Chief
of State: President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October
2001)
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)
Government Type: parliamentary
republic |
Population:
1,324,333 (July 2006 est.)
Languages: Estonian (official)
67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)
Religion: 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)
Life Expectancy: 72.04 |
Currency:
Estonian kroon (EEK)
GDP(per capita): $16,700 (2005
est.)
Overview: Estonia, as a new
member of the World Trade Organization and the European
Union, has transitioned effectively to a modern market
economy with strong ties to the West, including the
pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits
from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors
and is greatly influenced by developments in Finland,
Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The
current account deficit remains high; however, the state
budget is essentially in balance, and public debt is
low.
Exports: machinery and equipment
33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%, food products
8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)
Import: machinery and equipment
33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs
9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001) |
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Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland,
between Latvia and Russia
Area: total: 45,226 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
water: 2,015 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea |
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.
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.
Independence Day: 20 August
1991 (from Soviet Union)
Capital City: Tallinn
Administrative divisions: 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)
note: counties have the administrative center name following
in parentheses |
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