonia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

9.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

6.7% (2016)

Death rate [time series]

12.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 53.7 (2015 est.) | youth dependency ratio: 24.8 (2015 est.) | elderly dependency ratio: 28.9 (2015 est.) | potential support ratio: 3.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

5.2% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%, Ukrainian 1.7%, Belarusian 1%, Finn 0.6%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.9% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

<100 (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

7,400 (2018 est.)

Hospital bed density [time series]

5 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77 years (2018 est.) | male: 72.3 years | female: 82 years

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.8% | male: 99.8% | female: 99.8% (2015)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: intermediate (2016) | vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis (2016)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

441,000 TALLINN (capital) (2019)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 43 years (2018 est.) | male: 39.7 years | female: 46.4 years

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

26.6 years (2014 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Estonian(s) | adjective: Estonian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

21.2% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population [time series]

1,244,288 (July 2018 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.6% (2018 est.)

Religions [time series]

Orthodox 16.2%, Lutheran 9.9%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 97.5% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 96.6% of population (2015 est.) | total: 97.2% of population (2015 est.) | unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population (2015 est.) | rural: 3.4% of population (2015 est.) | total: 2.8% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 16 years | male: 15 years | female: 17 years (2016)

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.6 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 12.1% | male: 13.9% | female: 10% (2017 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 69.1% of total population (2019) | rate of urbanization: 0.01% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Russia and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements strict Schengen border rules with Russia

Illicit drugs [time series]

growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

stateless persons: 77,877 (2018); note - following independence in 1991, automatic citizenship was restricted to those who were Estonian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants; thousands of ethnic Russians remained stateless when forced to choose between passing Estonian language and citizenship tests or applying for Russian citizenship; one reason for demurring on Estonian citizenship was to retain the right of visa-free travel to Russia; stateless residents can vote in local elections but not general elections; stateless parents who have been lawful residents of Estonia for at least five years can apply for citizenship for their children before they turn 15 years old

Transportation

Airports [time series]

18 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 13 (2017) | over 3,047 m: 2 (2017) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2017) | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 5 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013) | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013) | under 914 m: 3 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

ES (2016)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2012)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 74 | by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 6, other 60 (2018)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 3 (2015) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 14 (2015) | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 512,388 (2015) | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 870,362 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines [time series]

2360 km gas (2016)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn

Railways [time series]

total: 2,146 km (2016) | broad gauge: 2,146 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified) (2016) | note: includes 1,510 km public and 636 km non-public railway

Roadways [time series]

total: 58,412 km (includes urban roads) (2011) | paved: 10,427 km (includes 115 km of expressways) (2011) | unpaved: 47,985 km (2011)

Waterways [time series]

335 km (320 km are navigable year-round) (2011)