Estonia

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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 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.

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

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59 00 N, 26 00 E

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Europe

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<strong>note:</strong> includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

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about twice the size of New Jersey

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3,794 km

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maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

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

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

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20 sq km (2016)

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

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sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

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

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

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

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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.)

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-0.47% (2025 est.)

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7.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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12.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

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454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)

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28.2 years (2020 est.)

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5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.66 (2025 est.)

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3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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4.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

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21.2% (2016)

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54.1% (2021 est.)

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air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution

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maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

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6.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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12.806 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary republic

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15 urban municipalities (<em>linnad</em>, singular - <em>linn</em>), 64 rural municipalities (<em>vallad</em>, singular - <em>vald</em>)<br><br><strong>urban municipalities:</strong> Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru<br><br><strong>rural municipalities:</strong> 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

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civil law system

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE<br>Estonia 200 or E200<br>Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or EK<br>Estonian Free Party or VAP<br>Estonian Freedom Party - Farmers' Assembly or V-PK<br>Estonian Greens or EER<br>Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK <br>Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE<br>Fatherland or I<br>Left Alliance or VL<br>Social Democratic Party or SDE<br>The Right or PP<br>TOGETHER organization points to sovereignty or KOOS

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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

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

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Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

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<strong>note:</strong> 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 and restored its statehood

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<strong>description:</strong> three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> blue stands for faith, loyalty, and devotion, and also the sky, sea, and lakes; black for the country's soil and the Estonian people's past suffering; white for striving for enlightenment and virtue and also for birch bark, snow, and summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

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barn swallow, cornflower

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blue, black, white

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<p>high-income, service-based EU and eurozone economy; rebound in exports playing a role in economic recovery; rising food prices contributing to inflation; decrease in labor force participation and rising unemployment rate; recovery depends on boosting private investment and productivity rates</p> <p> </p>

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$42.765 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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-7% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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756,200 (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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22.5% (2022 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

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21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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Finland 14%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 7%, Russia 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Finland 11%, Germany 11%, China 10%, Lithuania 6%, Poland 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 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, with a range of channels aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services; roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services

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.ee

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ES

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34 (2025)

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10 (2025)

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Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League <br><br>Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the Estonian Defense League is a voluntary national defense organization that operates under the Estonian Ministry of Defense

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approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025)

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<strong>note: </strong>the Estonian Defense Forces rely largely on reservists who have completed compulsory conscription in the previous 10 years to fill out its active duty and Territorial Defense units during a crisis; there are more than 40,000 trained reservists, and approximately 230,000 Estonians are enrolled in the mobilization registry

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the Estonian military has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, Western-origin weapons and equipment; suppliers in recent years include France, Israel, South Korea, Sweden, T&uuml;rkiye, and the US (2025)

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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 (2025)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> conscripts comprise approximately 3,000-3,300 of the Estonian military's 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<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> in 2024, women comprised about 8% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization

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Estonia’s defense policy aims to guarantee the country’s independence and sovereignty, protect its territorial integrity, including waters and airspace, and preserve constitutional order; Estonia’s main defense goals are developing and maintaining a credible deterrent to outside aggression and ensuring the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) can fulfill their commitments to NATO and interoperate with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states; the EDF’s primary external focus is Russia; since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Estonia has boosted defense spending, sent arms to Ukraine, and sought to boost the EDF’s capabilities in such areas as air defense, artillery, personnel readiness, and surveillance<br><br>Estonia has been a member of NATO since 2004, is fully integrated within the NATO structure, and relies on its NATO partners for defense; since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; as the EDF Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, NATO has provided airspace protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014; Estonia also hosts a NATO cyber security center; it cooperates closely with the EU on defense issues through the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions; Estonia also has close defense ties with its Baltic neighbors and has bilateral military agreements with a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the US (2025)