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 - 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 Western Europe. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

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

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

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

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

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one-20th the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; 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

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

1,299,371 (July 2010 est.)

10.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

13.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

-3.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

1.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)

fewer than 500 (2007 est.)

Estonian 68.7%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.2%, Finn 0.8%, other 1.6% (2008 census)

Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)

parliamentary republic

15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond); Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)

20 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

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

adopted 28 June 1992

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament)

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]; Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Karel RUUTLI]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Social Democratic Party [Juri PIHL]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD (accession state), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun

Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region. Estonia's successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda and have wavered little in their commitment to pro-market reforms. The current government has pursued relatively sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets - at least up until 2009 - and low public debt. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. The government is on track to adopt the euro in 2011. Estonia's economy slowed down markedly and fell sharply into recession in mid-2008, primarily as a result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real estate market bubble. GDP dropped nearly 15% in 2009, among the world's highest rates of contraction.

$24 billion (2009 est.)

$27.94 billion (2008 est.)

$28.99 billion (2007 est.)

$19.12 billion (2009 est.)

21.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

7.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

4.6% of GDP (2008 est.)

8.55% (31 December 2008)

6.46% (31 December 2007)

$6.106 billion (31 December 2008)

$7.158 billion (31 December 2007)

$5.478 billion (31 December 2008)

$4.253 billion (31 December 2007)

$22.02 billion (31 December 2008)

$21.35 billion (31 December 2007)

$169.6 million (31 December 2009)

$1.95 billion (31 December 2008)

$6.037 billion (31 December 2007)

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

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

11.46 billion kWh (2007 est.)

7.686 billion kWh (2007 est.)

2.31 billion kWh (2008 est.)

1.369 billion kWh (2008 est.)

7,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)

30,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

7,280 bbl/day (2007 est.)

30,590 bbl/day (2007 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

1.51 billion cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

$898.7 million (2009 est.)

-$2.245 billion (2008 est.)

$9.08 billion (2009 est.)

$12.57 billion (2008 est.)

machinery and equipment 29%, wood and paper 13%, metals 10%, food products 8%, textiles 5%, chemical products

Finland 18.57%, Sweden 12.52%, Latvia 9.51%, Russia 9.33%, Germany 6.09%, Lithuania 4.76%, US 4.26% (2009)

$9.783 billion (2009 est.)

$15.33 billion (2008 est.)

machinery and equipment 35%, textiles 19%, mineral fuels 19%, chemical products 9%, foodstuffs 6%

Finland 14.52%, Lithuania 10.84%, Latvia 10.47%, Germany 10.33%, Russia 8.59%, Sweden 8.34%, Poland 5.63% (2009)

$3.981 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$3.972 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$22.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$26.84 billion (31 December 2008)

$16.23 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$15.94 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$6.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$6.658 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

kroon (EEK) per US dollar - 11.482 (2009), 10.7 (2008), 11.535 (2007), 12.473 (2006), 12.584 (2005)

2.525 million (2008)

the publicly-owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 television channels; national private TV channels expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than half of Estonian households connected; publicly-owned broadcaster, ERR, operates 4 radio networks and there are a growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally (2008)

Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu

Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2010)

obligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, with conscription "likely" ages 18-27; service requirement 8-11 months (2009)

2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia's appending prepared a unilateral declaration referencing Soviet occupation and territorial losses; Russia demands better accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia; Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia

growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy