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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 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
water: 2,015 sq km
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 to be 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
Land use:
arable land: 22%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 11%
forests and woodland: 31%
other: 36% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 110 sq km (1993 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: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Population: 1,421,335 (July 1998
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19% (male 136,278; female 131,480)
15-64 years: 67% (male 456,796; female 492,946)
65 years and over: 14% (male 66,261; female 137,574) (July
1998 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.99% (1998
est.)
Birth rate: 9.04 births/1,000
population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 14.15 deaths/1,000
population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: -4.76 migrant(s)/1,000
population (1998 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.98
deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.52 years
male: 62.5 years
female: 74.83 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.29 children
born/woman (1998 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 64.2%,
Russian 28.7%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other
1.9% (1995)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran,
Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, others include Baptist,
Methodist, 7th Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of
Life, 7th Day Baptist, Judaism
Languages: Estonian (official),
Russian, Ukrainian, other
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1989 est.)
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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
Data code: EN
Government type: parliamentary
democracy
National 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: administrative divisions have the same names as their
administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)
Independence: 6 September 1991 (from
Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day,
24 February (1918)
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 SIIMANN (since 12
March 1997)
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 3
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 fall 2001); prime minister nominated by the
president and approved by Parliament
election results: Lennart MERI elected president by an
electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock
between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote—Lennert
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 5 March 1995 (next to be held NA March
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party—KMU 32.22%, RE
16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is
Estonia and Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats by party—KMU 41, RE 19, K
16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5
Judicial branch: National Court,
chairman appointed by the Parliament for life
Political parties and leaders:
Coalition Party and Rural Union or KMU [Mart SIIMAN, chairman]
made up of 4 parties: Coalition Party or EK, Country People's
Party [Arnold RUUTEL, chairman]/Farmer's Assembly or EME, Rural
Union or EM [Arvo SIRENDI, chairman] , and Pensioners' and
Families' League or EPPL [Mai TREIAL, chairperson]; Reform Party
or RE [Siim KALLAS, chairman]; Center Party or K [Edgar SAVISAAR,
chairman]; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland League (Isamaaliit) [Toivo
JURGENSON, chairman]; National Independence Party or ERSP [Tunne
KELAM, chairman]; Our Home is Estonia [Viktor ANDREJEV] made up of
two parties: United Peoples Party and the Russian Party of
Estonia; note—Our Home is Estonia split when two Russian Party
of Estonia members withdrew; United Peoples Party [Viktor ANDREJEV,
chairman]; Russian Party of Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV, chairman];
Moderates or M [Andres TARAND] made up of two parties: Social
Democratic Party or ESDP and Rural Center Party or EMK; Social
Democratic Party [Eiki NESTOR, chairman]; Rural Center Party [Vambo
KAAL, chairman]; Right-Wingers [Ulo NUGIS, chairman]; Republican
Conservative [Vootele HANSEN]; Development/Progressive Party [Andra
VEIDEMANN, chairwoman], note—party was created by defectors from
Center Party in late spring 1996, Development Party faction split
and now holds five independent seats
International organization participation:
BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kalev STOICESCU
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Walter ANDRUSYSZYU
embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
mailing address: American Embassy Tallinn; PSC 78, Box T;
APO AE 09723
telephone: [372] (6) 312-021
FAX: [372] (6) 312-025
Flag description: pre-1940 flag
restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990—three equal horizontal
bands of blue (top), black, and white
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Economy—overview: In 1997 Estonia's
continued implementation of market economic reforms, disciplined
fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal free trade regime
resulted in GDP growth of 10% and a drop in inflation to 11.2%.
Estonia can point to its inclusion among the first group of
Central and East European countries to begin EU accession talks in
1998 as its most significant economic achievement in 1997. Other
economic strengths include solid investment grade rating from both
Standard and Poors and Moody's, government revenue collection in
excess of projections by more than 6%, growth in exports at a
faster rate than imports, and record levels of foreign direct
investment, among the highest per capita in Central and East
Europe. Estonia privatized its shipping company in 1997, but
failed to make as much progress privatizing other large
infrastructure/utility companies, such as Eesti Energia and the
Oil Shale company, which it plans to privatize in the next two
years. The growing current account deficit, which stood at nearly
10% of GDP at yearend 1997, remains a serious concern. In 1998,
GDP is expected to grow by 5.5% and inflation to fall 10%.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$9.34
billion (1997 est.)
GDP—real growth rate: 10% (1997
est.)
GDP—per capita: purchasing power
parity—$6,450 (1997 est.)
GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture: 7.1%
industry: 24.9%
services: 68% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate—consumer price index:
11.2% (1997 est.)
Labor force:
total: 785,000 (1996 est.)
by occupation: industry and construction 42%, agriculture
and forestry 20%, other 38% (1990)
Unemployment rate: 3.6% (1997 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.7 billion
expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures
of $214 million (1996 est.)
Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding,
phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture,
clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 3%
(1996 est.)
Electricity—capacity: 3.287 million
kW (1995)
Electricity—production: 8.083
billion kWh (1995)
Electricity—consumption per capita:
4,355 kWh (1995)
Agriculture—products: potatoes,
fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Exports:
total value: $2 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities: textiles 16%, food products 16%, machinery and
equipment 16%, metals 9% (1995)
partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1995)
Imports:
total value: $3.2 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities: machinery and equipment 29%, foodstuffs 14%,
minerals 13%, textiles 13%, metals 12% (1995)
partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany (1995)
Debt—external: $270 million
(January 1996)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $147 million (1993)
note: Western commitments $285 million (including
international financial institutions)
Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) =
100 cents (introduced in August 1992)
Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per
US$1—14.527 (January 1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465
(1995), 12.991 (1994), 13.223 (1993); note—krooni are tied to
the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1
Fiscal year: calendar year
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Telephones: 400,000 (1994 est.)
Telephone system: system is
antiquated; improvements are being made piecemeal, with emphasis
on business needs and international connections; there are still
about 150,000 unfulfilled requests for subscriber service
domestic: substantial investment has been made in cellular
systems which are operational throughout Estonia
international: international traffic is carried to the
other former Soviet republics by landline or microwave radio relay
and to other countries partly by leased connection to the Moscow
international gateway switch and partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki
fiber-optic, submarine cable which gives Estonia access to
international circuits everywhere; access to the international
packet-switched digital network via Helsinki
Radio broadcast stations: 3
commercial broadcast stations, 1 government broadcast station
(1994)
Radios: 710,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 4
(1993)
note: provide Estonian programs as well as Moscow
Ostenkino's first and second programs
Televisions: 600,000 (1993 est.)
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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: 15,304 km
paved: 8,142 km (including 65 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,162 km (1996 est.)
Waterways: 500 km perennially
navigable
Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Narva,
Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Merchant marine:
total: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 368,340 GRT/455,696
DWT
ships by type: bulk 6, cargo 27, combination bulk 1,
container 5, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 7, short-sea
passenger 5 (1997 est.)
Airports: 5 (1997 est.)
Airports—with paved runways:
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m : 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
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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: 351,148 (1998 est.)
Military manpower—fit for military
service:
males: 275,610 (1998 est.)
Military manpower—reaching military age
annually:
males: 10,424 (1998 est.)
Military expenditures—dollar figure:
$35 million (1995)
Military expenditures—percent of GDP:
1.5% (1995)
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Disputes—international: Estonian
and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in
December 1996 which has not been ratified; Estonia claimed over
2,000 sq km territory in the Narva and Pechory regions of
Russia—based on boundary established under the 1920 Peace Treaty
of Tartu
Illicit drugs: transshipment point
for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus, and
cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia
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