Country name:

Republic of Estonia

Capital:

Tallinn

Other large cities:

Tartu (105,000), Narva (80,000), Kohtla-Jarve (70,000), Parnu (50,000)

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Area:

45,226 sq km

Land boundaries:

633 km. Bordering countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

Coastline:

3,794 km

Climate:

maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Terrain:

marshy, lowlands, flat in the north, hilly in the south

Lowest point:

Highest point:

Baltic Sea 0 m
Suur Munamagi 318 m

Population:

1,307,605

Ethnic groups:

Estonian 67.9 %, Russian 25.6 %, Ukrainian 2.1 %, Belarusian 1.3 %, Finn 0.9 %, other 2.2 %

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran, Orthodox, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal)

Languages:

Estonian, Russian

Independence:

regained on 20 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

Constitution:

adopted on 28 June 1992

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Chief of state:

President Toomas Hendrik Ilves

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (called Riigikogu)

Industries:

wood and wood products, engineering, telecommunications, electronics, textile, information technology

Agriculture:

potatoes, vegetables, livestock and dairy products, fish

National holiday:

1 January: New Year's Day
24 February: Independence Day (1918)
9 April: Good Friday
March-April (in accordance with the Christian calendar): Easter
1 May: Spring Day
23 June: Victory Day (1919 battle of Võnnu-Cēsis in Latvia)
24 June: St. John's Day (Midsummer)
20 August: Day of Restoration of Independence (1991)
25 December: Christmas Day

Currency:

Estonian Kroon (EEK)

Fixed exchange rate:

1 EUR = 15.65 EEK