Statistical information Estonia 1999

Estonia in the World
top of pageBackground: In and out of Swedish and Russian control over the centuries, this little Baltic state was re-incorporated into the USSR after German occupation in World War II. Independence came with the collapse of the USSR in 1991; the last Russian troops left in 1994. Estonia thus became free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. The position of ethnic Russians (29% of the population) remains an issue of concern to Moscow. European Union (EU) membership negotiations, which began in 1998, remain a domestic issue.
top of pageLocation: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 45,226 km²
Land: 43,211 km²
Water: 2,015 km²
Note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Comparative: slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Land boundariesTotal: 633 km
Border countries: (2) Latvia 339 km;
, Russia 294 kmCoastline: 3,794 km
Maritime claimsExclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources: shale oil (kukersite), peat, phosphorite, amber, cambrian blue clay, limestone, dolomite
Land useArable land: 25%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 11%
Forests and woodland: 44%
Other: 20% (1996 est.)
Irrigated land: 110 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: flooding occurs frequently in the spring
Geographytop of pagePopulation: 1,408,523 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: -0.82% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: 6.3% (1994 est.)
NationalityNoun: Estonian(s)
Adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.1%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Byelorussian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.8% (1998)
Languages: Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, English, Finnish, other
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, others include Baptist, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Seventh Day Baptist, Judaism
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 18% (male 130,883; female 126,112)
15-64 years: 67% (male 455,112; female 491,819)
65 years and over: 15% (male 66,700; female 137,897) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: -0.82% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 9.05 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.21 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: -3.08 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent 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
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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: 0.48 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 13.83 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 68.65 years
Male: 62.61 years
Female: 75 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.28 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100%
Male: 100%
Female: 100% (1998 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Dependent areasIndependence: 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branchChief 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 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 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_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 5 March 1995 (next to be held 7 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 Parliament for life
Political parties and leadersInternational 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, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Grigore-Kaleu STOICESCU
In the us chancery: 2,131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Melissa WELLS
From the us embassy: Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [372] (6) 312-021
From the us 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Estonia's continued adherence to market reforms, disciplined fiscal and monetary policies, and a liberal free trade regime resulted in GDP growth in 1998 of 5.5% and a decrease in inflation to 6.5% from 11.2% in 1997. A high but slightly decreased current account deficit was estimated at 8.6%. The fall in GDP growth is largely due to the impact of Russia's financial crisis and reduced investment in emerging markets in the wake of the Asian financial crisis. Like other small emerging markets, Estonia will face difficulties in 1999 as a result of continuing fallout from Asia. Key events of 1998 were the start of official EU accession talks, banking sector consolidation_nine banks were reduced to five_and the important role that Swedish capital played in the large banks (Swedbank's acquisition of a majority stake in Hansapank has accounted for the large increase in foreign direct investment). The IMF urged Estonia to maintain a stable economy and good reputation in international markets and to avoid populist policies in the run-up to March 1999 parliamentary elections. The government completed restructuring of state-controlled Estonian Telecom, the sale of 49% of which will be the flagship privatization in 1999 and the largest public equity transaction in the Baltics. Estonia expects to join the World Trade Organization in 1999.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 5.5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $5,500 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 6.2%
Industry: 24.3%
Services: 69.5% (1997 est.)
Agriculture products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Industries: oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel
Industrial production growth rate: 3% (1996 est.)
Labor force: 717,000 (1997 est.)
By occupation industry: 42%
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 11%
By occupation services: 47% (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1998 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: 6.3% (1994 est.)
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $1.37 billion
Expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1997 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $2.6 billion (f.o.b., 1998)
Commodities: machinery and equipment 17%, textiles 16%, food products 8%, transport equipment 8%, mineral products 8%, chemical products 8% (1997)
Partners: Finland, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Latvia (1997)
Imports: $3.9 billion (c.i.f., 1998)
Commodities: machinery and equipment 21%, transport equipment 12%, foodstuffs 10%, minerals 9%, textiles 8%, metals 8%, chemical products 8% (1997)
Partners: Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Japan, US (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $270 million (January 1996)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1_13.473 (January 1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994; note_krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1
top of pageElectricityProduction: 8.065 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 99.96%
Production by source hydro: 0.04%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 5.581 billion kWh (1997)
Exports: 1.2 billion kWh (1997)
Imports: 210 million kWh (1997)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 531,000 (1997)
Telephone system: the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) administers Estonia's telephone system; Internet services available throughout most of the country; about 150,000 unfilled subscriber requests
Domestic: local_cellular phones services are growing and expanding to develop rural networks under direction of the MOTC; intercity_Estonia has a highly developed fiber-optic backbone (double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities (1998)
International: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved Estonia's telephone service; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet switched service
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $70 million (1999)
Percent of gdp: 1.2% (1999)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 5 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 5
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)
RailwaysTotal: 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)
RoadwaysWaterways: 320 km perennially navigable
Merchant marineTotal: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 337,163 GRT/348,749 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 4, cargo 22, combination bulk 1, container 5, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off cargo 12, short-sea passenger 6 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalsEstonia - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: Estonian and Russian negotiators reached a technical border agreement in December 1996 which has not been ratified
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, and cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking