Estonia

Estonia is a country in Northern Europe and a Baltic state. It is bordered by the Baltic Sea to the west, the Gulf of Finland to the north, Latvia to the south, and Russia to the east. The country covers about 45,300 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 1.3 million. The capital and largest city is Tallinn. The official language is Estonian, a Finnic language, with Russian and other minority languages spoken in parts of the country; Estonia is known for its extensive forests and numerous islands.

Estonia declared independence in 1918 after the collapse of the Russian Empire and reestablished independence in 1991 following Soviet occupation. Since the 2000s it has integrated with Western institutions: it joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, joined the Schengen Area in 2007, adopted the euro in 2011, and became a member of the OECD in 2010.

Estonia has a modern, service-based economy with a strong emphasis on information technology and digital governance. It is notable for e-government services, digital identity, online voting, and data exchange infrastructure such as X-Road. The country hosts a vibrant startup scene; Skype originated there, and the state promotes initiatives such as e-residency to attract foreign entrepreneurs.

Demographically, ethnic Estonians make up about two-thirds of the population, with Russians and other minority groups forming the remainder. Estonia has high literacy, a strong educational system, and a tradition of cultural events such as song festivals. The country is characterized by low corruption, environmental awareness, and a commitment to democratic governance.