Economy overview: In 2000, Estonia bounced back from the Russian financial crisis by balancing its budget and redirecting trade from Russian markets to EU markets. After a 1.1% decline in GDP in 1999, the economy recovered significantly in 2000, with growth estimated at 6.4%, the highest in Central and Eastern Europe. Estonia joined the WTO in November 1999, the second of the Baltic countries, and continues negotiations on joining the EU. In 2001 GDP is expected to grow by 6%, inflation will be 4.2-5.3%, and the budget will be balanced. Great progress was made in 2000 in completing the privatization of several large state-owned companies, and this process should continue in 2001. Estonia hopes to join the EU during the next round of enlargement, tentatively scheduled for 2004. See cheeroutdoor.com to know more about Estonia Business. GDPR: at purchasing power parity – $14.7 billion (2000 est.). Real GDP growth rate: 6.4% (2000 est.). GDP per capita: at purchasing power parity – $10,000 (2000 est.). The composition of GDP by sectors of the economy: agriculture: 3.6%; industry: 30.7%; services: 65.7% (1999). Proportion of population below the poverty line: 8.9% (1995 est.). Percentage distribution of family income or consumption: per 10% of the poorest families: 3.2%; by the top 10% of families: 28.5% (1996). Inflation rate at consumer prices: 4.1% (1999 est.). Labor force: 785,500 people (1999 est.). Employment structure: industry 20%, agriculture and forestry 11%, services 69% (1999 est.). Unemployment rate: 11.7% (1999 est.). Budget: revenues: $1.37 billion; expenditures: $1.37 billion, including capital expenditures – NA (1997 est.). Spheres of economy: oil shale tar mining, shipbuilding, phosphate mining, production of electric motors, excavators, cement, furniture, clothing, textiles, paper, shoes. Growth in industrial production: 5% (2000 est.). Electricity generation: 7.782 billion kWh (1999) Sources of electricity generation: fossil fuels: 99.72%; hydropower: 0.09%; nuclear fuel: 0%; others: 0.19% (1999). Electricity consumption: 6.807 billion kWh (1999). Electricity export: 530 million kWh (1999). Electricity import: 100 million kWh (1999). Agricultural products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables; livestock; dairy products; fish. Export: $3.1 billion (free on board, 2000) Export items: machinery and equipment 24%, forest products 20%, textiles 17%, foodstuffs 9%, metal, chemical products (1999). Export partners: Finland 19.4%, Sweden 18.8%, Russia 9.2%, Latvia 8.7%, Germany 7.5%, USA 2.5% (1999). Imports: $4 billion (free on board, 2000) Import articles: machinery and equipment 31%, chemical products 13%, foodstuffs 11%, hardware 8%, textiles 8% (1999). Import partners: Finland 22.8%, Russia 13.5%, Sweden 9.3%, Germany 9.3%, Japan 4.7% (1999). External debt: $1.6 billion (2000 est.) Economic aid recipient: $137.3 million (1995) Donor of economic aid: Currency: Estonian kroon. Currency code: EEK. Exchange rate: EEK/USD – 16.663 (January 2001), 16.969 (2000), 14.678 (1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996); note – kroon exchange rate is pegged to the deutsche mark at a ratio of 8 kroons per 1 mark. Fiscal year: calendar year.
Telecommunications
Telecommunications Telephone lines: 476,078 (late 1998). Mobile cell phones: 475,000 (late 2000). Phone system: foreign investment through joint ventures has substantially improved the telephone system; Internet services are available in most of the country; pending 150,000 applications for telephone installations; domestic: local – the Ministry of Transport and Communications promotes the expansion of cellular services for networking in rural areas; urban – highly developed basic fiber optic system (double ring) serving at least 16 large cities (1998); international: fiber optic cables are stretched to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, Russia, provide communication with the whole world through switches; two international exchanges are located in Tallinn. Broadcast stations: AM – 3 (all closed since July 1998), FM – 82, shortwave – 1 (1998). Radio receivers: 1.01 million (1997). Television broadcast stations: 31 (and 5 repeaters) (September 1995). Televisions: 605,000 (1997). Internet country code: ee Internet providers: 28 (2000). Number of users: 309,000 (2000).
Transport
Transport Railways: total: 1,018 km of lines for general transport, excluding industrial tracks; broad gauge: 1,018 km (1.520 m gauge) (132 km electrified) (1995). Motorways: total: 30,300 km; paved: 29,200 km (including 75 km of highways); note – gravel and gravel-like roads suitable for use in all weather are also taken into account; unpaved: 1,100 km (2000). Waterways: 320 km are permanently navigable. Pipelines: for natural gas – 420 km (1992). Ports and harbours: Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Pärnu, Tallinn, Haapsalu. Merchant navy: total: 44 vessels (displacement 1,000 tons or more) with a total displacement of 253,460 gross register tons / 219,727 long tons of gross tonnage; vessels of various types: bulk carriers – 2, cargo ships – 19, combined dry cargo ships – 1, container ships – 5, oil tankers – 1, ferries for the transport of loaded vehicles – 10, coastal passenger ships – 6 (2000 est.). Airports: 32 (2000 est.). Airports with paved runways: total: 8; from 2438 to 3047 m: 7; to 914:13 (2000 est.). Airports with unpaved runways: total: 24; over 3,047 m: 1; from 2438 to 3047 m: 5; from 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7; from 914 to 1523 m:5; less than 914 m: 6 (2000 est.).
Armed forces
Branches of the armed forces: land forces, navy – coast guard, air and anti-aircraft forces (not officially allocated), maritime border guards, volunteer defense union (Kaitseliit), security forces (internal and border troops). Enlistment age: 18 years old. Total Military Manpower: Male 15 to 49: 359,677 (2001 est.). Eligible for military service: males aged 15 to 49: 282,418 (2001 est.). Number of persons reaching military age each year: men: 11,164 (2001 est.). Military spending in dollar terms: $70 million (1999) Military spending as part of GDP: 1.2% (1999).
International Issues
International issues International disputes: Estonian-Russian negotiations led to a border agreement in December 1996, which as of February 2000 had not yet been signed and ratified by Russia. Illicit drugs: transit point for opiates and cannabis from South-West Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, for cocaine from Latin America on its way to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and for synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia; possible production and / or trade in components used in the manufacture of drugs; the production of synthetic drugs is growing, exported to Russia, the Baltic countries and Finland.
