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.

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

Land boundaries
Total: 657 km
Border countries (2): (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

Land use
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.)

Irrigated land: 20 km² (2016)

Natural hazards: sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

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

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

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: 57.6 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 25.4 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.2 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 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.)

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)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 7.9% (2024 est.); 6.4% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

Legal system: civil law system

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

Executive branch
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
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

Legislative branch
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 2,027

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

National anthem
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

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: -0.3% (2024 est.); -3% (2023 est.); 0.1% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: -0.3% (2024 est.); -3% (2023 est.); 0.1% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
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

Gdp composition by sector of origin
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

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

Industrial production growth rate: -7% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Unemployment rate: 7.9% (2024 est.); 6.4% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 7.9% (2024 est.); 6.4% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
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

Taxes and other revenues: 21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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

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

Electricity
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.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 52.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Exports: 675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 4.607 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: -19,814 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.977 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 649,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 238,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 2.05 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 516,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

Military expenditures: 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.)

Airports: 34 (2025)

Heliports: 10 (2025)

Railways
Total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified

Merchant marine
Total: 72 (2023)
By type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66