Estonia

About Estonia

Background:

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.

PEOPLE

Population:
1,299,371 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian

Ethnic groups:
Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)

Religions:
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)

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

GOVERNMENT

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:
parliamentary republic

Capital:
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

Flag Discription:
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

ECONOMY

Economy - overview:
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. 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 current government has pursued relatively sound fiscal policies, resulting in balanced budgets and low public debt. 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$24.48 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
$28.37 billion (2008 est.)
$29.43 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$18,800 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
$21,700 (2008 est.)
$22,400 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollarss

Budget:
revenues: $7.293 billion
expenditures: $8.042 billion (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
-0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
10.4% (2008 est.)

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

Exports:
$9.233 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$12.63 billion (2008 est.)

Imports:
$9.315 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$15.35 billion (2008 est.)

Exchange rates:
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