en.json

{"code":"en","name":"Estonia","region":"Europe","background":"After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US - it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.","geo":{"Location":"Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia","Geographic coordinates":{"N":{"deg":59,"min":0},"E":{"deg":26,"min":0}},"Map references":{},"Area":{"total":{"quantity":45228,"unit":"sq km"},"country comparison to the world":"","land":{"quantity":42388,"unit":"sq km"},"water":{"quantity":2840,"unit":"sq km"}},"Area - comparative":"slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined","Land boundaries":{"total":{"quantity":633,"unit":"km"},"border countries":"Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km"},"Coastline":{"quantity":3794,"unit":"km"},"Maritime claims":{"territorial sea":{"quantity":12,"unit":"nm"},"exclusive economic zone":"limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states"},"Terrain":"marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south","Elevation extremes":{"lowest point":"Baltic Sea 0 m","highest point":"Suur Munamagi 318 m"},"Land use":{"arable land":{"quantity":12.05,"unit":"%"},"permanent crops":{"quantity":0.35,"unit":"%"},"other":{"quantity":87.6,"unit":"%"}},"Irrigated land":{"quantity":40,"unit":"sq km"},"Total renewable water resources":{"quantity":21.1,"unit":"cu km"},"Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)":{"total":{"quantity":1.41,"unit":"cu km/yr"},"per capita":{"quantity":1060,"unit":"cu m/yr"}},"Natural hazards":"sometimes flooding occurs in the spring","internationalEnvironmentAgreements":{"signed, but not ratified":"none of the selected agreements","partyTo":["Air Pollution","Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides","Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants","Air Pollution-Sulfur 85","Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds","Antarctic Treaty","Biodiversity","Climate Change","Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol","Endangered Species","Hazardous Wastes","Law of the Sea","Ozone Layer Protection","Ship Pollution","Wetlands"]},"naturalResources":["oil shale","peat","rare earth elements","phosphorite","clay","limestone","sand","dolomite","arable land","sea mud"],"environmentalIssues":["air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast","however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980","the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was 1/20 the level of 1980","in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased","Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored","coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations"],"climate":["maritime","wet, moderate winters, cool summers"],"geographyNote":["the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded","offshore lie more than 1,500 islands"]},"people":{"Population":1282,"Age structure":{"0-14 years":{"quantity":15.1,"unit":"%"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":67.2,"unit":"%"},"65 years and over":"17.7% (male 74,803/female 152,307) (2011 est.)"},"Median age":{"total":{"quantity":40.5,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":37,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":43.9,"unit":"years"}},"Population growth rate":"-0.641% (2011 est.)","Birth rate":{"quantity":10.45,"unit":"births/1,000 population"},"Death rate":{"quantity":13.55,"unit":"deaths/1,000 population"},"Net migration rate":"-3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)","Urbanization":{"urban population":{"quantity":69,"unit":"% of total population"},"rate of urbanization":{"quantity":0.1,"unit":"% annual rate of change"}},"Major cities - population":"TALLINN (capital) 399,000 (2009)","Sex ratio":{"at birth":{"quantity":1.063,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"under 15 years":{"quantity":1.06,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"15-64 years":{"quantity":0.91,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"65 years and over":{"quantity":0.49,"unit":"male(s)/female"},"total population":{"quantity":0.84,"unit":"male(s)/female"}},"Infant mortality rate":{"total":{"quantity":7.06,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":8.21,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"},"female":{"quantity":5.85,"unit":"deaths/1,000 live births"}},"Life expectancy at birth":{"total population":{"quantity":73.33,"unit":"years"},"country comparison to the world":"","male":{"quantity":68.02,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":78.97,"unit":"years"}},"Total fertility rate":{"quantity":1.44,"unit":"children born/woman"},"HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate":{"quantity":1.2,"unit":"%"},"HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS":9900,"HIV/AIDS - deaths":"fewer than 500 (2009 est.)","Drinking water source":{},"Sanitation facility access":{},"Nationality":{"noun":"Estonian(s)","adjective":"Estonian"},"Literacy":{"definition":"age 15 and over can read and write","total population":{"quantity":99.8,"unit":"%"},"male":{"quantity":99.8,"unit":"%"},"female":{"quantity":99.8,"unit":"%"}},"School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)":{"total":{"quantity":16,"unit":"years"},"male":{"quantity":15,"unit":"years"},"female":{"quantity":17,"unit":"years"}},"Education expenditures":{"quantity":4.9,"unit":"% of GDP"},"majorInfectiousDiseases":{"degree of risk":"intermediate","food or waterborne diseases":"bacterial diarrhea","vectorborne disease":"tickborne encephalitis (2009)"},"ethnicGroups":["Estonian 68.7%","Russian 25.6%","Ukrainian 2.1%","Belarusian 1.2%","Finn 0.8%","other 1.6% (2008 census)"],"religions":["Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%","Orthodox 12.8%","other Christian (including Methodist","Seventh-Day Adventist","Roman Catholic","Pentecostal) 1.4%","unaffiliated 34.1%","other and unspecified 32%","none 6.1% (2000 census)"],"languages":["Estonian (official) 67.3%","Russian 29.7%","other 2.3%","unknown 0.7% (2000 census)"]},"government":{"Country name":{"conventional long form":"Republic of Estonia","conventional short form":"Estonia","local long form":"Eesti Vabariik","local short form":"Eesti","former":"Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic"},"Government type":"parliamentary republic","Capital":{"name":"Tallinn","geographic coordinates":{"N":{"deg":59,"min":26},"E":{"deg":24,"min":43}},"time difference":"UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)","daylight saving time":"+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"},"Administrative divisions":{"Administrative divisions":"15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond); Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)"},"Independence":"20 August 1991 (declared); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)","National holiday":"Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union","Legal system":"civil law system","International law organization participation":"accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction","Suffrage":"18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens","Executive branch":{"chief of state":"President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006)","head of government":"Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)","cabinet":"Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament","elections":"president elected by Parliament for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest number of votes; election last held on 23 September 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2011); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament","election results":"Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23 September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received 174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots left blank or invalid"},"Legislative branch":{"Legislative branch":"unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)","elections":"last held on 6 March 2011 (next to be held in March 2015)","election results":"percent of vote by party - Estonian Reform Party 28.6%, Center Party of Estonia 23.3%, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 20.5%, Social Democratic Party 17.1%, Estonian Greens 3.8%, Estonian People's Union 2.1%, other 4.6%; seats by party - Estonian Reform Party 33, Center Party 26, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica 23, Social Democratic Party 19"},"Judicial branch":"Supreme Court (chairman appointed for life by Parliament)","Political parties and leaders":"Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR]; Estonian Greens (Rohelised) [Marek STRANDBERG]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Andrus BLOK]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Social Democratic Party [Sven MIKSER]; Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit) [Mart LAAR]","Diplomatic representation in the US":{"chief of mission":"Ambassador Vaino REINART","chancery":"2131 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008","telephone":"[1] (202) 588-0101","FAX":"[1] (202) 588-0108","consulate(s) general":"New York"},"Diplomatic representation from the US":{"chief of mission":"Ambassador Michael C. POLT","embassy":"Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn","mailing address":"use embassy street address","telephone":"[372] 668-8100","FAX":"[372] 668-8265"},"Flag description":"three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white; various interpretations are linked to the flag colors; blue represents faith, loyalty, and devotion, while also reminiscent of the sky, sea, and lakes of the country; black symbolizes the soil of the country and the dark past and suffering endured by the Estonian people; white refers to the striving towards enlightenment and virtue, and is the color of birch bark and snow, as well as summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun","National anthem":{"name":"\"Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room\" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)","lyrics/music":"Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS"},"internationalOrganizations":["Australia Group","BA","BIS","CBSS","CE","EAPC","EBRD","EIB","EMU","ESA (cooperating state)","EU","FAO","IAEA","IBRD","ICAO","ICRM","IDA","IFC","IFRCS","IHO","ILO","IMF","IMO","Interpol","IOC","IOM","IPU","ISO","ITSO","ITU","ITUC","MIGA","NATO","NIB","NSG","OAS (observer)","OECD","OPCW","OSCE","PCA","Schengen Convention","UN","UNCTAD","UNESCO","UNHCR","UNTSO","UPU","WCO","WHO","WIPO","WMO","WTO"]},"economy":{"Economy - overview":"Estonia, a 2004 European Union entrant, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region. Estonia's successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda and have wavered little in their commitment to pro-market reforms. The current government has followed relatively sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and very low public debt. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, and Germany. Tallinn's priority has been to sustain high growth rates - on average 8% per year from 2003 to 2007. Estonia's economy slowed down markedly and fell sharply into recession in mid-2008, primarily as a result of an investment and consumption slump following the bursting of the real estate market bubble. GDP dropped nearly 14% in 2009, among the world's highest rates of contraction. Rising exports to Sweden and Finland lead an economic recovery in 2010, but unemployment stands above 17%. Estonia joined the OECD in December 2010 and adopted the euro in January 2011.","GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"GDP (purchasing power parity)":{"usd":24690000000},"country comparison to the world":""},"GDP (official exchange rate)":{"usd":19780000000},"GDP - real growth rate":{"quantity":3.1,"unit":"%"},"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"GDP - per capita (PPP)":{"usd":null},"country comparison to the world":""},"GDP - composition by sector":{"agriculture":{"quantity":2.5,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":28.7,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":68.8,"unit":"%"}},"Labor force":688000,"Labor force - by occupation":{"agriculture":{"quantity":2.8,"unit":"%"},"industry":{"quantity":22.7,"unit":"%"},"services":{"quantity":74.5,"unit":"%"}},"Unemployment rate":{"quantity":17.5,"unit":"%"},"Population below poverty line":{"quantity":19.7,"unit":"%"},"Household income or consumption by percentage share":{"lowest 10%":{"quantity":2.7,"unit":"%"},"highest 10%":{"quantity":27.7,"unit":"%"}},"Distribution of family income - Gini index":31.4,"Investment (gross fixed)":{"quantity":22.5,"unit":"% of GDP"},"Budget":{"revenues":{"usd":7851000000},"expenditures":{"usd":8210000000.000001}},"Public debt":{"quantity":7.7,"unit":"% of GDP"},"Inflation rate (consumer prices)":{"quantity":2.4,"unit":"%"},"Commercial bank prime lending rate":{"quantity":9.39,"unit":"%"},"Stock of narrow money":{"Stock of narrow money":{"usd":5345000000},"country comparison to the world":""},"Stock of broad money":{"usd":10700000000},"Stock of domestic credit":{"usd":18940000000},"Market value of publicly traded shares":{"usd":2654000000},"Industrial production growth rate":{"quantity":10,"unit":"%"},"Electricity - production":{"quantity":8779000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - consumption":{"quantity":7080000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - exports":{"quantity":2943000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Electricity - imports":{"quantity":3025000000,"unit":"kWh"},"Oil - production":{"quantity":7600,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - consumption":{"quantity":30000,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - exports":{"quantity":7280,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - imports":{"quantity":30590,"unit":"bbl/day"},"Oil - proved reserves":{"quantity":0,"unit":"bbl"},"Natural gas - production":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - consumption":{"quantity":1020000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - exports":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - imports":{"quantity":1020000000,"unit":"cu m"},"Natural gas - proved reserves":{"quantity":0,"unit":"cu m"},"Current account balance":{"usd":265000000},"Exports":{"usd":11500000000},"Imports":{"usd":12170000000},"Reserves of foreign exchange and gold":{"usd":3641000000},"Debt - external":{"usd":25130000000},"Stock of direct foreign investment - at home":{"usd":17530000000},"Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad":{"usd":7134000000},"Exchange rates":"kroon (EEK) per US dollar -","industries":["engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles","information technology, telecommunications"],"agricultureProducts":["grain","potatoes","vegetables","livestock and dairy products","fish"],"exportCommodities":["machinery and electrical equipment 21%","wood and wood products 9%","metals 9%","furniture 7%","vehicles and parts 5%","food products and beverages 4%","textiles 4%","plastics 3%"],"exportPartners":["Finland 18.57%","Sweden 12.52%","Latvia 9.51%","Russia 9.33%","Germany 6.09%","Lithuania 4.76%","US 4.26%"],"importCommodities":["machinery and electrical equipment 22%","mineral fuels 18%","chemical products 3%","foodstuffs 6%","plastics 6%","textiles 5%"],"importPartners":["Finland 14.52%","Lithuania 10.84%","Latvia 10.47%","Germany 10.33%","Russia 8.59%","Sweden 8.34%","Poland 5.63%"]},"communications":{"Telephones - main lines in use":492800,"Telephones - mobile cellular":2720000,"Telephone system":{"general assessment":"foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service with a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services available","domestic":"substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are widely available; schools and libraries are connected to the Internet, a large percentage of the population files income-tax returns online, and online voting was used for the first time in the 2005 local elections","international":"country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; 2 international switches are located in Tallinn (2008)"},"Broadcast media":"the publicly-owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 2 television channels; national private TV channels expanding service; a range of channels are aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; high penetration rate for cable TV services with more than half of Estonian households connected; publicly-owned broadcaster, ERR, operates 4 radio networks and there are a growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally (2008)","Internet country code":".ee","Internet hosts":729534,"Internet users":971700},"transport":{"Airports":19,"Airports - with paved runways":{"total":13,"over 3,047 m":2,"2,438 to 3,047 m":7,"1,524 to 2,437 m":2,"914 to 1,523 m":2},"Airports - with unpaved runways":{"total":6,"1,524 to 2,437 m":2,"914 to 1,523 m":1,"under 914 m":3},"Heliports":1,"Pipelines":"gas 859 km (2010)","Railways":{"total":{"quantity":1196,"unit":"km"},"country comparison to the world":"","broad gauge":"1,196 km 1.520-m and 1.524-m gauge (131 km electrified) (2010)"},"Roadways":{"total":{"quantity":58034,"unit":"km"},"country comparison to the world":"","paved":{"quantity":34936,"unit":"km"},"unpaved":{"quantity":23098,"unit":"km"}},"Waterways":"335 km (320 km are navigable year round) (2010)","Merchant marine":{"total":24,"country comparison to the world":"","by type":"cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum tanker 2","foreign-owned":3,"registered in other countries":"77 (Antigua and Barbuda 20, Belize 1, Cambodia 1, Cyprus 7, Dominica 6, Finland 2, Latvia 4, Malta 16, former Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10, Sierra Leone 1, Sweden 3, Venezuela 1) (2010)"},"Ports and terminals":"Kuivastu, Kunda, Muuga, Parnu Reid, Sillamae, Tallinn"},"military":{"Military branches":"Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force (Eesti Ohuvagi), Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2011)","Military service age and obligation":"obligation for compulsory service ages 16-60, with conscription \"likely\" ages 18-27; service requirement 8-11 months (2009)","Manpower available for military service":{"males age 16-49":291801,"females age 16-49":302696},"Manpower fit for military service":{"males age 16-49":210854,"females age 16-49":251185},"Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually":{"male":6668,"female":6309},"Military expenditures":{"quantity":2,"unit":"% of GDP"}},"issues":{"Illicit drugs":"growing producer of synthetic drugs; increasingly important transshipment zone for cannabis, cocaine, opiates, and synthetic drugs since joining the European Union and the Schengen Accord; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern, as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds; major use of opiates and ecstasy","internationalDisputes":["Russia recalled its signature to the 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia in 2005, rather than concede to Estonia's appending a prepared unilateral declaration referencing Soviet occupation and territorial losses","Russia demands better accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia","Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the boundary based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia","as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules with Russia"]}}