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Republic of EstoniaEesti Vabariik
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm (English: Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help))
Location of Estonia (dark green) – in Europe (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union (light green)  –  [Legend]
Capitaland largest city	Tallinn
Official languages	Estonian
Ethnic groups	68.8 % Estonians 25.6 % Russians   2.1 % Ukrainians   4.5 % others
Demonym(s)	Estonian
Government	Parliamentary republic
• President	Toomas Hendrik Ilves
• Prime Minister	Andrus Ansip (RE)
• Parliament speaker	Ene Ergma (IRL)
• Current coalition	(RE, IRL, SDE)
Independence from Russia and Germany
Area
• Total	45,227 km (17,462 sq mi) (132nd)
• Water (%)	4.45%
Population
• 2007 estimate	1,340,602 (151st)
• 2000 census	1,376,743
• Density	29/km (75.1/sq mi) (173rd)
GDP (PPP)	2007 estimate
• Total	$27.633 billion (103th)
• Per capita	$20,584
GDP (nominal)	2007 estimate
• Total	$20.900 billion (91st)
• Per capita	$15,569 (41st)
Gini (2005)	34 medium inequality
HDI (2007)	0.860 Error: Invalid HDI value (44th)
Currency	Estonian kroon (EEK)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Drives on	Right
Calling code	372
ISO 3166 code	EE
Internet TLD	.ee
Võro and Seto in southern counties are spoken along with Estonian. Russian is widely spoken in Ida-Virumaa due to the Soviet program promoting mass immigration of urban industrial workers from the USSR in the post-war period. 47,549 km² were defined according to the Tartu Peace Treaty in 1920 between Estonia and Russia. Today the remaining 2,323 km² are nowadays part of Russia. The ceded areas include the Petserimaa county and the boundary in the north of Lake Peipus as the Lands behind the city of Narva including Ivangorod (Jaanilinn). .eu is also shared with other member states of the European Union.

Estonia /ɛsˈtoʊniə/, officially the Republic of Estonia (Template:Lang-et) is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Finland across the Gulf of Finland, to the west by Sweden across the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia (343 km), and to the east by the Russian Federation (338,6 km). The territory of Estonia covers 45,227 km² and is influenced by a temperate seasonal climate.

The Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns, with the Estonian language sharing many similarities to Finnish. The modern name of Estonia is thought to originate from the Roman historian Tacitus, who in his book Germania (ca. AD 98) described a people called the Aestii. Similarly, ancient Scandinavian sagas refer to a land called Eistland, close to the German term Estland for the country. Early Latin and other ancient versions of the name are Estia and Hestia. Until the late 1930s, the name was often written as Esthonia in most English speaking countries.

Estonia is a democratic parliamentary republic and is divided into fifteen counties. The capital and largest city is Tallinn. Estonia was a member of the League of Nations from 22 September 1921, has been a member of the United Nations since 17 September 1991, of the European Union since 1 May 2004 and of NATO since 29 March 2004. Estonia has also signed the Kyoto protocol. With only 1.4 million inhabitants, it comprises one of the smallest populations of the European Union countries.

The settlement of modern day Estonia began around 8500 BC, immediately after the Ice Age. Over the centuries, the Estonians were subjected to Danish, Teutonic, Swedish and Russian rule. Foreign rule in Estonia began in 1227, when as a consequence of the Northern Crusades the area was conquered by Danes and Germans. From 1228–1562, parts or most of Estonia were incorporated into the loosely organized Livonian Confederation of Teutonic Knights, during which time economic activity centered around the Hanseatic League. In the 1500s Estonia passed to Swedish rule, under which it remained until 1721, when it was ceded to the Russian Empire. The Estophile Enlightenment Period (1750-1840) led to a national awakening in the mid-19th century. In 1918 the Estonian Declaration of Independence was issued, to be followed by the Estonian War of Independence (1918-1920), which resulted in the Tartu Peace Treaty recognizing Estonian independence in perpetuity. During World War II, Estonia was occupied and annexed first by the Soviet Union and subsequently by the Third Reich, only to be re-occupied by the Soviet Union in 1944.

Estonia regained its independence on 20 August 1991. It has since embarked on a rapid program of social and economic reform. Today, the country has gained recognition for its economic freedom, its adaptation of new technologies and as one of the world's fastest growing economies.

Geography

Topography

Estonia lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea immediately across the Gulf of Finland from Finland on the level northwestern part of the rising east European platform between 57.3° and 59.5° N and 21.5° and 28.1° E. Average elevation reaches only 50 meters (164 ft) and the country's highest point is the Suur Munamägi in the southeast at 318 meters (1,043 ft). Estonia has over 1,400 lakes. Most are very small, with the largest, Lake Peipus, (Peipsi in Estonian) being 3,555 km² (1372 sq mi). There are many rivers in the country. The largest are the Võhandu (162 km), Pärnu (144 km), and Põltsamaa (135 km). Estonia also has numerous bogs, and 3,794 kilometers (2,357 mi) of coastline marked by numerous bays, straits, and inlets. The number of islands and islets is estimated at some 1,500. Two are large enough to constitute their own counties: Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.

Climate

Estonia lies in the northern part of the temperate climate zone and in the transition zone between maritime and continental climate. Because Estonia (and all of Northern Europe) is continuously warmed by the Gulf Stream it has a milder climate despite its northern latitude. The Baltic Sea causes differences between the climate of coastal and inland areas. The average annual temperature in Estonia is 5.2°C . The average temperature in February, the coldest month of the year, is -5.7°C . The average temperature in July, which is considered the warmest month of the year, is 16.4°C. The climate is also influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the North-Atlantic Stream and the Icelandic Minimum, which is an area known for the formation of cyclones and where the average air pressure is lower than in neighbouring areas. Estonia is located in a humid zone in which the amount of precipitation is greater than total evaporation. There are about 160 to 190 rainy days a year, and average precipitation is most plentiful on the western slopes of the Sakala and Haanja Uplands. Snow cover, which is deepest in the south-eastern part of Estonia, usually lasts from mid-December to late March.

Wildlife

Phytogeographically, Estonia is shared between the Central European and Eastern European provinces of the Circumboreal Region within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of Estonia belongs to the ecoregion of Sarmatic mixed forests.

Estonia's sparse population and large areas of forest have allowed stocks of European Lynx, Wild Boar, Brown Bears, and moose to survive, among other animals. Estonia is thought to have a wolf population of around 200, which is considered slightly above the optimum range (100-200). Its birdlife includes Golden Eagles and White Storks. It has around a dozen national parks and protected areas, including Lahemaa National Park, the country’s largest park, on the northern coast. Soomaa National Park, near Pärnu, is known for its ancient wetlands. Reserves such as Käina Bay Bird Reserve and Matsalu Nature Reserve (a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention) are also popular with locals and tourists and support a wide variety of birdlife.

Counties

The Republic of Estonia is divided into fifteen counties (Maakonnad) which are the administrative subdivisions of the country. The first documented mentioning of Estonian political and administrative subdivisions comes from the Chronicle of Henry of Livonia, written in the 13th century during the Northern Crusades.

A maakond (county) is the biggest administrative subdivision. The county government (Maavalitsus) of each county is led by a county governor (Maavanem), who represents the national government at the regional level. Governors are appointed by Eesti Valitsus (government) for a term of five years. Several changes were made to the borders of counties after Estonia became independent, most notably the formation of Valga County (from parts of Võru, Tartu and Viljandi counties) and Petseri County (area acquired from Russia with the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty).

During the Soviet rule, Petseri County was annexed and ceded to the Russian SFSR in 1945 where it became one the Pskovs districts. Counties were again re-established in 1 January, 1990 in the borders of the Soviet-era regions. Due to the numerous differences between the current and historical (pre-1940) layouts, the historical borders are still used in ethnology, representing cultural and linguistic differences better.

Municipalities and cities

Template:Estonian cities

Politics

Politics of Estonia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Estonia is the head of government, and of a multi-party system.

Parliament

The Parliament of Estonia (Template:Lang-et) or the legislative branch is elected by people for a four year term by proportional representation. Estonia is a parliamentary, representative democratic republic. The Estonian political system operates under a framework laid out in the 1992 constitutional document. The Estonian parliament has 101 members and influences the governing of the state primarily by determining the income and the expenses of the state (establishing taxes and adopting the budget). At the same time the parliament has the right to present statements, declarations and appeals to the people of Estonia, ratify and denounce international treaties with other states and international organisations and decide on the Government loans.

The Riigikogu elects and appoints several high officials of the state, including the President of the Republic. In addition to that, the Riigikogu appoints, on the proposal of the President of Estonia, the Chairman of the National Court, the Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Estonia, the Auditor General, the Legal Chancellor and the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. A member of the Riigikogu has the right to demand explanations from the Government of the Republic and its members. This enables the members of the parliament to observe the activities of the executive power and the abovementioned high officials of the state.

Government and e-Government

The Government of Estonia (Template:Lang-et) or the executive branch is formed by the Prime Minister of Estonia, nominated by the president and approved by the parliament. The government exercises executive power pursuant to the Constitution of Estonia and the laws of the Republic of Estonia and consists of 12 ministers, including the prime minister. The prime minister also has the right to appoint other ministers, whom he or she will assign with a subject to deal with and who will not have a ministry to control, becoming a minister without portfolio who currently is the Minister of Regions. The prime minister has the right to appoint a maximum of 3 such ministers, as the limit of ministers in one government is 15. It is also known as the cabinet. The cabinet carries out the country’s domestic and foreign policy, shaped by parliament; it directs and co-ordinates the work of government institutions and bears full responsibility for everything occurring within the authority of executive power. The government, headed by the Prime Minister, thus represents the political leadership of the country and makes decisions in the name of the whole executive power.

Estonia has pursued the development of the e-state and e-government. Internet voting is used in elections in Estonia. The first Internet voting took place in the 2005 local elections and the first in a parliamentary election was made available for the 2007 elections, in which 30,275 individuals voted over the Internet. Voters have a chance to invalidate their vote in traditional elections, if they wish to. In its 2007 Worldwide Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked Estonia 3rd out of 169 countries.

Law and courts

According to the Constitution of Estonia (Template:Lang-et) the supreme power of the state is vested in the people. The people exercise their supreme power of the state on the elections of the Riigikogu through citizens who have the right to vote. The supreme judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court or Riigikohus, with 17 justices. The Chief Justice is appointed by the parliament for nine years on nomination by the president. The official Head of State is the President of Estonia, who gives assent to the laws passed by Riigikogu, also having the right of sending them back and proposing new laws. The president, however, does not use these rights very often, having a largely ceremonial role. He or she is elected by Riigikogu, with two-thirds of the votes required. If the candidate does not gain the amount of votes required, the right to elect the president goes over to an electoral body, consisting of the 101 members of Riigikogu and representatives from local councils. As other spheres, Estonian law-making has been successfully integrated with the Information Age.

Foreign relations

Since regaining independence, Estonia has pursued a foreign policy of close cooperation with its Western European neighbors.

The two most important policy objectives in this regard have been accession into NATO and the European Union, achieved in March and May 2004 respectively. Estonia's international realignment toward the West has been accompanied by a general deterioration in relations with Russia, most recently demonstrated by the controversy surrounding relocation of the Bronze Soldier WWII memorial in Tallinn.

An important element in Estonia's post-independence reorientation has been closer ties with the Nordic countries, especially Finland and Sweden. Indeed, Estonians consider themselves a Nordic people rather than Balts, based on their historical ties with Sweden, Denmark and particularly Finland. In December 1999 Estonian foreign minister (and since 2006, president of Estonia) Toomas Hendrik Ilves delivered a speech entitled "Estonia as a Nordic Country" to the Swedish Institute for International Affairs. In 2003, the foreign ministry also hosted an exhibit called "Estonia: Nordic with a Twist". And in 2005, Estonia joined the European Union's Nordic Battle Group. It has also shown continued interest in joining the Nordic Council.

Whereas in 1992 Russia accounted for 92% of Estonia's inter­national trade, today there is extensive economic interdependence between Estonia and its Nordic neighbors: three quarters of foreign investment in Estonia originates in the Nordic countries (principally Finland and Sweden), to which Estonia sends 42% of its exports (as compared to 6.5% going to Russia, 8.8% to Latvia, and 4.7% to Lithuania). On the other hand, the Estonian political system, its flat rate of income tax, and its non-welfare-state model distinguish it from the other Nordic states, and indeed from many other European countries.

International rankings

Template:International rankings of Estonia

Military

The military of Estonia is based upon the Estonian Defence Forces (Template:Lang-et) which is the name of the unified armed forces of the republic with Maavägi (Army), Merevägi (Navy), Õhuvägi (Air Force) and a paramilitary national guard organization Kaitseliit (Defence League). The Estonian National Defence Policy aim is to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land, territorial waters, airspace and its constitutional order. At the moment the main strategic goals are to be able to defend the countries interests and development of the armed forces which would be ready to be interoperability with the other armed forces of NATO and European Union member states and also their capability to participate in NATO missions.

The current national military service (Template:Lang-et) is compulsory for men between 18 and 28, and conscripts serve eight-month to eleven-month tours of duty depending on the army branch they serve in. Estonia has retained conscription unlike Latvia and Lithuania and has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces. In 2008, the military spending will reach to 1.85% - 5 billion krones of the GDP and will continue to increase till 2010 when the 2.0% level is achieved. As of January 2008, the Estonian military had almost 300 troops stationed in foreign countries as part of various international peacekeeping forces, including 35 Defence League troops stationed in Kosovo; 120 Ground Forces soldiers in the NATO-led ISAF force in Afghanistan; 80 soldiers stationed as a part of MNF in the Iraq; and 2 Estonian officers in Bosnia-Herzegovina and 2 Estonian military agents in Israel in Golan Heights. The Estonian Defence Forces have had previously military missions also in Croatia from March till October 1995, in Lebanon from December 1996 till June 1997 and in Macedonia from May till December 2003. Estonia participates in the Nordic Battlegroup and has announced readiness to send soldiers also to Sudan to Darfur if necessary, creating the very first African peacekeeping mission for the armed forces of Estonia.

e-Military

The Ministry of Defence and the Defence Forces have been working on a cyber warfare and defence formation for some years now. In 2007 a military doctrine of an e-military of Estonia was officially introduced as the country was under massive cyberattacks. The proposed aim of the e-military is to secure the vital infrastructure and e-infrastructure of Estonia. The main cyber warfare facility is the Computer Emergency Response Team of Estonia (CERT) which was founded in 2006. The organization operates with the security problems that occur in the local networks also with those which are started there.

On 25 June 2007, Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves met with the President of the United States, George W. Bush. Among the topics discussed were the attacks on Estonian e-infrastructure. The attacks triggered a number of military organisations around the world to reconsider the importance of network security to modern military doctrine. On 14 June 2007, defence ministers of NATO members held a meeting in Brussels, issuing a joint communiqué promising immediate action. First public results are estimated to arrive by autumn 2007. As to the placement of a newly planned NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCD) (COE), Bush announced his support of Estonia as this centre's location. In the aftermath of the cyberattacks on Estonia, plans to combine network defence with Estonian military doctrine, and related NATO plans to create a cybernetic defence centre in Estonia, have been nicknamed as the Tiger's Defence (Template:Lang-et), in reference to Tiigrihüpe.

Economy

As a member of the European Union, Estonia's economy is rated as high income by the World Bank. The Estonian economy Estonian economic miracle has often been described as the Baltic Tiger. By 1929, a stable currency, the kroon, was established. It is issued by the Bank of Estonia, the country's central bank. Trade focused on the local market and the West, particularly Germany and the United Kingdom. Only 3% of all commerce was with the USSR. Before the Second World War Estonia was mainly an agriculture country whose products such as butter, milk and cheese was widely known on the western European markets. The USSR's forcible annexation of Estonia in 1940 and the ensuing Nazi and Soviet destruction during World War II crippled the Estonian economy. Post-war Sovietization of life continued with the integration of Estonia's economy and industry into the USSR's centrally planned structure.

Since re-establishing independence, Estonia has styled itself as the gateway between East and West and aggressively pursued economic reform and integration with the West. Estonia's market reforms put it among the economic leaders in the former COMECON area. In 1994, Estonia became one of the first countries in the world to adopt a flat tax, with a uniform rate of 26% regardless of personal income. In January 2005 the personal income tax rate was reduced to 24%. A subsequent reduction to 23% followed in January 2006. The income tax rate will be decreased by 1% annually to reach 18% by January 2010. The Government of Estonia finalized the design of Estonia's euro coins in late 2004, and is now intending to adopt the euro as the country's currency between 2011 and 2013, later than planned due to continued high inflation. In 1999, Estonia experienced its worst year economically since it regained independence in 1991, largely because of the impact of the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Estonia joined the WTO in November 1999. With assistance from the European Union, the World Bank and the Nordic Investment Bank, Estonia completed most of its preparations for European Union membership by the end of 2002 and now has one of the strongest economies of the new member states of the European Union.

A balanced budget, almost non-existent public debt, flat-rate income tax, free trade regime, fully convertible currency backed by currency board and a strong peg to the euro, competitive commercial banking sector, hospitable environment for foreign investment, innovative e-Services and even mobile-based services are all hallmarks of Estonia's free-market-based economy.

Resources

Although Estonia is in general resource-poor, the land still offers a large variety of smaller resources. The country has large oil shale and limestone deposits, along with forests which cover 47% of the land. In addition to oil shale and limestone, Estonia also has large reserves of phosphorite, pitchblende and granite which are not mined or mined extensively at the moment. In recent years a public debate has been raised in the terms of whether Estonia should build a nuclear power plant in order to secure the energy production after the shut down of the Narva Power Plants if they are not reconstructed by the year 2016. It has been estimated that once Estonia starts using nuclear energy then the local uranium mining could have potential in the terms of financial risks and investments.

Infrastructure and e-infrastructure

As Estonia has been an important transit center since the medieval ages the country’s favorable geographic location, along with its developing infrastructure, offers good opportunities for all transport and logistics related activities. The rail transport dominates the cargo sector, comprising 70% of all carried goods, domestic and international. Since 2007 the transit sector importance in the economy has been reducing, mainly due to the economical-political confrontation between Estonia and Russia. This however has not recognized internationally. The road transport accounts almost 90% of all transported passengers. In recent years the Tallinn-Tartu Highway reconstruction has gained an over national importance as it connects two of the most largest cities in the country. The highway reconstruction (2+2 route) has also been written to the current Governing Coalition programme. Also the proposed permanent connection to Saaremaa Island is among the over national infrastructure building programme. Both of these project costs however have been estimated in billions of krones which have also gained a lot of media attention and caused public debates over the real need of such constructions. There are currently five major cargo ports which offer easy navigational access, deep waters, and good ice conditions. There are 12 airports and one heliport in Estonia of which the Tallinn Airport is the largest airport, providing services to a number of international carriers flying to 23 destinations.

Estonia has a strong information technology (IT) sector, partly due to the Tiigrihüpe project undertaken in mid 1990s, and has been mentioned as the most "wired" and advanced country in Europe in the terms of e-Government of Estonia.

Industry and environment

Food, construction, and electronic industries are currently among the most important branches of Estonia’s industry. In 2007, the construction industry employed more than 80,000 people which make around 12% of the entire country's workforce. Another important industrial sector is the machinery and chemical industry which is mainly located in Ida-Viru County and around Tallinn. The oil shale based mining industry, which is also concentrated in East-Estonia, produces around 90% of the entire country's electricity. The extensive oil shale usage however has caused also severe damage to the environment. Although the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have been falling since the 1980s, the air is still polluted with sulphur dioxide from the mining industry which was rapidly developed by the Soviet Union in early 1950s. In some areas the coastal seawater is polluted, mainly around the Sillamäe industrial complex.

Estonia is a dependent country in the terms of energy and energy production. In recent years many local and foreign companies have been investing in renewable energy sources. The importance of wind power has been increasing steadily in Estonia and currently the total amount of energy production from wind is nearly 60 MW while at the same time roughly 399 MW worth of projects are currently being developed and more than 2800 MW worth of projects are being proposed in the Lake Peipus area and the coastal areas of Hiiumaa. Currently there are plans to renovate some sections of the Narva Power Plants, establish new power stations, and provide higher efficiency in oil shale based energy production. The Estonian energy market liberalization is in progress and should be completed before 2009, as well as all of the non-household market, which totals around 77% of consumption, before 2013.

Together with Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia, the country considering to participate in the Visaginas nuclear power plant in Lithuania to replace the Ignalina. However, due to the slow pace of the project, Estonia does not rule out building its own nuclear reactor. Another consideration is doing a joint project with Finland because the two electricity grids are connected.

The country is considering to apply nuclear power for its oil shale production.

Trade and investment

Estonia has a modern market-based economy since the end of 1990s and one of the highest per capita income levels in Eastern Europe. Proximity to the Scandinavian markets, location between the East and West, competitive cost structure and high-skill labour force have been the major Estonian comparative advantages in the beginning of the 2000s. Tallinn as the largest city has emerged as a financial center and the Tallinn Stock Exchange joined recently with the OMX system. The current government has pursued relatively sound fiscal policies, resulting in balanced budgets and low public debt. In 2007, however, a large current account deficit and rising inflation put pressure on Estonia's currency, which is pegged to the euro, highlighting the need for growth in export-generating industries.

Demographics

With only 1.3 million inhabitants, Estonia is one of the least populous countries in the European Union. The current fertility rate is 1.41 children per mother, and has been increasing in recent years. Estonia has a small number of larger cities, the most populous being Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Kohtla-Järve and Pärnu.

By far the largest conurbation is the Tallinn region, including cities of Maardu, Saue and smaller municipalities of Viimsi, Tabasalu, Vääna-Jõesuu and Männiku.

Ethnic and cultural diversity

Tolerance and democracy are illustrated by the Law on the Cultural Autonomy for National Minorities, passed already in 1925, which was not only the first in Europe at the time but also very progressive. Prior to World War II, Estonia was a relatively homogeneous society – ethnic Estonians constituted 88% of the population, with national minorities constituting the remaining 12%. The largest minority groups in 1934 were Russians, Germans, Swedes, Latvians, Jews, Poles, Finns and Ingrians. Cultural autonomies could be granted to minorities numbering more than 3,000 people with longstanding ties to the Republic of Estonia. Prior to the Soviet occupation, the Germans and Jewish minorities managed to elect a cultural council. The Law on Cultural Autonomy for National Minorities was reinstated in 1993.

The country's official language is Estonian, which belongs to the Finnic branch of the Uralic languages. Estonian is thus closely related to Finnish, spoken on the other side of the Gulf of Finland, and is one of the few languages of Europe that is not of an Indo-European origin. Despite some overlaps in the vocabulary due to borrowings, in terms of its origin, Estonian is not related to its nearest neighbors, Swedish, Latvian and Russian, which are all Indo-European languages. Russian is widely spoken as a secondary language by thirty- to seventy-year-old ethnic Estonians, because Russian was the unofficial language of the occupied Estonia from 1944 to 1991 taught as a compulsory second language during the Soviet era. First and second generation of industrial immigrants from various parts of the former Soviet Union (mainly Russia) do not speak Estonian. The latter, mostly Russian-speaking ethnic minorities, reside predominantly in the capital city (Tallinn) and the industrial urban areas in Ida-Virumaa. Most common foreign languages learned by Estonians are English, German, Russian, Swedish, Finnish and in recent years also Latvian.

Culture and arts

Part of a series on the
Culture of Estonia
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The culture of Estonia incorporates indigenous heritage, as represented by the country's rare Finno-Ugric national language Estonian and the sauna, with mainstream Nordic and European cultural aspects. Due to its history and geography, Estonia's culture has been influenced by the traditions of the adjacent area's various Finnic, Baltic and Germanic peoples as well as the cultural developments in the former dominant powers Sweden and Russia. Traditionally, Estonia has been seen as an area of rivalry between western and eastern Europe on many levels. An example of this geopolitical legacy is an exceptional combination of nationally recognized Christian traditions: a western Protestant and an eastern Orthodox Church. Like the mainstream culture in the other Nordic countries, Estonian culture can be seen to build upon the ascetic environmental realities and traditional livelihoods, a heritage of comparatively widespread egalitarianism out of practical reasons (see: Everyman's right and universal suffrage), and the ideals of closeness to nature and self-sufficiency (see: summer cottage).

Literature

The literature of Estonia refers to literature written in the Estonian language (ca. 1 million speakers). The domination of Estonia after the Northern Crusades, from the 13th century to 1918 by Germany, Sweden, and Russia resulted few early written literary works in Estonian language. The oldest records of written Estonian date from the 13th century. Originates Livoniae in Chronicle of Henry of Livonia contains Estonian place names, words and fragments of sentences. The Liber Census Daniae (1241) contains Estonian place and family names.

The cultural stratum of Estonian, was originally characterised by a largely lyrical form of folk poetry based on syllabic quantity. Apart from a few albeit remarkable exceptions, this archaic form has not been much employed in later times. The most outstanding achievements in this field are the national epic Kalevipoeg. At a professional level, traditional folk song reached its new heyday during the last quarter of the 20th century, primarily thanks to the work of composer Veljo Tormis. In modern times Jaan Kross and Jaan Kaplinski remain to be Estonia's best known and most translated writers.

Media

The cinema of Estonia started in 1908 with the production of a newsreel about Swedish King Gustav V’s visit to Tallinn. The first public TV broadcast in Estonia was in July 1955. Regular, live radio-broadcasts began already in December 1926. Deregulation in the field of electronic media has brought radical changes compared to the beginning of 1990s. The first licenses for private TV broadcasters were issued in 1992. The first private radio station went on the air in 1990.

Today the media is a vibrant sector at the forefront of change in Estonian society. There is a plethora of weekly newspapers and magazines. Estonians face a choice of 9 domestic TV channels and a host of radio stations. The Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and the fact that Estonia does have a free press is recognized by various international press freedom bodies, like the US-based Freedom House. Estonia has two news agencies. The Baltic News Service (BNS), founded in 1990, is a private regional news agency covering Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The ETV24 is an agency owned by Eesti Rahvusringhääling who is a publicly funded radio and television organization created on 30 June 2007 to take over the functions of the formerly separate Eesti Raadio and Eesti Televisioon under the terms of the Estonian National Broadcasting Act.

Music

The earliest mentioning of Estonian singing dates back to Saxo Grammaticus Gesta Danorum (ca. 1179). Saxo speaks of Estonian warriors who sang at night while waiting for a battle. The older folksongs are also referred to as regilaulud, songs in the poetic metre regivärss the tradition shared by all Baltic Finns. Runic singing was widespread among Estonians until the 18th century, when it started to be replaced by rhythmic folksongs. Professional Estonian musicians and composers such as Rudolf Tobias, Mart Saar and Artur Kapp emerged in the late 19th century at the time of Estonian national awakening. Nowadays the most known Estonian composers are Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis. Traditional wind instruments derived from those used by shepherds were once widespread, but are now becoming again more commonly played. Other instruments, including the fiddle, zither, concertina and accordion are used to play polka or other dance music. The kannel is a native instrument that is now again becoming more popular in Estonia. A Native Music Preserving Center was opened in 2008 in Viljandi.

The Estonian Song Festival (Laulupidu) is an event which takes place in Tallinns Song Festival Ground (Lauluväljak) every four years in July. The last song festival was in 2007 and the next festival will be in 2009. Nowadays those festivals are held on The Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. Estonia entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 and in 2001, Tanel Padar and Dave Benton's "Everybody" won the contest. In 2002, Estonia was the host nation for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2008 Estonia's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was performed by Kreisiraadio comedy group with a song "Leto Svet" which created some controversy amongst Estonian and international Eurovision fans.

Society

Today's Estonia is a multinational country where, according to the 2000 census, altogether 109 languages are spoken. 83.4% of Estonian citizens speak Estonian as their mother tongue, 15.3% – Russian and 1% speak other languages. 83.6% of Estonian residents are Estonian citizens, 7.4% are citizens of other countries and 9% are "citizens with undetermined citizenship". The number of Estonian citizens who have become citizens through naturalization process (over 140,000 persons) exceeds the number of residents of undetermined citizenship (ac. 120,000 persons).

There is only one Nationality Holiday in Estonia which is on the 24 February and marks the Independence Day of Estonia, which is also a day of rest. There are 12 State Holidays and 10 Over-National Days celebrated in the country.

Cuisine

Historically the cuisine of Estonia has been heavily dependent on seasons and simple peasant food, which today is influenced by many countries. Today it includes many typical international foods. The most typical foods in Estonia are black bread, pork, potatoes and dairy products. Traditionally in summer and spring, Estonians like to eat everything fresh - berries, herbs, vegetables and everything else that comes straight from the garden. Hunting and fishing have also been very common, although currently hunting and fishing are enjoyed mostly as hobbies. Today it is also very popular to grill outside in summer. Traditionally in winter jams, preserves and pickles are brought to the table. Estonia has been through rough times in the past and thus gathering and conserving fruits, mushrooms and vegetables for winter has always been essential. Today gathering and conserving is not that common because everything can be bought from stores, but preparing food for winter is still very popular in the countryside and still has somewhat ritual significance. Being a country with a large coastal line, fish has also been very important.

Education and science

The history of formal education in Estonia dates back to the 13–14th centuries when the first monastic and cathedral schools were founded. The first primer in the Estonian language was published in 1575. The oldest university is the University of Tartu which was established by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf in 1632. In 1919, university courses were first taught in the Estonian language.

Today's education in Estonia is divided into general, vocational and hobby education. The education system is based on four levels which include the pre-school, basic, secondary and higher education. A wide network of schools and supporting educational institutions has been established. The Estonian educational system consists of state, municipal, public and private educational institutions. There are currently 589 schools in Estonia.

Academic higher education in Estonia is divided into three levels: bachelor’s studies, master’s studies, and doctoral studies. In some specialties (basic medical studies, veterinary, pharmacy, dentistry, architect-engineer and a classroom teacher program) the Bachelors and Master’s levels are integrated into one unit. Estonian public universities have significantly more autonomy than applied higher education institutions. In addition to organizing the academic life of the university, universities can create new curricula, establish admission terms and conditions, approve the budget, approve the development plan, elect the rector and make restricted decisions in matters concerning assets. Estonia has a moderate number of public and private universities. The largest public universities are Tartu University, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn University, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonian Academy of Arts, and the largest private university is the International University of Audentes.

The Estonian Academy of Sciences is Estonia's national academy of science. The IT industry of Estonia in late 1950s as the first computer centers were established in Tartu and Tallinn. Estonian specialists contributed in the development of software engineering standards for different ministries of the Soviet Union during the 1980s.

Religion

According to the constitution there is a freedom of religion, no state church and that every person has the right to privacy of belief and religion. Although Estonia has one of the highest level of irreligious individuals in the world, with over 76% of the population stating no specific religious affiliation, the dominant religion in the country is Evangelical Lutheranism. The dominant religions in Estonia were Taara (Tharapita) and maausk (earth religion), until the Christianization by the Teutonic Knights in late 13th century. During the Reformation, Lutheranism spread, and the church was officially established in Estonia in 1686. Still, Estonians generally tend not to be very religious, because religion through the nineteenth century was associated with German feudal rule.

The second most populous religious group is the Eastern Orthodox, especially among the Russian minority. Historically there has been also another dominant minority religion, Russian Old-believers near Lake Peipus area in Tartu County. In 2000 there were about 152,000 Lutherans, 143,000 Orthodoxies, 5,000 Catholics and nearly 2,000 Taaras in Estonia. In addition there were around 68,000 people who stated themselves as atheists.

Sports

Sport plays an important role in Estonian culture. Estonia first competed as a nation at the 1920 Summer Olympics, although the National Olympic Committee was established in 1923. Estonian athletes took part of the Olympic Games until the country was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. The 1980 Summer Olympics Sailing regatta was held in the capital city Tallinn. After regaining independence in 1991, Estonia has participated in all Olympics. Estonia has won most of its medals in athletics, weightlifting, wrestling and cross-country skiing.

Further reading

• Hiden, John (1991). The Baltic Nations and Europe: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the Twentieth Century. London: Longman. ISBN 0-582-08246-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Laar, Mart (1992). War in the Woods: Estonia's Struggle for Survival, 1944-1956. trans. Tiina Ets. Washington, D.C.: Compass Press. ISBN 0-929590-08-2.
• Lieven, Anatol (1993). The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and the Path to Independence. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-05552-8.
• Raun, Toivo U. (1987). Estonia and the Estonians. Stanford, Calif.: Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University. ISBN 0-8179-8511-5.
• Smith, David J. (2001). Estonia: Independence and European Integration. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-26728-5.
• Smith, Graham (ed.) (1994). The Baltic States: The National Self-determination of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-12060-5. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
• Taagepera, Rein (1993). Estonia: Return to Independence. Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press. ISBN 0-8133-1199-3.
• Taylor, Neil (2004). Estonia (4th ed. ed.). Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt. ISBN 1-84162-095-5. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
• Williams, Nicola (2003). Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (3rd ed. ed.). London: Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74059-132-1. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
• Subrenat, Jean-Jacques (Ed.) (2004). Estonia, identity and independence. Rodopi. ISBN 90-420-0890-3. {{cite book}}: Text "Amsterdam & New York" ignored (help)

Notes and references

1. Estonian Statistics Bureau
2. ^ "Estonia". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
3. Territorial changes of the Baltic states#Actual territorial changes after World War II Soviet territorial changes against Estonia after World War II
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/Pechory Pechory under Russian control
5. Portal of the Republic of Estonia, Template:Et icon
6. The Law of Nations: cases, documents and notes - Page 106
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/United_Nations_member_states Estonian date of admission into the United Nations
8. http://en.wikipedia.org/European_Union_member_state Estonian date of admission into the European Union
9. http://en.wikipedia.org/Nato#Membership Estonian date of admission into the NATO
10. U.S.-Baltic Relations: Celebrating 85 Years of Friendship at state.gov
11. Motion for a resolution on the Situation in Estonia by EU
12. European Court of Human Rights cases on Occupation of Baltic States
13. Index of Economic Freedom
14. BBC NEWS Europe Tiny Estonia leads internet revolution
15. The Estonian Economic Miracle
16. ^ "World InfoZone - Estonia". World InfoZone. World InfoZonek, LTD. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |access_date= ignored (help) Cite error: The named reference "worldinfo" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
17. EMHI
18. EMHI
19. EMHI
20. Systematic list of Estonian mammals
21. Template:Et icon"Laupäeval algab hundijaht". 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
22. Template:Et iconKeskkonnainfo: hunt
23. Birds Of Estonia
24. History of Estonia History of Estonia
25. Constitution_of_Estonia#Chapter_1:_General_Provisions Constitution of Estonia "All the territories of Estonia are indivisible and part of a unitary state"
26. http://en.wikipedia.org/Tartu_Peace_Treaty Soviet territorial changes against Estonia
27. Riigikogu functions, Riigikogu Template:En icon
28. Estonia pulls off nationwide Net voting, Download.com Template:En icon
29. Riigikogu introduction, Riigikogu Template:En icon
30. BBC NEWS | Europe | Estonia blames Russia for unrest
31. Estonian foreign ministry publication, 2004
32. Estonian foreign ministry publication, 2002
33. NATO :: NATO :: Estonia as a Nordic Country
34. Estonia - Nordic with a Twist
35. The Estonian Economic Miracle
36. http://www.investinestonia.com/pdf/ForeignTrade2007.pdf Foreign investment
37. http://ee/index_eng.php Estonian National Defence Policy
38. http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=body&id=6 Estonian Defence Budget
39. http://operatsioonid.kmin.ee/index.php?page=86& Estonian military missions in Middle-East
40. http://www.mil.ee/?menu=operatsioonid&sisu=operatsioonid6 Former operations
41. Eesti osalus Euroopa julgeoleku- ja kaitsepoliitikas – ESDP, Estonian Ministry of Defence Template:Et icon
42. "Estonia fines man for 'cyber war'". BBC. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
43. http://www.ria.ee/?id=28201 CERT Estonia
44. White House 4 May 2007: President Bush to Welcome President Toomas Ilves of Estonia
45. Yahoo/AFP 25 June 2007: Bush, Ilves eye tougher tack on cybercrime
46. Eesti Päevaleht 15 June 2007: NATO andis rohelise tule Eesti küberkaitse kavale by Ahto Lobjakas
47. Eesti Päevaleht 28 June 2007: USA toetab Eesti küberkaitsekeskust by Krister Paris
48. Office of the President of Estonia 25 June 2007: President Ilves kohtus Ameerika Ühendriikide riigipeaga
49. http://www.ut.ee/BGGM/maavara/dityoneema.html Uranium production at Sillamäe
50. Future Report: Finnish and Estonian joint nuclear power station could be located in Estonia, Postimees Template:Et icon
51. Estonians hesitation towards the nuclear energy, Postimees Template:Et icon
52. Estonian rail transport reduced 24,5% in 2007
53. Programme of the Coalition for 2007-2011: Rural life, regional and infrastructure development policy, Template:En icon
54. Saaremaa–mandri sild saab sõltumatu Eesti proovikiviks Template:Et icon
55. Hackers Take Down the Most Wired Country in Europe, August 2007
56. Invest in Estonia: Overview of the Construction industry in Estonia, Template:En icon
57. http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2005/geos/en.html Environment - current issues in Estonia. CIA FactbookTemplate:En icon
58. Estonian Wind Power Association
59. Peipsile võib kerkida mitusada tuulikut, Postimees Template:Et icon
60. Tuule püüdmine on saanud Eesti kullapalavikuks, Estonian Daily Template:Et icon
61. http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/estonia/env2001/content/soe/air_2-3.htm State Environment in Estonia.Template:En icon
62. Energy Security of Estonia in the context of the Energy Policy of the EU
63. "Visaginas recognised with nuclear site name". World Nuclear News. 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
64. "Nuclear Power Plant Project in Lithuania is Feasible. Press release". Lietuvos Energija. 2006-10-25. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
65. Collier, Mike. “Estonia to become nuclear power?” The Baltic Times. 22 February 2008. <http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/19881/>
66. http://www.planetark.com/avantgo/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=47374
67. ^ CIA World Factbook: Estonia
68. European Union Structural Funds in Estonia, Template:En icon
69. Riigi Raha Raamat Template:Et icon
70. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/en.html#Econ CIA Fact book
71. Ethnic minorities in Estonia: past and present
72. Kirch, Aksel. "Russians in contemporary Estonia — different strategies of the integration in to the nation-state."
73. Culture of Estonia, Misplaced Pages Template:En icon
74. Estonian literature at Encyclopædia Britannica
75. The Development of Written Estonian By George Kurman ISBN 0700703802
76. Jaan Kross at google.books
77. Cinema of Estonia
78. Johnstone, Sarah (2007). Europe on a Shoestring. p.325: Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781741045918. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
79. Maier, Michaela (2006). Campaigning in Europe. LIT Verlag Berlin-Hamburg-Münster. pp. p.398. ISBN 9783825893224. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
80. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians; p.358 ISBN 0333231112
81. Estonian Native Music Preserving Center is opened Template:Et icon
82. Eurovision Song Contest 2008 Estonia´s entry Misplaced PagesTemplate:En icon
83. http://www.vm.ee/estonia/kat_399/pea_172/4305.html Population by Nationality
84. The Portal of Estonia: National symbols
85. Estonian Food Inforserver Template:Et icon
86. Cuisine of Estonia, Misplaced PagesTemplate:En icon
87. Ministry of Education and Research, Template:En icon
88. Estonian Education Infosystem, Template:Et icon
89. The Education System in Estonia: 2002-2003, Eurydice Template:En icon
90. Implementation of Bologna Declaration in Estonia, Template:En icon
91. A. Kalja, J. Pruuden, B. Tamm, E. Tyugu, Two Families of Knowledge Based CAD Environments. In: Software for Manufacturing (North-Holland), 1989, pp 125-134
92. H. Jaakkola, A. Kalja, Estonian Information Technology Policy in Government, Industry and Research. In: Technology Management: Strategies and Applications. (Vol. 3, No. 3), 1997, pp 299-307
93. tallest building
94. Constitution of Estonia#Chapter 2: Fundamental Rights, Liberties, and Duties Article 40.-42., Template:En icon
95. Statistical database: Population Census 2000 - Religious affiliation,Template:En icon
96. Country Studies: Estonia - Religion,Template:En icon
97. Holy Trinity: Estonia Today - Religion,Template:En icon
98. Statistical database: Population Census 2000 - Religious affiliation,Template:En icon
99. Estonia at the Olympics, Misplaced PagesTemplate:En icon

External links

Wikimedia Atlas of Estonia

Template:MultiCol General

• Official Estonian Portal
• E-Estonia Portal
• Estonian E-Government
• Encyclopedia Estonica

Facts and figures

• Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Estonia Travel Guide
• Estonian Institute
• Statistical Office of Estonia
• Template:Dmoz

| class="col-break " | Travel

• Visit-Estonia Portal
• I-Estonia Info Portal

Pictures

• Military of Estonia Gallery
• Nature of Estonia Gallery

Military

• Estonian Arms.com

Template:EndMultiCol

Geographic national

v t e Ancient counties of Estonia Alempois Harju Järva Jogentagana Lääne Mõhu Nurmekund Revala Saare Sakala Soopoolitse Ugandi Vaiga Viru v t e Counties of Estonia Harjumaa Hiiumaa Ida-Virumaa Järvamaa Jõgevamaa Läänemaa Lääne-Virumaa Pärnumaa Põlvamaa Raplamaa Saaremaa Tartumaa Valgamaa Viljandimaa Võrumaa v t e Parishes (Vallad) of Estonia Parishes (Estonian: Vallad) Abja Aegviidu Ahja Alajõe Alatskivi Albu Ambla Anija Anstla Are Aseri Audru Avinurme Emmaste Häädemeeste Haanja Haaslava Halinga Haljala Halliste Hanila Harku Helme Hiiu Hummuli Iisaku Illuka Ilmavere Järva-Jaani Järvakandi Jõelähtme Jõgeva Jõhvi Juuru Kadrina Käina Kaiu Kambja Kanepi Kareda Karksi Käru Karula Kasepää Kehtna Keila Kernu Kihelkonna Kihnu Kiili Koeru Kohila Kohtla Kohtla-Nõmme Koigi Kolga-Jaani Kõlleste Konguta Kõo Koonga Kõpu Kose Kullamaa Kuusalu Lääne-Nigula Lääne-Saare Laekvere Laeva Laheda Laimjala Lasva Leisi Lihula Lohusuu Lüganuse Luunja Mäetaguse Mäksa Märjamaa Martna Meeksi Meremäe Mikitamäe Misso Mõniste Mooste Muhu Mustjala Nissi Noarootsi Nõo Nõva Orava Orissaare Õru Otepää Padise Paide Paikuse Pajusi Pala Palamuse Palupera Peipsiäärne Pihtla Piirissaare Pöide Põlva Põhalepa Puhja Puka Puurmani Põdrala Põltsmaa Raasiku Rae Rägavere Raikküla Rakke Rakvere Rannu Räpina Rapla Ridala Rõngu Roosna-Alliku Rõuge Ruhnu Saarde Saare Saku Salme Sangaste Saue Sauga Sõrmepalu Sõmeru Sonda Surju Suure-Jaani Tabivere Taheva Tahkuranna Tähtvere Tamsalu Tapa Tartu Tarvastu Toila Tõlliste Tootsi Torgu Tori Torma Tõstamaa Tudulinna Türi Ülenurme Urvaste Väätsa Väike-Maarja Vaivara Valgjärve Valjala Vändra (borough) Vändra (parish) Vara Varbla Värska Varstu Vasalemma Vastse-Kuuste Vastseliina Veriora Vigala Vihula Viimsi Viljandi Vinni Viru-Nigula Võnnu Vormsi Võru v t e Cities and towns of Estonia Abja-Paluoja Antsla Elva Haapsalu Jõgeva Jõhvi Kallaste Kärdla Karksi-Nuia Kehra Keila Kilingi-Nõmme Kiviõli Kohtla-Järve Kunda Kuressaare Lihula Loksa Maardu Mõisaküla Mustvee Narva Narva-Jõesuu Otepää Paide Paldiski Pärnu Põltsamaa Põlva Püssi Rakvere Räpina Rapla Saue Sillamäe Sindi Suure-Jaani Tallinn Tamsalu Tapa Tartu Tõrva Türi Valga Viljandi Võhma Võru Jaanilinn (Ivangorod) and Petseri (Pechory) were annexed by the Soviet Union in 1945 and are currently part of Russia. v t e Boroughs (alevid ja alevikud) of Estonia Boroughs (Alevid) Aegviidu Järva-Jaani Järvakandi Kiili Kohila Kohtla-Nõmme Lavassaare Märjamaa Paikuse Pärnu-Jaagupi Raadi Tootsi Vändra Small boroughs (Alevikud) Adavere Ahja Äksi Alatskivi Alu Ämari Ambla Aravete Are Aruküla Aseri Assaku Aste Audru Avinurme Eidapere Erra Haabneeme Häädemeeste Hageri Hagudi Haljala Halliste Harku Helme Hulja Hummuli Iisaku Ilmatsalu Jõgeva Jüri Juuru Käärdi Kadrina Kaerepere Käina Kaiu Kamari Kambja Kanepi Kangru Käravete Karjaküla Kärla Käru Kasepää Keava Kehtna Keila-Joa Kihelkonna Kiisa Kiiu Kiltsi Klooga Kobela Koeru Kolga Kolga-Jaani Kolkja Kõpu Kõrgessaare Kõrveküla Kose (Harju) Kose (Võru) Kose-Uuemõisa Kostivere Kudjape Külitse Kureküla Kuremaa Kuusalu Kuusiku Laagri Laatre Laekvere Lagedi Lähte Laiuse Lehtse Leisi Lelle Lepna Lohusuu Loo Lüganuse Luige Luunja Mäetaguse Märja Mehikoorma Misso Mooste Mustla Näpi Nasva Nõo Oisu Õisu Olgina Olustvere Orissaare Õru Pajusti Palamuse Palivere Paralepa Parksepa Peetri (Harju) Peetri (Järva) Prillimäe Puhja Puka Puurmani Raasiku Rakke Ramsi Räni Rannu Ravila Riisipere Risti Roela Roiu Rõngu Roosna-Alliku Rõuge Rummu Sadala Saku Salme Sangaste Särevere Sauga Siimusti Simuna Sinimäe Sõmerpalu Sõmeru Sonda Tabasalu Tabivere Taebla Tammiku Tihemetsa Toila Tõravere Tori Torma Tõrvandi Tõstamaa Tsirguliina Tudu Turba Uhtna Ülenurme Ulila Uuemõisa Väätsa Vahi Vaida Väike-Maarja Väimela Valjala Vana-Antsla Varnja Värska Varstu Vasalemma Vastse-Kuuste Vastseliina Vasula Veriora Viimsi Viiratsi Vinni Virtsu Viru-Jaagupi Viru-Nigula Võiste Voka Võnnu Võõpsu Võsu Template:Villages of Estonia

Geographic international

v t e Baltic states  Estonia  Latvia  Lithuania History Territorial changes Baltic Entente United Baltic Duchy Occupation Timeline Background by the Soviet Union (1940) by Nazi Germany by the Soviet Union (1944) Deportations June deportation (1941) Operation Priboi (1949) State continuity Diplomatic services Under Soviet rule (1944-91) Guerrilla war Sovietization Singing Revolution Baltic Way Geography Largest cities tallest buildings National parks Politics Baltic Assembly Baltic Council of Ministers Military Air Policing Air Surveillance Network Defence College Naval Squadron Economy Baltic Tiger Busiest airports Housing bubble Regions Gross regional product Human Development Index OMX Baltic 10 Sport Baltic Cup Baltic Basketball League Swimming Championships Baltic Chain Tour Records in athletics in swimming Category Commons v t e Countries and dependencies of Europe Sovereign states Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Vatican City States with limited recognition Abkhazia Kosovo Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Transnistria Dependent territories Denmark Faroe Islands autonomous country of the Kingdom of Denmark United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Sovereign Base Areas) Gibraltar (British Overseas Territory) Crown Dependencies Bailiwick of Guernsey Alderney Guernsey Sark Bailiwick of Jersey Isle of Man Special areas of internal sovereignty Finland Åland (autonomous region subject to the Åland convention of 1921) Norway Svalbard (unincorporated area subject to the Svalbard Treaty) United Kingdom England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland (country of the United Kingdom subject to the British-Irish Agreement) Spans the conventional boundary between Europe and another continent. Considered European for cultural, political and historical reasons but is geographically in Western Asia. Oceanic islands within the vicinity of Europe are usually grouped with the continent even though they are not situated on its continental shelf. Governed by the Holy See which has sovereignty over Vatican City. Category Europe portal v t e Countries bordering the Baltic Sea Denmark Estonia Finland Åland Lapland Germany Schleswig-Holstein Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Latvia Lithuania Poland West Pomeranian Voivodeship Pomeranian Voivodeship Warmian–Masurian Voivodeship Russia Kaliningrad Oblast Leningrad Oblast Sweden

Estonia in the European Union
v t e Member states of the European Union Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden See also: Potential enlargement and Former members

Languages

v t e Uralic languages List of Uralic languages Finnic Bjarmian languages Estonian Laiuse Romani Northeastern coastal South Estonian Seto Võro Mulgi Tartu Ludza Kraasna Leivu Finnish Fingelska Kven Meänkieli Siberian Finnish Ingrian Siberian Ingrian Finnish Karelian Karelian proper Livvi Ludic Livonian Veps Votic Krevinian Kukkuzi Sámi Eastern Sámi Akkala Inari Kainuu Kemi Kildin Skolt Ter Western Sámi Lule Northern Pite Southern Ume Mordvinic Erzya Shoksha dialect [de; ru] Moksha Mari Hill Mari Meadow Mari Northwestern Mari Permic Komi Komi-Yazva Komi-Permyak Udmurt Ugric Hungarian Ob-Ugric Khanty Northern Khanty Southern Khanty Eastern Khanty Mansi Northern Mansi Western Mansi Eastern Mansi Southern Mansi Samoyedic Enets Kamas Koibal Mator Taygi [ru] Karagas [ru] Nenets Forest Nenets Tundra Nenets Nganasan Selkup Yurats Others Merya Meshcherian Muromian Reconstructed Proto-Uralic homeland Proto-Finnic Proto-Sámi Proto-Samoyedic Italics indicate extinct languages Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left.

59°00′N 26°00′E / 59.000°N 26.000°E / 59.000; 26.000

Template:Link FA

1. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2011.html Estonia´s geographic coordinates

• Estonia
• Europe
• Republics
• 1918 establishments
• Liberal democracies
• 1991 establishments