Map of Estonia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

top of page


Background: 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.


top of page


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

Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 45,228 km²
Land: 42,388 km²
Water: 2,840 km²
Note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Comparative: about twice the size of New Jersey
Country comparison total: 657 km
Country comparison border countries: (2) Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km

Land boundaries
Total: 657 km
Border countries: (2) Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km

Coastline: 3,794 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

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

Elevation
Highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 61 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 14.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 7.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 52.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 25.7% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 20 km² (2016)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 790 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 4.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 12.81 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

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


top of page


Population
Distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Total: 1,193,791
Male: 563,079
Female: 630,712 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: -0.76% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 22.5% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Estonian(s)
Adjective: Estonian

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

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

Religions: 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.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 58.3
Youth dependency ratio: 26.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.3
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 45 years (2024 est.)
Male: 41.9 years
Female: 48.2 years

Population growth rate: -0.76% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 8.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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

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

Major urban areas
Population: 454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amounts of pollutants emitted into 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 agreements 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 6.35 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 16.59 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 0.99 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
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.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 28.2 years (2020 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 73.8 years
Female: 83.2 years

Total fertility rate: 1.62 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 100% of population
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 4.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 99.8% of population
Improved rural: 100% of population
Improved total: 99.8% of population
Unimproved urban: 0.2% of population
Unimproved rural: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 21.2% (2016)

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

Tobacco use
Total: 29.7% (2020 est.)
Male: 36.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 23% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 0.4% (2013/15)

Education expenditures: 6.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.9%
Male: 99.9%
Female: 99.9% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 17 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 16% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


top of page


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 (while occupied by the USSR)
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.

Government type: parliamentary republic

Capital
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')

Administrative divisions: 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, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru

Dependent areas

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

National holiday: 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

Constitution
History: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 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

Legal system: civil law system

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
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

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS (since 26 January 2021)
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; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; election last held on 30 to 31 August 2021 (next to be held in 2,026); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
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
Note: Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS resigned on 15 July 2024 but will continue as acting prime minister until the new government is sworn in

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected at general elections for a term of four years.)
Elections: last held on 5 March 2023; next elections 7 March 2,027
Elections results: percent of vote by party - Reform 31.2%, EKRE 16.1%, Center 15.3%, E200 13.3%, SDE 9.3%, Pro Patria 8.2%, Left 2.4%, Right 2.3%, Greens 1.0%; seats by party - Reform 37, EKRE 17, Center 16, E200 14, SDE 9, Pro Patria 8; composition - men 71, women 30, percent of women 29.7%

Judicial branch
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

Political parties and leaders: Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE, Estonia 200 or E200, Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or KE, Estonian Free Party or VAP, Estonian Greens or EER, Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK , Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE, Estonian United Left Party or EÜVP, Fatherland or I, Pro Patria (Isamaa), The Right or PP, Social Democratic Party or SDE

International organization participation: 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

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)
In the us chancery: 2,131 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
In the us fax: [1] (202) 588-0108
In the us email address and website: Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee; [link]
In the us consulates general: New York, San Francisco
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador George P. KENT (since 21 February 2023)
From the us embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15,099 Tallinn
From the us mailing address: 4,530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20,521-4,530
From the us telephone: [372] 668-8,100
From the us fax: [372] 668-8,265
From the us email address and website: acstallinn@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: 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

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

National anthem
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 heritage
Total world heritage sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


top of page


Economy overview: advanced, service-based EU and eurozone economy; economic downturn due to inflation, trade, and energy impacts of Ukraine war; decline in intra-EU trade; low public debt relative to EU members; recovery depends on improving private investment and productivity rates

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $57.377 billion (2023 est.); $59.155 billion (2022 est.); $59.429 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: -3.01% (2023 est.); -0.46% (2022 est.); 7.25% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $42,000 (2023 est.); $43,900 (2022 est.); $44,700 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 53% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 20.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 26.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 78.4% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -77.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Industry: 22.3% (2023 est.)
Services: 63.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: wheat, milk, barley, rapeseed, oats, peas, potatoes, rye, pork, beans (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: -9.7% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 752,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 6.35% (2023 est.); 5.57% (2022 est.); 6.18% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 16% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $13.907 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $13.505 billion (2022 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 21.01% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 25.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 9.16% (2023 est.); 19.4% (2022 est.); 4.65% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: -$848.528 million (2023 est.); -$1.231 billion (2022 est.); -$1.002 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $31.939 billion (2023 est.); $32.461 billion (2022 est.); $29.522 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Finland 13%, Latvia 12%, Sweden 8%, Lithuania 7%, Russia 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: electricity, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, wood, coal tar oil (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $31.701 billion (2023 est.); $32.671 billion (2022 est.); $29.937 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Finland 13%, Germany 10%, Lithuania 8%, Latvia 8%, Russia 8% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, electricity, natural gas, coal tar oil (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $2.593 billion (2023 est.); $2.217 billion (2022 est.); $2.371 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 2.871 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 7.476 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 6.173 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 7.182 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 532 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 63.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 5.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 9.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 21.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 3,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 18.5 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 28,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Consumption: 354.912 million m³ (2022 est.)
Exports: 706.983 million m³ (2022 est.)
Imports: 1.255 billion m³ (2022 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 5.16 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 7,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 4.466 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 688,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 73.259 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 266,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 2.056 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.); 2.9% of GDP (2023); 2.2% of GDP (2022); 2% of GDP (2021); 2.3% of GDP (2020)

Military and security forces: Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Estonian Defense League ; Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2024)

Military service age and obligation: 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 (2024)
Note 1: conscripts comprise approximately 3,000-3,300 of the Estonian military's 7,000 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 2021, women comprised about 10% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization of more than 3,000 members

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 14
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 31,981 (2018)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ES

Airports: 26 (2024)

Heliports: 2 (2024)

Pipelines: 2,360 km gas (2016)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 89,382 km (2022)

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

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 38,020 (Ukraine) (as of 2 March 2024)
Stateless persons: 70,604 (2022)
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

Illicit drugs: producer of synthetic drugs; 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