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Location
Northern Europe.
Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Area
45,226 sq km (17,462 sq miles).
Population
1.3 million (2006 estimate).
Population Density
29 per sq km.
Capital
Tallinn. Population: 401,694 (official estimate 2005).
Geography
Estonia is the most northerly of the three Baltic Republics and is bordered to the north and west by the Baltic Sea, to the east by the Russian Federation and to the south by Latvia. The country is one of great scenic beauty with many forests, more than 1,400 lakes and 1,500 islands. Smaller than Lithuania and Latvia, it has nevertheless the longest coastline of all the Baltic States.
Government
Republic since 1918. Regained independence in 1991.
Head of State
President Toomas Hendrik Ilves since 2006.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip since 2005.
Recent History
Andrus Ansip became prime minister in April 2005. He is leader of the centre-right Reform Party. His party was re-elected in the March 2007 parliamentary elections, but did not win enough votes to govern alone. Ansip's main objective is to steer Estonia towards Euro membership.
Language
Estonian is the official language. Most people also speak Russian, which is the mother tongue of around 30% of the population. However, since independence, the indiscriminate use of Russian could on occasion cause offence.
Religion
The majority are non-religious. 23% Christian, with Lutheranism and Orthodoxy.
Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are used.
Social Conventions
Estonians are generally quite reserved and polite. A hand shake is the customary greeting. Normal courtesies should be observed. The Estonians are proud of their culture and their national heritage, and visitors should take care to respect this.