

Topic: 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.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.

Topic: 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

Topic: People and Society
Population: 1,211,524 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%, Ukrainian 1.7%, Belarusian 1%, Finn 0.6%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)
Languages: Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Religions: 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.)
Population growth rate: -0.71% (2022 est.)

Topic: 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)

Topic: 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 climateadvanced 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): $47.44 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $35,600 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: wheat, milk, barley, rapeseed, rye, oats, peas, potatoes, pork, triticale
Industries: food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications
Exports: $21.69 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: Finland 13%, Sweden 9%, Latvia 8%, Russia 8%, United States 7%, Lithuania 6%, Germany 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, coal tar oil, cars, prefabricated buildings (2019)
Imports: $21.73 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Russia 12%, Germany 10%, Finland 9%, Lithuania 7%, Latvia 7%, Sweden 6%, Poland 6%, China 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, coal tar oil, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines (2019)
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar -Page last updated: Wednesday, May 11, 2022