Estonia
Official Country Name
Estonia
Estonia Overview
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.
Estonia Economy
Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization and the European Union, has transitioned effectively to a modern market economy with strong ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The current account deficit remains high; however, the state budget is essentially in balance, and public debt is low.
Estonia Location
Estonia is located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Region
Estonia is located in Europe
Estonia Population
Estonia has population of 1,324,333 (July 2006 est.)
Estonia Climate
Estonia has maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Estonia Terrain
marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Estonia Natural Resources
oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Ethnic Groups in Estonia
Estonia has the following ethnic groups - Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)
Estonia Religions
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)
Estonia Languages
Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)
Estonia Capital
Estonia capital is Tallinn
Estonia Currency
Estonia currency is Estonian kroon
Map of Estonia
