General facts

Official Name: Eesti Vabariik (Republic of Estonia)

Official Language: Estonian

Area: 45,227 square km

Population: 1,439,197 (2000 estimate)

Population Density: 31.8 per square km

Population by Ethnicity: 65.1% Estonian; 28.1% Russian; 2.5% Ukrainian; 1.5% Belarusian.

Cities: Tallinn (capital, 408,329); Tartu (101,744); Narva (73,295); Kohtla-Järve (65,566); Pärnu (50,966).

National Holiday: 24 February 1918

For a concise history of Estonia click here.

Economy

Currency: Estonian kroon (EEK); EEK one equals 100 sent; pegged officially to Deutsch mark, EEK eight equals DEM one.

GDP change: -1.1% (1999, preliminary, EEK 75.36 billion in current prices); +5.2% (Q1 2000, preliminary)

Unemployment (official, May 2000): 5.2%

CPI (1999): +3.3%

Trade (1999, preliminary): exports EEK 35.813 billion; main partners Finland (22.7%), Sweden (22%), German (8.3%); imports EEK 50.477 billion; main partners Finland (37%), Sweden (10%), Germany (9.5%)

 

Government

Prime Minister: Mart Laar, Isamaaliit (I)
Foreign Minister: Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Mõõdukad (M)
Finance Minister: Siim Kallas, Reformierakond (R)
Defence Minister: Jüri Luik, I
Economics Minister: Mihkel Pärnoja, M
Justice Minister: Märt Rask, R
Interior Minister: Tarmo Loodus, I
Social Minister: Eiki Nestor, M
Environment Minister: Heiki Kranich, R
Education Minister: Tõnis Lukas, I
Agriculture Minister: Ivari Padar, M
Culture Minister: Signe Kivi, R
Transport Minister: Toivo Jürgenson, I
Minister (for Population Affairs): Katrin Saks, M
Minister (for Regional Affairs): Toivo Asmer, R

 

Head-of-Government: Prime Minister Mart Laar (Isamaaliit)

Ruling Coalition: Isamaaliit (Pro Patria Union) Reformierakond (Reform Party), Mõõdukad (no official English translation, but roughly "Moderates")

Parliament: 101-seat Riigikogu, elected by proportional representation in 11 electoral districts; next scheduled election, March 2003.

Compiled by Mel Huang, 10 July 2000

Moving on:

• Return to CER front page
• Archive of Mel Huang's articles in CER
• Archive articles on Estonia in CER
• Buy English-language books on Estonia through CER

Sources and useful links:

Statistical Department
Bank of Estonia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Chancellery of President Lennart Meri
The Estonian State Network Centre (links to all Government websites)
Riigikogu (Parliament)