Estonia

The Republic of Estonia is located in the eastern Baltic region of Europe. It is a low-lying country situated on the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. Throughout its history, Estonia has been deeply affected by European politics. Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime, Josef Stalin's communist Soviet Union, and the Cold War all played a role in shaping the country during the twentieth century.

Since it achieved independence in 1991, Estonia has sought to create an atmosphere of tolerance for ethnic and cultural minorities. It is known for its record of peaceful political neutrality in its quest for nationhood and for working to maintain stable relations between rival ethnic groups.

A number of Estonians have become famous for their contributions to science and the arts. Karl Ernst von Baer (1792–1876) was the first scientist to pursue modern embryology. The composers Eduard Tubin (1905–1982) and Arvo Pärt (1935– ) are internationally celebrated.

General Information

• Full name of country: Republic of Estonia
• Former name(s): Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
• Region: Europe
• Nationality: Estonian(s) (noun), Estonian (adjective)
• Official language: Estonian
• Population: 1,202,762 (2023 est.)
• Population growth: -0.74% (2023 est.)
• Currency (money): Euro
• Land area: 42,388 sq km (16,366 sq miles)
• Water area: 2,840 sq km (1,097 sq miles)
• Time zone: UTC +2
• Capital: Tallinn
• Flag: The flag of Estonia features three horizontal bands of color: blue (top), black (middle), and white (bottom).
• Independence: August 20, 1991 (declared); September 6, 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
• Government type: parliamentary republic
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
• Legal system: civil law system
• National anthem: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy), by Johann Voldemar Jannsen/Fredrik Pacius
• National holiday: Independence Day, February 24 (1918); note - February 24, 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; August 20, 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: The Estonians are an Eastern European people that make up approximately 68.7 percent of the population of Estonia (2011 estimate). The largest minority groups in the country are Russians (24.8 percent), Ukrainians (1.7 percent), Belarusians (1 percent), and Finns (0.6 percent).

Most Estonians live in urban areas, particularly around the capital of Tallinn, which is the country's major industrial center.

The Estonian language is what is known as a Uralic language. It is related to Finnish and to the Samoyedic language groups, and is part of the Finno-Ugric linguistic groups. Modern Estonian culture is based in large part on this language, which has helped the Estonian people retain a sense of nationhood through the years. Estonian is the official language. Approximately 29.6 percent of the population speaks Russian (2011 estimate).

Freedom of religion is granted by the country's constitution. More than half of Estonians do not formally associate themselves with any particular organized religion. Christian religious denominations include Orthodox (16.2 percent) and Lutheran (9.9 percent). Other Christian denominations, including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, and Pentecostal, make up 2.2 percent of the population (2011 estimates).

Indigenous People: The modern people of Estonia are descended from a group known as the Finno-Ugrics.

The first inhabitants of the region were a migratory hunting and fishing people who arrived around 7500 BCE, after the glaciers of the last ice age had receded. Because of the artifacts they left behind, the civilization of this early people is known as the comb-ceramic culture. By 2000 BCE, Indo-European tribes known as the Baltic people had also settled in the area.

Between the twelfth and seventeenth centuries, the native Estonian people found their lands occupied by Germans, Danes, and Swedes. However, the native language and culture persisted among the peasants, although much of the emerging Estonian elite adopted the German culture and way of life.

Christianity arrived in the region in the thirteenth century when an order of crusading knights invaded from Germany. By the sixteenth century, the religion had become more firmly established after a succession of Christian countries, including Germany, Russia, Denmark, and Sweden, had ruled the area. During the Soviet period, religious freedom was taken away from the people and atheism was encouraged.

Education: The basic educational system in Estonia is state-funded. It consists of primary and secondary schools, as well as vocational schools. The number of private secondary schools, which must meet governmental education standards, is increasing. State examinations are required for a secondary education certificate.

Education is compulsory between the ages of seven and seventeen. While most children are educated in the Estonian language, some speak Russian at school. The country had an estimated 99.9 percent rate of literacy in 2021, one of the highest in the world.

The University of Tartu was established in 1632 and is the oldest university in the country. Other major universities include the Tallinn University of Technology and Tallinn University.

Health Care: While Estonia was under the control of the Soviet Union, health care administration was centralized and services were inadequate. The health structure suffered still more during Estonia's transition to an independent state.

Today, after much reform, health services are part of a decentralized system and are financed primarily through the state budget and taxes. The Estonian Health Insurance Fund is a state organization that provides health care coverage to citizens.

Because Estonia experiences long periods of darkness and short days in the winter, mood disorders caused by lack of sunlight are a common health problem. In addition, 0.8 percent of the adult population of Estonia was HIV-positive in 2020, one of the highest rates in Europe.

Food: There is a large number of wild game species in Estonia and game meat is popular in Estonian cuisine. A number of recipes are made with wild boar, goat, pheasant, and elk. Traditional dishes often include smoked meat, sauerkraut, black pudding, and blood sausage.

Fish is also popular, especially perch, eel, and crayfish. Goose, pork, and goat's cheese are popular Estonian agricultural products.

Arts & Entertainment: Estonia is home to a long tradition of folk culture. One form of traditional poetry is known as regivärss, or rhythmic verse. The most famous poem in Estonia is the "Kalevipoeg" (Son of Kalev), by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (1803–82). This epic poem gives a patriotic account of the nation's history.

There are thousands of Estonian folk songs. Music is an important part of Estonian culture, and quite a few Estonian musicians have become world famous. Among them are the conductor Tõnu Kaljuste (1953– ) and composer Erkki-Sven Tüür (1959– ).

Famous Estonian artists include Johann Koler (1826–99), Eduard Wiiralt (1898–1954), and sculptor August Weizenberg (1855–1929). Among the great writers of Estonia are Anton Hensen Tammsaare (1878–1940) and the poet Marie Under (1883–1980).

Estonian arts flourished in the years following the country’s independence from the Soviet Union and the lifting of state censorship. Theater is a popular form of entertainment. Along with museums and libraries, Estonian theaters enjoy government funding and support from the Kultuurkapital fund.

Basketball and football (soccer) are popular in Estonia. Sports such as cross-country skiing, cycling, skating, and ice boating are also widely enjoyed in the country.

Holidays: Estonia celebrates a number of national holidays, many of which commemorate events of political importance. June 23 is known as Victory Day or Võidupüha, which celebrates the victory of Estonia in the 1919 Battle of Võnnu.

St. John's Day, which is also known as Midsummer Day, is celebrated on June 24. St. John's Day is a holiday with pagan roots that is traditionally marked by special dinners and bonfires. Another major holiday is the Day of Restoration of Independence, commemorated on August 20. This holiday celebrates the establishment of the Republic of Estonia in 1991.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Estonia can be separated into two geographically distinct regions: Lower Estonia and Upper Estonia. Lower Estonia consists of the coastal regions in the west and the north, and over 1,500 islands. The largest island is Saaremaa (2,714 square kilometers/1,048 square miles). It is located in the West Estonian Archipelago.

Upper Estonia is an area that includes the central and southern parts of the country. This part of Estonia is more urban, and includes the cities and towns of Rakvere, Paide, Viljandi, Tartu, and Võru. The farmland in Upper Estonia tends to be better suited for agriculture.

In addition to the many marshes and bogs, there are a large number of lakes and rivers in the country. The two largest bodies of water in Estonia are Lake Peipsi and Lake Võrtsjärv. The longest river is the Pärnu, which is 144 kilometers (89 miles) long.

There are no mountain ranges in Estonia, and much of the country lies at a low elevation. The average elevation is 100 meters (328 feet) above sea level. The highest point in the country is at Suur Munamägi in the north, which reaches a height of 318 meters (1,043 feet).

Natural Resources: Estonia lacks any major natural resources. The most valuable minerals found in the country are oil shale and phosphorite. Oil shale provides the country with much of its energy production. Wood, peat, and biomass also provide Estonia with alternative sources of energy.

There are also deposits of limestone, clay, sand, and dolomite, which are useful to the construction industry. Additionally, Estonia's fisheries and forests are important to its economy.

Plants & Animals: Estonia is a heavily forested country, with about half of the land area covered with trees such as pine, birch, and spruce. The western and coastal regions and the islands contain the largest variety of plant life, including rare species of orchids.

There are many large animal species in the country, including elk, roe deer, wild boar, beavers, lynxes, bears, and wolves. Fish are also plentiful, although coastal waters are polluted in some locations. Some fish species include lake whitefish, the Peipsi smelt, pike, perch, and eel. Grey seals and ring seals may also be found off the coast.

The islands have a diverse bird population and are a good habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl. Species of bird commonly seen in Estonia include the barnacle goose, swans, eagles, storks, and the eider, as well as a number of protected species.

Climate: Estonia has a temperate climate and four seasons. The Baltic Sea and the Gulf Stream keep the temperature and weather from becoming too extreme. The average annual precipitation in the country ranges from 56 to 71 centimeters (22 to 26 inches). The weather in Estonia is often cloudy, with the southeast region generally receiving the most precipitation.

The western coast and islands tend to have the warmest temperatures. Temperatures during the summer average from 15 to 18 degrees Celsius (59 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit). In winter, average temperatures drop to –4 to –5 degrees Celsius (23 to 25 Fahrenheit). While the country does not see large amounts of snowfall, snow generally covers the ground throughout the winter because of the consistently low temperatures.

Economy

Estonia joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 and the eurozone in 2011. The country has an open economy and receives most of its foreign investment from Sweden and Finland. Its major trade partners are Finland, Sweden, Russia, Latvia, Germany, and Lithuania. Estonia is also part of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Historically, Estonia's economy has been based on agriculture. Under the Soviet Union, the economy was completely transformed into a centralized, state-controlled structure. Small farms were collectivized and businesses were transferred to government ownership.

Today, the country has a modern market-based economy and one of the highest per capita income levels in the region. The service industries are the most important sector of the economy. The country's estimated gross domestic product (GDP) was US$51.53 billion in 2021. The GDP per capita was approximately US$38,700 (2021 estimate). The unemployment rate was 6.3 percent in 2021. Estonia ranked 31st out of 191 countries and territories on the 2021 United Nations Human Development Index.

Industry: Major industries in Estonia include food processing, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles, information technology, and telecommunications. Fishing is a traditional industry that remains important to the economy. The largest and most important industry is the service industry, which accounted for an estimated 68.1 percent of the Estonian GDP in 2017.

Because of its location on the Baltic Sea, Estonia has been a significant center of European trade and transportation. The Port of Muuga in Tallinn is the largest cargo harbor in Estonia. Even though it is located in northern waters, the port does not become blocked by ice.

Agriculture: Agriculture accounted for an estimated 2.8 percent of the country's GDP (2017 estimate), with around 22 percent of the land used for growing crops and raising livestock. Major agricultural products include livestock, dairy, grain, peas, and potatoes.

Although Estonia has in the past had a strong agricultural industry, farming is less profitable today because of low prices, competition, and outdated farming practices. As a member of the EU, Estonia must bring its agricultural sector into compliance with EU standards.

Tourism: Around 6.1 million international tourists were estimated to have visited Estonia in 2019. This number plummeted to 1.6 million in 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic that began that same year. By 2022, however, tourism numbers began to return to pre-pandemic levels. Many tourists visit Tallinn, which offers a ferry link to Helsinki, Finland. While a number of visitors arrive from Finland and Sweden, increasing numbers of Europeans from the south and west are also traveling to Estonia.

Travelers to Estonia may participate in activities such as cycling, canoeing, and hiking in the country's five national parks or in nature preserves. Tallinn features museums, historical sites, theaters, and gardens of interest to tourists.

Government

In the late twelfth century, medieval Germany began its conquest of Livonia, the region that is known as Estonia today. By 1561 German rule had collapsed and Livonia was warred over and divided between Russia, Denmark, and Sweden. Poland also tried to gain control of the region during what were known as the Livonian Wars, which lasted from 1570 until 1595.

The Russian Empire ruled the Baltic from 1710 until 1860. The Baltic hierarchy during this time was made up of an elite class of Germans and of native people who had adopted German cultural and political practices.

Beginning in the late eighteenth century and throughout the nineteenth century, the Estonian people were affected by the rising nationalist feelings across Europe and began to place more emphasis on education and Estonian cultural traditions. Many resisted the efforts of the Russian government to impose Russian culture and language on the country. Estonians supported the workers' movement throughout the empire and staged many strikes and protests in their own country.

The tsarist empire finally collapsed in 1917, with the end of World War I. Having won recognition from the new Soviet government as an autonomous body, Estonia gained its first constitution three years later and entered a twenty-two-year period of independence.

This period ended in 1939, after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Nonaggression Pact was signed by the Soviet Union and Germany. This agreement allowed the Soviet Union to occupy Estonia, Latvia, Finland, and Lithuania, while Germany occupied Poland. When it was absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1940, the country became known as the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (ESSR). Under Josef Stalin's regime (1944–53), the country saw the collectivization of farming and agriculture. Industry and manufacturing were also taken over by the government.

The ESSR finally gained independence in 1991, when the Republic of Estonia was reestablished and free elections were held. The Russian military officially withdrew from the country in 1994.

Today Estonia is a parliamentary republic, led by a president who is elected by the members of parliament to serve a five-year term. The prime minister is nominated by the president and approved by the parliament. The unicameral parliament is known as the Riigikogu, which works with the prime minister to propose and pass laws. The Riigikogu has 101 members who are directly elected in multiseat constituencies by proportional representation. Matters of justice are conducted by the Supreme Court. Political parties include the Center Party of Estonia, Estonian Conservative People's Party, Estonian Reform Party, Free Party, Social Democratic Party, and Pro Patria. All Estonian citizens can vote at eighteen years of age.

Interesting Facts

• The longest day of the year in Estonia lasts for nineteen hours. The shortest day is only six hours long.
• The "Singing Revolution" in the late 1980s involved thousands of Estonians singing together to protest the communist government.
• Estonia won the pan-European Eurovision Song Contest in 2001 with the song "Everybody" by Tanel Padar and Dave Benton. It was the first former Soviet country to win to contest.
• Estonian has one of the highest concentrations of predatory animals in Europe. Among them are brown bears, lynxes, and wolves.

Bibliography

"Estonia." The World Bank, data.worldbank.org/country/estonia. Accessed 30 Oct. 2023.

"Estonia." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 19 Oct. 2023, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/estonia/. Accessed 30 Oct. 2023.

"Estonia." Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 8 Sept. 2022, hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/EST. Accessed 30 Oct. 2023.

Travel and Tourism: Economic Impact 2015 Estonia. World Travel and Tourism Council, Mar. 2018, www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2018/estonia2018.pdf. Accessed 23 Jun. 2022.