Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
38 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
516,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 TV channels and 5 radio networks; growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally; fully transitioned to digital television in 2010; national private TV channels expanding service, with a range of channels aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services; roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services
Communications: Internet country code
.ee
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
92.24% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
17 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
227,000 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
151 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
2.06 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
6.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
19.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$16.721 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$15.784 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$33.9 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$140.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$341.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$244.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$466.9 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$176.0 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$640.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$868.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.407 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$1.496 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$722.668 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$489.659 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.752945 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.752728 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.901296 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.903421 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.885206 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.846773 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.893276 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.875506 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.845494 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.949624 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.924840 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$20.104 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$21.804 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$17.725 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$18.538 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$20.411 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$22.761 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$22.955 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$21.687 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$29.618 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$33.178 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$32.147 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$32.637 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
77.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
20.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
52.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-77% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
27.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-0.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
1.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
20.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
65.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$49,969 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$42.765 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$68.574 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
32.7 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
31.2 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
30.4 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
30.3 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
30.8 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
30.7 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
31.8 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
32.3 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
30.7 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
24.4% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$13.399 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$16.895 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$17.750 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$19.319 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$22.038 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$21.780 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$22.032 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$30.079 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$33.655 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$31.796 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$32.375 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
-7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-0.49% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.15% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
3.42% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.44% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.28% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.44% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
4.65% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
19.40% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
9.16% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.52% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
756,200 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
22.50% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
28.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$38.652 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$39.084 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$42.037 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$45.459 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$53.854 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$54.074 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$58.896 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$58.931 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$57.15 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$57.001 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
1.84% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.09% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
5.63% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.70% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
3.73% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-2.88% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
8.25% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.1% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
-2.74% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
-0.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$29,404 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$29,713 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$31,948 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$34,507 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$40,586 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$40,672 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$44,252 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$48,218 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$48,637 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$564.8 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$543.9 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$457.3 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$506.8 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$589.9 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$414.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$352.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$345.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$755.0 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$1.426 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.997 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$2.371 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$2.217 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$2.593 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$2.075 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
4.51% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
6.96% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
6.18% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.57% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
6.38% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
7.60% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
20% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
21.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
20.9% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
800 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
800 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
27.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
52.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
8.636 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
4.355 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
7.66 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
3.225 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.164 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
-19,814 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
649,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
3.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
4.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Environment: Environmental issues
air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution
Environment: International environmental agreements: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
23.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
57.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
19.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
27.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
11.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
23.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
6.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
12.806 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
5 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
1.135 billion cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
64.998 million cubic meters (2022)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
-0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
70.70% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
489,500 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
39.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about twice the size of New Jersey
Geography: Area: land
42,388 sq km
Geography: Area: water
2,840 sq km
Geography: Coastline
3,794 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Suur Munamagi 318 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Baltic Sea 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
61 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
59 00 N, 26 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; over 1,500 islands lie offshore
Geography: Irrigated land
20 sq km (2016)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
657 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
23.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
57.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
19.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 sq km
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Geography: Population distribution
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Geography: Terrain
marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Government: Administrative divisions
15 urban municipalities ( linnad , singular - linn ), 64 rural municipalities ( vallad , singular - vald ) urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Voru rural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
the name derives from the Old Estonian term tan-linn , meaning "Danish fort," a reference to Danish King VALDEMAR II founding the city in 1219
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
59 26 N, 24 43 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Estonia
Government: Country name: etymology
derives from the name of the people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D., which came from the Baltic word aueist , meaning "waterside dwellers"
Government: Country name: former
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
Government: Country name: local long form
Eesti Vabariik
Government: Country name: local short form
Eesti
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Roman PIPKO (since 26 November 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
acstallinn@state.gov https://ee.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[372] 668-8265
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[372] 668-8100
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York, San Francisco
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee https://washington.mfa.ee/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 588-0108
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 588-0101
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes 2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the most votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
30-31 August 2021
Government: Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white meaning: blue stands for faith, loyalty, and devotion, and also the sky, sea, and lakes; black for the country's soil and the Estonian people's past suffering; white for striving for enlightenment and virtue and also for birch bark, snow, and summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
the chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
March 2027
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
3/5/2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
101 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Reform Party (37); Conservative People's Party (EKRE) (17); Centre Party (16); Estonia 200 (Eesti 200) (14); Social Democratic Party (9); Pro Patria (Isamaa) (8)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
28.7%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1920, but banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; unofficially in use since 1869, it has the same melody as Finland's anthem, but with different lyrics
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS
Government: National color(s)
blue, black, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Government: National symbol(s)
barn swallow, cornflower
Government: Political parties
Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE Estonia 200 or E200 Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or EK Estonian Free Party or VAP Estonian Freedom Party - Farmers' Assembly or V-PK Estonian Greens or EER Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE Fatherland or I Left Alliance or VL Social Democratic Party or SDE The Right or PP TOGETHER organization points to sovereignty or KOOS
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections
Introduction: 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 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 2004, formally joined the OECD in 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency in 2011.
Military and Security: Military - note
Estonia’s defense policy aims to guarantee the country’s independence and sovereignty, protect its territorial integrity, including waters and airspace, and preserve constitutional order; Estonia’s main defense goals are developing and maintaining a credible deterrent to outside aggression and ensuring the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) can fulfill their commitments to NATO and interoperate with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states; the EDF’s primary external focus is Russia; since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Estonia has boosted defense spending, sent arms to Ukraine, and sought to boost the EDF’s capabilities in such areas as air defense, artillery, personnel readiness, and surveillance Estonia has been a member of NATO since 2004, is fully integrated within the NATO structure, and relies on its NATO partners for defense; since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; as the EDF Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, NATO has provided airspace protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014; Estonia also hosts a NATO cyber security center; it cooperates closely with the EU on defense issues through the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions; Estonia also has close defense ties with its Baltic neighbors and has bilateral military agreements with a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Estonian military has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, Western-origin weapons and equipment; suppliers in recent years include France, Israel, South Korea, Sweden, Türkiye, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.99% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
2.03% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.97% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.97% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
2.00% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
2.26% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
2.01% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
2.13% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
3.00% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
3.37% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
3.4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service for men; conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; non-commissioned officers, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months; women can volunteer, and as of 2018 could serve in any military branch (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
15.2% (male 92,980/female 88,753)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
62.2% (male 373,989/female 368,113)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
22.6% (2024 est.) (male 96,110/female 173,846)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
7.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
7.84% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.1% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
12.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
32.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
57.5 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
24.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) NA
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
13% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.21% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.66 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.9% of GDP (2022)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
13.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.70% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
4.1 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
1.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
83.7 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
75.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
99.89% (2011 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
48.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
41.9 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
28.2 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Estonian
People and Society: Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21.2% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
1,372,341 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.47% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
705,490
People and Society: Population: male
634,988
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
16 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
15 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
16 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.55 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
18.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
29.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
23.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.18 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
-0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
70.70% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
42,439 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
63,944 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
34 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ES
Transportation: Heliports
10 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
72 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn
Transportation: Ports: large
4
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: small
4
Transportation: Ports: total ports
20 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
11
Transportation: Railways: total
1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.