*Estonia, People
Population:
1,608,469 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.52% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
14.05 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
12.13 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
19.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
69.75 years
male:
64.75 years
female:
74.99 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.01 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Estonian(s)
adjective:
Estonian
Ethnic divisions:
Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.17%, Belarusian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%,
other 2.13% (1989)
Religions:
Lutheran
Languages: Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other
Literacy:
age 9-49 can read and write (1970)
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
Labor force:
796,000
by occupation:
industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38%
(1990)
*Estonia, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Estonia
conventional short form:
Estonia
local long form:
Eesti Vabariik
local short form:
Eesti
former:
Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Digraph:
EN
Type:
republic
Capital:
Tallinn
Administrative divisions:
none (all districts are under direct republic jurisdiction)
Independence:
6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Constitution:
adopted 28 June 1992
Legal system:
based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Political parties and leaders:
Popular Front of Estonia (Rahvarinne), NA chairman; Estonian Christian
Democratic Party, Aivar KALA, chairman; Estonian Christian Democratic Union,
Illar HALLASTE, chairman; Estonian Heritage Society (EMS), Trivimi VELLISTE,
chairman; Estonian National Independence Party (ENIP), Lagle PAREK,
chairman; Estonian Social Democratic Party, Marju LAURISTIN, chairman;
Estonian Green Party, Tonu OJA; Independent Estonian Communist Party, Vaino
VALJAS; People's Centrist Party, Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman; Estonian Royalist
Party (ERP), Kalle KULBOK, chairman; Entrpreneurs' Party (EP), Tiit MADE;
Estonian Fatherland Party, Mart LAAR, chairman; Safe Home; Moderates;
Estonian Citizen
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Elections:
President:
last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA); results - no candidate
received majority; newly elected Parliament elected Lennart MERI (NA October
1992)
Parliament:
last held 20 September 1992; (next to be held NA); results - Fatherland 21%,
Safe Home 14%, Popular Front 13%, Moderates 10%, Estonian National
Independence Party 8%, Royalists 7%, Estonian Citizen 7%, Estonian
Entrepreneurs 2%, other 18%; seats - (101 total) Fatherland 29, Safe Home
18, Popular Front 15, Moderates 12, ENIP 10, Royalists 8, Estonian Citizen
8, Estonian Entrepreneurs 1
Congress of Estonia:
last held March 1990 (next to be held NA); note - Congress of Estonia was a
quasi-governmental structure which disbanded itself October 1992 after the
new Parliament and government were installed
Executive branch:
president, prime minister, cabinet
*Estonia, Government
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament (Riigikogu)
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Leaders:
Chief of State:
President Lennart MERI (since NA October 1992)
Head of Government:
Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since NA October 1992)
Member of:
CBSS, CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ILO, IMF, IMO, NACC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Toomas Hendrik IIVES
chancery:
(temporary) 630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2415, New York, NY 10111
telephone:
(212) 247-2131
consulate general:
New York
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Robert C. FRASURE
embassy:
Kentmanni 20, Tallin EE 0001
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
011-[358] (49) 303-182 (cellular) FAX:
[358] (49) 306-817 (cellular)
note:
dialing to Baltics still requires use of an international operator unless
you use the cellular phone lines
Flag:
pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal
horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
*Estonia, Economy
Overview:
As of June 1993 Estonia ranks first among the 15 former Soviet republics in
moving from its obsolete command economy to a modern market economy. Yet
serious problems remain. In contrast to the estimated 30% drop in output in
1992, GDP should grow by a small percent in 1993. Of key importance has been
the introduction of the kroon in August 1993 and the subsequent reductions
in inflation to 1%-2% per month. Starting in July 1991, under a new law on
private ownership, small enterprises, such as retail shops and restaurants,
were sold to private owners. The auctioning of large-scale enterprises is
progressing with the proceeds being held in escrow until the prior ownership
(that is, Estonian or the Commonwealth of Independent States) can be
established. Estonia ranks first in per capita consumption among the former
Soviet republics. Agriculture is well developed, especially meat production,
and provides a surplus for export. Only about one-fifth of the work force is
in agriculture. The major share of the work force engages in manufacturing
both capital and consumer goods based on raw materials and intermediate
products from the other former Soviet republics. These manufactures are of
high quality by ex-Soviet standards and are exported to the other republics.
Estonia's mineral resources are limited to major deposits of shale oil (60%
of the old Soviet total) and phosphorites (400 million tons). Estonia has a
large, relatively modern port and produces more than half of its own energy
needs at highly polluting shale oil power plants. It has advantages in the
transition, not having suffered so long under the Soviet yoke and having
better chances of developing profitable ties to the Nordic and West European
countries. Like Latvia, but unlike Lithuania, the large portion of ethnic
Russians (30%) in the population poses still another difficulty in the
transition to an independent market economy.
National product:
GDP $NA
National product real growth rate:
-30% (1992 est.)
National product per capita:
$NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1%-2% per month (first quarter 1993)
Unemployment rate:
3% (March 1993); but large number of underemployed workers
Budget:
revenues $223 million; expenditures $142 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (1992)
Exports:
$NA
commodities: textile 11%, wood products and timber 9%, dairy products 9%
partners:
Russia and the other former Soviet republics 50%, West 50% (1992)
Imports:
$NA
commodities:
machinery 45%, oil 13%, chemicals 12%
partners:
Finland 15%, Russia 18%
External debt:
$650 million (end of 1991)
Industrial production:
growth rate -40% (1992)
Electricity:
3,700,000 kW capacity; 22,900 million kWh produced, 14,245 kWh per capita
(1992)
*Estonia, Economy
Industries:
accounts for 30% of labor force; oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates,
electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper,
shoes, apparel
Agriculture:
employs 20% of work force; very efficient; net exports of meat, fish, dairy
products, and potatoes; imports of feedgrains for livestock; fruits and
vegetables
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia to
Western Europe; limited illicit opium producer; mostly for domestic
production
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (1992), $10 million
Currency:
1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 NA; (introduced in August 1992)
Exchange rates:
kroons (EEK) per US$1 - 12 (January 1993)
Fiscal year:
calendar year