Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/73.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 13KB | 339 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Eston.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Estonia"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Estonia, click {z,"18.942908,53.537926,32.450975,63.880768",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and
Russia

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 45,100 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 43,200 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly larger than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
{3}note:{4} includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 557 km
{3}border countries:{4} Latvia 267 km, Russia 290 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 1,393 km

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
{3}exclusive economic zone:{4} limits to be fixed in coordination with neighboring states
{3}territorial sea:{4} 12 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} claims over 2,000 sq km of Russian territory in the Narva and Pechora
regions - based on boundary established under the 1921 Peace Treaty of Tartu; disputes maritime
border with Latvia - primary concern is fishing rights around Ruhne Island in the Gulf of Riga

{2}Climate:{4} maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

{2}Terrain:{4} marshy, lowlands
{3}lowest point:{4} Baltic Sea 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Suur Munamagi 318 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} shale oil, peat, phosphorite, amber

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 22%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 11%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 31%
{3}other:{4} 36%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 110 sq km (1990)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} air heavily polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in
northeast; contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products, chemicals at former
Soviet military bases

{2}natural hazards:{4} flooding occurs frequently in the spring

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 1,459,428 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 20% (male 148,683; female 143,563)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 66% (male 467,759; female 501,519)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 14% (male 63,976; female 133,928) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} -1.13% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 10.74 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 14.12 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} -7.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 0.93 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.48 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.87 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 17.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 68.13 years
{3}male:{4} 62.5 years
{3}female:{4} 74.05 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 1.55 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Estonian(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Estonian

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.2%, Byelorussian 1.8%, Finn
1.1%, other 2.1% (1989)

{2}Religions:{4} Lutheran, Orthodox Christian

{2}Languages:{4} Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 100%
{3}male:{4} 100%
{3}female:{4} 100%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Estonia
{3}conventional short form:{4} Estonia
{3}local long form:{4} Eesti Vabariik
{3}local short form:{4} Eesti
{3}former:{4} Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

{2}Type of government:{4} republic

{2}Capital:{4} Tallinn

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harju maakond (Tallinn),
Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru maakond (Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond
(Jogeva), Laane maakond (Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Parnu maakond (Parnu),
Polva maakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare maakond (Kuessaare), Tartu maakond
(Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga), Viljandi maakond (Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru)
{3}note:{4} county centers are in parentheses

{2}Independence:{4} 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

{2}Constitution:{4} adopted 28 June 1992

{2}Legal system:{4} based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992) was elected for a five-year term
by Parliament; election last held 20 September 1992 (next to be held fall 1996); results - no
candidate received majority; Parliament elected Lennart MERI
{3}head of government:{4} Acting Prime Minister Tiit VAHI (since NA March 1995); the president
nominated and Parliament authorized the candidate for prime minister
{3}cabinet:{4} Council of Ministers was appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
Parliament (Riigikogu): elections last held 5 March 1995 (next to be held NA 1999); results - KMU
32.22%, RE 16.18%, K 14.17%, Pro Patria and ERSP 7.85%, M 5.98%, Our Home is Estonia
and Right-Wingers 5.0%; seats - (101 total) KMU 41, RE 19, K 16, Pro Patria 8, Our Home is
Estonia 6, M 6, Right-Wingers 5

{2}Judicial branch:{4} National Court

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Coalition Party and Rural Union (KMU), Tiit VAHI, chairman, made
up of 4 parties: Coalition Party, Country People's Party, Farmer's Assembly, and Pensioners' and
Families' League; Reform Party-Liberals (RE), Siim KALLAS, chairman; Center Party (K), Edgar
SAVISAAR, chairman; Union of Pro Patria or Fatherland Alliance (Isamaa of Fatherland), Toivo
JURGENSON, chairman; National Independence Party (ERSP), Kelam TUNNE, chairman, note -
may have disappeared since the last election; Our Home is Estonia made up of 2 parties: United
Peoples Party and the Russian People's Party of Estonia; United Peoples Party, Viktor
ANDREJEV, chairman; Russian People's Party of Estonia, Sergei KUZNETSOV, chairman;
Moderates (M) made up of 2 parties: Social Democratic Party and Rural Center Party; Social
Democratic Party, Eiki NESTOR, chairman; Rural Center Party, Vambo KAAL, chairman; Right-
Wingers, Ulo NUGIS, chairman

{2}International organization participation:{4} BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NACC, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO (applicant)

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Toomas Hendrik ILVES
{3}chancery:{4} 2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} New York

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Lawrence P. TAYLOR
{3}embassy:{4} Kentmanni 20, Tallinn EE 0001
{3}mailing address:{4} use embassy street address
{3}telephone:{4} [372] (6) 312-021
{3}FAX:{4} [372] (6) 312-025

{2}Flag:{4} pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue
(top), black, and white


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Estonia continues to experience strong economic growth after its economy
bottomed out in 1993. Bolstered by a widespread national desire to reintegrate into Western
Europe, Estonia has adhered to disciplined fiscal and financial policies and has led the FSU
countries in pursuing economic reform. Monthly inflation has been held to under 5% since the
beginning of 1992, with monthly inflation in 1995 at 2%. Following four years of decline, Estonia's
GDP grew 5% in 1994 and 6% in 1995 - among the highest rates in Europe, according to
estimates of the IMF and Estonia's own Economic Ministry. Despite these positive economic
indicators, unemployment - 8% in 1994 - is on the rise, and wages - especially for teachers and
law enforcement personnel - have not kept pace with inflation. Small- and medium-scale
privatization is essentially complete, and large-scale privatization is progressing, but slowly.
Estonia has successfully reoriented it trade toward the West, two-thirds of exports now going to
Western markets. Estonia's free trade policies were the cornerstone of its negotiations with the
European Union, and led to the signing of an association agreement in June 1995. Estonia was
the only Baltic state not to have a transition period imposed by the EU prior to its implementation
of a free trade agreement.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $12.3 billion (1995 estimate as extrapolated from World Bank
estimate for 1994)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 6% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $7,600 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 10%
{3}industry:{4} 37%
{3}services:{4} 53% (1993 est.)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 29% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 750,000 (1992)
{3}by occupation:{4} industry and construction 42%, agriculture and forestry 20%, other 38% (1990)

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 8% (1994 est.)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $620 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $582 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (January-October 1995)

{2}Industries:{4} oil shale, shipbuilding, phosphates, electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture,
clothing, textiles, paper, shoes, apparel

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} NA%

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 3,420,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 11.3 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 6,528 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia and Latin
America to Western Europe; very limited illicit opium producer; mostly for domestic consumption

{2}Exports:{4} $1.8 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
{3}commodities:{4} textile 14%, food products 11%, vehicles 11%, metals 11% (1993)
{3}partners:{4} Russia, Finland, Sweden, Germany

{2}Imports:{4} $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
{3}commodities:{4} machinery 18%, fuels 15%, vehicles 14%, textiles 10% (1993)
{3}partners:{4} Finland, Russia, Germany, Sweden

{2}External debt:{4} $270 million (January 1996)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $147 million (1993)
{3}note:{4} Western commitments $285 million (including international financial institutions)

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents (introduced in August 1992)

{2}Exchange rates:{4} krooni (EEK) per US$1 - 11.523 (December 1995), 11.465 (1995), 12.991 (1994),
13.223 (1993); note - krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed rate of 8 to 1

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines
{3}broad gauge:{4} 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 14,771 km
{3}paved:{4} 8,124 km (including 62 km of expressways)
{3}unpaved:{4} 6,647 km (1993)

{2}Waterways:{4} 500 km perennially navigable

{2}Pipelines:{4} natural gas 420 km (1992)

{2}Ports:{4} Haapsalu, Narva, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 353,140 GRT/467,086 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 6, cargo 33, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off cargo 6, short-sea passenger 4 (1995
est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 22
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 7
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 3
{3}with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 2
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 4
{3}with unpaved runways under 914 m:{4} 5 (1994 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 400,000

{2}Telephone system:{4} system is antiquated; improvements are being made piecemeal, with
emphasis on business needs and international connections; there are still about 150,000
unfulfilled requests for subscriber service
{3}domestic:{4} substantial investment has been made in cellular systems which are operational
throughout Estonia
{3}international:{4} international traffic is carried to the other former Soviet republics by landline or
microwave radio relay and to other countries partly by leased connection to the Moscow
international gateway switch and partly by a new Tallinn-Helsinki fiber-optic, submarine cable
which gives Estonia access to international circuits everywhere; access to the international
packet-switched digital network via Helsinki

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM NA, FM NA, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 710,000 (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 3
{3}note:{4} provide Estonian programs as well as Moscow Ostenkino's first and second programs

{2}Televisions:{4} 600,000 (1993 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Force (not officially sanctioned), Maritime
Border Guard, Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Security Forces (internal and border troops),
Coast Guard

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 357,835
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 280,757
{3}males reach military age (18) annually:{4} 10,525 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $35 million, 1.5% of GDP (1995)