Area: 45 227 square km Estonia is a green land. Forests cover around half of the country (20 155 square km) Total length: 1445.6 km, with a maritime border of 764 km and a land border of 681.6 km.
Distances from Tallinn to: - Helsinki 85 km; - Riga 307 km; - St. Petersburg 395 km; - Stockholm 405 km.

Climate: humid-temperate

Temperature range (average daily): -7.1°C in January 2004 and +16.7°C in July 2004

Number of islands: 1 521
Largest islands are Saaremaa, Hiiumaa and Muhu.
Estonia is a country of thousands of lakes, largest of these are Lake Peipsi and Lake Võrtsjärv
Highest point: Suur Munamägi (Great Egg Hill), 318 m

Population:
The last official census was taken in 2000
Population: 1,351 million (as of 01.01.2005)
Population density: 30 inhabitants per square km
The proportion of urban population in 2004: 69.3%
The proportion of rural population in 2004: 30.7%
The birth rate in 2004 was 9.6 per 1000 residents while the mortality rate reached 13.4 per 1000 residents. Largest ethnic groups: Estonians (68%), Russians (26%), Ukrainians (2%), Belarussians (1%) and Finns (1%) . Alltogether some 100 different ethnic groups are present in Estonia.

Main cities:
The capital of Estonia is Tallinn (2004, population 396.4 thousand or 29.3% of total population). The population of Tallinn is 401 000 thousand and some 140 000 inhabitants in the surrounding area.

Click here for photos about Tallinn
Other large cities and population (thousands):
Tartu - 101.3
Narva - 67.4
Kohtla-Järve - 46.3
Pärnu - 44.6

Language:
The official language in Estonia is Estonian which belongs to the Finno-Ugric language family and is closely related to Finnish. Along with Finnish, English, Russian and German are also widely spoken and understood.

According to a legend, Estonian language won the silver (after Italian language, who won the gold) in the world championship for the most beautiful language: "cross the bridge quietly" — sõida tasa üle silla.

State
Type: parliamentary democracy.
Head of the State is the President, who is elected by the parliament or an electoral body. Term: 5 years. Current President: Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, elected in 2006.

National legislature: the Riigikogu. A unicameral parliament of 101 members.
Term: 4 years.

Head of the Government: Prime Minister, currently Mr. Andrus Ansip (Reform Party)
Highest judicial power: Supreme Court
Administrative division: 15 counties, 202 rural municipalities and 39 towns (excl. 8 towns without municipal status).

Electoral systems: proportional representation. There is universal suffrage for Estonian citizens over 18 years of age. Municipal elections: Term: 3 years. All permanent residents over 18 years old, regardless of citizenship are eligible to vote in municipal elections. 

Currency
The Estonian Kroon (EEK), 1 Kroon = 100 sents
1 EUR = 15.65 EEK

  
Religion:
Since the Reformation movement in the 16th century, the Lutheran church has played the leading role in Estonia. Other larger active confessions are: Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist and Roman Catholic.

National Holidays:

January 1st - New Year’s Day

February 24th - Independence Day (1918)

April 9th - Good Friday

April 11th - Easter Sunday

May 1st - May Day

May 9th - Mother’s Day

June 23rd - Victory Day (1919 battle of Võnnu-Cçsis in Latvia)

June 24th - St. John’s Day (Midsummer)

August 20th - Day of Restoration of Independence (1991)

December 25th - Christmas Day

December 26th - Boxing Day