THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 -- an action never recognized by the US and many other countries -- it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in 2004, formally joined the OECD in 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency in 2011.

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Geographic coordinates: 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references: Europe
Area: total: 45,228 sq km
land: 42,388 sq km
water: 2,840 sq km
Area - comparative: about twice the size of New Jersey
Land boundaries: total: 657 km
border countries: Latvia 333 km; Russia 324 km
Coastline: 3,794 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Terrain: marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Elevation: highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 61 m
Natural resources: oil shale, peat, rare earth elements, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Land use: agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
forest: 57.2% (2023 est.)
other: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: 20 sq km (2016)
Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s): Lake Peipus - 4,300 sq km (shared with Russia); Lake Võrtsjärv - 270 sq km
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Natural hazards: sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Geography - note: the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; over 1,500 islands lie offshore

Population: total: 1,340,478 (2025 est.)
male: 634,988
female: 705,490
Nationality: noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian
Ethnic groups: Estonian 69.1%, Russian 23.7%, Ukrainian 2.1%, other 4.6%, unspecified 0.5% (2021 est.)
Languages: Estonian (official) 67.2%, Russian 28.5%, other 3.7%, unspecified 0.6% (2021est.)
Religions: Orthodox 16.5%, Protestant 9.2% (Lutheran 7.7%, other Protestant 1.5%), other 3% (includes Roman Catholic, Muslim, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Buddhist, and Taara Believer), none 58.4%, unspecified 12.9% (2021 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 15.2% (male 92,980/female 88,753)
15-64 years: 62.2% (male 373,989/female 368,113)
65 years and over: 22.6% (2024 est.) (male 96,110/female 173,846)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 57.5 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 24.8 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 32.7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 3.1 (2025 est.)
Median age: total: 42.9 years (2025 est.)
male: 41.9 years
female: 48.2 years
Population growth rate: -0.47% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 7.86 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 12.57 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: a fairly even distribution throughout most of the country, with urban areas attracting larger and denser populations
Urbanization: urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 454,000 TALLINN (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.55 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 28.2 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 5 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 3.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.4 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 73.8 years
female: 83.2 years
Total fertility rate: 1.36 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.66 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) NA
improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) NA
unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.9% of GDP (2022)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 13.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 3.47 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density: 4.5 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: urban: 99.7% of population (2022 est.)
improved: rural: rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total: total: 99.8% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban: urban: 0.3% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural: rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total: total: 0.2% of population (2022 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 21.2% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 11.65 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.92 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 4.6 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 1.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use: total: 23.7% (2025 est.)
male: 29.9% (2025 est.)
female: 18.3% (2025 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 54.1% (2021 est.)
Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 13% national budget (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 16 years (2023 est.)
male: 15 years (2023 est.)
female: 16 years (2023 est.)

Environmental issues: air pollution from sulfur dioxide from oil-shale-burning power plants; coastal seawater pollution
International environmental agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate: maritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Land use: agricultural land: 23.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 16.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)
forest: 57.2% (2023 est.)
other: 19.6% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 69.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: -0.03% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 4.607 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: -19,814 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 3.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 649,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 11.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 27.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 23.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 489,500 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 39.1% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 64.998 million cubic meters (2022)
industrial: 1.135 billion cubic meters (2022)
agricultural: 5 million cubic meters (2022)
Total renewable water resources: 12.806 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (while occupied by the USSR)
etymology: derives from the name of the people who lived along the eastern Baltic Sea in the first centuries A.D., which came from the Baltic word aueist, meaning "waterside dwellers"
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Tallinn
geographic coordinates: 59 26 N, 24 43 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
etymology: the name derives from the Old Estonian term tan-linn, meaning "Danish fort," a reference to Danish King VALDEMAR II founding the city in 1219
Administrative divisions: 15 urban municipalities (linnad, singular - linn), 64 rural municipalities (vallad, singular - vald)urban municipalities: Haapsalu, Keila, Kohtla-Jarve, Loksa, Maardu, Narva, Narva-Joesuu, Paide, Parnu, Rakvere, Sillamae, Tallinn, Tartu, Viljandi, Vorurural municipalities: Alutaguse, Anija, Antsla, Elva, Haademeeste, Haljala, Harku, Hiiumaa, Jarva, Joelahtme, Jogeva, Johvi, Kadrina, Kambja, Kanepi, Kastre, Kehtna, Kihnu, Kiili, Kohila, Kose, Kuusalu, Laane-Harju, Laane-Nigula, Laaneranna, Luganuse, Luunja, Marjamaa, Muhu, Mulgi, Mustvee, Noo, Otepaa, Peipsiaare, Pohja-Parnumaa, Pohja-Sakala, Poltsamaa, Polva, Raasiku, Rae, Rakvere, Räpina, Rapla, Rouge, Ruhnu, Saarde, Saaremaa, Saku, Saue, Setomaa, Tapa, Tartu, Toila, Tori, Torva, Turi, Vaike-Maarja, Valga, Viimsi, Viljandi, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Vormsi, Voru
Legal system: civil law system
Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 28 June 1992, entered into force 3 July 1992
amendment process: proposed by at least one-fifth of Parliament members or by the president of the republic; passage requires three readings of the proposed amendment and a simple majority vote in two successive memberships of Parliament; passage of amendments to the "General Provisions" and "Amendment of the Constitution" chapters requires at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament to conduct a referendum and majority vote in a referendum
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Estonia
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections
Executive branch: chief of state: President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)
head of government: Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by Parliament for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure two thirds of the votes after 3 rounds of balloting, then an electoral college consisting of Parliament members and local council members elects the president, choosing between the 2 candidates with the most votes; if a president is still not elected, the process begins again; prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
most recent election date: 30-31 August 2021
election results: 2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes2016: Kersti KALJULAID elected president; won sixth round of voting in parliament with 81 of 98 votes (17 ballots blank); KALJULAID sworn in on 10 October 2016 - first female head of state of Estonia
expected date of next election: 2026
Legislative branch: legislature name: The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 101 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 3/5/2023
parties elected and seats per party: Reform Party (37); Conservative People's Party (EKRE) (17); Centre Party (16); Estonia 200 (Eesti 200) (14); Social Democratic Party (9); Pro Patria (Isamaa) (8)
percentage of women in chamber: 28.7%
expected date of next election: March 2027
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 19 justices, including the chief justice, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers)
judge selection and term of office: the chief justice is proposed by the president of the republic and appointed by the Riigikogu; other justices proposed by the chief justice and appointed by the Riigikogu; justices appointed for life
subordinate courts: circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts
Political parties: Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKREEstonia 200 or E200Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or EKEstonian Free Party or VAPEstonian Freedom Party - Farmers' Assembly or V-PKEstonian Greens or EEREstonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or REFatherland or ILeft Alliance or VLSocial Democratic Party or SDEThe Right or PPTOGETHER organization points to sovereignty or KOOS
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave, NWWashington, DC, 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
email address and website: Embassy.Washington@mfa.eehttps://washington.mfa.ee/
consulate(s) general: New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roman PIPKO (since 26 November 2025)
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: 4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8265
email address and website: acstallinn@state.govhttps://ee.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence: 24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and whitemeaning: blue stands for faith, loyalty, and devotion, and also the sky, sea, and lakes; black for the country's soil and the Estonian people's past suffering; white for striving for enlightenment and virtue and also for birch bark, snow, and summer nights illuminated by the midnight sun
National symbol(s): barn swallow, cornflower
National color(s): blue, black, white
National anthem(s): title: "Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)
lyrics/music: Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS
history: adopted 1920, but banned between 1940 and 1990 under Soviet occupation; unofficially in use since 1869, it has the same melody as Finland's anthem, but with different lyrics
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc

Economic overview: high-income, service-based EU and eurozone economy; rebound in exports playing a role in economic recovery; rising food prices contributing to inflation; decrease in labor force participation and rising unemployment rate; recovery depends on boosting private investment and productivity rates
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $57.001 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $57.15 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $58.931 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: -0.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: -3% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.1% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $41,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $41,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $43,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $42.765 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.5% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 9.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 19.4% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 1.9% (2024 est.)
industry: 20.5% (2024 est.)
services: 65.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52.3% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 20.6% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 27.9% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.2% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 77.9% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -77% (2023 est.)
Agricultural products: milk, wheat, barley, rapeseed, peas, oats, potatoes, rye, pork, triticale (2023)
Industries: food, engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textiles; information technology, telecommunications
Industrial production growth rate: -7% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 756,200 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 6.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 20.9% (2024 est.)
male: 21.9% (2024 est.)
female: 20% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line: 22.5% (2022 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 32.3 (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures: on food: 19.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 6.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 24.4% (2022 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Remittances 2023: 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 1.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Budget: revenues: $15.784 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures: $16.721 billion (2023 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2023: 28.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 21.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Current account balance: Current account balance 2024: -$489.659 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$722.668 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$1.496 billion (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $32.637 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $32.147 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $33.178 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: Finland 14%, Latvia 10%, Lithuania 9%, Sweden 7%, Russia 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: cars, wood, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, prefabricated buildings (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $32.375 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $31.796 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $33.655 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: Finland 11%, Germany 11%, China 10%, Lithuania 6%, Poland 6% (2023)
Imports - commodities: cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, packaged medicine (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $2.075 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $2.593 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.217 billion (2022 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 0.924 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 0.925 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 0.95 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 0.845 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 0.876 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 3.225 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 8.636 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 4.355 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 7.66 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.164 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 52.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 9.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 10.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 27.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: consumption: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 7,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 800 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 24,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 27,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
Natural gas: consumption: 334.748 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 675.708 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 1.01 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 73.679 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 227,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2024 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 2.06 million (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 151 (2024 est.)
Broadcast media: the publicly owned broadcaster, Eesti Rahvusringhaaling (ERR), operates 3 TV channels and 5 radio networks; growing number of private commercial radio stations broadcasting nationally, regionally, and locally; fully transitioned to digital television in 2010; national private TV channels expanding service, with a range of channels aimed at Russian-speaking viewers; in 2016, there were 42 on-demand services available in Estonia, including 19 pay TVOD and SVOD services; roughly 85% of households accessed digital television services
Internet country code: .ee
Internet users: percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 516,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ES
Airports: 34 (2025)
Heliports: 10 (2025)
Railways: total: 1,441 km (2020) 225 km electrified
Merchant marine: total: 72 (2023)
by type: general cargo 3, oil tanker 3, other 66
Ports: total ports: 20 (2024)
large: 4
medium: 1
small: 4
very small: 11
ports with oil terminals: 5
key ports: Muuga - Port of Tallin, Paldiski Lounasadam, Paljassaare, Sillamae, Vanasadam - Port of Tallinn

Military and security forces: Estonian Defense Forces: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force; Estonian Defense League Ministry of Interior: Police and Border Guard Board, Internal Security Service (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025: 3.4% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 3.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 2.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 7,500 active-duty military personnel (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Estonian military has a mix of Soviet-era and more modern, Western-origin weapons and equipment; suppliers in recent years include France, Israel, South Korea, Sweden, Türkiye, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 for compulsory military or governmental service for men; conscript service requirement 8-11 months depending on education; non-commissioned officers, reserve officers, and specialists serve 11 months; women can volunteer, and as of 2018 could serve in any military branch (2025)
Military - note: Estonia’s defense policy aims to guarantee the country’s independence and sovereignty, protect its territorial integrity, including waters and airspace, and preserve constitutional order; Estonia’s main defense goals are developing and maintaining a credible deterrent to outside aggression and ensuring the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) can fulfill their commitments to NATO and interoperate with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states; the EDF’s primary external focus is Russia; since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Estonia has boosted defense spending, sent arms to Ukraine, and sought to boost the EDF’s capabilities in such areas as air defense, artillery, personnel readiness, and surveillanceEstonia has been a member of NATO since 2004, is fully integrated within the NATO structure, and relies on its NATO partners for defense; since 2017, Estonia has hosted a UK-led multinational NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; as the EDF Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, NATO has provided airspace protection for Estonia since 2004 through its Baltic Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on four-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft have been hosted at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base since 2014; Estonia also hosts a NATO cyber security center; it cooperates closely with the EU on defense issues through the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions; Estonia also has close defense ties with its Baltic neighbors and has bilateral military agreements with a number of European countries, as well as Canada and the US (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 42,439 (2024 est.)
stateless persons: 63,944 (2024 est.)

Estonia