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Official name: Republic of Estonia
Area: 45 227 km²
Administrative divisions: Estonia is divided into 15 counties: Harju, Hiiu, Ida-Viru, Järva, Jōgeva, Lääne, Lääne-Viru, Pärnu, Pōlva, Rapla, Saare, Tartu, Valga, Viljandi, Vōru.
Cities:
Population: 1,3 million people
Ethnic groups:
69,3% Estonian, 26,2% Russian, 2,2% Bielorussian, other (Finish, Tatar) 2,3%
Official language: Estonian
Religion:
Majority Lutheran, other: Orthodox, Roman-Catholic, Atheist
Official currency: Kroon (EEK)
Exchange rate: 1 EURO = 15,65 EEK (last update 26.02.03)
Political system: Parliamentary democracy
President: Arnold Rüütel
Prime Minister: Siim Kalas
Political parties:
Estonian Center Party with a left-centrist orientation is a populist party, whose leaders have been involved in several scandals and internal struggles. It declares itself to be pro-EU and pro-NATO, like most parties in Estonia.
Estonian Reform Party is a liberal-right wing party. Its followers are among the newly forming class of Estonian entrepreneurs, due to its policies of total economic liberalization.
Pro Patria Union is a national christian-democratic party which has governed the country for three years, and it has lost much of the popular support due to the very harsh reforms it has put into practice.
People’s Party Mõõdukad is a social-democratic party whose policies emphasises the importance of strong environmental policies and advocates for stronger protection policies of the poorer and disadvantaged.
Estonian People’s Union has started as a coalition of the Rural People’s Party and the Estonian Rural Union. One of the prominent figures in the party is Arnold Rüütel, which was an important member of the former communist establishment, but who has played an important role in Estonia's gaining its independence. Its policies are rather conservative and are aimed at protecting the rural population by some protectionist measures.
Estonian United Russian’s People Party is a left-centrist party, which gathers the Russian minority in Estonia and it advocates for better relations with Russia as well as for the protection of Russian minority’s cultural rights.
Estonian Social-Democratic Labour Party is a successor of the former Estonian Communist Party.
Elections:
Climate
Estonia has snowy, icy winters and long, mild summers.
The average temperature ranges from -1,9°C in January to +18°C in July.
Estonia is two hours ahead GMT, one hour ahead of Belgium/the Netherlands/Germany.
By plane
| Km | Driving time (hours) | |
| Amsterdam | 1 942 | 24 |
| Belgrade | 2 008 | 26,5 |
| Berlin | 1 273 | 18 |
| Bratislava | 1 617 | 21 |
| Brussels | 2 031 | 25 |
| Bucharest | 1 996 | 24,5 |
| Budapest | 1 645 | 22 |
| Copenhagen | 813 | 18 |
| Frankfurt | 1 819 | 23 |
| Ljubljana | 2 042 | 25 |
| London | 2 329 | 28,5 |
| Munich | 1 864 | 23,5 |
| Paris | 2 327 | 27,5 |
| Prague | 1 516 | 20,5 |
| Rome | 2 775 | 31,5 |
| Sofia | 2 043 | 29 |
| Vienna | 1 667 | 21,5 |
| Vilnius | 599 | 7,5 |
| Warsaw | 970 | 13,5 |
| Zagreb | 1 968 | 25,5 |
The road infrastructure (total 30 300 km) is in a good shape given Estonia's strategic geographical position and importance as trade route between western and eastern Europe and Scandinavia. Tallinn is connected by highway to Parnu and Ikla (Via Baltica). The Tallinn-Narva continues on to St. Petersburg. The most important domestic road is Tallinn-Tartu-V?ru which is also a road route to Mosvow as well as Jõhvi - Tartu – Valga, par of the Via Hanseatica.
The railway infrastructure (total 1 024 km of railway) includes 132 km of electrified rails. The width between the rails is 1,520 mm which is the same as in the Russia and Finland, but different to that of western Europe. Tallinn is connected by rail to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Minsk.
Tallinn airport is the most modern and largest airport in Estonia connecting the capital of Estonia to major European cities. The other significant airports are Kuressaare Airport and Kärdla Airport, two connecting the two main Estonian islands to the mainland.
Estonia has a considendrable number or ports (33), of which the most important are in the Tallinn region through which more than 70% of the total Estonian trade is carried. The Balic ports are very important transit routes for the trade between EU and Russia. The principal port for cargo is Muuga, followed by Tallinn, Kopli and Padliski.
Average gross wage (2001): 325 EUR
Average wage for a manual labourer: 120-150
Average wage for economist leaving university: 320 - 575 EUR
There are considerable regional differences in wage levels. In Tallinn, which has attracted a large amount of foreign investments, wages are significantly higher than in other parts of the country. At the same time, the wage level has constantly been growing during the last decade. Therefore when looking for staff, it is important not to pay exuberant wages, as they will not motivate your local staff at all, but on the other hand beware not to pay too low wages, as they will without doubt demotivate your local staff. Eastwards takes care of your recruitment of local top management, sales and financial management or specialists, and will consult you which wage packages are most suitable for the job responsibilities and place of employment you offer.
| 2000 | 2001 | |
| Inflation | 3,9% | 5,6% |
| Real GDP growth rate (change to previous year) | 7,1% | 5% |
| GDP per capita | 4 153 USD | 4 500 USD |
| Unemployment | 13,2% | 12,4% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Exports to FI | 1 275 mil. EUR | 26,5% |
| Imports from FI | 935 mil. EUR | 19,5% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Exports to DE | 279 mil. EUR | 11% |
| Imports from DE | 596 mil. EUR | 12,4% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Export to SE | 531 mil. EUR | 11% |
| Imports from SE | 484 mil. EUR | 10% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Exports to NL | 114 mil. EUR | 2,3% |
| Imports from NL | 132 mil. EUR | 2,75% |
| 2001 | Percentage of the total | |
| Export to EU | 2 827,4 mil. EUR | 76,5% |
| Imports from EU | 2 710,8 mil. EUR | 62,6% |
International passport needed for entering the country, you will be controlled at the border. EU nationals do not need a visa for entering the country.
Cultural heritage & gastronomy
The trademark of Tallinnn, a former major center of the Hanseatic League, is the castle built by a Danish king in the 13th century; the entire Old City of Tallinnn has a remarkable medieval heritage. Estonia has much to offer to nature lovers: the Baltic Sea Coast with its islands, part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; southern Estonia, the land of wild nature, lakes and forest studded with ski resorts; the Lahemaa national parc.
Historic cities: Tallinnn, Narva, Tartu
Smaller historic places: Harjumaa, Läänemaa, Jõgevamaa,
Castles: Kuressaare, Kőő mőis-Wolmarshof
Nature: Lahemaa National Park, Hiiumaa Island, Saaremma Island, Baltic Sea coast
Gastronomy
Estonian food is quite heavy, pork meat, bread and potatoes are an integral part of the Estonian cuisine. Considering the long-term German domination over Estonia, it’s easy to notice that this has brought along an influence in some of the Estonian dishes.
Some typically Estonian foods are: leib (black bread), kotlet (pork chops with onions), verivorst (sausage), sült (aspic of pig's trotters), kringel (German-style sweet bread with raisins and nuts), sauerkraut, homemade ale, rosolje (potato salad with hearing and beets).
Estonian are heavy beer-drinkers. Apple and wild berry wine are also consumed, and drinking vodka is popular as well.
Regional price differences exist as well. The capital is slightly more expensive than the rest of the country.
| EEK | EUR | |
| bread | 6-10 | 0,38-0,63 |
| 0,5 l of beer | 10-40 | 0,63-2,5 |
| 1 cup of coffee | 12-20 | 0,7-1,2 |
| 1 bottle of wine | 60 | 3,8 |
| 1 litre of milk | 8 | 0,5 |
| 1 kg of chicken meat | 60-80 | 3,8-5,11 |
| 1 litre of petrol | 10,05 | 0,65 |
| 1 litre of diesel oil | 8,7 | 0,55 |
| Taxi services | 6/km | 0,38/km |
| Average cost of meal | 10-20 | |
| Real estate/m2 | 500 EUR/m2 | |
| 1 movie ticket | 40-80 | 2,5-5 |
| Average cost of lodging | 50-60 |
Take the ordinary safety precautions. Beware of pickpocketers in crowded areas of the large cities; keep an eye on your belongings. Do not wonder off in dark alleys at night.
| Public institutions | 08.30/09.00 - 17.00/18.30 |
| Business offices | 08.30/09.00 - 17.00 |
| Banks | 08.30 - 17.00 |
| Department stores | 08.00 - 19.00/21.00 (weekdays) |
| 08.00 - 16.00 (Saturdays) | |
| Shops (grocery stores) | 08.00 - 19.00 (weekdays) |
| 08.00 - 16.00 (Saturdays) | |
| Hypermarkets | 08.00 - 21.00 (weekdays &Saturdays) |
| 2004 | |
| New Year’s Day | January, 1st |
| Independence Day | February, 24th |
| Good Friday | April, 9th |
| Labour Day | May, 1st |
| Whit Sunday | June, 8th |
| Victory Day | June, 23rd |
| Midsummer’s Day | June, 24th |
| Re-Independence Day | August, 20th |
| Christmas Holidays | December, 25th - 26th |
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