• Country Name: Republic of Estonia
• Year Founded:The ancestors of Estonians most likely settled on the Baltic shores around 3500 BC and were organised in federated small states by the 1^st century AD. Since early 13^th century, Estonia was under the German, Danish and Swedish rule until 1721, when it was ceded to Russia.
• Population: 1,299,371 (July 2009 est.); -0.632% (2009 est.)
• Primary Language: Estonian
• Ethnic Make-up: Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)
• Political System: Parliamentary democracy
• Year Entered the European Union: 1 May 2004
• Representative of the European Union (include party):

Estonia has 6 representatives in the European Parliament: Mrs. Katrin Saks, Mrs. Marianne Mikko and Mr. Andres Tarand of the Estonian Social Democratic Party (Socialist Group); Mrs. Siiri Oviir of the Centre Party (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe); Mr. Toomas Savi of the Reform Party (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) and Mr. Tunne Kelam of the Pro Patria Union (European People's Party).

• Type of Economy: Estonia has a modern market-based economy and one of the highest per capita income levels in Central Europe.

• Currency: Kroon

• Current Exchange rate for American Currency: krooni (EEK) per US dollar - 10.7 (2008),
• GDP:

GDP (official exchange rate):$23.46 billion (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:-3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):$21,900 (2008 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 32.3%

• Percentage of Trade within the European Union:

EXPORT PARTNERS: Finland 17.9%, Sweden 13.2%, Latvia 11.4%, Russia 8.9%, Lithuania 5.8%, Germany 5.2%, US 4.1% (2007)

IMPORT PARTERNS: Finland 15.9%, Germany 12.8%, Sweden 10.1%, Russia 10%, Latvia 7.6%, Lithuania 6.9%, Poland 4.5% (2007)

• Unemployment Rate: 6.2% (30 September 2008 est.)
• Chief Exports: Chief exports are food and animal products, textiles, and timber products.

• Key Imports: Leading imports are machinery and transportation equipment, mineral products, textiles, and foods

• Major Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
• Surrounding Countries: Latvia and Russia
• Literacy Rate: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 99.8%
  male: 99.8%
  female: 99.8% (2000 census)

• One Interesting Fact: Life in Estonia started after a glaciar melting.