Estonia Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Estonia, Baltic Sea State: 45 227 km², 1.3 million residents (2019).Estonia borders east of the Russian Federation and south of Latvia. Otherwise, Estonia’s borders are coastal. The capital is Tallinn (426,500 residents, 2017).

Country facts

Eesti Vabariik / Republic of Estonia
Country abbreviation: EE
Area: 45 227 km²
Population (2019): 1.3 million residents
Capital: Tallinn
Main languages: Estonian, Russian
State: Republic
Head of State: Kersti Kaljulaid (President)
Head of Government: Jüri Ratas
Per capita GDP (2017): US $ 22,928
GNI per capita (2017): US $ 20,940
Currency unit: euro
Currency code: EUR
Country number (telephony): 372
Internet Domain Name: ee
Time difference compared to Sweden: +1
National Day: February 24 (Independence Day, 1918)

Nature

Land use: forest (52%), agricultural land (22%), other (26%)
Highest mountain: Munamägi (317 m asl)
Largest lake: Peipsi wolverine (3,500 km² )

Population

Population density (2019): 29 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): −0.1%; birth number 11 ‰, death number 12 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (16%), 15-64 (64%), 65- (20%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 74 years, women 82 years
Infant mortality (2019): 2 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 1 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.871 (place 30 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 69%
Most populous cities (2017): Tallinn (426,500 residents), Tartu (93,100), Narva (57,100)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (3%), industry (29%), service (68%)
Exports (2017): US $ 13,440 million
Main export products: workshop products, forest products, furniture
Main exporting countries: Finland, Sweden, Latvia
Imports (2017): US $ 14,420 million
Main import products: machinery, fuels, chemicals
Main importing countries: Finland, Germany, Lithuania
Railway network (2016): 2 150 km

Estonia is a flat, from the coast to the inland and from the north to the south slowly rising plateau. Towards the Gulf of Finland the plateau landing is terminated by a glint with a narrow coastal strip below.

The country is a republic with the president and parliament as the supreme power. Parliament is elected for four years, and the President is elected by Parliament for five years. Estonia regained its independence in 1991.

After independence, the economy has undergone a profound conversion process towards market economy, and the country’s economy quickly developed into one of the most liberal in the world. The entry into the EU in 2004 has therefore meant some re-regulation of the economy. Foremost is the service sector that has been responsible for growth. The country’s industry has increasingly reoriented its production to meet the Western European market. Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Germany now send raw materials to Estonia for processing. Foreign electronics and computer companies have also established themselves in the country. Estonia introduced the euro in 2011.