Difference between revisions of "Estonia" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
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|leader_name1            = [[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]]
 
|leader_name1            = [[Toomas Hendrik Ilves]]
 
|leader_name2            = [[Andrus Ansip]]
 
|leader_name2            = [[Andrus Ansip]]
−
|accessionEUdate          = [[May 1]], [[2004]]
+
|accessionEUdate          = May 1, 2004
 
|area                    = 45,226
 
|area                    = 45,226
 
|areami²                  = 17,413 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]—>
 
|areami²                  = 17,413 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]—>
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|sovereignty_note        = from [[Russian SFSR|Russia]]
 
|sovereignty_note        = from [[Russian SFSR|Russia]]
 
|established_event1      = Declared
 
|established_event1      = Declared
−
|established_date1        = [[24 February]] [[1918]]
+
|established_date1        = 24 February 1918
 
|established_event2      = Recognised
 
|established_event2      = Recognised
−
|established_date2        = [[2 February]] [[1920]]
+
|established_date2        = 2 February 1920
 
|established_event3      = {{nowrap|Occupied by [[Soviet Union|USSR]]}}
 
|established_event3      = {{nowrap|Occupied by [[Soviet Union|USSR]]}}
−
|established_date3        = [[16 June]] [[1940]]
+
|established_date3        = 16 June 1940
 
|established_event4      = Re-declared  
 
|established_event4      = Re-declared  
−
|established_date4        = [[20 August]] [[1991]]
+
|established_date4        = 20 August 1991
 
|currency                = [[Estonian kroon]]
 
|currency                = [[Estonian kroon]]
 
|currency_code            = EEK
 
|currency_code            = EEK
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'''Estonia''' (older [[English language|English]] spelling ''Esthonia''), officially the '''Republic of Estonia''' ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]: ''Eesti'' or ''Eesti Vabariik''), 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''' (older [[English language|English]] spelling ''Esthonia''), officially the '''Republic of Estonia''' ([[Estonian language|Estonian]]: ''Eesti'' or ''Eesti Vabariik''), 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 [[Estonian language|Estonian]] language, along with closely related [[Finnish language|Finnish]] as well as [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], is one of the few [[official languages of the European Union]] that is not of [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin.
+
Estonia has been a member of the [[European Union]] since 1 May 2004, and of [[NATO]] since 29 March 2004. The [[Estonian language|Estonian]] language, along with closely related [[Finnish language|Finnish]] as well as [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]], is one of the few [[official languages of the European Union]] that is not of [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
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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]].
 
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>
+
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>
  
 
===Christianity===
 
===Christianity===
 
By the early thirteenth century, Estonia was divided into eight large counties — Saaremaa, Läänemaa, Rävala, Harju, Viru, Järva, Sakala, Ugandi, and many smaller ones. Annual consultations were held by representatives and constituents of several counties and developments took the direction of establishing a state. Estonia until this time retained a [[Paganism|pagan]] religion centered around a deity called [[Tharapita]].
 
By the early thirteenth century, Estonia was divided into eight large counties — Saaremaa, Läänemaa, Rävala, Harju, Viru, Järva, Sakala, Ugandi, and many smaller ones. Annual consultations were held by representatives and constituents of several counties and developments took the direction of establishing a state. Estonia until this time retained a [[Paganism|pagan]] religion centered around a deity called [[Tharapita]].
  
−
Estonia was [[Christianization|Christianized]] when the [[Germany|German]] "[[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]]" conquered southern Estonia ''(german: [[Livland]])'' 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 ''(german: [[Estland]])'' remained a possession of Denmark until [[1346]]. [[Reval]] (known as [[Tallinn]] since [[1918]]) was given its [[Lübeck law|Lübeck Rights]] in [[1248]] and joined 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. After 1524, during the [[Protestant Reformation]], Estonia converted to [[Lutheranism]].
+
Estonia was [[Christianization|Christianized]] when the [[Germany|German]] "[[Livonian Brothers of the Sword]]" conquered southern Estonia ''(german: [[Livland]])'' 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 ''(german: [[Estland]])'' remained a possession of Denmark until 1346. [[Reval]] (known as [[Tallinn]] since 1918) was given its [[Lübeck law|Lübeck Rights]] in 1248 and joined 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. After 1524, during the [[Protestant Reformation]], Estonia converted to [[Lutheranism]].
  
 
===Sweden and Russia===
 
===Sweden and Russia===
 
During the Livonian War in 1561, northern Estonia submitted to Swedish control, while southern Estonia briefly came under the control of [[Poland]] 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]].
 
During the Livonian War in 1561, northern Estonia submitted to Swedish control, while southern Estonia briefly came under the control of [[Poland]] 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 [[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."
+
In 1631, the Swedish king [[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."
  
−
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 1818 in Livonia.
+
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 1818 in Livonia.
  
 
===Gaining independence===
 
===Gaining independence===
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[[Image:Kihnu_mererand.jpg|thumb|left|Kihnu seashore]]
 
[[Image:Kihnu_mererand.jpg|thumb|left|Kihnu seashore]]
−
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 the [[German]] victories against the ((Russian]] [[Army]] of [[1917]] and the [[Russian]] [[October Revolution]], Estonia declared itself an independent republic on [[24 February]] [[1918]]. After winning the [[Estonian Liberation War]] against Soviet Russia (the [[Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Estonian)|Treaty of Tartu]] was signed on [[2 February]] [[1920]]) with the help of [[German]] [[Freikorps]] volunteers, 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.
+
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 the [[German]] victories against the ((Russian]] [[Army]] of 1917 and the [[Russian]] [[October Revolution]], Estonia declared itself an independent republic on 24 February 1918. After winning the [[Estonian Liberation War]] against Soviet Russia (the [[Treaty of Tartu (Russian–Estonian)|Treaty of Tartu]] was signed on 2 February 1920) with the help of [[German]] [[Freikorps]] volunteers, 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.
  
 
===Under the USSR===
 
===Under the USSR===
−
Estonia was [[Occupation of the Baltic Republics|occupied]] by Soviet troops in June [[1940]], as a consequence of the secret amendment to the August [[1939]] [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]] between the [[Soviet Union]] and [[National Socialist]] [[Germany]] and . Estonia was formally annexed by the Soviet Union in August 1940 as the [[Estonian SSR]]. Many of the country's political and intellectual leaders were killed or deported to remote areas of the USSR by the Soviet authorities during 1940 to 1941. The repressions also included actions taken against thousands of ordinary people. When the German [[Operation Barbarossa]] started against the Soviet Union, thousands of young Estonian men were forcibly drafted into the Red Army. Hundreds of political prisoners were killed whom the retreating Soviets had no time to move. The country was occupied by [[Germany]] from [[1941]] to [[1944]] and many Estonians joined the German [[Armed Forces]]. Soviet forces reconquered Estonia after fierce battles in the northeast of the country on the Narva river and on the Tannenberg Line (Sinimäed). In the face of imminent re-occupation by the Red Army, tens of thousands of people chose to either retreat together with the Germans or flee the country to Finland or Sweden . In 1949, in response to slow progress in forming collective farms, as prescribed by the Soviet ideology, tens of thousands of people were forcibly deported in a few days either to [[labor]] camps or Siberia where half of them perished; the other half were not allowed to return until the early 1960s (several years after [[Stalin]]'s death). 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.
+
Estonia was [[Occupation of the Baltic Republics|occupied]] by Soviet troops in June 1940, as a consequence of the secret amendment to the August 1939 [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]] between the [[Soviet Union]] and [[National Socialist]] [[Germany]] and . Estonia was formally annexed by the Soviet Union in August 1940 as the [[Estonian SSR]]. Many of the country's political and intellectual leaders were killed or deported to remote areas of the USSR by the Soviet authorities during 1940 to 1941. The repressions also included actions taken against thousands of ordinary people. When the German [[Operation Barbarossa]] started against the Soviet Union, thousands of young Estonian men were forcibly drafted into the Red Army. Hundreds of political prisoners were killed whom the retreating Soviets had no time to move. The country was occupied by [[Germany]] from 1941 to 1944 and many Estonians joined the German [[Armed Forces]]. Soviet forces reconquered Estonia after fierce battles in the northeast of the country on the Narva river and on the Tannenberg Line (Sinimäed). In the face of imminent re-occupation by the Red Army, tens of thousands of people chose to either retreat together with the Germans or flee the country to Finland or Sweden . In 1949, in response to slow progress in forming collective farms, as prescribed by the Soviet ideology, tens of thousands of people were forcibly deported in a few days either to [[labor]] camps or Siberia where half of them perished; the other half were not allowed to return until the early 1960s (several years after [[Stalin]]'s death). 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]]
 
[[Image:Osmussaar27.jpg|thumb|Western bank of Osmussaar]]
  
 
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. Soviet rule significantly slowed Estonia's economic growth, resulting in a wide "wealth gap" in comparison with neighboring democratic countries (e.g., Finland and Sweden).
 
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. Soviet rule significantly slowed Estonia's economic growth, resulting in a wide "wealth gap" in comparison with neighboring democratic countries (e.g., Finland and Sweden).
  
−
Militarization was another aspect of the Soviet regime. Large parts of the country and especially the coastal areas were restricted to anyone but the Soviet military. Most of the northern, northwestern and western sea shore and all of the islands (including Saaremaa and Hiiumaa) were declared "border zones". Estonians not directly living there were restricted from traveling there without a permit and could be punished if they did so. A notable closed military installation was the city of [[Paldiski]] which was entirely closed to all public access. The city had a support base for the Soviet Navy'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.
+
Militarization was another aspect of the Soviet regime. Large parts of the country and especially the coastal areas were restricted to anyone but the Soviet military. Most of the northern, northwestern and western sea shore and all of the islands (including Saaremaa and Hiiumaa) were declared "border zones." Estonians not directly living there were restricted from traveling there without a permit and could be punished if they did so. A notable closed military installation was the city of [[Paldiski]] which was entirely closed to all public access. The city had a support base for the Soviet Navy'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.
  
 
[[Russification]] was another effect brought about by the Soviet occupation. Hundreds of thousands of Russian-speaking migrants (mostly from the Russian Federation or Ukraine) were relocated to Estonia by the Soviet administration and Communist Party to conduct the aforementioned industrialization and militarization. The immigrants stayed on to form part of the population. By 1980, when part of the [[Moscow]] [[Olympic Games]] were also held in Tallinn (the Olympic Regatta), Russification and state-orchestrated immigration had achieved a level at which it started sparking popular protests.
 
[[Russification]] was another effect brought about by the Soviet occupation. Hundreds of thousands of Russian-speaking migrants (mostly from the Russian Federation or Ukraine) were relocated to Estonia by the Soviet administration and Communist Party to conduct the aforementioned industrialization and militarization. The immigrants stayed on to form part of the population. By 1980, when part of the [[Moscow]] [[Olympic Games]] were also held in Tallinn (the Olympic Regatta), Russification and state-orchestrated immigration had achieved a level at which it started sparking popular protests.
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In 1989, a landmark demonstration was held for more independence, called [[The Baltic Way]]. During the demonstration a human chain of more than two million people was formed, stretching through [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]] and Estonia, (both Lithuania and Latvia having had similar fates of occupation and similar aspirations for regaining independence as Estonia).
 
In 1989, a landmark demonstration was held for more independence, called [[The Baltic Way]]. During the demonstration a human chain of more than two million people was formed, stretching through [[Lithuania]], [[Latvia]] and Estonia, (both Lithuania and Latvia having had similar fates of occupation and similar aspirations for regaining independence as Estonia).
  
−
Estonia regained independence on [[August 20]], [[1991]], with the [[Singing Revolution]] during the Soviet military coup attempt in Russia and the following [[collapse of the Soviet Union]]. The first country to diplomatically re-recognize Estonia's reclaimed independence was [[Iceland]], closely followed by [[Denmark]].
+
Estonia regained independence on August 20, 1991, with the [[Singing Revolution]] during the Soviet military coup attempt in Russia and the following [[collapse of the Soviet Union]]. The first country to diplomatically re-recognize Estonia's reclaimed independence was [[Iceland]], closely followed by [[Denmark]].
  
−
The last Russian troops left on [[31 August]] [[1994]]. Estonia joined [[NATO]] on [[29 March]] [[2004]] and the [[European Union]] on [[1 May]] [[2004]].
+
The last Russian troops left on 31 August 1994. Estonia joined [[NATO]] on 29 March 2004 and the [[European Union]] on 1 May 2004.
  
  
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As a member of the [[European Union]], Estonia is part of the world's largest economic zone.
 
As a member of the [[European Union]], Estonia is part of the world's largest economic zone.
  
−
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 15.6466 kroon for 1 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 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 15.6466 kroon for 1 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 20% by January 2009.
 
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 20% by January 2009.
  
−
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. It was the second Baltic state to join. 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]].
+
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. It was the second Baltic state to join. 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]].]]
 
[[Image:Seascape.jpg|thumb|right|256px|The north-west coast of Estonia near [[Nõva]], [[Lääne County|Lääne]].]]
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==Demographics==
 
==Demographics==
 
{{main|Demographics of Estonia}}
 
{{main|Demographics of Estonia}}
−
Indigenous Estonian-speaking ethnic Estonians constitute nearly 70 percent 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 per cent. 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 Ingermanland (Ingria). A significant part of [[Baltic German]]s left Estonia during the early [[1920]]s, after land reforms and even disposessions had taken place. But the majority of Baltic Germans left the country after the [[Soviet]] occupation in [[1940]], following an [[amendment]] to the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]] that committed the Baltic Germans to be evacuated from Estonia to [[Germany]].  
+
Indigenous Estonian-speaking ethnic Estonians constitute nearly 70 percent 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 per cent. 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 Ingermanland (Ingria). A significant part of [[Baltic German]]s left Estonia during the early 1920s, after land reforms and even disposessions had taken place. But the majority of Baltic Germans left the country after the [[Soviet]] occupation in 1940, following an [[amendment]] to the [[Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact]] that committed the Baltic Germans to be evacuated from Estonia to [[Germany]].  
 
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.
 
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.
  
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Altogether 1,000 people were questioned, of which 72% were Estonians.
 
Altogether 1,000 people were questioned, of which 72% were Estonians.
  
−
According to the most recent Eurostat "Eurobarometer" poll, in 2005 <ref name="Eurostat poll on the social and religious beliefs of Europeans"> Eurobarometer, http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf</ref>, only 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|least religious people]] in the then 25-member [[European Union]].
+
According to the most recent Eurostat "Eurobarometer" poll, in 2005 <ref name="Eurostat poll on the social and religious beliefs of Europeans"> Eurobarometer, http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf</ref>, only 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|least religious people]] in the then 25-member [[European Union]].
  
 
==International rankings==
 
==International rankings==
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| [[Heritage Foundation]] /<br/>[[The Wall Street Journal]]
 
| [[Heritage Foundation]] /<br/>[[The Wall Street Journal]]
 
| [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/countries.cfm Index of Economic Freedom]
 
| [http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/countries.cfm Index of Economic Freedom]
−
| [[2006]]
+
| 2006
 
| <small>Rank 12 out of 157 countries, not accounting 5 that were not ranked</small>
 
| <small>Rank 12 out of 157 countries, not accounting 5 that were not ranked</small>
 
|-
 
|-
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| [http://www.worldaudit.org/ WorldAudit.org]
 
| [http://www.worldaudit.org/ WorldAudit.org]
 
| [http://www.worldaudit.org/democracy.htm World Democracy Audit]
 
| [http://www.worldaudit.org/democracy.htm World Democracy Audit]
−
| [[2006]]
+
| 2006
 
| <small>Rank 18 out of 150 countries</small>
 
| <small>Rank 18 out of 150 countries</small>
 
|}
 
|}

Revision as of 22:22, 9 April 2007

For other uses, see Estonia (disambiguation).
Eesti Vabariik
Republic of Estonia
Flag of Estonia Coat of arms of Estonia
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Mu isamaa, mu õnn ja rõõm
Location of Estonia
Location of  Estonia (orange)
– on the European continent (camel  white)
– in the European Union (camel)   [Legend]
Capital 22px Tallinn
59°26′N 24°45′E
Largest city capital
Official languages Estonian
Government Parliamentary democracy
 - President Toomas Hendrik Ilves
 - Prime Minister Andrus Ansip
Independence from Russia 
 - Declared 24 February 1918 
 - Recognised 2 February 1920 
 - Occupied by USSR 16 June 1940 
 - Re-declared 20 August 1991 
Accession to EU May 1, 2004
Area
 - Total 45,226 km² (132nd)
17,413 sq mi 
 - Water (%) 4.56%
Population
 - 2006 estimate 1,324,333
 - Density 29/km²
75/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2006 estimate
 - Total $23.93 billion
 - Per capita $17,802
HDI  (2004) Green Arrow Up (Darker).png 0.858 (high)
Currency Estonian kroon (EEK)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Internet TLD .ee1
Calling code +372

Estonia (older English spelling Esthonia), officially the Republic of Estonia (Estonian: Eesti or Eesti Vabariik), 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 Estonian language, along with closely related Finnish as well as Hungarian, is one of the few official languages of the European Union that is not of Indo-European origin.

History

Ancient history

Human settlement in Estonia became possible 11,000 to 13,000 years ago, when the ice from the last glacial era melted away. The oldest known settlement in Estonia is the Pulli settlement, which was located on the banks of the 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 BC.

Evidence has been found of hunting and fishing communities existing around 6500 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 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 Scandinavian 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.[1]

Christianity

By the early thirteenth century, Estonia was divided into eight large counties — Saaremaa, Läänemaa, Rävala, Harju, Viru, Järva, Sakala, Ugandi, and many smaller ones. Annual consultations were held by representatives and constituents of several counties and developments took the direction of establishing a state. Estonia until this time retained a pagan religion centered around a deity called Tharapita.

Estonia was Christianized when the German "Livonian Brothers of the Sword" conquered southern Estonia (german: Livland) 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 (german: Estland) remained a possession of Denmark until 1346. Reval (known as Tallinn since 1918) was given its Lübeck Rights in 1248 and joined 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. After 1524, during the Protestant Reformation, Estonia converted to Lutheranism.

Sweden and Russia

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

In 1631, the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus forced the nobility to grant the peasantry greater rights, although serfdom was retained. In 1632 a printing press and 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."

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 1818 in Livonia.

Gaining independence

As a result of the abolition of serfdom and the availability of education to the native Estonian-speaking population, an active Estonian nationalist movement started in the nineteenth century. It began on a cultural level, resulting in the establishment of Estonian language literature, theatre and professional music and the formation of the Estonian national identity. 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.

Kihnu seashore

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 the German victories against the ((Russian]] Army of 1917 and the Russian October Revolution, Estonia declared itself an independent republic on 24 February 1918. After winning the Estonian Liberation War against Soviet Russia (the Treaty of Tartu was signed on 2 February 1920) with the help of German Freikorps volunteers, 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 global economic crisis. Subsequently the country was ruled by decree by Konstantin Päts, who became President in 1938, the year parliamentary elections resumed.

Under the USSR

Estonia was occupied by Soviet troops in June 1940, as a consequence of the secret amendment to the August 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and National Socialist Germany and . Estonia was formally annexed by the Soviet Union in August 1940 as the Estonian SSR. Many of the country's political and intellectual leaders were killed or deported to remote areas of the USSR by the Soviet authorities during 1940 to 1941. The repressions also included actions taken against thousands of ordinary people. When the German Operation Barbarossa started against the Soviet Union, thousands of young Estonian men were forcibly drafted into the Red Army. Hundreds of political prisoners were killed whom the retreating Soviets had no time to move. The country was occupied by Germany from 1941 to 1944 and many Estonians joined the German Armed Forces. Soviet forces reconquered Estonia after fierce battles in the northeast of the country on the Narva river and on the Tannenberg Line (Sinimäed). In the face of imminent re-occupation by the Red Army, tens of thousands of people chose to either retreat together with the Germans or flee the country to Finland or Sweden . In 1949, in response to slow progress in forming collective farms, as prescribed by the Soviet ideology, tens of thousands of people were forcibly deported in a few days either to labor camps or Siberia where half of them perished; the other half were not allowed to return until the early 1960s (several years after Stalin's death). 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.

Western bank of Osmussaar

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. Soviet rule significantly slowed Estonia's economic growth, resulting in a wide "wealth gap" in comparison with neighboring democratic countries (e.g., Finland and Sweden).

Militarization was another aspect of the Soviet regime. Large parts of the country and especially the coastal areas were restricted to anyone but the Soviet military. Most of the northern, northwestern and western sea shore and all of the islands (including Saaremaa and Hiiumaa) were declared "border zones." Estonians not directly living there were restricted from traveling there without a permit and could be punished if they did so. A notable closed military installation was the city of Paldiski which was entirely closed to all public access. The city had a support base for the Soviet Navy'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.

Russification was another effect brought about by the Soviet occupation. Hundreds of thousands of Russian-speaking migrants (mostly from the Russian Federation or Ukraine) were relocated to Estonia by the Soviet administration and Communist Party to conduct the aforementioned industrialization and militarization. The immigrants stayed on to form part of the population. By 1980, when part of the Moscow Olympic Games were also held in Tallinn (the Olympic Regatta), Russification and state-orchestrated immigration had achieved a level at which it started sparking popular protests.

Return to Independence

The tide turned 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, a landmark demonstration was held for more independence, called The Baltic Way. During the demonstration a human chain of more than two million people was formed, stretching through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, (both Lithuania and Latvia having had similar fates of occupation and similar aspirations for regaining independence as Estonia).

Estonia regained independence on August 20, 1991, with the Singing Revolution during the Soviet military coup attempt in Russia and the following collapse of the Soviet Union. The first country to diplomatically re-recognize Estonia's reclaimed independence was Iceland, closely followed by Denmark.

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


Politics

The Estonian Parliament building in Tallinn.

Estonia is a constitutional democracy, with a president elected by its unicameral parliament (elections are held every four years). The government or the executive branch is formed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and a total of 14 ministers. The government is appointed by the president after approval by the parliament.

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 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.

Internet voting has been used in local elections in Estonia. The lawmakers in Estonia have authorized Internet voting for parliamentary elections as well.[2] First parliament election internet voting was available at the 2007 elections to public from 26th of February to 28th of February 20:00 where 30275 individuals gave their vote over internet. Now voters have a chance to invalidate their vote in traditional elections, if they wish to.

Administrative divisions

Counties

Estonia is divided into 15 counties. (maakonnad; sing. - maakond). They include:

File:Eesti maakonnad 2006.svg
Counties of Estonia
50km
  • 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

Estonian counties are divided into rural (vallad, singular vald) and urban (linnad, singular linn; alevid, singular alev; alevikud, singular alevik) municipalities. The municipalities are comprised of 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

Map 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° N and 21.5° and 28.1° E. Average elevation reaches only 50 metres (164 ft) and the country's highest point is the Suur Munamägi in the southeast at 318 metres (1,043 ft).[3]

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 1,400 lakes. Most are very small, with the largest, Lake Peipus, (Peipsi in Estonian) being 3555 km² (1372 sq. mi). There are many rivers in the country. The largest are the Võhandu (162 km), Pärnu (144 km), and Põltsamaa (135 km).[3] Estonia also boasts numerous bogs, and 3794 kilometers (2,357 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.[3].

Climate

Estonia lies in the northern part of the temperate climate zone and in the transition zone between 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 4.5 degrees Celsius. The average temperature in February, the coldest month of the year, is negative 5.2 degrees Celsius. The average temperature in July, which is considered the warmest month of the year, is 17 degrees Celsius.[3]

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 180 rainy days a year, and average precipitation is biggest 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

General situation

As a member of the European Union, Estonia is part of the world's largest economic zone.

In June 1992, Estonia replaced the 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 15.6466 kroon for 1 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 20% by January 2009.

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 WTO in November 1999. It was the second Baltic state to join. 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.

The north-west coast of Estonia near Nõva, 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 the conventional wisdom is that Estonia would at that point 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 Russian oil transit using Estonian ports. Estonia has a strong information technology (IT) sector. Its GDP PPP per capita is at $17,802, the highest of the Baltic states, while its unemployment rate was 4.2% in July 2006, one of the lowest in the European Union.[4]

Although the annual GDP growth rate in 2006 amounted again 11,4%, some of the leading financial institutions and rating agencies (Dankse 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) may partly approve 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.[5] Estonia also exports 1.562 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually.[5]

Estonia's export partners are Finland (26.4%), Sweden (12.9%), Latvia (8.8%), Russia (6.5%), Germany (6.2%), and Lithuania (4.8%).[5]

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).[5] Estonia imports 200 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.[5]

Demographics

Indigenous Estonian-speaking ethnic Estonians constitute nearly 70 percent 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 per cent. 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 Finnish descent, mainly from Ingermanland (Ingria). A significant part of Baltic Germans left Estonia during the early 1920s, after land reforms and even disposessions had taken place. But the majority of Baltic Germans left the country after the Soviet occupation in 1940, following an amendment to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that committed the Baltic Germans to be evacuated from Estonia to Germany. Historically, large parts of Estonia’s north-western coast and islands have been populated by an indigenous ethnically Swedish population called "rannarootslased" ("coastal Swedes"). The majority of Estonia's Swedish population fled to Sweden in 1944, escaping the advancing Soviet Army.

The country's official language is Estonian, a Finno-Ugric language which is closely related to Finnish. It has been influenced by German, and like Finnish contains many Swedish words. 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, having learned it as their first foreign language. Some Russians residing in Estonia do not speak Estonian, but many of those who remained after the collapse of the Soviet Union have begun to learn it.

In the southernmost region of the country, some 70,000 people speak Võro, a Baltic-Finnic language closely related to Estonian.

Ethnicity

According to information published by the Estonian Statistical Office in 2006, the population of Estonia comprised the following self-reported ethnic groups [1]:

  • 68.6% Estonians
  • 25.7% Russians
  •  2.1% Ukrainians
  •  1.2% Belarusians
  •  0.8% Finns
  •  0.2% Tatars
  •  0.17% Latvians
  •  0.16% Poles
  •  0.15% Jews
  •  0.15% Lithuanians
  •  0.14% Germans
  •  0.02% Swedes
  •  0.68% Others

Religion

Tallinn

The predominant religion of indigenous ethnic Estonians has traditionally been Christianity, in the form of the Protestant Evangelical Lutheran confession; however, less than a quarter of ethnic Estonians define themselves as active believers at present. Most believers amongst the Russian minority are Eastern Orthodox. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople has since the 1920s recognised a separate national Estonian Orthodox Church, which has led to strained relations with the Russian Orthodox Church, which claimed sole authority over Orthodox believers in the country during the period of Soviet rule.

Today, over 31% of the adult population are active followers of a particular faith, consisting of the following:

  • 15% Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
  • 14% Orthodox
  •  0.5% Baptists
  •  0.5% Roman Catholics

There is also a number of small Buddhist, Protestant and Jewish groups, and some neopagans who revere the local ancient deity Taara.

The results of 2002 poll are as follows:

Q: What religion is the dearest, most cherished for you?

Altogether 1,000 people were questioned, of which 72% were Estonians.

According to the most recent Eurostat "Eurobarometer" poll, in 2005 [6], only 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 least religious people in the then 25-member European Union.

International rankings

Organisation Survey Year Ranking
Columbia University /
Yale University 		Environmental Sustainability Index 2001
2002
2005 		Rank 27 out of 122 countries
Rank 18 out of 142 countries
Rank 27 out of 146 countries
Heritage Foundation /
The Wall Street Journal 		Index of Economic Freedom 2006 Rank 12 out of 157 countries, not accounting 5 that were not ranked
Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Ranking 2004
2005
2006 		Rank 11 out of 167 countries (tied with Germany, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago)
Rank 11 out of 167 countries
Rank 6 out of 168 countries (tied with Norway)
State of World Liberty Project State of World Liberty Index 2006 Rank 1 out of 159 countries
Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2004
2005
2006 		Rank 31 out of 146 countries (tied with Botswana and Slovenia)
Rank 27 out of 158 countries
Rank 24 out of 163 countries (tied with Barbados)
UNDP Human Development Index 2004
2005
2006 		Rank 36 out of 177 countries
Rank 38 out of 177 countries
Rank 40 out of 177 countries
World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report 2005–2006
2006–2007 		Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking – Rank 26 out of 117 countries
Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking – Rank 25 out of 125 countries
WorldAudit.org World Democracy Audit 2006 Rank 18 out of 150 countries


See also

  • Baltic Germans
  • Communications in Estonia
  • Constitution of Estonia
  • Crime in Estonia
  • Estonian Boy Scouts Association
  • Estonian State Decorations
  • Foreign relations 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
  • 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
  • Public holidays in Estonia
  • Russians in Estonia
  • Same-sex marriage in Estonia
  • Soviet occupation of Baltic countries
  • Tourism in the Baltic states
  • Transportation in Estonia
Portal Estonia Portal

Culture

  • Cinema of Estonia
  • Estonian mythology
  • Estonian National Opera
  • Estonian rock music
  • Gay rights in Estonia
  • Music of Estonia
  • List of Estonian films
  • Tallinn University
  • Tallinn University of Technology
  • University of Tartu
  • International University Audentes



Image gallery

  • Estonian folk dancing

  • Estonian folk dance festival "Tantsupidu"

  • Statue of Anton Hansen Tammsaare, Tallinn.jpg

    Statue of Anton Hansen Tammsaare, Tallinn

  • Medieval city centre and marketplace of Tallinn

  • Another view from the Finnish Gulf to Old Tallinn

  • DSCF2025ew2007.JPG

    The city center (winter 2007)

  • Tartu University

Further reading

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

Notes and references

  1. ↑ http://heninen.net/sigtuna/english.htm
  2. ↑ Broache, Anne (October 19, 2005). Estonia pulls off nationwide Net voting. CNET.com. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 World InfoZone - Estonia. World InfoZone. World InfoZonek, LTD.. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "worldinfo" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "worldinfo" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "worldinfo" defined multiple times with different content
  4. ↑ Eurostat unemployment report, July 2006
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 CIA World Factbook: Estonia
  6. ↑ Eurobarometer, http://europa.eu.int/comm/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf

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  1. All twenty-seven member states of the European Union are also members of the WTO in their own right: Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria • Cyprus • Czech Republic • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hungary • Ireland • Italy • Latvia • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Malta • Netherlands and Netherlands Antilles • Poland • Portugal • Romania • Slovakia • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • United Kingdom.
  2. Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
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