Estonia - EE - EST - EST - Europe

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Matthew E. WALL (since January 2025)

embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn

mailing address: 4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC  20521-4530

telephone: [372] 668-8100

FAX: [372] 668-8265

email address and website:
acstallinn@state.gov

https://ee.usembassy.gov/

0-14 years: 15.2% (male 92,980/female 88,753)

15-64 years: 62.2% (male 373,989/female 368,113)

65 years and over: 22.6% (2024 est.) (male 96,110/female 173,846)

59 00 N, 26 00 E

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female

total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

about twice the size of New Jersey

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)

note 1: conscripts comprise approximately 3,000-3,300 of the Estonian military's active-duty personnel and serve in all branches, except for the Air Force; after conscript service, reservists are called up for training every 5 years; Estonia has had conscription since 1991

note 2: in 2021, women comprised about 10% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization

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.

air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution

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

3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.9% of GDP (2023)
2.2% of GDP (2022)
2% of GDP (2021)
2.3% of GDP (2020)

22.5% (2022 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

lowest 10%: 3.1% (2021 est.)

highest 10%: 24.3% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Finland 14%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 7%, Russia 6% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League 

Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025)

note: the Estonian Defense League is a voluntary national defense organization that operates under the Estonian Ministry of Defense

revenues: $13.907 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $13.505 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

name: Tallinn

geographic coordinates: 59 26 N, 24 43 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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

cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

3,794 km

history: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992

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

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)

chief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

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

most recent election date: 30-31 August 2021

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

expected date of next election: 2026

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, and also the sky, sea, and lakes; black stands for the soil of the country, as well as the Estonian people's past suffering; white stands for striving towards enlightenment and virtue and also for birch bark, snow, and summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers)

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

subordinate courts: circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts

total: 657 km

border countries (2): Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km

agricultural land: 23.1% (2022 est.)

arable land: 16.5% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 6.4% (2022 est.)

forest: 57.1% (2022 est.)

other: 19.9% (2022 est.)

civil law system

legislature name: The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 101 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 3/5/2023

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)

percentage of women in chamber: 28.7%

expected date of next election: March 2027

total population: 99.9%

male: 99.9%

female: 99.9% (2021)

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

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

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union restoring its statehood

noun: Estonian(s)

adjective: Estonian

oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; over 1,500 islands lie offshore

high-income, service-based EU and eurozone economy; rebound in exports playing a role in economic recovery; rising food prices contributing to inflation; decrease in labor force participation and rising unemployment rate; recovery depends on boosting private investment and productivity rates

 

Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE
Estonia 200 or E200
Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or KE
Estonian Free Party or VAP
Estonian Greens or EER
Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK 
Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE
Estonian United Left Party or EÜVP
Fatherland or I
Pro Patria (Isamaa)
The Right or PP
Social Democratic Party or SDE

total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified

18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections

marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

parliamentary republic

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia

conventional short form: Estonia

local long form: Eesti Vabariik

local short form: Eesti

former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)

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"

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Europe

20 sq km (2016)

chief of mission: Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)

chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC, 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101

FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108

email address and website:
Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee

https://washington.mfa.ee/

consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco

percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)

.ee

refugees (country of origin): 38,020 (Ukraine) (as of 2 March 2024)

stateless persons: 70,604 (2022); note - following independence in 1991, automatic citizenship was restricted to those who were Estonian citizens prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation and their descendants; thousands of ethnic Russians remained stateless when forced to choose between passing Estonian language and citizenship tests or applying for Russian citizenship; one reason for demurring on Estonian citizenship was to retain the right of visa-free travel to Russia; stateless residents can vote in local elections but not general elections; stateless parents who have been lawful residents of Estonia for at least five years can apply for citizenship for their children before they turn 15 years old

$41.291 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

12.81 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

total: 16 years

male: 15 years

female: 17 years (2020)

urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

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.)

name: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)

lyrics/music: Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS

note: adopted 1920, though banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; the anthem, used in Estonia since 1869, shares the same melody as Finland's but has different lyrics

454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

4.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

barn swallow, cornflower

28.2 years (2020 est.)

household consumption: 52.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 20.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 27.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -0.2% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 77.9% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -77% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

total dependency ratio: 57.6 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 25.4 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 32.2 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 3.1 (2024 est.)

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

ES

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.)

Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)

Orthodox 16.5%, Protestant 9.2% (Lutheran 7.7%, other Protestant 1.5%), other 3% (includes Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Buddhist, and Taara Believer), none 58.4%, unspecified 12.9% (2021 est.)

Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.)

Finland 11%, Germany 11%, China 10%, Lithuania 6%, Poland 6% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 61 m

NA

6.9% of GDP (2022)

13.2% of national budget (2022 est.)

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)

approximately 7,500 active-duty Defense Forces; approximately 15,000 Defense League (2024)

note: the Estonian Defense Forces rely largely on reservists who have completed compulsory conscription in the previous 10 years to fill out its active duty and Territorial Defense units during a crisis; there are more than 40,000 trained reservists, and approximately 230,000 Estonians are enrolled in the mobilization registry

the Estonian military has a mix of weapons and equipment from western European suppliers, as well as Israel, South Korea, Turkey, and the US  (2024)

municipal: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 790 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 4.5 million cubic meters (2017 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.)

on food: 19.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 6.7% of household expenditures (2023 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.)

fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 sq km

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc

consumption: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)

fossil fuels: 52.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

consumption: 334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports: 675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

0.79 (2024 est.)

52.3% (2023 est.)

1.18% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.22% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.59% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

total ports: 20 (2024)

large: 4

medium: 1

small: 4

very small: 11

ports with oil terminals: 5

key ports: Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn

blue, black, white

747,800 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total: 20.9% (2024 est.)

male: 21.9% (2024 est.)

female: 20% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 45 years (2024 est.)

male: 41.9 years

female: 48.2 years

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

$2.054 billion (2024 est.)
$2.593 billion (2023 est.)
$2.217 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

28.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

1.62 children born/woman (2024 est.)

7.8% (2024 est.)
6.4% (2023 est.)
5.6% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 1,193,791 (2024 est.)

male: 563,079

female: 630,712

4.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: -19,814 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 3.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 649,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 45,228 sq km

land: 42,388 sq km

water: 2,840 sq km

note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$58.199 billion (2023 est.)
$60.013 billion (2022 est.)
$59.977 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

34 (2025)

total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 2.05 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 155 (2022 est.)

31.8 (2021 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

3.5% (2024 est.)
9.2% (2023 est.)
19.4% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$489.659 million (2024 est.)
-$722.668 million (2023 est.)
-$1.496 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$42,500 (2023 est.)
$44,500 (2022 est.)
$45,100 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 516,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

total: 23.7% (2025 est.)

male: 29.9% (2025 est.)

female: 18.3% (2025 est.)

21.2% (2016)

73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

8.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 3.225 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 8.636 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports: 4.355 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports: 7.66 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 1.164 billion kWh (2023 est.)

total: 72 (2023)

by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66

$32.375 billion (2024 est.)
$31.796 billion (2023 est.)
$33.655 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$32.637 billion (2024 est.)
$32.147 billion (2023 est.)
$33.178 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

10 (2025)

total subscriptions: 238,000 (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

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 population: 78.4 years (2024 est.)

male: 73.8 years

female: 83.2 years

-3.02% (2023 est.)
0.06% (2022 est.)
7.25% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

-10.02% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 1.9% (2023 est.)

industry: 21.7% (2023 est.)

services: 64.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

5.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

14.6% national budget (2022 est.)

-0.76% (2024 est.)