Estonia

摘要

Area: 45,227 sq.km; 30% arable of which 12% meadows and pastures, 50% forest and woodland, 20% other. Coastline: total 3794 km, of which 1240 km excludes islands. Maritime claims: Territorial waters 12nm (including the island of Ruhnu), with a few exceptions in the narrow waters of the Gulf of Finland. EEZ limits fixed in coordination with neighbouring states. Population: 1,340,127 (01.01.2010 est.); annual growth rate -0.02% (2009 est.). The population is 68.8% Estonian, 25.6% Russian, 2.1% Ukrainian, 0.8% Finns, 2,7% other. Religions: primarily Lutheran. Language: Estonian (official), English, Russian, Finnish, German. Literacy rate: officially 100%. Long-form or legal name: Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariik). Type of government: parliamentary republic. Administrative divisions: 15 counties. Legal system: based on civil law system. Branches of government: Executive: largely representative President elected by Parliament or electoral assembly; Prime Minister nominated by President and approved by Parliament; Cabinet appointed by the Prime Minister and approved by Parliament. Legislative: unicameral parliament or (Riigikogu) (101 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms). Judicial: Supreme Court, chairman appointed for life by Parliament.