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Estonia
Background:
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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 - 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. It
joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.
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Location:
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Eastern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
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Geographic coordinates:
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59 00 N, 26 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 45,228
sq km
32
land:
42,388 sq km
water:
2,840 sq km
note:
includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than New
Hampshire and Vermont combined
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Land boundaries:
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total: 633
km
border countries:
Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km
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Coastline:
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3,794 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
limits fixed in coordination with neighboring
states
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Climate:
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Current Weather
maritime; wet, moderate
winters, cool summers
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Terrain:
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marshy, lowlands; flat in
the north, hilly in the south
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Baltic
Sea 0 m
highest point:
Suur Munamagi 318 m
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Natural resources:
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oil shale, peat,
phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
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Land use:
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arable land: 12.05%
permanent crops:
0.35%
other:
87.6% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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40 sq km (2003)
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Total
renewable water resources:
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21.1 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 1.41
cu km/yr (56%/39%/5%)
per capita:
1,060 cu m/yr (2002)
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Natural hazards:
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sometimes flooding occurs
in the spring
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Environment - current issues:
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air polluted with sulfur
dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the
amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the
emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified
wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one-20th the level of
1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants,
the pollution load of wastewater decreased; 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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air
Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile
Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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the mainland terrain is
flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands
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Population:
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1,291,170 (July 2010 est.)
54
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 15%
(male 99,770/female 93,965)
15-64 years:
67.4% (male 414,315/female 456,025)
65 years and over:
17.6% (male 74,852/female 152,243) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 40.2
years
male:
36.7 years
female:
43.7 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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-0.635% (2010 est.)
28
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Birth rate:
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10.42 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
84
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Death rate:
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13.48 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
3
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Net migration rate:
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-3.29 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
49
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 69%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
-0.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.063
male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.49 male(s)/female
total population:
0.84 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 7.19
deaths/1,000 live births
69
male:
8.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
5.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 73.08
years
17
male:
67.74 years
female:
78.76 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.43 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
93
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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9,900 (2007 est.)
04
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 500 (2007
est.)
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Major
infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea
vectorborne disease:
tickborne encephalitis (2009)
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Nationality:
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noun: Estonian(s)
adjective:
Estonian
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Ethnic groups:
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Estonian 67.9%, Russian
25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000
census)
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Religions:
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Evangelical Lutheran
13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day
Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other
and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
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Languages:
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Estonian (official)
67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population:
99.8%
male:
99.8%
female:
99.8% (2000 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 16
years
male:
15 years
female:
17 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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5.1% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 67
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form:
Estonia
local long form:
Eesti Vabariik
local short form:
Eesti
former:
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
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Government type:
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parliamentary republic
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Capital:
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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
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Administrative divisions:
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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 (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga),
Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)
note:
counties have the administrative center name
following in parentheses
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Independence:
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20 August 1991 (from the
Soviet Union)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 24
February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared
its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 was the date it
declared its independence from the Soviet Union
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Constitution:
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adopted 28 June 1992
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Legal system:
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based on civil law
system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal for all Estonian citizens
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President
Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006)
head of government:
Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)
cabinet:
Ministers appointed by the prime minister,
approved by Parliament
elections:
president elected by Parliament for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure
two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the
Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus
members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between the
two candidates with the largest number of votes; election last held on
23 September 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2011); prime minister
nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results:
Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23
September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received 174
votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots left blank
or invalid
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament or
Riigikogu (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
elections:
last held on 4 March 2007 (next to be held in
March 2011)
election results:
percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party
27.8%, Center Party of Estonia 26.1%, Union of Pro Patria and Res
Publica 17.9%, Social Democratic Party 10.6%, Estonian Greens 7.1%,
Estonian People's Union 7.1%, other 5%; seats by party - Estonian Reform
Party 31, Center Party 28, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 19,
Social Democratic Party 10, Estonian Greens 6, Estonian People's Union
6, independent 1
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court (chairman
appointed for life by Parliament)
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Political parties and leaders:
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Center Party of Estonia
(Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]; Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Marek
STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Karel RUUTLI];
Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Social Democratic
Party [Juri PIHL]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res
Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]
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International organization participation:
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Australia Group, BA, BIS,
CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD (accession state), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen
Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Vaino REINART
chancery:
2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 588-0101
FAX:
[1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general:
New York
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Michael C. POLT
embassy:
Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[372] 668-8100
FAX:
[372] 668-8265
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Flag description:
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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
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Economy - overview:
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Estonia, a 2004 European Union
entrant, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per
capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region. Estonia's
successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic
agenda and have wavered little in their commitment to pro-market
reforms. The current government has pursued relatively sound fiscal
policies that have resulted in balanced budgets - at least up until 2009
- and low public debt. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high
growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. The economy
benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and
strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. The government is
on track to adopt the euro in 2011. Estonia's economy slowed down
markedly and fell sharply into recession in mid-2008, primarily as a
result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of
the real estate market bubble. GDP dropped nearly 15% in 2009, among the
world's highest rates of contraction.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$24.36 billion (2009
est.)
12
$28.36
billion (2008 est.)
$29.42
billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$18.26 billion (2009
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-14.1% (2009 est.)
09
-3.6%
(2008 est.)
7.2%
(2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$18,700 (2009 est.)
$21,700
(2008 est.)
$22,400
(2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2.7%
industry:
26.3%
services:
71% (2009 est.)
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Labor force:
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691,000 (2009 est.)
50
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: 2.8%
industry:
22.7%
services:
74.5% (2008)
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Unemployment rate:
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13.8% (2009 est.)
41
5.7%
(2008 est.)
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Population
below poverty line:
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19.5% (2007)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%:
27.7% (2004)
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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34 (2008)
37
(1999)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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21.8% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
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Budget:
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revenues: $8.348
billion
expenditures:
$8.677 billion (2009 est.)
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Public debt:
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7.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
21
4.6%
of GDP (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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-0.1% (2009 est.)
1
10.4%
(2008 est.)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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8.55% (31 December 2008)
32
6.46%
(31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$6.106 billion (31
December 2008)
$7.158
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$5.478 billion (31
December 2008)
$4.253
billion (31 December 2007)
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Stock of
domestic credit:
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$22.02 billion (31
December 2008)
$21.35
billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$169.6 million (31
December 2009)
$1.95
billion (31 December 2008)
$6.037
billion (31 December 2007)
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Agriculture - products:
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potatoes, vegetables;
livestock and dairy products; fish
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Industries:
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engineering, electronics,
wood and wood products, textiles; information technology,
telecommunications
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-25.2% (2009 est.)
66
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Electricity -
production:
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11.46 billion kWh (2007
est.)
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Electricity -
consumption:
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7.686 billion kWh (2007
est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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2.31 billion kWh (2008
est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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1.369 billion kWh (2008
est.)
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Oil - production:
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7,600 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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29,000 bbl/day (2008
est.)
14
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Oil - exports:
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7,280 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - imports:
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30,590 bbl/day (2007
est.)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2009
est.)
83
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
02
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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1.51 billion cu m (2008
est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
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Natural gas - imports:
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1.51 billion cu m (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
82
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Current account balance:
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$898.7 million (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
-$2.245
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports:
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$9.08 billion (2009 est.)
$12.57
billion (2008 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment
29%, wood and paper 13%, metals 10%, food products 8%, textiles 5%,
chemical products
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Exports - partners:
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Finland 18.3%, Sweden
13.8%, Russia 10.3%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 5.7%, Germany 5%, US 4.8%
(2008)
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Imports:
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$9.783 billion (2009
est.)
$15.33
billion (2008 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and equipment
35%, textiles 19%, mineral fuels 19%, chemical products 9%, foodstuffs
6%
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Imports - partners:
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Finland 14.2%, Germany
13.3%, Sweden 10%, Lithuania 8.9%, Latvia 8.9%, Russia 7.4%, Poland 4.5%
(2008)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$3.981 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
$3.972
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$22.54 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
$26.84
billion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
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$16.23 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$15.94
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
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$6.534 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$6.658
billion (31 December 2008 est.)
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Exchange rates:
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kroon (EEK) per US dollar
- 11.482 (2009), 10.7 (2008), 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006), 12.584
(2005)
note:
the kroon is pegged to the euro
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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498,100 (2008)
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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2.525 million (2008)
15
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: foreign
investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved
telephone service with a wide range of high quality voice, data, and
Internet services available
domestic:
substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry
telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services
are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the
Internet, a large percentage of the population files income-tax returns
online, and online voting was used for the first time in the 2005 local
elections
international:
country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland,
Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; 2
international switches are located in Tallinn (2008)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM 34, shortwave 0
(2009)
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Television
broadcast stations:
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15 (2008)
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Internet country code:
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.ee
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Internet hosts:
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706,449 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 47
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Internet users:
|
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888,100 (2008)
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Airports:
|
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19 (2009)
35
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 13
over 3,047 m:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
7
1,524 to 2,437 m:
2
914 to 1,523 m:
2 (2009)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m:
2
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
3 (2009)
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Heliports:
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1 (2009)
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Pipelines:
|
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gas 859 km (2009)
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Railways:
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total: 1,196
km
broad gauge:
1,196 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (131 km
electrified) (2008)
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Roadways:
|
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total: 57,016
km
paved:
12,371 km (includes 99 km of expressways)
unpaved:
44,645 km (2008)
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Waterways:
|
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320 km (2008)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 29
by type:
cargo 5, passenger/cargo 21, petroleum tanker 2,
chemical tanker 1
foreign-owned:
4 (Denmark 1, Germany 1, Norway 2)
registered in other countries:
85 (Antigua and Barbuda 23, Belize 6, Cyprus 5,
Dominica 7, Finland 2, Latvia 2, Liberia 1, Malta 11, Norway 1, Panama
5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 16, Sweden
2, Vanuatu 1) (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga,
Tallinn, Virtsu
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Military branches:
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Estonian Defense Forces: Land
Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League
(Kaitseliit, KL) (2010)
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Military service age and obligation:
|
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obligation for compulsory
service ages 16-60, with conscription "likely" ages 18-27; service
requirement 8-11 months (2009)
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Manpower available for military service:
|
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males age 16-49: 297,096
females age 16-49:
308,229 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 213,740
females age 16-49:
255,926 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 6,945
female:
6,564 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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2% of GDP (2005 est.)
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| Transnational Issues
::Estonia |
Disputes - international:
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Russia recalled its signature to
the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than
concede to Estonia's appending prepared a unilateral declaration
referencing Soviet occupation and territorial losses; Russia demands
better accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia; Estonian
citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary based
on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic
Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member
state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must
implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia
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Illicit drugs:
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growing producer of
synthetic drugs; increasingly 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
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