Estonia

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; 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 (2016)

Internet country code

.ee

Internet users

total: 1,097,921 | percent of population: 87.2% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Telephone system

general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of high-quality voice, data, and Internet services available | domestic: substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of the population files income tax returns online, and online voting - in local and parliamentary elections - has climbed steadily since first introduced in 2005; 85% of Estonian households have broadband access | international: country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 370,589 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 1,897,921 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 151 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Agriculture - products

grain, potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Budget

revenues: $9.414 billion | expenditures: $9.351 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

0.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Central bank discount rate

0% (31 December 2016 est.) | 0.05% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.23% (31 December 2016 est.) | 4.48% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Current account balance

$443 million (2016 est.) | $493.2 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Debt - external

$19.05 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $18.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Distribution of family income - Gini index

34.8 (2015) | 35.6 (2014) | country comparison to the world: 96

Economy - overview

Estonia, a member of the EU since 2004 and the euro zone since 2011, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region, but its economy is highly dependent on trade, leaving it vulnerable to external shocks. Estonia's successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda, and sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and low public debt. | The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Russia. After two years of robust recovery in 2011 and 2012, the Estonian economy faltered in 2013 with only 1.6% GDP growth, mainly due to a continuing recession in much of the EU. GDP growth in 2014 picked up to 2.9% but dropped below 2% in 2015-16 due to lower demand in key Scandinavian and Russian export markets. In 2016, the government implemented modest increases in fiscal spending, which may contribute to GDP growth in 2017. | Estonia is challenged by a shortage of labor, both skilled and unskilled, although the government has amended its immigration law to allow easier hiring of highly qualified foreign workers.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.9214 (2016 est.) | 0.885 (2015 est.) | 0.885 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.) | 0.7752 (2012 est.)

Exports

$12.36 billion (2016 est.) | $12.04 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Exports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 30%, food products and beverages 9%, mineral fuels 6%, wood and wood products 14%, articles of base metals 7%, furniture and bedding 11%, vehicles and parts 3%, chemicals 4% (2016 est.)

Exports - partners

Sweden 17.9%, Finland 16%, Latvia 9.2%, Russia 6.5%, Lithuania 6%, Germany 5.9%, Norway 4.1% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$23.33 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$38.94 billion (2016 est.) | $37.67 billion (2015 est.) | $36.65 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 116

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 52.7% | government consumption: 21.3% | investment in fixed capital: 21.9% | investment in inventories: -0.4% | exports of goods and services: 79.6% | imports of goods and services: -75% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 3.4% | industry: 27.9% | services: 68.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$29,700 (2016 est.) | $29,100 (2015 est.) | $28,500 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 64

GDP - real growth rate

2.1% (2016 est.) | 1.7% (2015 est.) | 2.9% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Gross national saving

24.6% of GDP (2016 est.) | 26% of GDP (2015 est.) | 27.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% | highest 10%: 25.6% (2015)

Imports

$13.31 billion (2016 est.) | $12.99 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment 28%, mineral fuels 11%, food and food products 10%, vehicles 9%, chemical products 8%, metals 8% (2015 est.)

Imports - partners

Finland 13%, Germany 11%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 8.3%, Latvia 8.2%, Poland 7.2%, Netherlands 6.3%, Russia 5.7%, China 4.8% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.8% (2016 est.) | -0.5% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Labor force

691,400 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 3.1% | industry: 20.2% | services: 76.7% (2016 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$6.76 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $6.799 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $7.127 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Population below poverty line

21.3% (2015 est.)

Public debt

9.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 10.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities, including sub-sectors of central government, state government, local government, and social security funds | country comparison to the world: 196

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$352.2 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $414.8 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Stock of broad money

$14.66 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $13.83 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$9.396 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $9.164 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$22.19 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $22.02 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

Stock of domestic credit

$20.97 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $19.88 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Stock of narrow money

$11.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $10.96 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders | country comparison to the world: 79

Taxes and other revenues

40.7% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Unemployment rate

6.8% (2016 est.) | 6.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 88

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.8 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 122

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity - consumption

8.158 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - exports

5.613 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Electricity - from fossil fuels

75.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Electricity - from other renewable sources

25.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Electricity - imports

3.573 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.864 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Electricity - production

9.779 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

964 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - imports

471 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 135

Refined petroleum products - consumption

29,140 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Refined petroleum products - exports

21,250 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 70

Refined petroleum products - imports

34,410 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Area

total: 45,228 sq km | land: 42,388 sq km | water: 2,840 sq km | note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea | country comparison to the world: 133

Area - comparative

about twice the size of New Jersey

Climate

maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Coastline

3,794 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 61 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m | highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Environment - current issues

air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amounts of pollutants emitted to 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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 657 km | border countries (2): Latvia 333 km, Russia 324 km

Land use

agricultural land: 22.2% | arable land 14.9%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 7.2% | forest: 52.1% | other: 25.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

Natural hazards

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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) | note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Capital

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

Citizenship

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 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 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia | conventional short form: Estonia | local long form: Eesti Vabariik | local short form: Eesti | former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic | etymology: the country name may be derived from the Aesti, an ancient people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D.

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MELVILLE Jr. (since 8 December 2015) | embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn | mailing address: use embassy street address | telephone: [372] 668-8100 | FAX: [372] 668-8265

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Lauri LEPIK (since 8 September 2017) | chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 | FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 | consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Kersti KALJULAID (since 10 October 2016) | head of government: Juri RATAS (since 23 November 2016) | 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; election last held on 29-30 August 2016, but three rounds were inconclusive; two electoral college votes on 24 September 2016 were also indecisive, so the election passed back to Parliament; on 3 October the Parliament elected Kersti KALJULAID as president; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament | election results: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; Parliament vote - Kersti KALJULAID (independent) 81 of 98 votes; note - KALJULAID is Estonia's first female president

Flag description

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

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

20 August 1991 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, MINUSMA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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) | 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

Legal system

civil law system

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 1 March 2015 (next to be held in March 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - RE 27.7%, K 24.8%, SDE 15.2%, IRL 13.7%, EV 8.7%, EKRE 8.1%, other 1.8%; seats by party - RE 30, K 27, SDE 15, IRL 14, EV 8, EKRE 7

National anthem

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

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

barn swallow, cornflower; national colors: blue, black, white

Political parties and leaders

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) or K [Juri RATAS] | Estonian Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE [Mart HELME] | Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE [Hanno PEVKUR] | Free Party or EV [Andres HERKEL] | Social Democratic Party or SDE [Jevgeni OSSINOVSKI] | Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) or IRL [Margus TSAHKNA]

Suffrage

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

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 - 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 the spring of 2004, formally joined the OECD in late 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2011.

Military branches

Estonian Defense Forces (Eesti Kaitsevagi): Ground Forces (Maavagi), Navy (Merevagi), Air Force (Ohuvagi), Reserves (Kaitseliit) (2016)

Military expenditures

2.17% of GDP (2016) | 2.09% of GDP (2015) | 1.95% of GDP (2014) | 1.91% of GDP (2013) | 1.9% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 39

Military service age and obligation

18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service, conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; NCOs, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months (2016)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.23% (male 104,130/female 98,941) | 15-24 years: 8.99% (male 58,432/female 54,122) | 25-54 years: 41.37% (male 261,366/female 256,383) | 55-64 years: 13.57% (male 76,591/female 93,194) | 65 years and over: 19.85% (male 84,466/female 163,956) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

10.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Death rate

12.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 53.7 | youth dependency ratio: 24.8 | elderly dependency ratio: 28.9 | potential support ratio: 3.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 99% of population | total: 99.6% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 1% of population | total: 0.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 52

Ethnic groups

Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%, Ukrainian 1.7%, Belarusian 1%, Finn 0.6%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 94

Hospital bed density

5.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Languages

Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.9 years | male: 72.1 years | female: 81.9 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 99.8% | male: 99.8% | female: 99.8% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate | vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2016)

Major urban areas - population

TALLINN (capital) 391,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

9 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151

Median age

total: 42.7 years | male: 39.4 years | female: 46.1 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 23

Mother's mean age at first birth

26.6 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Estonian(s) | adjective: Estonian

Net migration rate

-3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.2% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 92

Physicians density

3.32 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

1,251,581 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Population distribution

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

Population growth rate

-0.57% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 226

Religions

Lutheran 9.9%, Orthodox 16.2%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 97.5% of population | rural: 96.6% of population | total: 97.2% of population | urban: 2.5% of population | rural: 3.4% of population | total: 2.8% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 16 years | male: 16 years | female: 17 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female | total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.6 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 181

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 13.1% | male: 13.8% | female: 12.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

Urbanization

urban population: 67.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: -0.37% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

Russia and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements strict Schengen border rules with Russia

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 82,585 (2016); 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

Airports

18 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 141

Airports - with paved runways

total: 13 | over 3,047 m: 2 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 5 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 | under 914 m: 3 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

ES (2016)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Merchant marine

total: 109 | by type: cargo 15, passenger/cargo 18, fishing vessels 41, technical and support vessels 35 (2016) | foreign-owned: 3 (Germany 1, Norway 2) | registered in other countries: 63 (Antigua and Barbuda 10, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 6, Dominica 6, Finland 2, Latvia 3, Malta 16, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8, Sierra Leone 2, Sweden 3, Venezuela 1, unknown 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 49

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 3 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 14 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 512,388 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 870,362 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 2,360 km (2016)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn

Railways

total: 2,146 km | broad gauge: 2,146 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified) | note: includes 1,510 km public and 636 km non-public railway (2016) | country comparison to the world: 86

Roadways

total: 58,412 km (includes urban roads) | paved: 10,427 km (includes 115 km of expressways) | unpaved: 47,985 km (2011) | country comparison to the world: 73

Waterways

335 km (320 km are navigable year-round) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 90