Estonia

§1. Estonia Introduction

Background:
  After centuries of Swedish and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence
  in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, 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 Western Europe.

§2. Estonia Geography

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

Geographic coordinates:
  59 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references:
  Europe

Area:
  total: 45,226 kmē
  land: 43,211 kmē
  water: 2,015 kmē
  note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Land boundaries:
  total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

Coastline:
  3,794 km

Maritime claims:
  exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring
    states
  territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
  maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Terrain:
  marshy, lowlands

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Natural resources:
  shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite, amber, cambrian blue clay,
  limestone, dolomite, arable land

Land use:
  arable land: 25%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 11%
  forests and woodland: 44%
  other: 20% (1996 est.)

Irrigated land:
  110 kmē (1996 est.)

Natural hazards:
  flooding occurs frequently in the spring

Environment - current issues:
  air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power
  plants in northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
  products, chemicals at former Soviet military bases; Estonia has more than
  1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas
  are heavily affected by organic waste; coastal sea water is polluted in
  many locations

Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
    Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
    Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship
    Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

§3. Estonia People

Population:
  1,423,316 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 17.08% (male 123,997; female 119,166)
  15-64 years: 68.14% (male 466,823; female 503,032)
  65 years and over: 14.78% (male 68,802; female 141,496) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate:
  -0.55% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:
  8.7 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate:
  13.48 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -0.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  12.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 69.73 years male: 63.72 years
  female: 76.05 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  1.21 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.04% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  less than 500 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  less than 100 (1999 est.)

Nationality:
  noun: Estonian(s)
  adjective: Estonian

Ethnic groups:
  Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%,
  other 1.8% (1998)

Religions:
  Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist,
  Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of
  Life, Jewish

Languages:
  Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English, Finnish, other

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 100%
  male: 100%
  female: 100% (1998 est.)

§4. Estonia Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
  conventional short form: Estonia
  local long form: Eesti Vabariik
  local short form: Eesti
  former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:
  parliamentary democracy

Capital:
  Tallinn

Administrative divisions:
  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 (Kuessaare), Tartumaa (Tartu),
    Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)
  note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Independence:
  6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:
  Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date
  of independence from Soviet Russia, 6 September 1991 was the date of
  independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:
  adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system:
  based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October 1992)
  head of government: Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since 29 March 1999)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by
    Parliament
  elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or
    she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of
    balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members
    of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two
    candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held
    August-September 1996 (next to be held in the fall of 2001); prime
    minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
  election results: Lennart MERI reelected president by an electoral assembly
    after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL;
    percent of electoral assembly vote - Lennart MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by
  popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Center
    Party 28, Union of Pro Patria (Fatherland League) 18, Reform Party 18,
    Moderates 17, Country People's Party (Agrarians) 7, Coalition Party 7,
    UPPE 6

Judicial branch:
  National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Political parties and leaders:
  Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Christian People's Party
  [Aldo VINKEL]; Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Andrus OOBEL,
  chairman]; Estonian Democratic Party (formerly Estonian Blue Party) [Jaan
  LAAS]; Estonian Independence Party [leader NA]; Estonian National
  Democratic Party or ENDP [leader NA]; Estonian Pensioners and Families
  Party [Mai TREIAL]; Estonian Progressive Party [Andra VEIDEMANN]; Estonian
  Republican Party [leader NA]; Estonian Social-Democratic Labor Party [Tiit
  TOOMSALU]; Estonian Rural People's Union (1999 merger of Estonian Country
  People's Party and the Estonian Rural Union) [Arvo SIRENDI]; Party of
  Consolidation Today [leader NA]; People's Party Moderates (1999 merger of
  People's Party and Moderates) [Andres TARAND]; Reform Party or RE [Siim
  KALLAS, chairman]; Russian Party in Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV]; Russian
  Unity Party [Igor SEDASHEV]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League
  (Isamaaliit) [Mart LAAR, chairman]; United People's Party or UPPE [Viktor
  ANDREJEV, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA

International organization participation:
  BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
  ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
  ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH,
  UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Sven JURGENSON chancery: 2131 Massachusetts
    Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
  FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
  consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099
    Tallinn
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [372] 668-8100
  FAX: [372] 668-8134

Flag description:
  pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal
  horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

§5. Estonia Economy

Economy - overview:
  In 2000, Estonia rebounded from the Russian financial crisis by scaling
  back its budget and reorienting trade away from Russian markets into EU
  member states. After GDP shrank 1.1% in 1999, the economy made a strong
  recovery in 2000, with growth estimated at 6.4% - the highest in Central
  and Eastern Europe. Estonia joined the World Trade Organization in November
  1999 - the second Baltic state to join - and continues its EU accession
  talks. For 2001, Estonians predict GDP to grow around 6%, inflation of
  between 4.2%-5.3%, and a balanced budget. Substantial gains were made in
  completing privatization of Estonia's few remaining large, state-owned
  companies in 2000, and this momentum is expected to continue in 2001.
  Estonia hopes to join the EU during the next round of enlargement
  tentatively set for 2004.

GDP:
  purchasing power parity - $14.7 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  6.4% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $10,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 3.6% industry: 30.7%
  services: 65.7% (1999)

Population below poverty line:
  8.9% (1995 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.2% highest 10%: 28.5% (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  4.1% (1999 est.)

Labor force:
  785,500 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  11.7% (1999 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.37 billion
  expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997
    est.)

Industries:
  oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement,
  furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel

Industrial production growth rate:
  5% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
  7.782 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
  fossil fuel: 99.72% hydro: 0.09%
  nuclear: 0%
  other: 0.19% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:
  6.807 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:
  530 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:
  100 million kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products:
  potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Exports:
  $3.1 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment 24%, wood products 20%, textiles 17%, food products
  9%, metals, chemical products (1999)

Exports - partners:
  Finland 19.4%, Sweden 18.8%, Russia 9.2%, Latvia 8.7%, Germany 7.5%, US
  2.5% (1999)

Imports:
  $4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities:
  machinery and equipment 31%, chemical products 13%, foodstuffs 11%, metal
  products 8%, textiles 8% (1999)

Imports - partners:
  Finland 22.8%, Russia 13.5%, Sweden 9.3%, Germany 9.3%, Japan 4.7% (1999)

Debt - external:
  $1.6 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $137.3 million (1995)

Currency:
  Estonian kroon (EEK)

Currency code:
  EEK

Exchange rates:
  krooni per US dollar - 16.663 (January 2001), 16.969 (2000), 14.678 (1999),
  14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996); note - krooni are tied to the
  German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Estonia Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  476,078 (yearend 1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  475,000 (yearend 2000)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business
    ventures greatly improved telephone service; Internet services available
    throughout most of the country; about 150,000 unfilled subscriber
    requests
  domestic: local - the Ministry of Transport and Communications is expanding
    cellular telephone services to form rural networks; intercity - highly
    developed fiber-optic backbone (double loop) system presently serving at
    least 16 major cities (1998)
  international: fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia
    provide worldwide packet-switched service; two international switches are
    located in Tallinn

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 3 (all AM stations inactive since July 1998), FM 82, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
  1.01 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
  31 (plus five repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:
  605,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
  .ee

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
  28 (2000)

Internet users:
  309,000 (2000)

§7. Estonia Transportation

Railways:
  total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated
    industrial lines
  broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

Highways:
  total: 30,300 km
  paved: 29,200 km (including 75 km of expressways); note - these roads are
    said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally
    paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse
    aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather
  unpaved: 1,100 km (2000)

Waterways:
  320 km (perennially navigable)

Pipelines:
  natural gas 420 km (1992)

Ports and harbors:
  Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

Merchant marine:
  total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 253,460 GRT/219,727 DWT
  ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 19, combination bulk 1, container 5, petroleum
    tanker 1, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea passenger 6 (2000 est.)

Airports:
  32 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
  under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 24 over 3,047 m: 1
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 6 (2000 est.)

§8. Estonia Military

Military branches:
  Ground Forces, Navy/Coast Guard, Air and Air Defense Force (not officially
  sanctioned), Maritime Border Guard, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit),
  Security Forces (internal and border troops)

Military manpower - military age:
  18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
  males age 15-49: 359,677 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
  males age 15-49: 282,418 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
  males: 11,164 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $70 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  1.2% (FY99)

§9. Estonia Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in
  December 1996 which has not been signed nor ratified by Russia as of
  February 2001

Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the
  Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and
  Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia;
  possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking; synthetic drug
  production growing, trafficked to Russia, Baltics, Finland
