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{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = {{lang|et|''Eesti Vabariik''}}
|conventional_long_name = Republic of Estonia
|common_name = Estonia
|image_flag = Flag of Estonia.svg
|image_coat = Coat of arms of Estonia.svg
|image_map = EU_location_EST.png
|map_caption = {{map_caption |region=[[Europe]] |subregion=the [[European Union]] |legend=European location legend en.png}}
|national_anthem = ''[[Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm]]''
|official_languages = [[Estonian language|Estonian]] <sup>1</sup>
|demonym = Estonian
|capital = [[Tallinn]]
|latd=59 |latm=26 |latNS=N |longd=24 |longm=45 |longEW=E
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = [[Parliamentary republic]]
|leader_title1 = [[President of Estonia|President]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Estonia|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name1 = [[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]]
|leader_name2 = [[Andrus Ansip]]
|accessionEUdate = [[May 1]], [[2004]]
|area_km2 = 45,226
|area_sq_mi = 17,413 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|area_rank = 132nd
|area_magnitude = 1 E10
|percent_water = 4.56%
|population_estimate = 1,342,409
|population_estimate_year = 2007
|population_estimate_rank = 151st
|population_census = 1,376,743
|population_census_year = 2000
|population_density_km2 = 29
|population_density_sq_mi = 75 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 173rd
|GDP_PPP_year = 2007
|GDP_PPP = $26.85 billion
|GDP_PPP_rank = 106th
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $21,860
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 37th
|GDP_nominal_year = 2005
|GDP_nominal = $13.10 billion
|GDP_nominal_rank = 92nd
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $12,203
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 43rd
|HDI_year = 2004
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.858
|HDI_rank = 40th
|HDI_category = <font color="#009900">high</font>
|Gini = 35.8
|Gini_year = 2003
|Gini_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font>
|sovereignty_type = [[History of Estonia|Independence]]
|sovereignty_note = from [[Russian SFSR|Russia]] and [[German Empire|Germany]]
|established_event1 = Declared
|established_date1 = [[24 February]] [[1918]]
|established_event2 = Recognised
|established_date2 = [[2 February]] [[1920]]
|established_event3 = {{nowrap|Occupied by [[Soviet Union|USSR]]}}
|established_date3 = [[16 June]] [[1940]]
|established_event4 = Re-declared
|established_date4 = [[20 August]] [[1991]]
|currency = [[Estonian kroon]]
|currency_code = EEK
|time_zone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
|utc_offset = +2
|time_zone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
|utc_offset_DST = +3
|cctld = [[.ee]]²
|calling_code = 372
|footnote1 = In Southern Provinces, [[Võro language|Võro]] and [[Seto language|Seto]] are spoken along with [[Estonian Language|Estonian]] and Russian is also widely spoken.
|footnote2 = Also [[.eu]], shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
}}
'''Estonia''', officially the '''Republic of Estonia''' ({{lang-et|Eesti ''or'' Eesti Vabariik}}; [[Germanic languages]]: ''Estland''; [[Finnish language|Finnish]]: ''Viro''), is a country in [[Northern Europe]]. Estonia has land borders to the south with [[Latvia]] and to the east with [[Russia]]. It is separated from [[Finland]] in the north by the [[Gulf of Finland]] and from [[Sweden]] in the west by the [[Baltic Sea]].

Estonia has been a member of the [[European Union]] since [[1 May]] [[2004]] and of [[NATO]] since [[29 March]] [[2004]].

The [[Estonians]] are a [[Finnic people]] closely related to the [[Finns]], with the [[Estonian language]] sharing many similarities to [[Finnish language|Finnish]].

The modern name of Estonia is thought to originate from the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] historian [[Tacitus]], who in his book [[Germania (book)|Germania]] (ca. AD&nbsp;98) described a people called the [[Aestii]]. Similarly, ancient [[Scandinavia]]n [[sagas]] refer to a land called ''Eistland''. Early Latin and other ancient versions of the country's name are ''Estia'' and ''Hestia''.

==History==
{{main|History of Estonia}}

===Prehistory===
{{main|Ancient Estonia}}
Human settlement in Estonia became possible 11,000 to 13,000 years ago, when the ice from the last [[Ice age|glacial era]] melted away. The oldest known settlement in Estonia is the [[Pulli settlement]], which was located on the banks of the [[Pärnu River|river Pärnu]], near the town of [[Sindi]], in southern Estonia. According to radiocarbon dating, it was settled around 11,000 years ago, at the beginning of the ninth millennium&nbsp;BC.

Evidence has been found of hunting and fishing communities existing around 6500&nbsp;BC near the town of [[Kunda]] in northern Estonia. Bone and stone artifacts similar to those found at Kunda have been discovered elsewhere in Estonia, as well as in Latvia, northern [[Lithuania]] and in southern Finland. The Kunda culture belongs to the middle stone age, or [[Mesolithic]] period.

The end of the [[Bronze Age]] and the early [[Iron Age]] were marked by great cultural changes. The most significant was the transition to farming, which has remained at the core of Estonian economy and culture. From approximately the first to fifth centuries&nbsp;AD, resident farming was widely established, the population grew, and settlement expanded. Cultural influences from the [[Roman Empire]] reached Estonia, and this era is therefore also known as the [[Roman Iron Age]].

A more troubled and war-ridden middle Iron Age followed with external dangers coming both from the Baltic tribes, who attacked across the southern land border, and from overseas. Several [[Scandinavia]]n [[sagas]] refer to campaigns against Estonia. [[Estonian pirates]] conducted similar raids in the [[Viking]] age and sacked and burned the Swedish town of [[Sigtuna]] in 1187.<ref>http://heninen.net/sigtuna/english.htm</ref>

In the first centuries AD political and administrative subdivisions began to emerge in Estonia. Two larger subdivisions appeared: the province (provincia, Estonian kihelkond) and the land (terra, Estonian maakond). The province consisted of several elderships or villages. Nearly all provinces had at least one fortress. The defense of the local area was directed by the highest official, the king, prince or elder. The terra was composed of one or several provinces, also headed by an elder, king, prince or their collegium. By the 13th century the following major lands had developed in Estonia: [[Saare County| Saaremaa]] (Osilia), [[Läänemaa]] (Rotalia or Maritima), [[Harjumaa]] (Harria), [[Rävala]] (Revalia), [[Virumaa]] (Vironia), [[Järvamaa]] (Jervia), [[Sakala]] (Saccala), and [[Ugandi]] (Ugaunia).<ref> Estonia and the Estonians (Studies of Nationalities) Toivo U. Raun p.11 [[ISBN 0817928529]]</ref>

Estonia retained a [[Paganism|pagan]] religion centered around a deity called [[Tharapita]].

===Middle Ages===

Estonia in [[Livonian Confederation]] from 1228 to the 1560s.

Estonia was [[Christianization|Christianized]] when the [[Germany|German]] "[[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]]" conquered southern Estonia as part of the [[Northern Crusades]] in the early thirteenth century. At the same time, [[Denmark]] attempted to take possession of northern Estonia. Estonia was consolidated under the two forces by 1227. Northern Estonia remained a possession of Denmark until 1346. [[Reval]] (known as [[Tallinn]] since 1918) was given its [[Lübeck law|Lübeck Rights]] in 1248 and joined an alliance of trading guilds called the [[Hanseatic League]] at the end of the thirteenth century. In 1343, the people of northern Estonia and [[Saaremaa]] rebelled against German rule in the [[St. George's Night Uprising]], which was put down by 1344.

There were unsuccessful Russian invasions in 1481 and 1558.

===The Reformation period===
[[Image:Castlekuressaare.JPG|left|thumb|250px|[[Kuressaare]] castle]]

The Reformation in Europe officially began in 1517 with [[Martin Luther]] (1483-1546) and his [[95 Theses]].

The Reformation resulted in great change in the Baltic. Ideas entered the Livonian Confederation very quickly and by the 1520s they were well known. Language, education, religion, and politics were greatly transformed. The Church services were now given in the local vernacular, instead of Latin, as was previously used. <ref>[http://depts.washington.edu/baltic/papers/reform.html Protestant Reformation in the Baltic] at University of Washington</ref>

During the [[Livonian War]] in 1561, northern Estonia submitted to Swedish control, while southern Estonia briefly came under the control of [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] in the 1580s. In 1625, mainland Estonia came entirely under Swedish rule. Estonia was administratively divided between the provinces of [[Swedish Estonia|Estonia]] in the north and [[Livonia]] in southern Estonia and northern Latvia, a division which persisted until the early [[20th century|twentieth century]].

In 1631, the Swedish king Gustaf II Adolf, aka [[Gustavus Adolphus]], forced the nobility to grant the peasantry greater rights, although serfdom was retained. In 1632 a printing press and [[Tartu University|university]] were established in the city of [[Dorpat]] (known as [[Tartu]] since 1918). This period is known in Estonian history as "the Good Old Swedish Time."

===Estonia in the Russian Empire===

Following the [[Great Northern War]], the Swedish empire lost Estonia to [[Russia]] (1710 de facto, and 1721 de jure, by the [[Treaty of Nystad]]). However, the upper classes and the higher middle class remained primarily [[Baltic German]]. The war devastated the population of Estonia, but it recovered quickly. Although the rights of peasants were initially weakened, serfdom was abolished in 1816 in the province of Estonia and in 1819 in Livonia.

===Road to republic===
As a result of the abolition of serfdom and the availability of education to the native Estonian-speaking population, an active Estonian nationalist movement developed in the [[19th century|nineteenth century]]. It began on a cultural level, resulting in the establishment of Estonian language [[literature]], [[theatre]] and professional [[music]] and led into the formation of the Estonian national identity and late 1800s' [[Estonian Age of Awakening|Age of Awakening]]. Among the leaders of the movement were [[Johann Voldemar Jannsen]], [[Jakob Hurt]] and [[Carl Robert Jakobson]]. Significant accomplishments were the publication of the national epic, [[Kalevipoeg]], in 1862, and the organization of the first national song festival in 1869.

In response to a period of [[Russification]] initiated by the Russian empire in the 1890s, Estonian nationalism took on more political tones, with intellectuals first calling for greater autonomy, and later, complete independence from the Russian empire. Following the [[Bolshevik]] takeover of power in Russia after the [[October Revolution]] of 1917 and [[German Empire|German]] victories against the Russian army, between the Russian Red Army's retreat and the arrival of advancing German troops, the Committee of Elders of the [[Maapäev]] issued the [[Estonian Declaration of Independence]] <ref>[http://www.president.ee/en/estonia Estonian Declaration of Independence 24 February 1918] at www.president.ee</ref> in [[Pärnu]] on [[February 24]], [[1918]].
After winning the [[Estonian Liberation War]] against Soviet Russia and at the same time German [[Freikorps]] volunteers (the [[Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Estonian)|Tartu Peace Treaty]] was signed on [[2 February]] [[1920]]), Estonia maintained its independence for twenty-two years. Initially a parliamentary democracy, the parliament ([[Riigikogu]]) was disbanded in 1934, following political unrest caused by the [[Great Depression|global economic crisis]]. Subsequently the country was ruled by decree by [[Konstantin Päts]], who became President in 1938, the year parliamentary elections resumed.

===World War II===
{{main|Estonia in World War II}}

====Soviet occupation and annexation====
Estonia was [[Occupation of the Baltic Republics|occupied]] by the Soviet Union in June 1940,
<ref> The World Book Encyclopedia ISBN 0716601036 </ref>
<ref> The History of the Baltic States by Kevin O'Connor ISBN 0313323550 </ref> after Stalin gained Hitler's agreement to divide Eastern Europe into "spheres of special interest" according to the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]] and its secret protocol.
<ref> The History of the Baltic States by Kevin O'Connor ISBN 0313323550 </ref>
On [[September 24]] [[1939]], warships of the [[Red Navy]] appeared off Estonian ports and [[Soviet bombers]] began a [[patrol]] over [[Tallinn]] and the nearby countryside.<ref name="TM091939">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,762664,00.html Moscow's Week] at [[Time Magazine]] on Monday, [[October 9]] [[1939]]</ref> The Estonian government was forced to give their assent to an agreement which allowed the USSR to establish military bases and station 25,000 troops on Estonian soil for "mutual defence".
<ref> The Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by David J. Smith, Page 24, ISBN 0415285801 </ref>

On [[June 12]], [[1940]], the order for a total military blockade on Estonia was given to the Soviet [[Baltic Fleet]]. <ref>{{fi icon}} [http://www.mil.fi/laitokset/tiedotteet/1282.dsp Pavel Petrov ] at Finnish Defence Forces home page</ref> <ref>{{ru icon}} [http://www.rusin.fi/publications/warinpetsamo/indexEN.html documents published] from the State Archive of the Russian Navy</ref>

On [[June 14]], 1940, while world’s attention was focused on the fall of [[Paris]] to [[Nazi Germany]] a day earlier, the Soviet military blockade on Estonia went into effect, two Soviet bombers downed a Finnish passenger airplane "[[Kaleva (airplane)|Kaleva]]" flying from Tallinn to Helsinki carrying three diplomatic pouches from the U.S. legations in [[Tallinn]], [[Riga]] and [[Helsinki]]. <ref>[http://www.afsa.org/fsj/may07/lastflight.pdf The Last Flight from Tallinn] at American Foreign Service Association</ref>

On [[June 16]], 1940, the Soviet Union invaded Estonia. <ref name="TM006241940">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,764071-2,00.html Five Years of Dates] at Time magazine on Monday, Jun. 24, 1940 </ref> The Red Army exited from their military bases in Estonia on June 17 <ref>Estonia: Identity and Independence by Jean-Jacques Subrenat, David Cousins, Alexander Harding, Richard C. Waterhouse ISBN 9042008903 </ref>. The following day, some 90,000 additional troops entered the country.
On [[June 17]], 1940, The Estonian government decided, given the overwhelming Soviet force, not to resist, to avoid bloodshed and open war.
<ref>The Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by David J. Smith p.19 ISBN 0415285801</ref>
The military occupation of Estonia was complete by the June 21 1940.
<ref> The Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by David J. Smith, Page 27, ISBN 0415285801 </ref>

Most of the [[Estonian Defence Forces]] and the [[Estonian Defence League]] [[Surrender (military)|surrendered ]] according to the orders believing that resistance was useless and were disarmed by the Red Army. Only the Estonian Single Signal Battalion stationed in Tallinn at Raua Street showed resistance. As the Red Army brought in additional reinforcements supported by six [[armoured fighting vehicle]]s, the battle lasted several hours until sundown. There was one dead, several wounded on the Estonian side and about 10 killed and more wounded on the Soviet side. Finally the military resistance was ended with [[negotiation]]s and the Single Signal Battalion surrendered and was disarmed. <ref>{{et icon}}[http://www.mil.ee/?id=297&sisu=uudis 51 years from the Raua Street Battle] at Estonian Defence Forces Home Page</ref>

In August 1940, Estonia was formally annexed by the Soviet Union as the [[Estonian SSR]]. Those who had fallen short of the "political duty" of voting Estonia into the USSR, who had failed to have their passports stamped for so voting were allowed to be shot in the back of the head by Soviet tribunals. <ref name="TM191940">[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,764407,00.html Justice in The Baltic]at Time magazine on Monday, Aug. 19, 1940 </ref> The repressions followed with the mass [[deportation]]s carried out by the Soviets in Estonia on June 14, 1941. Many of the country's political and intellectual leaders were killed or deported to remote areas of the USSR by the Soviet authorities in 1940-1941. Repressive actions were also taken against thousands of ordinary people.

When the German [[Operation Barbarossa]] started against the Soviet Union, about 34,000 young Estonian men were forcibly drafted into the [[Red Army]]. Less than 30% of them survived the war. Political prisoners who could not be evacuated were executed by the [[NKVD]].
<ref>The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to Independence by Anatol Lieven p424 ISBN 0300060785</ref>

Many countries including the United States did not recognize the seizure of Estonia by the USSR. Such countries recognized Estonian diplomats and consuls who still functioned in many countries in the name of their former governments. The ageing diplomats persisted in this anomalous situation until the ultimate restoration of Baltic independence.
<ref>Diplomats Without a Country: Baltic Diplomacy, International Law, and the Cold War by James T. McHugh , James S. Pacy ISBN 0313318786</ref>

Contemporary Russian politicians, however, deny that the Republic of Estonia was illegally annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. They state that the Soviet troops had entered Estonia in 1940 following the agreements and with the consent of the government of the Republic of Estonia, regardless of how their actions can be interpreted today. They maintain that the USSR was not in a state of war and was not waging any combat activities on the territory of Estonia, therefore there can be no talk about 'occupation'. The official position of Russia is a refusal to recognize the fact of Estonia's occupation and claims that Estonians decided to lose their statehood voluntarily and officially describes separatist fighters of 1944-1953 as "bandits" or "nazis". The Russian position is not recognized internationally.
<ref>http://www.newsfromrussia.com/main/2005/05/05/59601.html</ref>
<ref>http://www.newsfromrussia.com/main/2005/05/05/59605.html</ref>

====German occupation====
{{main|Occupation of Estonia by Nazi Germany}}

Subsequently, the country was occupied by [[Nazi Germany]] from 1941 to 1944. Although initially the Germans were perceived as liberators from the USSR and its repressions by most Estonians, who hoped for the restoration of the country's independence, it was soon realized that they were but another occupying power. Germans pillaged the country for the war effort and unleashed the [[Holocaust]]. Estonia was incorporated into the German province of [[Reichskommissariat Ostland|Ostland]]. That made many Estonians not willing to side with the Nazis join the Finnish army to fight against the Soviet Union. [[Finnish Infantry Regiment 200]] AKA (Estonian: ''soomepoisid'') was formed out of Estonian volunteers in Finland. Many Estonians were recruited in to the German armed forces (including [[20th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Estonian)|Waffen-SS]]), the majority did so only in 1944 when the threat of a new invasion of Estonia by the Red Army had become imminent and it was clear that Germany would not win the war.<ref>Estonia 1940-1945, Estonian International Commission for the Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity, p.613 ISBN 9949-13-040-9 </ref>
By January 1944, the front was pushed back by the Soviet Army almost all the way to the former Estonian border. [[Narva]] was evacuated. [[Jüri Uluots]], the last legitimate prime minister of the Republic of Estonia (according to the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia) prior to its fall to the Soviet Union in 1940, delivered a radio address that implored all able-bodied men born from 1904 through 1923 to report for military service (Before this, Uluots had opposed Estonian mobilization.) The call drew support from all across the country: 38,000 volunteers jammed registration centers. <ref>Resistance! Occupied Europe and Its Defiance of Hitler (Paperback)
by Dave Lande on Page 200 ISBN 0760307458</ref> Several thousand Estonians who had joined the Finnish army came back across the [[Gulf of Finland]] to join the newly formed Territorial Defense Force, assigned to defend Estonia against the Soviet advance. It was hoped that by engaging in such a war Estonia would be able to attract Western support for the cause of Estonia's independence from the USSR and thus ultimately succeed in achieving independence. <ref> The Baltic States: The National Self-Determination of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
Graham Smith p.91 ISBN 0312161921 </ref>

====Soviet occupation====
{{main|Estonian SSR}}

Soviet forces reconquered Estonia in the autumn of 1944 after fierce battles in the northeast of the country on the [[Battle of Narva - Battle for the Narva Bridgehead (1944)|Narva river]] and on the [[Battle of Narva - Battle of the Tannenberg Line (1944)|Tannenberg Line]] ([[Sinimäed]]). In the face of the country being re-occupied by the Red Army, tens of thousands of people chose to either retreat together with the Germans or flee to Finland or Sweden, becoming [[war refugee]]s and later, [[expatriate]]s.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}

In addition to the human and material losses suffered due to war, thousands of civilians were killed and tens of thousands of people deported from Estonia by the Soviet authorities until [[Joseph Stalin]]'s death in 1953.

In 1949, in response to slow progress in forming [[collective farms]], about 20,000 people were forcibly deported over a few days either to [[labor camp]]s or [[Siberia]] (see [[Gulag]]).<ref name="vr18">[http://www.riigikogu.ee/public/Riigikogu/ValgeRaamat.pdf Valge raamat], page 18</ref> Within the few weeks that followed, almost all of the remaining rural households had been subjected to [[collectivisation]]<sup>(ibid)</sup>.

Half of the deported perished <ref name="vr25-30"> [http://www.riigikogu.ee/public/Riigikogu/ValgeRaamat.pdf Valge raamat], pages 25-30</ref>; the other half were not allowed to return until the early 1960s (several years after [[Stalin]]'s death){{Fact|date=October 2007}}. That and previous repressions in 1940-1941 sparked a [[guerrilla war]] against the Soviet authorities in Estonia which was waged into the early 1950s by the so called "[[forest brothers]]" (''metsavennad'') consisting mostly of Estonian veterans of both the German and Finnish armies as well as some civilians.
[[Image:Osmussaar27.jpg|thumb|Western bank of [[Osmussaar]] island]]

Material damage caused by the world war and the following Soviet [[planned economy]] significantly slowed Estonia's [[economic growth]], resulting in a wide [[wealth gap]] in comparison with neighboring [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]]<ref>[http://www.riigikogu.ee/public/Riigikogu/ValgeRaamat.pdf Valge raamat], pages 125, 148</ref>.

Militarization was another aspect of the Soviet regime. Large parts of the country, especially the coastal areas were restricted to anyone but the Soviet military{{Fact|date=October 2007}}. Most of the sea shore and all sea islands (including [[Saaremaa]] and [[Hiiumaa]]) were declared "border zones". People not directly living there were restricted from traveling to them without a permit and were punished if they did so. A notable closed military installation was the city of [[Paldiski]] which was entirely closed to all public access{{Fact|date=October 2007}}. The city had a support base for the Soviet [[Baltic Fleet]]'s submarines and several large military bases, including a nuclear submarine training centre complete with a full-scale model of a nuclear submarine with working nuclear reactors. The reactor building passed to Estonian control a year after the Soviet troops left.

[[Population transfer in the Soviet Union|Population transfer]] was another effect of Soviet occupation. Hundreds of thousands of migrants were relocated to Estonia from other parts of [[Soviet Union]] to conduct industrialization and militarization, contributing an increase of about half million people to within 45 years.<ref name="vr20">[http://www.riigikogu.ee/public/Riigikogu/ValgeRaamat.pdf Valge raamat]</ref> The immigrants stayed on to form part of the population. By 1980, when [[Sailing at the 1980 Summer Olympics|Olympic Regatta]] of the [[1980 Olympic Games]] was held in Tallinn, russification and migration had achieved a level at which it started sparking popular protests{{Fact|date=October 2007}}.

===Return to independence===
The [[United States]], [[United Kingdom]] and the majority of other western democracies considered the [[Stimson Doctrine|annexation of Estonia by USSR illegal]]. They retained diplomatic relations with the representatives of the independent Republic of Estonia, never recognized the existence of the Estonian SSR [[de jure]], and never recognized Estonia as a legal constituent part of the Soviet Union<ref>{{cite journal | last=European Parliament | title=Resolution on the situation in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania | journal=Official Journal of the European Communities | volume=C 42/78 | date=January 13, 1983 | url=http:/upwiki/wikipedia/en/8/80/Europarliament13011983.jpg }} ''"whereas the Soviet annexias of the three Baltic States still has not been formally recognized by most European States and the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Vatican still adhere to the concept of the Baltic States"''.</ref>. Estonia's return to independence became possible as the Soviet Union ran into economic difficulties as a consequence of the [[Cold War]] and began to disintegrate. As the situation evolved, a movement for more Estonian self-governance started. In the initial period of 1987-1989, this was partially for more economic independence, but as the Soviet Union weakened and it became increasingly obvious that nothing short of full independence would do, the country began a course towards self-determination.

In 1989, during the "[[Singing Revolution]]", in a landmark demonstration for more independence, called [[The Baltic Way]], a human chain of more than two million people was formed, stretching through [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]] and Estonia. Both Lithuania and Latvia had similar fates of occupation and similar aspirations for regaining independence as Estonia.

Estonia formally declared regained independence on [[August 20]], [[1991]], during the [[Soviet coup attempt of 1991|Soviet military coup attempt]] in Moscow. The first country to diplomatically recognize Estonia's reclaimed independence was [[Iceland]].

The last Russian troops left on [[31 August]] [[1994]]. Estonia joined [[NATO]] on [[29 March]] [[2004]] and the [[European Union]] on [[1 May]] [[2004]].

===Foreign policy since regaining independence===
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 of 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.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6604647.stm</ref>

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 [[Baltic states|Balts]],<ref>[http://web-static.vm.ee/enwiki/static/failid/220/eesti_elu.pdf Estonian foreign ministry publication], 2004</ref><ref>[http://web-static.vm.ee/enwiki/static/failid/273/Eesti%20elu.pdf Estonian foreign ministry publication], 2002</ref> based on their linguistic, cultural and 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]].<ref>http://www.vm.ee/eng/nato/1210.html</ref> In 2003, the [[foreign ministry]] also hosted an exhibit called "Estonia: Nordic with a Twist".<ref>http://www.sm.ee/eng/pages/goproweb0689</ref> 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,<ref>[http://www.heritage.org/Research/WorldwideFreedom/bg2060.cfm The Estonian Economic Miracle]</ref> 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).<ref>http://www.estonica.org/eng/lugu.html?menyy_id=1117&kateg=40&alam=81&leht=12</ref><ref>http://www.investinestonia.com/pdf/ForeignTrade2007.pdf</ref>

On the other hand, the Estonian political system, its [[flat tax|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.

==Politics==
{{main|Politics of Estonia}}
[[Image:Estonian parliament building.jpg|thumb|right|256px|The Estonian Parliament building in Tallinn.]]
Estonia is a [[parliamentary]] [[democracy]] with three branches of power: [[legislative]], [[executive]], and [[judicial]].

The [[legislative]] power lies with the unicameral parliament, the [[Riigikogu]] or State Assembly, which consists of 101 seats. Members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms.

The [[Government of Estonia]] or the [[executive branch]] is formed by the [[Prime Minister of Estonia]], nominated by the president and approved by the parliament. The government 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'. The prime minister has the right to appoint a maximum of 3 such ministers, as the limit of ministers in one government is 15.

The supreme [[judicial power]] is vested in the Supreme Court or [[Riigikohus]], with 19 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 [[President of Estonia#Veto power|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]]. Estonia has pursued the development of the [[e-state]] and [[e-government]]. [[Electronic voting|Internet voting]] is used in elections in Estonia [http://news.com.com/Estonia+pulls+off+nationwide+Net+voting/2100-1028_3-5898115.html].
The first [[Internet]] voting took place in the 2005 local elections and the first in a parliamentary election was made available for the [[Estonian parliamentary election, 2007|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.

==Counties and municipalities==
===Counties===
{{Image with scale
|image=[[Image:Eesti maakonnad 2006.svg|thumb|none|400px|Counties of Estonia]]
|float=right |scale=400 |x=0.06 |y=0.9 |high=800 |width=544 |bl=0.133 |bw=1px |bc=black |fc=black
|text=<small>50 km</small>
}}
{{main|Counties of Estonia|Municipalities of Estonia}}
Estonia is divided into 15 counties. (''maakonnad''; sing. - ''maakond''). They include:
*[[Harju County]] (Estonian: ''Harjumaa'')
*[[Hiiu County]] (Estonian: ''Hiiumaa'')
*[[Ida-Viru County]] (Estonian: ''Ida-Virumaa'')
*[[Järva County]] (Estonian: ''Järvamaa'')
*[[Jõgeva County]] (Estonian: ''Jõgevamaa'')
*[[Lääne County]] (Estonian: ''Läänemaa'')
*[[Lääne-Viru County]] (Estonian: ''Lääne-Virumaa'')
*[[Pärnu County]] (Estonian: ''Pärnumaa'')
*[[Põlva County]] (Estonian: ''Põlvamaa'')
*[[Rapla County]] (Estonian: ''Raplamaa'')
*[[Saare County]] (Estonian: ''Saaremaa'')
*[[Tartu County]] (Estonian: ''Tartumaa'')
*[[Valga County]] (Estonian: ''Valgamaa'')
*[[Viljandi County]] (Estonian: ''Viljandimaa'')
*[[Võru County]] (Estonian: ''Võrumaa'')

===Smaller divisions===
{{seealso|Populated places in Estonia|List of towns in Estonia|Cities of Estonia}}
Estonian counties are divided into rural (''vallad'', singular ''vald'') and urban (''linnad'', singular ''linn''; ''alevid'', singular ''alev''; ''alevikud'', singular ''alevik'') municipalities. The municipalities comprise populated places (''asula'' or ''asustusüksus'') - various settlements and territorial units that have no administrative function. A group of populated places form a rural municipality with local administration. Most towns constitute separate urban municipalities, while some have joined with surrounding rural municipalities.

Officially, there are four types of populated places in Estonia: towns (''linn''), boroughs (''alev''), small boroughs (''alevik''), and villages (''küla'').

==Geography==
[[Image:En-map.png|right|Map of Estonia]]
{{main|Geography of Estonia}}

===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°&nbsp;N and 21.5° and 28.1°&nbsp;E. Average elevation reaches only 50&nbsp;metres (164&nbsp;ft) and the country's highest point is the [[Suur Munamägi]] in the southeast at 318&nbsp;metres (1,043&nbsp;ft).<ref name="worldinfo">{{cite web |title=World InfoZone - Estonia |url=http://www.worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Estonia |publisher=World InfoZonek, LTD. |work=World InfoZone |access_date=2007-2-20}}</ref>

[[Image:Luftbild Finnischer Meerbusen.jpg|thumb|left|Gulf of Finland and Estonia.]]
[[Oil shale]] (or [[kukersite]]) and [[limestone]] deposits, along with forests which cover 47% of the land, play key economic roles in this generally resource-poor country. Estonia boasts over [[List of lakes in Estonia|1,400 lakes]]. Most are very small, with the largest, [[Lake Peipus]], (Peipsi in Estonian) being 3555&nbsp;km² (1372&nbsp;sq mi). There are many rivers in the country. The largest are the Võhandu (162&nbsp;km), Pärnu (144&nbsp;km), and Põltsamaa (135&nbsp;km).<ref name="worldinfo">[http://www.worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Estonia World Info Zone]</ref> Estonia also boasts numerous [[bogs]], and 3794 [[kilometer]]s (2,357&nbsp;[[mile|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]].<ref name="worldinfo">[http://www.worldinfozone.com/country.php?country=Estonia World Info Zone]</ref>.

===Climate===
Estonia lies in the northern part of the [[Temperate|temperate climate zone]] and in the transition zone between [[Maritime climate|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 °C. The average temperature in February, the coldest month of the year, is -5.2 °C. The average temperature in July, which is considered the warmest month of the year, is 18 °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.

==Economy==
{{main|Economy of Estonia}}

===General situation===
Estonia is a member of the [[European Union]] and its economy is rated as "high income" by the [[World Bank Group|World Bank]]. [http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20421402~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html]

In June 1992, Estonia replaced the [[Russian ruble|ruble]] with its own freely convertible currency, the [[kroon]] (EEK). A [[currency board]] was created and the new currency was pegged to the German mark at the rate at 8 EEK for 1 DEM. When Germany introduced the [[euro]], the peg was changed to 15.64664 kroon for 1 euro. Shortly after accession to the European Union the parity was changed to 15.64660 kroon per euro. The Estonian government finalized the design of Estonia's euro coins in late 2004, and is now intending to adopt the [[euro]] as the country's currency in 2010, later than planned due to continued high inflation.

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 2011.

In 1999, Estonia experienced its worst year economically since it regained independence in 1991, largely because of the impact of the August 1998 [[Russian financial crisis]]. Estonia joined the [[World Trade Organization|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, which it joined on [[1 May]] [[2004]].

[[Image:Seascape.jpg|thumb|right|256px|The north-west coast of Estonia near [[Nõva]], [[Lääne County|Lääne]].]]
Since January 1, 2000, companies have not had to pay income tax on re-invested income. However, tax is due on profit distributions (including hidden distributions) at a rate of 22%. Despite the fact that only the moment of taxation was shifted from earning profits to their distribution, leaving the rest of the corporate taxation system mostly unchanged, the current legislation is said to be in violation of one of the fundamental freedoms of the European Union — free movement of capital. Estonia is to remove this hindrance by January 2009 when the temporary derogation expires, though Estonia has an option at that point to institute a very low corporate income tax, either 10%, or even 0%.

The Estonian economy is growing quickly, partly due to a number of Scandinavian companies relocating their routine operations to the country and [[Russia]]n oil transit using Estonian ports. Estonia has a strong [[information technology]] (IT) sector, partly due to the [[Tiigrihüpe]] project undertaken in the 1990s, and has been mentioned at the most "wired" country in Europe.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/15-09/ff_estonia Hackers Take Down the Most Wired Country in Europe], August 2007</ref> Its [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|GDP PPP per capita]] is at $21,860, the highest of the [[Baltic states]], while its unemployment rate was 4.2% in July 2006, one of the lowest in the European Union.<ref>[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006_MONTH_09/3-01092006-EN-BP.PDF Eurostat unemployment report], July 2006</ref>

Although the annual GDP growth rate in 2006 amounted again 11.4%, some of the leading financial institutions and rating agencies (Danske Bank, S&P, IWF) expressed serious concerns about possible overheating syndromes of the booming economy. A number of the main economic indicators (e.g. inflation at the 4.5%, significantly negative trade balance and private credit level) partly support this opinion.

===Exports===
Estonia exports machinery and equipment (33% of all exports annually), wood and paper (15% of all exports annually), textiles (14% of all exports annually), food products (8% of all exports annually), furniture (7% of all exports annually), and metals and chemical products.<ref name="CIAworld">[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/en.html CIA World Factbook: Estonia]</ref> Estonia also exports 1.562 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually.<ref name="CIAworld">[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/en.html CIA World Factbook: Estonia]</ref>

Estonia's export partners are Finland (26.4%), Sweden (12.9%), Latvia (8.8%), Russia (6.5%), Germany (6.2%), and Lithuania (4.8%).<ref name="CIAworld">[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/en.html CIA World Factbook: Estonia]</ref>

===Imports===
Estonia [[imports]] machinery and equipment (33.5% of all imports annually), chemical products (11.6% of all imports annually), textiles (10.3% of all imports annually), food products (9.4% of all imports annually), and transportation equipment (8.9% of all imports annually).<ref name="CIAworld">[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/en.html CIA World Factbook: Estonia]</ref> Estonia imports 200 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.<ref name="CIAworld">[http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/en.html CIA World Factbook: Estonia]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{main|Demographics of Estonia}}
Linguistically, [[Estonian language|Estonian]] is closely related to the [[Finnish language]]. [[Estonians]], as an ethnic group, are a [[Finnic]] people. Indigenous Estonian-speaking ethnic Estonians constitute nearly 70% of the total population of about 1.3 million people.

First and second generation immigrants from various parts of the former Soviet Union (mainly [[Russia]]) comprise most of the remaining 30%. The latter, mostly Russian-speaking ethnic minorities, reside predominantly in the capital city ([[Tallinn]]) and the industrial urban areas in northeastern Estonia (Ida-Virumaa county). There is also a small group of [[Finns|Finnish]] descent, mainly from [[Ingria]].

A significant part of indigenous [[Baltic German]]s left Estonia during the early 1920s, after land reforms and even dispossessions had taken place. But the majority of Baltic Germans left the country in late 1939, after [[Nazi Germany]] and [[USSR]] had agreed to assign Estonia into the Soviet 'sphere of influence' in the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]]. Historically, large parts of Estonia’s north-western coast and islands have been populated by an indigenous ethnically [[Swedish people|Swedish]] population called ''rannarootslased'' ("coastal Swedes"). The majority of Estonia's Swedish population fled to Sweden in 1944, escaping the advancing Soviet Army. Only a few hundred Swedes remained.

The country's official language is [[Estonian language|Estonian]], a [[Finno-Ugric language]] which is closely related to [[Finnish language|Finnish]]. It has been influenced by [[German language|German]], and like [[Finnish language|Finnish]] contains many [[Swedish language|Swedish]] words. [[Russian language|Russian]] is also widely spoken as a secondary language by thirty- to seventy-year-old ethnic Estonians, because Russian was taught as a compulsory second language during the Soviet era. Many younger Estonian people can usually speak [[English language|English]], having learned it as their first foreign language. Some Russians residing in Estonia do not speak [[Estonian language|Estonian]], but many of those who remained after the collapse of the Soviet Union have begun to learn it.<ref>[http://www.ies.ee/15102000.htm Kirch, Aksel. "Russians in contemporary Estonia—different strategies of the integration in to the nation-state."]</ref> Most common foreign languages learned by Estonians are English, Russian, German, Swedish, and Finnish.

===Ethnicity===
According to information published by the Estonian Foreign Ministry in 2007, the population of Estonia comprised the following self-reported ethnic groups [http://www.vm.ee/estonia/kat_173/pea_173/999.html]:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;"
|+ Ethnic composition of Estonia <!-- if required -->
! Ethnicity !! Population !! % of total </tr>
|align="left"| [[Estonians]] || 921,062 || 68.6 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Russians]] || 344,280 || 25.6 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Ukrainians]] || 28,158 || 2.1 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Belarusians]] || 16,134 || 1.2 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Finns]] || 11,035 || 0.8</tr>
|align="left"| [[Tatars]] || 2,487 || 0.2 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Latvians]] || 2,216 || 0.2 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Poles]] || 2,077 || 0.2 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Lithuanians]] || 2,077 || 0.2 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Jews]] || 1,900 || 0.1 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Germans]] || 1,900 || 0.1 </tr>
|align="left"| [[Others]] || 9,084 || 0.7 </tr>
|}

===Citizenship issues===
{{main|History of Russians in Estonia}}
After regaining independence in 1991, the authorities of Estonia did not automatically grant [[citizenship]] to anyone whose forebears did not have Estonian citizenship prior to the Soviet occupation of 1940. Although the long-term Russian settlers around Mustvee on [[Lake Peipus]] qualified for immediate citizenship, this policy mainly affected people who had [[Immigration|immigrated]] after [[Second World War]] from other former [[Soviet republics]]. Knowledge of the [[Estonian language]] and the [[Constitution of Estonia]] was set as a condition for obtaining [[naturalisation]]. The perceived difficulty of the initial language tests became a point of international contention, as the government of Russia, the [[European Union]], and a number of [[human rights]] organizations objected on the grounds that they made it impossible for many Russians who had not learned the local language to gain citizenship in the short term. As a result, the tests were somewhat altered and the number of [[stateless person]]s has steadily decreased. According to Estonian officials, in 1992, 32% of residents lacked any form of citizenship. In July 2007, the Population Registry of the Ministry of the Interior of Estonia reported that 8.5% of Estonia's residents have undefined citizenship and 7.8% have foreign citizenship<ref>[http://www.vm.ee/estonia/kat_399/4518.html/ Estonia: Citizenship]</ref>.
[[Image:FL-Tallinn.jpg|thumb|220px|Tallinn]]
According to the Estonian Statistical Office<ref>[http://www.stat.ee/170189/ Estonian Statistical Office: The composition of the population by citizenship in Estonia]</ref>, ethnic Russians comprised 25.6% of the population in 2006. Less than third of ethnic Russians in Estonia hold Russian citizenship, more than third hold Estonian citizenship, and another third continue to have [[undefined citizenship]]. Residents without Estonian citizenship may not vote in Riigikogu (the national parliament) elections, residents without citizenship of any EU member state may not vote in European Parliament elections, but all permanent legal residents regardless of citizenship status are eligible to vote in local (municipal) elections under Estonian law.

===Law on Cultural Autonomies===

When the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed in 1918, it promised all minorities on its territory a right to cultural autonomy. This right was enshrined in 1925 in the [[Law on Cultural Autonomy for National Minorities]], which entitled minorities to form and support cultural and educational institutions and religious congregations overseen by an elected cultural council.<ref>[http://www.einst.ee/factsheets/cult_auton/</ref>

Cultural autonomies could be granted to the Russian, German, Swedish, or Jewish minorities, or other minorities numbering more than 3,000 people with longstanding ties to the Republic of Estonia. Prior to the Soviet occupation, the German and Jewish minorities managed to elect a cultural council.

The Law on Cultural Autonomy for National Minorities was reinstated in 1993. In 2005, the [[Ingrian Finnish]] minority in Estonia elected a cultural council and was granted cultural autonomy. The [[Estonian Swedes|Estonian Swedish]] minority similarly received cultural autonomy in 2007.

===Religion===

According to the most recent [[Eurobarometer|Eurobarometer Poll]] 2005,<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 - page 11|accessdate=2007-05-05}}</ref> 16% of Estonian citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 54% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 26% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force". This, according to the survey, would have made [[Estonians]] the [[Irreligion|most non-religious people]] in the then 25-member [[European Union]]. Historically, however, Estonia used to be a stronghold of [[Lutheranism]] due to its strong links to the [[Nordic countries]].

==International rankings==
{| class="wikitable"
! Organisation !! Survey !! Year !! Ranking
|-
| A.T. Kearney/Foreign Policy
| [http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4030 Globalization Index]
| 2007
| <small>Rank 10 out of 78 countries</small>
|-
| [[Columbia University]] /<br/>[[Yale University]]
| [http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/es/esi/ Environmental Sustainability Index]
| [http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/es/esi/rank_01.html 2001]<br/>[http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/es/esi/rank.html 2002]<br/> [http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/es/esi/downloads.html 2005]
| <small>Rank 27 out of 122 countries</small><br/><small>Rank 18 out of 142 countries</small><br/><small>Rank 27 out of 146 countries</small>
|-
| [[Heritage Foundation]] /<br/>[[The Wall Street Journal]]
| [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/countries.cfm Index of Economic Freedom]
| 2006
| <small>Rank 12 out of 157 countries, excluding 5 that were not ranked</small>
|-
| [[Reporters Without Borders]]
| [http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=554 World Press Freedom Ranking]
| [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=11715 2004]<br/> [http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=554 2005]<br/> [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19388 2006]<br/> [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24021 2007]
| <small>Rank 11 out of 167 countries (tied with [[Germany]], [[Sweden]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]])<br/> Rank 11 out of 167 countries<br/> Rank 6 out of 168 countries (tied with [[Norway]])<br/> Rank 3 out of 169 countries (tied with [[Slovakia]])</small>
|-
| [[State of World Liberty Project]]
| [http://www.stateofworldliberty.org State of World Liberty Index]
| [http://www.stateofworldliberty.org/report/rankings.html 2006]
| <small>Rank 1 out of 159 countries</small>
|-
| [[Transparency International]]
| [http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2004/2004.10.20.cpi.en.html Corruption Perceptions Index]
| [http://www.transparency.org/content/download/5208/30496/file/tilac_annual_report_2004.pdf 2004]<br/>[http://www.transparency.org/content/download/8101/51449/file/TIAR2005.pdf 2005]<br/>[http://www.transparency.org/content/download/10825/92857/version/1/file/CPI_2006_presskit_eng.pdf 2006]
| <small>Rank 31 out of 146 countries (tied with [[Botswana]] and [[Slovenia]])<br/>Rank 27 out of 158 countries<br/>Rank 24 out of 163 countries (tied with [[Barbados]])</small>
|-
| [[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]]
| [http://hdr.undp.org/ Human Development Index]
| [http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/pdf/hdr04_complete.pdf 2004]<br/>[http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/pdf/HDR05_complete.pdf 2005]<br/>[http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/pdfs/report/HDR06-complete.pdf 2006]
| <small>Rank 36 out of 177 countries<br/>Rank 38 out of 177 countries<br/>Rank 40 out of 177 countries</small>
|-
| [[World Economic Forum]]
| [http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm Global Competitiveness Report]
| [http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm 2005–2006]<br/>[http://www.weforum.org/pdf/Global_Competitiveness_Reports/Reports/gcr_2006/gcr2006_rankings.pdf 2006–2007]
| <small>Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking – Rank 26 out of 117 countries<br/>Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking – Rank 25 out of 125 countries</small>
|-
| [http://www.worldaudit.org/ WorldAudit.org]
| [http://www.worldaudit.org/democracy.htm World Democracy Audit]
| 2006
| <small>Rank 18 out of 150 countries</small>
|}

==See also==
{{columns |width=33%
|col1 =
* [[Baltic Germans]]
* [[Battle of Narva]]
* [[Brothers of the Sword]]
* [[Coat of arms of Estonia]]
* [[Communications in Estonia]]
* [[Constitution of Estonia]]
* [[Crime in Estonia]]
* [[Danish Estonia]]
* [[Eesti Skautide Ühing|Estonian Boy Scouts Association]]
* [[Estonian State Decorations]]
* [[Foreign relations of Estonia]]
* [[Governorate of Estonia]]
* [[Islam in Estonia]]
* [[List of cities in Estonia]]
* [[List of Estonian Americans]]
* [[List of Estonian newspapers]]
* [[List of Estonian rulers]]
* [[List of famous Estonians]]
|col2 =
* [[List of islands of Estonia]]
* [[List of lakes in Estonia]]
* [[List of municipalities of Estonia]]
* [[List of national parks of Estonia]]
* [[List of people on stamps of Estonia]]
* [[List of rivers of Estonia]]
* [[Military of Estonia]]
* [[Narva]]
* [[Nigula Nature Reserve]]
* [[Nordic countries]]
* [[Public holidays in Estonia]]
* [[Swedish Estonia]]
* [[Teutonic Knights]]
* [[History of Russians in Estonia|Russians in Estonia]]
* [[Russification]]
* [[Same-sex marriage in Estonia]]
* [[Occupation of Baltic Republics|Soviet occupation of Baltic countries]]
* [[Baltic states#Tourism of the Baltic states|Tourism in the Baltic states]]
* [[Transportation in Estonia]]
|col3 =
{{portal|Estonia|Flag of Estonia.svg}}
'''Culture'''
* [[Cinema of Estonia]]
* [[Estonian mythology]]
* [[Estonian National Opera]]
* [[Estonian rock|Estonian rock music]]
* [[Gay rights in Estonia]]
* [[Music of Estonia]]
* [[List of Estonian films]]
* [[Tallinn]]
* [[Tallinn University]]
* [[Tallinn University of Technology]]
* [[Tartu]]
* [[University of Tartu]]
* [[International University Audentes]]
* [[Protected areas in Estonia]]
}}

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

==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|Estonia}}
{{wikiatlas|Estonia}}

===Government===
* [https://www.eesti.ee/ State Portal]
* [http://www.riik.ee/en/ Estonian State WEB Center]
* [http://www.valitsus.ee/?lang=en Estonian Government]
* [http://www.riigikogu.ee/?lang=en Estonian Parliament]
* [http://www.president.ee/en/ Estonian President]
* [http://www.vm.ee/eng Ministry of Foreign Affairs] (including an annual review for 2006, biweekly reviews of news, and press releases)

===History===
* http://www.historycommission.ee/ Estonian International Commission for
Investigation of Crimes Against Humanity

===Tourism===
* [http://www.visitestonia.com/ Visitestonia.com]
* {{wikitravel}}
* [http://www.mois.ee/english/ Estonian Manors Portal] the English version introduces 438 well-preserved historical manor houses in Estonia
* [http://www.estlandia.de/en.html Estonia Travel Guide] first-hand information on regions of Estonia

===Culture===
* [http://www.einst.ee/ Estonian Institute]
* [http://www.ekm.ee/eng/ Art Museum of Estonia]
* [http://www.opera.ee/?set_lang_id=2 Estonian National Opera]
* [http://libraries.theeuropeanlibrary.org/Estonia/treasures_en.xml Treasures of the national library of Estonia]

===Overviews===
* [http://www.stat.ee/ Statistical Office of Estonia]
* [http://www.emhi.ee/index.php?nlan=eng Estonian Meteorological and Hydrological Institute]
* [http://www.english.eesti.pl/ Estonia onLine]
* [http://www.bk.ee/eng/ All about Estonia in the Baltic Key]
* {{dmoz|Regional/Europe/Estonia/|Estonia}}

===News===
* [http://www.baltictimes.com/ Baltic Times]
* [http://www.citypaper.ee City Paper]

{{Template group
|title = Geographic locale
|list =
{{Countries of Europe}}
{{Countries of the Baltic region}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International membership
|list =
{{EU members}}
{{Council of Europe members}}
{{NATO|state=collapsed}}
{{WTO}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = Languages
|list =
{{Finno-Ugric-speaking nations}}
}}

<!--Categories-->
<!--Other languages-->

{{Link FA|pt}}

[[Category:Estonia| ]]
[[Category:Republics]]
[[Category:Liberal democracies]]

[[af:Estland]]
[[am:ኤስቶኒያ]]
[[ang:Estland]]
[[ar:إستونيا]]
[[an:Estonia]]
[[arc:ܐܣܬܘܢܝܐ]]
[[roa-rup:Estonia]]
[[frp:Èstonie]]
[[ast:Estonia]]
[[az:Estoniya]]
[[bn:ইস্তোনিয়া]]
[[zh-min-nan:Eesti]]
[[be:Эстонія]]
[[be-x-old:Эстонія]]
[[bar:Estlånd]]
[[bs:Estonija]]
[[br:Estonia]]
[[bg:Естония]]
[[ca:Estònia]]
[[cv:Эстони]]
[[ceb:Estonia]]
[[cs:Estonsko]]
[[cy:Estonia]]
[[da:Estland]]
[[pdc:Eschdooni]]
[[de:Estland]]
[[et:Eesti]]
[[el:Εσθονία]]
[[es:Estonia]]
[[eo:Estonio]]
[[eu:Estonia]]
[[fa:استونی]]
[[fo:Estland]]
[[fr:Estonie]]
[[fy:Estlân]]
[[ga:An Eastóin]]
[[gv:Yn Esthoin]]
[[gl:Estonia - Eesti]]
[[ko:에스토니아]]
[[hy:Էստոնիա]]
[[hi:एस्टोनिया]]
[[hsb:Estiska]]
[[hr:Estonija]]
[[io:Estonia]]
[[ilo:Estonia]]
[[bpy:এস্তোনিয়া]]
[[id:Estonia]]
[[ia:Estonia]]
[[ie:Estonia]]
[[os:Эстони]]
[[is:Eistland]]
[[it:Estonia]]
[[he:אסטוניה]]
[[pam:Estonia]]
[[kn:ಎಸ್ಟೊನಿಯ]]
[[ka:ესტონეთი]]
[[csb:Estóńskô]]
[[kk:Естония]]
[[kw:Estoni]]
[[sw:Estonia]]
[[ht:Estoni]]
[[ku:Estonya]]
[[la:Estonia]]
[[lv:Igaunija]]
[[lb:Estland]]
[[lij:Estònia]]
[[lt:Estija]]
[[li:Esland]]
[[jbo:est]]
[[hu:Észtország]]
[[mk:Естонија]]
[[mr:एस्टोनिया]]
[[ms:Estonia]]
[[nah:Estontlān]]
[[na:Estonia]]
[[nl:Estland]]
[[nds-nl:Estlaand]]
[[ne:इस्टोनिया]]
[[ja:エストニア]]
[[ce:Эстони]]
[[no:Estland]]
[[nn:Estland]]
[[nrm:Estonnie]]
[[nov:Estonia]]
[[oc:Estònia]]
[[ug:ئېستونىيە]]
[[uz:Estoniya]]
[[ps:اېسټونيا]]
[[pms:Estònia]]
[[nds:Eestland]]
[[pl:Estonia]]
[[pt:Estónia]]
[[ro:Estonia]]
[[rmy:Estoniya]]
[[qu:Istunya]]
[[ru:Эстония]]
[[se:Estlánda]]
[[sa:एस्टोनिया]]
[[sco:Estonia]]
[[sq:Estonia]]
[[scn:Estonia]]
[[simple:Estonia]]
[[sk:Estónsko]]
[[sl:Estonija]]
[[sr:Естонија]]
[[sh:Estonija]]
[[fi:Viro]]
[[sv:Estland]]
[[tl:Estonia]]
[[ta:எஸ்டோனியா]]
[[kab:Isṭuni]]
[[tt:Estoniä]]
[[tet:Estónia]]
[[th:ประเทศเอสโตเนีย]]
[[vi:Estonia]]
[[tg:Эстония]]
[[tpi:Estonia]]
[[tr:Estonya]]
[[udm:Эстония]]
[[uk:Естонія]]
[[vec:Estonia]]
[[vo:Lestiyän]]
[[fiu-vro:Eesti]]
[[war:Estonya]]
[[wo:Estooni]]
[[yi:עסטלאנד]]
[[zh-yue:愛沙尼亞]]
[[diq:Estonya]]
[[bat-smg:Estėjė]]
[[zh:爱沙尼亚]]

Revision as of 15:32, 21 December 2007

Why are you looking at Estonia?

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