Estonia

total: 516,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

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, with a range of channels 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

.ee

percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)

total subscriptions: 227,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions: 2.06 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 151 (2024 est.)

milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on food: 19.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 6.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

revenues: $15.784 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $16.721 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

-$489.659 million (2024 est.) -$722.668 million (2023 est.) -$1.496 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

high-income, service-based EU and eurozone economy; rebound in exports playing a role in economic recovery; rising food prices contributing to inflation; decrease in labor force participation and rising unemployment rate; recovery depends on boosting private investment and productivity rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.)

$32.637 billion (2024 est.) $32.147 billion (2023 est.) $33.178 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Finland 14%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 7%, Russia 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$42.765 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 52.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 20.6% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 27.9% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.2% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 77.9% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -77% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 1.9% (2024 est.) industry: 20.5% (2024 est.) services: 65.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

32.3 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.4% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$32.375 billion (2024 est.) $31.796 billion (2023 est.) $33.655 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Finland 11%, Germany 11%, China 10%, Lithuania 6%, Poland 6% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

-7% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

3.5% (2024 est.) 9.2% (2023 est.) 19.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

756,200 (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

22.5% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

28.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$57.001 billion (2024 est.) $57.15 billion (2023 est.) $58.931 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

-0.3% (2024 est.) -3% (2023 est.) 0.1% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$41,500 (2024 est.) $41,700 (2023 est.) $43,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

1.2% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$2.075 billion (2024 est.) $2.593 billion (2023 est.) $2.217 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

7.9% (2024 est.) 6.4% (2023 est.) 5.6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 20.9% (2024 est.) male: 21.9% (2024 est.) female: 20% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

consumption: 800 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity: 3.225 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 8.636 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 4.355 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 7.66 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 1.164 billion kWh (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

fossil fuels: 52.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

consumption: 334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

4.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: -19,814 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 3.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 649,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.) forest: 57.2% (2023 est.) other: 19.6% (2023 est.)

energy: 11.9 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 27.3 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 23.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

6.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

12.806 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal: 64.998 million cubic meters (2022) industrial: 1.135 billion cubic meters (2022) agricultural: 5 million cubic meters (2022)

urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 489,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.1% (2022 est.)

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

about twice the size of New Jersey

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

3,794 km

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

59 00 N, 26 00 E

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

20 sq km (2016)

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

agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.) forest: 57.2% (2023 est.) other: 19.6% (2023 est.)

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

fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake V rtsj rv - 270 sq km

Europe

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

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

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

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

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

15 urban municipalities ( linnad , singular - linn ), 64 rural municipalities ( vallad , singular - vald ) urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, R pina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru

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 name derives from the Old Estonian term tan-linn , meaning "Danish fort," a reference to Danish King VALDEMAR II founding the city in 1219

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

history: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992 amendment process: 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

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia conventional short form: Estonia local long form: Eesti Vabariik local short form: Eesti former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR) etymology: derives from the name of the people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D., which came from the Baltic word aueist , meaning "waterside dwellers"

chief of mission: Ambassador Roman PIPKO (since 26 November 2025) embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn mailing address: 4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530 telephone: [372] 668-8100 FAX: [372] 668-8265 email address and website: acstallinn@state.gov https://ee.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021) chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 email address and website: Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee https://washington.mfa.ee/ consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

chief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament election/appointment process: 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 most votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament most recent election date: 30-31 August 2021 election results: 2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes 2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia expected date of next election: 2026

description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white meaning: blue stands for faith, loyalty, and devotion, and also the sky, sea, and lakes; black for the country's soil and the Estonian people's past suffering; white for striving for enlightenment and virtue and also for birch bark, snow, and summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

parliamentary republic

24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s): 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

civil law system

legislature name: The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 101 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 3/5/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Reform Party (37); Conservative People's Party (EKRE) (17); Centre Party (16); Estonia 200 (Eesti 200) (14); Social Democratic Party (9); Pro Patria (Isamaa) (8) percentage of women in chamber: 28.7% expected date of next election: March 2027

title: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy) lyrics/music: Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS history: adopted 1920, but banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; unofficially in use since 1869, it has the same melody as Finland's anthem, but with different lyrics

blue, black, white

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn ; Struve Geodetic Arc

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 and restored its statehood

barn swallow, cornflower

Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE Estonia 200 or E200 Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or EK Estonian Free Party or VAP Estonian Freedom Party - Farmers' Assembly or V-PK Estonian Greens or EER Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE Fatherland or I Left Alliance or VL Social Democratic Party or SDE The Right or PP TOGETHER organization points to sovereignty or KOOS

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

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 2004, formally joined the OECD in 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency in 2011.

Estonia s defense policy aims to guarantee the country s independence and sovereignty, protect its territorial integrity, including waters and airspace, and preserve constitutional order; Estonia s main defense goals are developing and maintaining a credible deterrent to outside aggression and ensuring the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) can fulfill their commitments to NATO and interoperate with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states; the EDF s primary external focus is Russia; since Russia s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Estonia has boosted defense spending, sent arms to Ukraine, and sought to boost the EDF s capabilities in such areas as air defense, artillery, personnel readiness, and surveillance Estonia has been a member of NATO since 2004, is fully integrated within the NATO structure, and relies on its NATO partners for defense; since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; as the EDF Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, NATO has provided airspace protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia s mari Air Base since 2014; Estonia also hosts a NATO cyber security center; it cooperates closely with the EU on defense issues through the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions; Estonia also has close defense ties with its Baltic neighbors and has bilateral military agreements with a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the US (2025)

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025) note: the Estonian Defense League is a voluntary national defense organization that operates under the Estonian Ministry of Defense

approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025) note: the Estonian Defense Forces rely largely on reservists who have completed compulsory conscription in the previous 10 years to fill out its active duty and Territorial Defense units during a crisis; there are more than 40,000 trained reservists, and approximately 230,000 Estonians are enrolled in the mobilization registry

the Estonian military has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, Western-origin weapons and equipment; suppliers in recent years include France, Israel, South Korea, Sweden, T rkiye, and the US (2025)

3.4% of GDP (2025 est.) 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 2% of GDP (2021 est.)

18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service for men; conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; non-commissioned officers, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months; women can volunteer, and as of 2018 could serve in any military branch (2025) note 1: conscripts comprise approximately 3,000-3,300 of the Estonian military's active-duty personnel and serve in all branches, except for the Air Force; after conscript service, reservists are called up for training every 5 years; Estonia has had conscription since 1991 note 2: in 2024, women comprised about 8% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization

0-14 years: 15.2% (male 92,980/female 88,753) 15-64 years: 62.2% (male 373,989/female 368,113) 65 years and over: 22.6% (2024 est.) (male 96,110/female 173,846)

total: 11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

7.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

54.1% (2021 est.)

12.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio: 57.5 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 24.8 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) NA total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

5.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 13% national budget (2022 est.)

Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)

0.66 (2025 est.)

6.9% of GDP (2022) 13.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

4.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

total: 2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.)

total population: 78.4 years (2024 est.) male: 73.8 years female: 83.2 years

454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

total: 42.9 years (2025 est.) male: 41.9 years female: 48.2 years

28.2 years (2020 est.)

noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

21.2% (2016)

3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

total: 1,340,478 (2025 est.) male: 634,988 female: 705,490

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

-0.47% (2025 est.)

Orthodox 16.5%, Protestant 9.2% (Lutheran 7.7%, other Protestant 1.5%), other 3% (includes Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Buddhist, and Taara Believer), none 58.4%, unspecified 12.9% (2021 est.)

urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

total: 16 years (2023 est.) male: 15 years (2023 est.) female: 16 years (2023 est.)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total: 23.7% (2025 est.) male: 29.9% (2025 est.) female: 18.3% (2025 est.)

1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.)

urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

refugees: 42,439 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 63,944 (2024 est.)

34 (2025)

ES

10 (2025)

total: 72 (2023) by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66

total ports: 20 (2024) large: 4 medium: 1 small: 4 very small: 11 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn

total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified