Introduction
Background
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has since joined NATO, the EU, and the OECD.
Geography
Area
total: 45,228 sq km
land: 42,388 sq km
water: 2,840 sq km
Climate
maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Natural resources
oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
People and Society
Population
total: 1,193,791
male: 563,079
female: 630,712 (2024 est.)
Ethnic groups
Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 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.)
Population growth rate
-0.76% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary republic
Capital
name: Tallinn
Executive branch
chief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)
head of government: Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS (since 26 January 2021)
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by open- list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
Economy
Economic overview
advanced service-based EU and OECD economy; regional trade and telecommunications leader; recently rejected Baltic sea rail tunnel from Tallinn to Helsinki; flat income taxation; substantial welfare system; balanced budget culture; business-friendly climate
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$50.867 billion (2022 est.)
$51.531 billion (2021 est.)
$47.708 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$37,700 (2022 est.)
$38,700 (2021 est.)
$35,900 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products
wheat, milk, barley, rapeseed, oats, peas, potatoes, rye, pork, beans (2022)
Industries
food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications
Exports
$32.461 billion (2022 est.)
$29.522 billion (2021 est.)
$21.721 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Finland 13%, Latvia 12%, Sweden 8%, Lithuania 7%, Russia 6% (2022)
Exports - commodities
electricity, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, wood, coal tar oil (2022)
Imports
$32.671 billion (2022 est.)
$29.937 billion (2021 est.)
$21.966 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
Finland 13%, Germany 10%, Lithuania 8%, Latvia 8%, Russia 8% (2022)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, electricity, natural gas, coal tar oil (2022)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
Page last updated: Tuesday, May 07, 2024
