Estonia Passport

[Country Name] Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariik).

【 Area 】 45339 square kilometers.

[Population] 1.3577 million (2023). The main ethnic groups are Estonians, Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. The official language is Estonian. English and Russian are also widely used. I mainly believe in Lutheranism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Catholicism.

Tallinn, the capital, is divided into 8 districts with an area of 159.4 square kilometers and a population of 382000 (as of 2023). Founded during the reign of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1248, it became the capital of the Republic of Estonia after regaining independence in 1991. Tallinn is located in the northwest of Ireland, adjacent to the Baltic Sea. In history, it was once a transportation hub connecting Central and Eastern Europe with North and South Europe, and was known as the "crossroads of Europe". The climate is significantly influenced by the ocean, with cool and less rainy springs, warm and humid summers and autumns, cold and snowy winters, and an average annual temperature of 6.8 ℃. Tallinn Port is the most beloved port.

President Alar Karis was elected on October 11, 2021, with a term of 5 years.

[Important Festival] Independence Day (National Day): February 24th, to commemorate Ai's independence from Russian rule on February 24th, 1918; Restoration of Independence Day: August 20th, to commemorate the restoration of independence on August 20th, 1991; Victory Day: June 23rd, to commemorate the victory of the German army in 1919.

【 Overview 】 Located on the east coast of the Baltic Sea, it borders Russia to the east, Latvia to the south, the Gulf of Finland to the north, faces Finland across the sea, and is adjacent to the Gulf of Riga to the southwest. The border is 1445 kilometers long and the coastline is 3794 kilometers long. It belongs to a maritime climate, with an average winter temperature of -5.2 ℃, an average summer temperature of 17.7 ℃, and an annual average precipitation of 500-700 millimeters.

The Estonian ethnic group was formed in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was successively occupied and ruled by Prussia, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Tsarist Russia, and the Soviet Union. On February 24, 1918, Estonia declared independence from Russian rule and established the Republic of Estonia. In November of the same year, Soviet Russia declared sovereignty over love. During this period, Ai persevered in armed struggle for national independence. In February 1920, Soviet Russia recognized its love for independence. In June 1940, the former Soviet Union sent troops to Estonia, and in July of the same year, the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic was established. On August 20, 1991, Ai broke away from the former Soviet Union and declared the restoration of independence. On September 17th of the same year, the United Nations announced the acceptance of Love as a member state. Ai joined NATO on March 29, 2004, the European Union on May 1, 2007, the Schengen Area on December 21, 2007, and the Eurozone on January 1, 2011.

Since the restoration of independence in 1991, the overall political situation has been stable. In April 2023, the Estonian Reform Party, Estonian 200 Party, and Social Democratic Party formed a new coalition government, with Reform Party Chairman Kaja Kallas re elected as Prime Minister. In July 2024, due to being nominated as the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Karas resigned from his position as Prime Minister, and Reform Party member Kristen Michal took over as Prime Minister and reshuffled the cabinet. The political party composition of the new government has not changed and is still composed of the Reform Party, Estonian 200 Party, and Social Democratic Party.

The current Constitution was adopted on June 28, 1992 and came into effect on July 3. It is divided into 15 chapters and 168 articles, except for the preamble. The Constitution stipulates that love is an independent and sovereign democratic country, and the highest power of the state belongs to the people. Independence and sovereignty are supreme and inalienable. Love implementing a multi-party parliamentary democracy with separation of powers.

[Parliament] A unicameral system with 101 seats and a term of four years. Main functions: to pass laws; Deciding on a nationwide referendum; Election of the President of the Republic; Approve or declare the abolition of treaties; Authorize the Prime Minister to form a government; Adopt and approve the national budget; Deciding to conduct a vote of no confidence in the government, prime minister, and ministers of the Republic; Declaring a national state of emergency; Resolve all administrative issues beyond the powers of the President, government, other state agencies, or local governments as stipulated in the Constitution. Citizens who are over 21 years old and eligible for election can run for parliament. In March 2023, Ai held its 15th parliamentary election, with a total of 6 political parties entering the parliament. As of now, the seats of each party are as follows: Reform Party (37 seats), Conservative People's Party (11 seats), Centre Party (6 seats), Estonian 200 Party (13 seats), Social Democratic Party (9 seats), Fatherland Alliance Party (8 seats), and there are also 17 independent members of parliament. In April 2023, Laurie Husar, then chairman of the Estonian 200 Party, was elected as speaker.

The current government will be reorganized and formed in July 2024. Kristen Michal has been appointed as Prime Minister, and the cabinet includes six Reform Party ministers: Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, Climate Minister Yoko Alender, Culture Minister Heidy Purga, Economy and Industry Minister Erkki Keldo, Finance Minister Jurgen Ligi, and Social Security Minister Signe Riisalo. Four Social Democratic Party ministers: Interior Minister Lauri Laanemets, Region and Agriculture Minister Piret Hartman, Health Minister Riina Sikkut, and Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Svet. Three Estonian 200 Party ministers: Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Kristina Kallas, Minister of Education and Research; and Liisa Ly Pakosta, Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs.

【 Main website 】 Government:https://valitsus.eeMinistry of Foreign Affairs:www.vm.ee

The country is divided into 15 provinces and 254 large and small towns.

The judicial system is divided into three levels: urban and rural courts, appellate courts, and the Supreme Court. Villu Kove, the President of the Supreme Court, took office in February 2019 for a term of 9 years. Attorney General Andres Parmas took office in February 2020 for a term of 5 years.

The main political parties are:

(1) The Estonian Reform Party, founded in 1994, currently has approximately 12000 members. Belonging to the center right Liberal Democratic Party, the party chairman is Kaja Kallas.

(2) The Estonian Center Party, founded in 1991, currently has approximately 15000 members. Belonging to the middle liberal political party, the party chairman is Mihail K õ lvart.

(3) The Estonian Conservative People's Party, founded in 2012, has approximately 8500 members and is a right-wing populist conservative political party with Martin Helme as its chairman.

(4) The Motherland Alliance Party (Isamaa) was formed by the merger of the Motherland Alliance and the Republican Party in June 2006, and currently has approximately 8800 members. Belonging to a right-wing political party, the party chairman is Urmas Reinsalu.

(5) The Social Democratic Party, formerly known as The Moderates, was founded in 1996 and changed its name in February 2004. In February 2012, it merged with the Estonian Russian Party and currently has approximately 6000 members.

(6) Estonia 200 Party: Founded in 2018, it is a center right liberal party with Margus Tsahkna as its chairman. The party entered parliament for the first time in the 2023 general election.

Other influential political parties include the Estonian Greens and the Estonia Together Party.

[Important Person] Alar Calis: President, born in March 1958. Engaged in scientific research from 1981 to 2003. From 2003 to 2007, served as the President of the Estonian University of Life Sciences; From 2007 to 2012, served as the President of Tartu University; From 2013 to 2018, served as the Auditor General of Estonia; From 2018 to 2021, served as the director of the National Museum; Elected as President on August 31, 2021; On October 11, 2021, he assumed the presidency for a term of 5 years.

Kristen Mitchell: Prime Minister. Born in July 1975, holds a Master's degree in Law from Tallinn University. Served as a member of parliament since 2007. From 2011 to 2012, he served as the Minister of Justice. From 2015 to 2016, he served as the Minister of Economy and Infrastructure. From April 2023 to July 2024, served as Minister of Climate. Appointed as Prime Minister in July 2024.

Laurie Husar: Speaker, Chairman of the Estonian 200 Party. Born in September 1973. I have been engaged in media work for a long time, serving as a TV and radio host, and was once the editor in chief of the largest newspaper, "The Postman". Elected as the Chairman of the Estonian 200 Party in October 2022 (stepping down in November 2023), and elected as the Speaker of the 15th Estonian Parliament in April 2023.

Since the restoration of independence, Ai has been pursuing a policy of free economy, vigorously promoting privatization, and implementing free trade policies. The economy has developed rapidly, with an average annual economic growth rate ranking among the top in EU member states. The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: 37.68 billion euros

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 27588 euros

Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate: -3%

Currency name: Euro

Unemployment rate: 6.4%

Natural resources are scarce. The main mineral resources include oil shale (with proven reserves of about 6 billion tons), peat (with reserves of about 4 billion tons), phosphate ore (with reserves of about 700 million tons), limestone, etc. The forest area is 2.446 million hectares, with a forest coverage rate of 54%, a forest stock volume of 466 million cubic meters, and a per capita timber ownership of 362 cubic meters.

The main industrial sectors include machinery manufacturing, wood processing, building materials, electronics, textiles, and food processing. According to the Estonian Statistical Office, the total industrial production value in 2023 is 19.482 billion euros, a year-on-year increase of 21.6%..

Agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery are mainly based on animal husbandry and planting. Animal husbandry mainly raises cows, beef cattle, and pigs, and the main crops include wheat, rye, potatoes, vegetables, corn, flax, and feed crops. The total agricultural production value in 2023 is 1.297 billion euros, a year-on-year decrease of 20.4%.

Transportation: The total length of highways is 16609 kilometers. The total volume of road freight in 2023 was 25.11 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 8.2%.

Railway: The total length of railways is 2144 kilometers, including 1514 kilometers of public railway lines and 630 kilometers of non-public railway lines. The railway passenger volume in 2023 is 7.805 million, a year-on-year increase of 10.7%; The railway freight volume in 2023 was 10.11 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 42.9%.

Air freight: In 2023, the air passenger volume was 1.141 million, a year-on-year increase of 219.6%; The air cargo volume of Tallinn Airport (Estonia's only international airport) in 2023 was 8349 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 22.6%.

Sea freight: The port cargo throughput in 2023 was 21.48 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 33.6%. The port passenger volume in 2023 is 8.02 million, a year-on-year increase of 12.4%. The main ports include Tallinn Port, Sillamae Port, Kunda Port, Palliski Port, Parnu Reid Port, etc.

The government has always attached great importance to controlling fiscal deficits and implementing relatively conservative fiscal policies. The government's financial situation in the past three years is as follows (in billions of euros):