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 the spring of 2004, formally joined the OECD in late 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2011.
land: 42,388 sq km
water: 2,840 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
border countries (2): Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km
exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 61 m
arable land: 14.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 7.2% (2018 est.)
forest: 52.1% (2018 est.)
other: 25.7% (2018 est.)
1,202,762 (2023 est.)
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%, Ukrainian 1.7%, Belarusian 1%, Finn 0.6%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)
Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Orthodox 16.2%, Lutheran 9.9%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7% (2011 est.)
0-14 years: 15.56% (male 95,732/female 91,384)
15-64 years: 62.27% (male 376,599/female 372,380)
65 years and over: 22.17% (2023 est.) (male 94,291/female 172,376)
total dependency ratio: 58.3
youth dependency ratio: 26.1
elderly dependency ratio: 32.3
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2021 est.)
total: 44.7 years (2023 est.)
male: 41.5 years
female: 47.9 years
-0.74% (2023 est.)
8.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
13.1 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
-2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
28.2 years (2020 est.)
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
total population: 78.1 years (2023 est.)
male: 73.5 years
female: 82.9 years
1.62 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.79 (2023 est.)
NA
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: NA
total: 99.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: NA
total: 0.4% of population (2020 est.)
7.8% of GDP (2020)
3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
4.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)
improved: urban: 99.8% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 99.8% of population
unimproved: urban: 0.2% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)
degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
21.2% (2016)
total: 11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total: 29.7% (2020 est.)
male: 36.3% (2020 est.)
female: 23% (2020 est.)
0.4% (2013/15)
52.3% (2023 est.)
6.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9%
male: 99.9%
female: 99.9% (2021)
total: 16 years
male: 15 years
female: 17 years (2020)
air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amounts of pollutants emitted into the air have fallen dramatically and the pollution load of wastewater at purification plants has decreased substantially due to improved technology and environmental monitoring; 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
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
agricultural land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
arable land: 14.9% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 7.2% (2018 est.)
forest: 52.1% (2018 est.)
other: 25.7% (2018 est.)
urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
particulate matter emissions: 6.35 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 16.59 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 0.99 megatons (2020 est.)
municipal solid waste generated annually: 473,000 tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 117,020 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 24.7% (2015 est.)
fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 sq km
municipal: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 790 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 4.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
12.81 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
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
$51.531 billion (2021 est.)
$47.708 billion (2020 est.)
$47.972 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
8.01% (2021 est.)
-0.55% (2020 est.)
3.74% (2019 est.)
$38,700 (2021 est.)
$35,900 (2020 est.)
$36,200 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
$31.461 billion (2019 est.)
4.65% (2021 est.)
-0.44% (2020 est.)
2.28% (2019 est.)
Fitch rating: AA- (2018)
Moody’s rating: A1 (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2011)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
agriculture: 2.8% (2017 est.)
industry: 29.2% (2017 est.)
services: 68.1% (2017 est.)comparison rankings:
household consumption: 50.3% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 20.4% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 24% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 2.2% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 77.2% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -74% (2017 est.)
wheat, milk, barley, rapeseeds, rye, oats, peas, potatoes, pork, triticale
food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications
7.13% (2021 est.)
704,700 (2021 est.)
6.33% (2021 est.)
6.8% (2020 est.)
4.45% (2019 est.)
total: 17.1% (2021 est.)
male: 16.5%
female: 17.8%
21.7% (2018 est.)
30.8 (2019 est.)
on food: 20.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 7.8% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 25.6% (2015)
revenues: $12.282 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $12.269 billion (2019 est.)
-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
23.77% of GDP (2020 est.)
14.05% of GDP (2019 est.)
13.46% of GDP (2018 est.)
note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds
20.69% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
calendar year
-$709.328 million (2021 est.)
-$370.205 million (2020 est.)
$735.796 million (2019 est.)
$29.056 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$21.769 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$22.962 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Finland 12%, United States 9%, Latvia 9%, Sweden 8%, Russia 6% (2021)
broadcasting equipment, coal tar oil, refined petroleum, cars, prefabricated buildings, lumber (2021)
$29.234 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$21.813 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$21.712 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Russia 15%, Finland 10%, Germany 10%, Latvia 7%, Lithuania 6% (2021)
refined petroleum, cars, coal tar oil, electricity, lumber, broadcasting equipment (2021)
$2.371 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$1.997 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$1.426 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
$23.944 billion (2019 est.)
$23.607 billion (2018 est.)
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
0.885 (2017 est.)
electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
installed generating capacity: 3.03 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 9.172 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 3.722 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 7.367 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 375 million kWh (2020 est.)comparison rankings:
fossil fuels: 55.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 14.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
total petroleum production: 21,800 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 27,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
27,150 bbl/day (2017 est.)
35,520 bbl/day (2017 est.)
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 417.106 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports: 417.276 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
4.924 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 44,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 3.979 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 901,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
76.329 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 14
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 31,981 (2018)
ES
18 (2021)
13
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
5
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
1 (2021)
2,360 km gas (2016)
total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified
total: 58,412 km (2011) (includes urban roads)
paved: 10,427 km (2011) (includes 115 km of expressways)
unpaved: 47,985 km (2011)
335 km (2011) (320 km are navigable year-round)
total: 70 (2022)
by type: general cargo 2, oil tanker 3, other 65
major seaport(s): Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn
Estonia operates two PC 5 or 6 class icebreakers in the Baltic Sea
note - PC indicates a Polar Class vessel: PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm); PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)
manyapis