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Compare British Virgin Islands (2008) - Estonia (2002)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2008) z Estonia (2002)

 British Virgin Islands (2008)Estonia (2002)
 British Virgin IslandsEstonia
Administrative divisions none (overseas territory of the UK) 15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)


note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses
Age structure 0-14 years: 20.2% (male 2,410/female 2,337)


15-64 years: 74.5% (male 9,004/female 8,534)


65 years and over: 5.4% (male 665/female 602) (2007 est.)
0-14 years: 16.4% (male 118,603; female 114,102)


15-64 years: 68.5% (male 466,882; female 502,343)


65 years and over: 15.1% (male 70,085; female 143,666) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish
Airports 3 (2007) 32 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2007)
total: 8


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
total: 24


over 3,047 m: 1


2,438 to 3,047 m: 5


1,524 to 2,437 m: 7


914 to 1,523 m: 5


under 914 m: 6 (2002)
Area total: 153 sq km


land: 153 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke
total: 45,226 sq km


land: 43,211 sq km


water: 2,015 sq km


note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea
Area - comparative about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined
Background First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency. After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe.
Birth rate 14.82 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) 8.96 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $204.7 million


expenditures: $180.4 million (2004)
revenues: $1.89 billion


expenditures: $1.89 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)
Capital name: Road Town


geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W


time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Tallinn
Climate subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers
Coastline 80 km 3,794 km
Constitution 13 June 2007 adopted 28 June 1992
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: British Virgin Islands


abbreviation: BVI
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia


conventional short form: Estonia


local long form: Eesti Vabariik


local short form: Eesti


former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency - Estonian kroon (EEK)
Death rate 4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) 13.44 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $36.1 million (1997) $3.3 billion (2001 est.)
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph M. DeTHOMAS


embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [372] 668-8100


FAX: [372] 668-8134
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) chief of mission: Ambassador Sven JURGENSON


chancery: 1730 M Street NW, Suite 503, Washington, DC 20036


telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101


FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108


consulate(s) general: New York
Disputes - international none Russia continues to reject signing and ratifying the joint December 1996 technical border agreement with Estonia
Economic aid - recipient $NA $108 million (2000)
Economy - overview The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 820,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2005. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959. Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization, is steadily moving toward a modern market economy with increasing ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. A major goal is accession to the EU, possibly by 2004. The state of the economy is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The trade deficit is a negative factor, whereas the internal government surplus is a plus.
Electricity - consumption 41.85 million kWh (2005) 5.362 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2005) 1.2 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2005) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 45 million kWh (2005) 7.056 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source - fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Sage 521 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m
Environment - current issues limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments) air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 4.6 times smaller than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies fell 20 times in 2000 compared to 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups black 83%, other 17% (includes white, Indian, Asian and mixed) Estonian 65.3%, Russian 28.1%, Ukrainian 2.5%, Belarusian 1.5%, Finn 1%, other 1.6% (1998)
Exchange rates the US dollar is used krooni per US dollar - 17.518 (January 2002), 17.538 (2001), 16.969 (2000), 14.678 (1999), 14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997); note - the kroon is tied to the euro at a fixed rate of 15.65 krooni per euro
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)


head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007)


cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor
chief of state: President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001)


head of government: Prime Minister Siim KALLAS (since 28 January 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament


elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held 21 September 2001 (next to be held in the fall of 2006); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament


election results: Arnold RUUTEL elected president on 21 September 2001 by a 367-member electoral assembly that convened following Parliament's failure in August to elect then-President MERI's successor; on the second ballot of voting, RUUTEL received 188 votes to Parliament Speaker Toomas SAVI's 155; the remaining 24 ballots were either left blank or invalid
Exports 0 bbl/day (2004) $3.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Exports - commodities rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)
Exports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006) Finland 33.8%, Sweden 14%, Latvia 6.9%, Germany 6.9%, UK 4.2 (2001)
Fiscal year 1 April - 31 March calendar year
Flag description blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful) pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white
GDP - purchasing power parity - $15.2 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1.8%


industry: 6.2%


services: 92% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 6%


industry: 29%


services: 66% (2001)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $10,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 1% (2002 est.) 4.4% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 30 N, 64 30 W 59 00 N, 26 00 E
Geography - note strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands
Highways - total: 30,300 km


paved: 29,200 km (including 75 km of expressways); note - these roads are said to be hard-surfaced, and include, in addition to conventionally paved roads, some that are surfaced with gravel or other coarse aggregate, making them trafficable in all weather


unpaved: 1,100 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 3%


highest 10%: 30% (1998)
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia; increasing domestic drug abuse problem; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking
Imports 604.3 bbl/day (2004) $4.4 billion f.o.b. (2002)
Imports - commodities building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)
Imports - partners Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006) Finland 18%, Germany 11%, Sweden 9%, China 9%, Russia 8% (2001)
Independence none (overseas territory of the UK) regained on 20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 5% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile; services; transit, information technology, telecommunications
Infant mortality rate total: 16.13 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 18.82 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 13.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2% (2005) 3.7% (2002)
International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) - 38 (2001)
Irrigated land NA 40 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)
Labor force 12,770 (2004) 608,600 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 0.6%


industry: 40%


services: 59.4% (2005)
industry 20%, agriculture 11%, services 69% (1999 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 633 km


border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km
Land use arable land: 20%


permanent crops: 6.67%


other: 73.33% (2005)
arable land: 26.5%


permanent crops: 0.35%


other: 73.15% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official) Estonian (official), Russian, Ukrainian, Finnish, other
Legal system English law based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts
Legislative branch unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011)


election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1
unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, Res Publica 24.6%, Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, Pro Patria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%; seats by party - Center Party 28, Res Publica 28, Reform Party 19, Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, People's Party Moodukad 6
Life expectancy at birth total population: 76.86 years


male: 75.71 years


female: 78.07 years (2007 est.)
total population: 70.02 years


male: 64.03 years


female: 76.31 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 100%


male: 100%


female: 100% (1998 est.)
Location Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine - total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 245,958 GRT/193,042 DWT


ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 13, container 5, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea passenger 6


note: includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Liberia 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK -
Military branches - Estonia Defense Forces (including Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force), Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guard


note: Border Guards and Ministry of Internal Affairs become part of the Estonian Defense Forces in wartime; the Coast Guard is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense in peacetime and the Estonian Navy in wartime
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $155 million (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 2% (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 359,902 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 282,716 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - military age - 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually - males: 11,164 (2002 est.)
National holiday Territory Day, 1 July (1956) Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 was the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 20 August 1991 was the date of reindependence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun: British Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: British Virgin Islander
noun: Estonian(s)


adjective: Estonian
Natural hazards hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October) sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Natural resources NEGL oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud
Net migration rate 8.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) -0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Pipelines - natural gas 2,000 km (2002)
Political parties and leaders Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL] Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Estonian People's Union (Rahsaliit) [Villu REILJAN]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Siim KALLAS]; Estonian United Russian People's Party or EUVRP; Moderates (Moodukad) [Ivari PADAR]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit League) [Tunne KELAM, chairman]; Res Publica [Juhan Parts]; Russian Baltic Party [Sergei IVANOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 23,552 (July 2007 est.) 1,415,681 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA% (2000)
Population growth rate 1.923% (2007 est.) -0.52% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors - Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu, Tallinn
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004) AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)
Radios - 1.01 million (1997)
Railways - total: 968 km common carrier lines only; does not include dedicated industrial lines


broad gauge: 968 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (2001)
Religions Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991) Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Estonian Orthodox, Baptist, Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Word of Life, Jewish
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.031 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.055 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.105 male(s)/female


total population: 1.053 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female


total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens
Telephone system general assessment: worldwide telephone service


domestic: NA


international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2007)
general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; internet services are available throughout most of the country - only about 11,000 subscriber requests were unfilled by September 2000


domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and internet services is available throughout the country


international: fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; two international switches are located in Tallinn (2001)
Telephones - main lines in use 11,700 (2002) 501,691 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 8,000 (2002) 711,000 (yearend 2001)
Television broadcast stations 1 (plus 1 cable company) (1997) 3 (2001)
Terrain coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south
Total fertility rate 1.72 children born/woman (2007 est.) 1.24 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 3.6% (1997) 12.4% (2001)
Waterways - 320 km (perennially navigable) (2002)
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