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 the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

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

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

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

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

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

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 1/20 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

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

1,282,963 (July 2011 est.)

10.45 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

13.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

-3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

TALLINN (capital) 399,000 (2009)

1.44 children born/woman (2011 est.)

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

urban: 99% of population

rural: 97% of population

total: 98% of population

urban: 1% of population

rural: 3% of population

total: 2% of population (2008)

urban: 96% of population

rural: 94% of population

total: 95% of population

urban: 4% of population

rural: 6% of population

total: 5% of population (2008)

Estonian 68.7%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.2%, Finn 0.8%, other 1.6% (2008 census)

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)

Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)

parliamentary republic

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)

20 August 1991 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

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

adopted 28 June 1992

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament)

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]; Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Andrus BLOK]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Social Democratic Party [Sven MIKSER]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

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 followed relatively sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and very low public debt. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. 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 14% in 2009, among the world's highest rates of contraction. Rising exports to Sweden and Finland lead an economic recovery in 2010, but unemployment stands above 17%. Estonia joined the OECD in December 2010 and adopted the euro in January 2011.

$24.69 billion (2010 est.)

$23.95 billion (2009 est.)

$27.81 billion (2008 est.)

$19.78 billion (2010 est.)

22.5% of GDP (2010 est.)

7.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

7.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

9.39% (31 December 2009 est.)

8.55% (31 December 2008 est.)

$5.345 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$5.822 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$10.7 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$11.37 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$18.94 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$20.32 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$2.654 billion (31 December 2009)

$1.95 billion (31 December 2008)

$6.037 billion (31 December 2007)

grain, potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications

8.779 billion kWh (2009 est.)

7.08 billion kWh (2009 est.)

2.943 billion kWh (2009 est.)

3.025 billion kWh (2009 est.)

7,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)

30,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

7,280 bbl/day (2007 est.)

30,590 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

1.02 billion cu m (2009 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

$265 million (2010 est.)

$898.7 million (2009 est.)

$11.5 billion (2010 est.)

$9.05 billion (2009)

machinery and electrical equipment 21%, wood and wood products 9%, metals 9%, furniture 7%, vehicles and parts 5%, food products and beverages 4%, textiles 4%, plastics 3%

Finland 18.57%, Sweden 12.52%, Latvia 9.51%, Russia 9.33%, Germany 6.09%, Lithuania 4.76%, US 4.26% (2009)

$12.17 billion (2010 est.)

$10.16 billion (2009)

machinery and electrical equipment 22%, mineral fuels 18%, chemical products 3%, foodstuffs 6%, plastics 6%, textiles 5%

Finland 14.52%, Lithuania 10.84%, Latvia 10.47%, Germany 10.33%, Russia 8.59%, Sweden 8.34%, Poland 5.63% (2009)

$3.641 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$3.981 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$25.13 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$25.56 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$17.53 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$16.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$7.134 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$6.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

kroon (EEK) per US dollar -

the publicly-owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 television channels; national private TV channels expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than half of Estonian households connected; publicly-owned broadcaster, ERR, operates 4 radio networks and there are a growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally (2008)

335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2010)

Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2011)

obligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, with conscription "likely" ages 18-27; service requirement 8-11 months (2009)

2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia's appending a prepared 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

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