Europe :: Estonia

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## Introduction ::Estonia

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.

## Geography ::Estonia

Location:
Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates:
59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references:
Europe
Area:
total: 45,228 sq km country comparison to the world: 133 land: 42,388 sq km water: 2,840 sq km note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Land boundaries:
total: 633 km border countries: Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km
Coastline:
3,794 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states
Climate:
maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain:
marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Natural resources:
oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Land use:
arable land: 13.97% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 85.89% (2011)
Irrigated land:
4.58 sq km (2010)
Total renewable water resources:
12.81 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.8 cu km/yr (3%/97%/0%) per capita: 1,337 cu m/yr (2009)
Natural hazards:
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Environment - current issues:
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 1/20 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
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
Geography - note:
the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands

## People and Society ::Estonia

Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s) adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups:
Estonian 68.7%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.2%, Finn 0.8%, other 1.6% (2008 census)
Languages:
Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)
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)
Population:
1,266,375 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 157
Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 100,605/female 94,831) 15-24 years: 11.9% (male 77,302/female 73,446) 25-54 years: 41.3% (male 250,997/female 272,460) 55-64 years: 13.1% (male 71,442/female 94,278) 65 years and over: 18.2% (male 76,356/female 154,658) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 41 years male: 37.4 years female: 44.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.66% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 228
Birth rate:
10.38 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Death rate:
13.65 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Net migration rate:
-3.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Urbanization:
urban population: 69.5% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.02% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
TALLINN (capital) 399,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
26.3 (2010 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
2 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 183
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.82 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 164 male: 7.94 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.82 years country comparison to the world: 118 male: 68.58 years female: 79.4 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.45 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
70.3% note: percent of women aged 20-49 (1994)
Health expenditures:
6% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 107
Physicians density:
3.41 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:
5.4 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 99% of population rural: 97% of population total: 98% of population unimproved: urban: 1% of population rural: 3% of population total: 2% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved: urban: 96% of population rural: 94% of population total: 95% of population unimproved: urban: 4% of population rural: 6% of population total: 5% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 43
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
9,900 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate vectorborne disease: tickborne encephalitis (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
20.6% (2008) country comparison to the world: 95
Education expenditures:
6.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 37
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99.8% male: 99.8% female: 99.8% (2010 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 16 years male: 15 years female: 17 years (2010)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total: 22.4% country comparison to the world: 46 male: 23.8% female: 20.7% (2011)

## Government ::Estonia

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
Government type:
parliamentary republic
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
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
Independence:
20 August 1991 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
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
Constitution:
adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system:
civil law system
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005) cabinet: Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest number of votes; election last held on 29 August 2011 (next to be held in the fall of 2016); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament election results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES reelected president; parliamentary vote - Toomas Hendrik ILVES 73, Indrek TARAND 25
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 6 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party 28.6%, Center Party of Estonia 23.3%, IRL 20.5%, SDE 17.1%, Estonian Greens 3.8%, Estonian People's Union 2.1%, other 4.6%; seats by party - Estonian Reform Party 33, Center Party 21, IRL 23, SDE 19, unaffiliated 5
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and organized into the Civil Chamber with a chamber chairman and 6 justices, the Criminal Chamber with a chamber chairman and 5 justices, the Administrative Law Chamber with a chamber chairman and 4 justices, and the Constitutional Review Chamber with 9 members - the chief justice and 2 justices from the Civil Chamber, 3 from the Criminal Chamber and 3 from the Administrative chamber) judge selection and term of office: the chief justice is proposed by the president 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
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR] Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Aleksander LAANE] Estonian Conservative People's Party (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE [Margo MILJAND] Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP] Social Democratic Party or SDE [Sven MIKSER] Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) or IRL [Urmas REINSALU]
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), ICRM, IDA, 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, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Marina KALJURAND chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101 FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey LEVINE embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [372] 668-8100 FAX: [372] 668-8134
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
National symbol(s):
barn swallow, cornflower
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 with that of Finland but has different lyrics

## Economy ::Estonia

Economy - overview:
Estonia, a member of the European Union and the eurozone since 2004, 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 followed 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, Russia, and Germany. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. Estonia''s economy fell into recession in mid-2008 with GDP contracting 14.3% in 2009, as a result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real estate market bubble and a decrease in export demand as result of economic slowdown in the rest of Europe. Estonia rebounded nearly 8% in 2011 and the Estonian economy now has one of the higher GDP growth rates in Europe. Estonia adopted the euro on 1 January 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$29.57 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 113 $28.64 billion (2011 est.) $26.45 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$21.86 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 103 8.3% (2011 est.) 3.3% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$22,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 $21,400 (2011 est.) $19,700 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 3.9% industry: 29.7% services: 66.4% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
695,000 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 151
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.2% industry: 20.2% services: 75.6% (2010)
Unemployment rate:
10.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 12.5% (2011 est.)
Population below poverty line:
17.5% (2010)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 27.7% (2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31.3 (2010) country comparison to the world: 108 37 (1999)
Investment (gross fixed):
24.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Budget:
revenues: $8.144 billion expenditures: $8.201 billion (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
37.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53
Public debt:
5.7% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 150 5.9% of GDP (2011 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
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 5% (2011 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
8% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 6.12% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$8.104 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $6.744 billion (31 December 2011 est.) note: this figure represents the US dollar value of Estonian kroon in circulation prior to Estonia's joining the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the EMU; individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$12.11 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $11.73 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$19.04 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $19.14 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$1.611 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 97 $2.26 billion (31 December 2010) $2.654 billion (31 December 2009)
Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Industries:
engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate:
2.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95
Current account balance:
$498 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $477 million (2011 est.)
Exports:
$16.16 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $16.78 billion (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment 21%, wood and wood products 9%, metals 9%, furniture 7%, vehicles and parts 5%, food products and beverages 4%, textiles 4%, plastics 3%
Exports - partners:
Sweden 16.8%, Finland 15.3%, Russia 12.7%, Latvia 9.2%, Lithuania 5.7%, Germany 4.8% (2012)
Imports:
$17.05 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $17.09 billion (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, mineral fuels, chemical products, foodstuffs, plastics, textiles
Imports - partners:
Finland 15.1%, Germany 10.7%, Sweden 10.7%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Poland 6.6%, China 4.4%, Russia 4.1% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$246.4 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $207.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Debt - external:
$25.55 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $25.01 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$17.45 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 $16.65 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$6.609 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $7.359 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
Exchange rates:
kroon (EEK) per US dollar - 0.778 (2012 est.) 0.72 (2011 est.) 11.81 (2010 est.) 11.23 (2009) 10.7 (2008)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

## Energy ::Estonia

Electricity - production:
12.89 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Electricity - consumption:
7.755 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Electricity - exports:
4.354 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - imports:
1.1 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 63
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
2.661 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
94.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
5.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 36
Crude oil - production:
7,700 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 128
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
26,340 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Refined petroleum products - imports:
23,270 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - consumption:
701 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93
Natural gas - imports:
701 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 132
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
20.56 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

## Communications ::Estonia

Telephones - main lines in use:
471,900 (2011) country comparison to the world: 101
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.863 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 142
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 was used for the first time in the 2005 local elections 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 (2011)
Broadcast media:
the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 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; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than half of Estonian households connected (2008)
Internet country code:
.ee
Internet hosts:
865,494 (2012) country comparison to the world: 49
Internet users:
971,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 102

## Transportation ::Estonia

Airports:
18 (2012) country comparison to the world: 140
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 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2012)
Heliports:
1 (2012)
Pipelines:
gas 868 km (2013)
Railways:
total: 1,200 km country comparison to the world: 85 broad gauge: 1,200 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (133 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 58,034 km (includes 41,912 km urban roads) country comparison to the world: 75 paved: 34,936 km (includes 104 km of expressways) unpaved: 23,098 km (2009)
Waterways:
335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2011) country comparison to the world: 91
Merchant marine:
total: 25 country comparison to the world: 89 by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 18, petroleum tanker 2 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)
Ports and terminals:
Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn

## Military ::Estonia

Military branches:
Estonian Defense Forces (Eesti Kaitsevagi): Land Force (Maavagi), Navy (Merevagi), Air Force (Ohuvagi), Defense League (Kaitseliit) (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
16-60 for compulsory service, "conscription likely" ages 18-27; conscript service requirement 8 months; NCOs, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 291,801 females age 16-49: 302,696 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 210,854 females age 16-49: 251,185 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,668 female: 6,309 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

## Transnational Issues ::Estonia

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

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