INTRODUCTION
GEOGRAPHY Estonia is a country located in Eastern Europe that is surrounded by both land and water--it borders the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea in the northern and eastern regions, and it shares a border with Russia and Latvia to its west and south. Estonia also consists of 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea. The topography is flat in the north and hilly in the south and consists of marshy lowlands. Estonia has a maritime climate with wet, moderate winters and cool summers. Its capital city is Tallinn, located on the northern coast. |
HISTORY
Estonian people have lived along the Baltic for almost 1500 years. Throughout its history, Estonia has been ruled by Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia. Many Estonians even called the rule under the Swedish Kingdom "the good old days" because of the benevolent policies of the Swedish monarchy (Huang, 2000). However, once the Great Northern War occurred in Europe, Estonia was ruled by Soviet Russia. The severe Russification led to bursts of nationalism, eventually leading to a revolution in 1918 that resulted in the country's independence. Ever since, Estonia has been gradually climbing the political, economical, and technological ladders.
Estonian people have lived along the Baltic for almost 1500 years. Throughout its history, Estonia has been ruled by Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia. Many Estonians even called the rule under the Swedish Kingdom "the good old days" because of the benevolent policies of the Swedish monarchy (Huang, 2000). However, once the Great Northern War occurred in Europe, Estonia was ruled by Soviet Russia. The severe Russification led to bursts of nationalism, eventually leading to a revolution in 1918 that resulted in the country's independence. Ever since, Estonia has been gradually climbing the political, economical, and technological ladders.
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POPULATION
People from Estonia are called Estonians. As of July 2017, the country's population was at 1,251,581, placing them at 158th in the world for population. Estonia's residents are mostly Estonian and Russian, at 68.7 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively, but the country also has Ukrainians (1.7 percent), Belarusians (1 percent), Finns (0.6 percent), and others (3.2 percent).
People from Estonia are called Estonians. As of July 2017, the country's population was at 1,251,581, placing them at 158th in the world for population. Estonia's residents are mostly Estonian and Russian, at 68.7 percent and 24.8 percent, respectively, but the country also has Ukrainians (1.7 percent), Belarusians (1 percent), Finns (0.6 percent), and others (3.2 percent).
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RELIGION
Estonia is actually considered the least religious country in the world. As of 2017, 54 percent of the population identified as nonreligious. Of the people that do practice religion in Estonia, 16.2 percent are Orthodox, 9.9 percent are Lutheran, and 2.2 percent are other types of Christianity, leaving 17.6 percent as other religions or unspecified.
Estonia is actually considered the least religious country in the world. As of 2017, 54 percent of the population identified as nonreligious. Of the people that do practice religion in Estonia, 16.2 percent are Orthodox, 9.9 percent are Lutheran, and 2.2 percent are other types of Christianity, leaving 17.6 percent as other religions or unspecified.
CULTURE
An important aspect of Estonians' culture is their pride in their country. Because of their relatively recent independence from Russia, a sense of nationalism is a huge part of being Estonian. One way that Estonians express pride in their country is through music. In fact, it is said that without music, "Estonia as we know it probably wouldn't exist" (Visit Estonia, 2018). Estonians and their music have been seen as revolutionary, celebrating their language, identity, and traditions. They have huge song festivals dating back to 1869 that consist of tens of thousands of choir members and draw a crowd of almost a tenth of the country's population (Schwab, 2015). Estonia is also home to the largest collection of folk songs in the world at 133,000.
An important aspect of Estonians' culture is their pride in their country. Because of their relatively recent independence from Russia, a sense of nationalism is a huge part of being Estonian. One way that Estonians express pride in their country is through music. In fact, it is said that without music, "Estonia as we know it probably wouldn't exist" (Visit Estonia, 2018). Estonians and their music have been seen as revolutionary, celebrating their language, identity, and traditions. They have huge song festivals dating back to 1869 that consist of tens of thousands of choir members and draw a crowd of almost a tenth of the country's population (Schwab, 2015). Estonia is also home to the largest collection of folk songs in the world at 133,000.
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Estonian Song Celebration (Litton, 2014)
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Traditional Estonian folk song by Chicago Eesti (2000)
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POLITICS
After declaring its independence from Russia, Estonia created its own governmental system. The country has a parliamentary representative democratic government in which the Prime Minister of Estonia is head of the government. The country's constitution states that supreme power belongs to the people, who exercise it via the legislative body, the Riigikogu. The Riigikogu approves laws, appoints high officials (like the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) and elects the President. Estonia is also a part of the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union. Also, as of 2005, Estonia became the first nation to use online political voting.
After declaring its independence from Russia, Estonia created its own governmental system. The country has a parliamentary representative democratic government in which the Prime Minister of Estonia is head of the government. The country's constitution states that supreme power belongs to the people, who exercise it via the legislative body, the Riigikogu. The Riigikogu approves laws, appoints high officials (like the Prime Minister and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) and elects the President. Estonia is also a part of the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union. Also, as of 2005, Estonia became the first nation to use online political voting.