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, formally joined the OECD in late 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2011.

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

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

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

1,274,709 (July 2012 est.)

10.43 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

13.6 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-3.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

TALLINN (capital) 399,000 (2009)

2 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

1.44 children born/woman (2012 est.)

3.409 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

5.71 beds/1,000 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

fewer than 500 (2009 est.)

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) [Aleksander LAANE]; Estonian Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE [Margo MILJAND]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Social Democratic Party or SDE [Sven MIKSER]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) or IRL [Urmas REINSALU]

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, 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, 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

barn swallow, cornflower

Estonia, a member of the European Union and the eurozone since 2004, 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 sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and low public debt. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Germany. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. Estonia's economy fell into recession in mid-2008 with GDP contracting 14.3% in 2009, as a result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real estate market bubble and a decrease in export demand as result of economic slowdown in the rest of Europe. Estonia rebounded nearly 8% in 2011 and the Estonian economy now has one of the higher GDP growth rates in Europe. Estonia adopted the euro on 1 January 2011.

$28.44 billion (2012 est.)

$27.76 billion (2011 est.)

$25.79 billion (2010 est.)

$21.42 billion (2012 est.)

23.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

37% of GDP (2012 est.)

-2.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

8% of GDP (2012 est.)

5.9% of GDP (2011 est.)

8% (31 December 2012 est.)

6.1% (31 December 2011 est.)

$7.033 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$6.744 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$12.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$11.73 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$19.77 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$19.14 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$1.611 billion (31 December 2011)

$2.26 billion (31 December 2010)

$2.654 billion (31 December 2009)

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

$498 million (2012 est.)

$477 million (2011 est.)

$17.38 billion (2012 est.)

$16.78 billion (2011 est.)

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%

Sweden 17%, Finland 16.3%, Russia 11.9%, Latvia 8.6%, Germany 4.9%, Lithuania 4.9% (2011)

$17.87 billion (2012 est.)

$17.09 billion (2011 est.)

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

Finland 13.4%, Latvia 11.6%, Sweden 11.3%, Germany 10.9%, Lithuania 8.7%, Poland 7.2%, China 4.7% (2011)

$217 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$207.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$25.92 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$24.98 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$16.76 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$16.56 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$6.609 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$7.359 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

kroon (EEK) per US dollar -

12.89 billion kWh (2010 est.)

7.755 billion kWh (2009 est.)

4.354 billion kWh (2010 est.)

1.1 billion kWh (2010 est.)

2.661 million kW (2009 est.)

94.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

5.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

7,700 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0.01 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

26,340 bbl/day (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

23,270 bbl/day (2008 est.)

701 million cu m (2010 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

20.56 million Mt (2010 est.)

1.863 million (2011)

the publicly-owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 TV channels and 5 radio networks; growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally; fully transitioned to digital television in 2010; 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 (2008)

335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2011)

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

Estonian Defense Forces (Eesti Kaitsevagi): Land Force (Maavagi), Navy (Merevagi), Air Force (Ohuvagi), Defense League (Kaitseliit) (2012)

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 and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements 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