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Europe
Page last updated: April 24, 2024
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.
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
59°00' N, 26°00' E
Europe
Total: 45,228 km²
Land: 42,388 km²
Water: 2,840 km²
Note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
About twice the size of New Jersey
Area comparison map:
Total: 657 km
Border countries (2): Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km
3,794 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 61 m
Oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Agricultural land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 14.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 7.2% (2018 est.)
Forest: 52.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 25.7% (2018 est.)
20 km² (2016)
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 km² (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 km²
A fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
The mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands
1,202,762 (2023 est.)
Noun: Estonian(s)
Adjective: Estonian
Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.)
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.)
0-14 years: 15.56% (male 95,732/female 91,384)
15-64 years: 62.27% (male 376,599/female 372,380)
65 years and over: 22.17% (2023 est.) (male 94,291/female 172,376)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 58.3
Youth dependency ratio: 26.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 32.3
Potential support ratio: 3.1 (2021 est.)
Total: 44.7 years (2023 est.)
Male: 41.5 years
Female: 47.9 years
-0.74% (2023 est.)
8.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
13.1 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
-2.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
A fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
28.2 years (2020 est.)
5 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 78.1 years (2023 est.)
Male: 73.5 years
Female: 82.9 years
1.62 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.79 (2023 est.)
NA
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.)
7.8% of GDP (2020)
3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2019)
4.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)
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.)
Degree of risk: intermediate (2020)
Vectorborne diseases: tickborne encephalitis
21.2% (2016)
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: 29.7% (2020 est.)
Male: 36.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 23% (2020 est.)
0.4% (2013/15)
52.3% (2023 est.)
6.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 99.9%
Male: 99.9%
Female: 99.9% (2021)
Total: 16 years
Male: 15 years
Female: 17 years (2020)
Air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amounts of pollutants emitted into the air have fallen dramatically and the pollution load of wastewater at purification plants has decreased substantially due to improved technology and environmental monitoring; 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
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
Maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Agricultural land: 22.2% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 14.9% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 7.2% (2018 est.)
Forest: 52.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 25.7% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0.85% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 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.)
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.)
Fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 km² (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 km²
Municipal: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 790 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 4.5 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
12.81 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
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: the country name may derive from the Aesti, an ancient people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D.
Parliamentary republic
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 Estonian name is generally believed to be derived from "Taani-linn" (originally meaning "Danish castle", now "Danish town") after a stronghold built in the area by the Danes; it could also have come from "tali-linn" ("winter castle" or "winter town") or "talu-linn" ("home castle" or "home town")
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
24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
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
History: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992
Amendments: 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; amended several times, last in 2015
Civil law system
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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
18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections
Chief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister Kaja KALLAS (since 26 January 2021)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
Elections/appointments:
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 highest number of votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; election last held on 30 to 31 August 2021 (next to be held in 2026); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
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
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)
Elections: last held on 5 March 2023; next elections 7 March 2027
Election results: percent of vote by party - Reform 31.2%, EKRE 16.1%, Center 15.3%, E200 13.3%, SDE 9.3%, Pro Patria 8.2%, Left 2.4%, Right 2.3%, Greens 1.0%; seats by party - Reform 37, EKRE 17, Center 16, E200 14, SDE 9, Pro Patria 8; composition as of March 2024 - men 71, women 30, percent of women 29.7%
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
Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) or K [Juri RATAS]
Estonia 200 [Kristina KALLAS]
Estonian Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE [Martin HELME]
Estonian Greens (Greens/EFA) [Marko KAASIK & Johanna Maria TOUGU]
Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE [Kaja KALLAS]
Pro Patria (Isamaa) [Helir-Valdor SEEDER]
Social Democratic Party or SDE [Lauri LAANEMETS]
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
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
Barn swallow, cornflower; national colors: blue, black, white
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
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc
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 climate
$50.867 billion (2022 est.)
$51.531 billion (2021 est.)
$47.708 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
-1.29% (2022 est.)
8.01% (2021 est.)
-0.55% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$37,700 (2022 est.)
$38,700 (2021 est.)
$35,900 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
$38.101 billion (2022 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
19.4% (2022 est.)
4.65% (2021 est.)
-0.44% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Fitch rating: AA- (2018)
Moody's rating: A1 (2002)
Standard & Poors rating: AA- (2011)
Note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
Agriculture: 2.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 29.2% (2017 est.)
Services: 68.1% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 80; industry 84; agriculture 156
Household consumption: 50.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 20.4% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 2.2% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 77.2% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -74% (2017 est.)
Wheat, milk, barley, rapeseeds, rye, oats, peas, potatoes, pork, triticale
Food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications
-2.96% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
734,000 (2022 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
5.57% (2022 est.)
6.18% (2021 est.)
6.8% (2020 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 17.1% (2021 est.)
Male: 16.5%
Female: 17.8%
22.8% (2021 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
30.7 (2020 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
On food: 20.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 7.8% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Lowest 10%: 3%
Highest 10%: 23.5% (2020 est.)
Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
1.23% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.56% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.61% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $12.282 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $12.269 billion (2019 est.)
-0.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
23.67% of GDP (2021 est.)
23.76% of GDP (2020 est.)
14.05% of GDP (2019 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP
21.42% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
Calendar year
-$1.231 billion (2022 est.)
-$1.002 billion (2021 est.)
-$660.167 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$32.461 billion (2022 est.)
$29.522 billion (2021 est.)
$21.721 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Finland 12%, United States 9%, Latvia 9%, Sweden 8%, Russia 6% (2021)
Broadcasting equipment, coal tar oil, refined petroleum, cars, prefabricated buildings, lumber (2021)
$32.671 billion (2022 est.)
$29.937 billion (2021 est.)
$21.966 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Russia 15%, Finland 10%, Germany 10%, Latvia 7%, Lithuania 6% (2021)
Refined petroleum, cars, coal tar oil, electricity, lumber, broadcasting equipment (2021)
$2.217 billion (2022 est.)
$2.371 billion (2021 est.)
$1.997 billion (2020 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$23.944 billion (2019 est.)
$23.607 billion (2018 est.)
Euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 3.03 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 9.172 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Exports: 3.722 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 7.367 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 375 million kWh (2020 est.)
Comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 78; imports 32; exports 41; consumption 104; installed generating capacity 107
Fossil fuels: 55.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 14.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 3,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Total petroleum production: 21,800 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 27,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
27,150 bbl/day (2017 est.)
35,520 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 417.106 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 417.276 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
4.924 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 44,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 3.979 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 901,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
76.329 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 265,944 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 1,980,838 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 149 (2021 est.)
General assessment: the competitive telecom market continues to progress with a range of regulatory measures which have enabled alternative operators to chip away at the fixed-line market share; fixed-line infrastructure upgrades have been focused on fiber, and the legacy DSL network has gradually been replaced; limited commercial 5G deployments have been made though an expansion of service availability awaits the delayed auction of spectrum in the 3.5GHz band, which is expected to be held later in 2021 (2021)
Domestic: 22 per 100 for fixed-line subscribership and approximately 149 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2021)
International: country code - 372; landing points for the EE-S-1, EESF-3, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC and EESF-2 fiber-optic submarine cables to other Estonia points, Finland, and Sweden; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2019)
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; a range of channels are 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
.ee
Total: 1.183 million (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 91% (2021 est.)
Total: 415,610 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 31 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 14
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 31,981 (2018)
ES
26 (2024)
2 (2024)
2,360 km gas (2016)
Total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified
Total: 89,382 km (2022)
335 km (2011) (320 km are navigable year-round)
Total: 72 (2023)
By type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66
Major seaport(s): Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn
Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Estonian Defense League
Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2024)
2.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.2% of GDP (2022)
2% of GDP (2021)
2.3% of GDP (2020)
2% of GDP (2019)
Approximately 7,000 active-duty personnel; approximately 15,000 Defense League (2023)
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 Soviet-era and growing amounts of more modern equipment, mostly from western European suppliers, as well as Israel, South Korea, and the US (2023)
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 (2024)
Note 1: conscripts comprise approximately 3,000-3,300 of the Estonian military's 7,000 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 2020, women comprised about 10% of the full-time professional military force; the Defense League includes a Women's Voluntary Defense Organization of more than 3,000 members
The Estonian military is a compact force that relies heavily on conscripts and reservists and the support of its NATO allies; 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 and is fully integrated within the NATO structure; 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
The Estonian Army features a divisional headquarters, two infantry brigades, and an artillery battalion, plus supporting units; it would rely heavily on mobilized reserves during a crisis, which would be used to fill out active-duty units and staff territorial defense units; the Estonian Navy features a mine warfare flotilla; the EDF also has a special operations command and a cyber command (2023)
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
Producer of synthetic drugs; 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