World Factbook
Eesti
Eesti Vabariik
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white meaning: 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
Capital
name
Tallinn
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
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
geographic coordinates
59 26 N, 24 43 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; age 16 for local elections
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
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
Country name
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"
local long form
Eesti Vabariik
local short form
Eesti
conventional long form
Republic of Estonia
conventional short form
Estonia
Independence
24 February 1918 (from Soviet Russia); 20 August 1991 (declared from the Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (recognized by the Soviet Union)
Legal system
civil law system
Government type
parliamentary republic
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)
subordinate courts
circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts
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
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
chief of state
President Alar KARIS (since 11 October 2021)
election results
2021: Alar KARIS (independent) elected president; won second round of voting in parliament with 72 of 101 votes 2016: 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
head of government
Prime Minister Kristen MICHAL (since 23 July 2024)
most recent election date
30-31 August 2021
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
expected date of next election
2026
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 February (1918)
note: 24 February 1918 was the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 20 August 1991 was the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union and restored its statehood
National color(s)
blue, black, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Historic Center (Old Town) of Tallinn; Struve Geodetic Arc
Political parties
Conservative People's Party of Estonia (Konservatiivne Rahvaerakond) or EKRE Estonia 200 or E200 Estonia Centre Party of (Keskerakond) or EK Estonian Free Party or VAP Estonian Freedom Party - Farmers' Assembly or V-PK Estonian Greens or EER Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives or ERK Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) or RE Fatherland or I Left Alliance or VL Social Democratic Party or SDE The Right or PP TOGETHER organization points to sovereignty or KOOS
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
101 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
3/5/2023
expected date of next election
March 2027
percentage of women in chamber
28.7%
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)
National anthem(s)
title
"Mu isamaa, mu onn ja room" (My Native Land, My Pride and Joy)
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
lyrics/music
Johann Voldemar JANNSEN/Fredrik PACIUS
National symbol(s)
barn swallow, cornflower
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, Voru rural 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 588-0108
chancery
2131 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 588-0101
chief of mission
Ambassador Kristjan PRIKK (since 7 July 2021)
consulate(s) general
New York, San Francisco
email address and website
Embassy.Washington@mfa.ee https://washington.mfa.ee/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[372] 668-8265
embassy
Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
telephone
[372] 668-8100
mailing address
4530 Tallinn Place, Washington DC 20521-4530
chief of mission
Ambassador Roman PIPKO (since 26 November 2025)
email address and website
acstallinn@state.gov https://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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction