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2 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Estonia
n : a republic in northeastern Europe on the Baltic Sea [syn: {Esthonia},
{Republic of Estonia}]
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Estonia
Introduction Estonia
--------------------
Background: After centuries of Danish, Swedish,
German, and Russian rule, Estonia
attained independence in 1918.
Forcibly incorporated into the USSR
in 1940, 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.
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: 45,226 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the
Baltic Sea
water: 2,015 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than New Hampshire
and Vermont combined
Land boundaries: total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 339 km,
Russia 294 km
Coastline: 3,794 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: limits
fixed in coordination with
neighboring states
territorial sea: 12 NM
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, phosphorite, clay,
limestone, sand, dolomite, arable
land, sea mud
Land use: arable land: 26.5%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 73.15% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 40 sq km (1998 est.)
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 4.6 times smaller than in
1980; the amount of unpurified
wastewater discharged to water
bodies fell 20 times in 2000
compared to 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 party to: Air Pollution, Air
agreements: Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-
Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution,
Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol
Geography - note: the mainland terrain is flat, boggy,
and partly wooded; offshore lie more
than 1,500 islands
People Estonia
--------------
Population: 1,415,681 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 16.4% (male 118,603;
female 114,102)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 466,882;
female 502,343)
65 years and over: 15.1% (male
70,085; female 143,666) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.52% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 8.96 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 13.44 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: -0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/
female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 70.02 years
female: 76.31 years (2002 est.)
male: 64.03 years
Total fertility rate: 1.24 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.04% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ less than 500 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
Nationality: noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 65.3%, Russian 28.1%,
Ukrainian 2.5%, Belarusian 1.5%,
Finn 1%, other 1.6% (1998)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Russian
Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox,
Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day
Adventist, Roman Catholic,
Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish
Languages: Estonian (official), Russian,
Ukrainian, Finnish, other
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1998 est.)
Government Estonia
------------------
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist
Republic
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: Tallinn
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: regained on 20 August 1991 (from
Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February
(1918); note - 24 February 1918 was
the date of independence from Soviet
Russia, 20 August 1991 was the date
of reindependence from the Soviet
Union
Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system: based on civil law system; no
judicial review of legislative acts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all
Estonian citizens
Executive branch: chief of state: President Arnold
RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister
Siim KALLAS (since 28 January 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
appointed by the prime minister,
approved by Parliament
election results: Arnold RUUTEL
elected president on 21 September
2001 by a 367-member electoral
assembly that convened following
Parliament's failure in August to
elect then-President MERI's
successor; on the second ballot of
voting, RUUTEL received 188 votes to
Parliament Speaker Toomas SAVI's
155; the remaining 24 ballots were
either left blank or invalid
elections: president elected by
Parliament for a five-year term; if
he or she 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
governments) elects the president,
choosing between the two candidates
with the largest percentage of
votes; election last held 21
September 2001 (next to be held in
the fall of 2006); prime minister
nominated by the president and
approved by Parliament
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu
(101 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve four-year
terms)
election results: percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - Center
Party 28, Union of Pro Patria
(Fatherland League) 18, Reform Party
18, Moderates 17, Country People's
Party (Agrarians) 7, Coalition Party
7, UPPE 6
elections: last held 7 March 1999
(next to be held NA March 2003)
Judicial branch: National Court (chairman appointed
by Parliament for life)
Political parties and leaders: Coalition Party [Mart SIIMANN,
chairman]; Estonian Center Party or
K [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman];
Estonian Christian People's Party
[Aldo VINKEL]; Estonian Democratic
Party [Jean LAAS]; Estonian
Independence Party [Vello LEITO];
Estonian People's Union [Villu
REILJAN]; note - includes Estonian
Country People's Party and two small
parties; Estonian Reform Party [Siim
KALLAS]; Estonian Social Democratic
Labor Party [Tiit TOOMSALU];
Estonian United People's Party or
UPPE [Viktor ANDREJEV]; Estonian
Unity Party [Igor PISSAREV];
Moderates [Andres TARAND]; New
Estonia Party [Ulo NUGIS]; Pro
Patria Union [Mart LAAR, chairman];
Republican Party [Kristian-Olari
LEPING]; Res Publica [Rein
TAAGEPERA]; Russian Baltic Party
[Sergei IVANOV]; Russian Party in
Estonia [Nikolai MASPANOV]
note: Country People's Party,
formerly under Estonian Rural
People's Union, has probably
dissolved
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE,
participation: EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO (correspondent),
ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU,
WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Sven
JURGENSON
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general: New York
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
chancery: 1730 M Street NW, Suite
503, Washington, DC 20036
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph
US: M. DeTHOMAS (designate)
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street
address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8134
Flag description: pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme
Soviet in May 1990 - three equal
horizontal bands of blue (top),
black, and white
Economy Estonia
---------------
Economy - overview: Estonia, as a new member of the
World Trade Organization, is
steadily moving toward a modern
market economy with increasing ties
to the West, including the pegging
of its currency to the euro. A major
goal is accession to the EU,
possibly by 2004. The state of the
economy is greatly influenced by
developments in Finland and Sweden,
two major trading partners.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $14.3
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.7% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $10,000
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6%
industry: 28%
services: 66% (2000)
Population below poverty line: 25% of households (2000)
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: 3%
percentage share: highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini 37 (1999)
index:
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.8% (2001)
Labor force: 608,600 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: industry 20%, agriculture 11%,
services 69% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 12.4% (2001)
Budget: revenues: $1.89 billion
expenditures: $1.89 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (2002 est.)
Industries: engineering, electronics, wood and
wood products, textile; services;
transit, information technology,
telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production: 7.056 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.77%
hydro: 0.06%
other: 0.17% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 5.362 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 1.2 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: potatoes, vegetables; livestock and
dairy products; fish
Exports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Exports - commodities: machinery and equipment 24%, wood
products 20%, textiles 17%, food
products 9%, metals, chemical
products (1999)
Exports - partners: Finland 27.6%, Sweden 11%, Russia
8%, Latvia 7%, Germany 6%, US 2.0%
(1999) (2001)
Imports: $4.1 billion (f.o.b., 2001)
Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment 38.5%,
chemical products 11.2%, textiles
9.5%, foodstuffs 8.6%, metals 8.1%
(2000)
Imports - partners: Finland 27%, Russia 10%, Germany
10%, Sweden 8% (2001)
Debt - external: $0 (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $108 million (2000)
Currency: Estonian kroon (EEK)
Currency code: EEK
Exchange rates: krooni per US dollar - 17.518
(January 2002), 17.538 (2001),
16.969 (2000), 14.678 (1999), 14.075
(1998), 13.882 (1997); note - the
kroon is tied to the euro at a fixed
rate of 15.65 krooni per euro
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Estonia
----------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 501,691 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 711,000 (yearend 2001)
Telephone system: general assessment: foreign
investment in the form of joint
business ventures greatly improved
telephone service; substantial
fiber-optic cable systems carry
telephone, TV, and radio traffic in
the digital mode; internet services
are available throughout most of the
country - only about 11,000
subscriber requests were unfilled by
September 2000
domestic: a wide range of high
quality voice, data, and internet
services is available throughout the
country
international: fiber-optic cables to
Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia
provide worldwide packet-switched
service; two international switches
are located in Tallinn (2001)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios: 1.01 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (2001)
Televisions: 605,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .ee
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 38 (2001)
Internet users: 540,000 (2001)
Transportation Estonia
----------------------
Railways: total: 968 km common carrier lines
only; does not include dedicated
industrial lines
broad gauge: 968 km 1.520-m gauge
(132 km electrified) (2001)
Highways: total: 30,300 km
paved: 29,200 km (including 75 km of
expressways); note - these roads are
said to be hard-surfaced, and
include, in addition to
conventionally paved roads, some
that are surfaced with gravel or
other coarse aggregate, making them
trafficable in all weather
unpaved: 1,100 km (2000)
Waterways: 320 km (perennially navigable)
(2002)
Pipelines: natural gas 2,000 km (2002)
Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski,
Parnu, Tallinn
Merchant marine: total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 245,958 GRT/193,042 DWT
note: includes a foreign-owned ship
registered here as a flag of
convenience: Liberia 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13,
container 5, petroleum tanker 2,
roll on/roll off 9, short-sea
passenger 6
Airports: 32 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
under 914 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 6 (2001)
Military Estonia
----------------
Military branches: Estonia Defense Forces (including
Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force),
Republic Security Forces (internal
and border troops), Volunteer
Defense League (Kaitseliit),
Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guard
note: Border Guards and Ministry of
Internal Affairs become part of the
Estonian Defense Forces in wartime;
the Coast Guard is subordinate to
the Ministry of Defense in peacetime
and the Estonian Navy in wartime
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 359,902 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 282,716 (2002 est.)
service:
Military manpower - reaching males: 11,164 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $155 million (2002 est.)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 2% (2002 est.)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Estonia
----------------------------
Disputes - international: Russia continues to reject signing
and ratifying the joint December
1996 technical border agreement with
Estonia
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for opiates and
cannabis from Southwest Asia and the
Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from
Latin America to Western Europe and
Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs
from Western Europe to Scandinavia;
increasing domestic drug abuse
problem; possible precursor
manufacturing and/or trafficking
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