rs and over: 14% (male 63,976; female 133,928) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: -1.13% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 10.74 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 14.12 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -7.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
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: 0.48 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.87 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 17.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.13 years
male: 62.5 years
female: 74.05 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.55 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian

Ethnic divisions: Estonian 61.5%, Russian 30.3%, Ukrainian 3.2%,
Byelorussian 1.8%, Finn 1.1%, other 2.1% (1989)

Religions: Lutheran, Orthodox Christian

Languages: Estonian (official), Latvian, Lithuanian, Russian, other

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1989 est.)
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Data code: EN

Type of government: republic

Capital: Tallinn

Administrative divisions: 15 counties (maakonnad, singular -
maakond): Harju maakond (Tallinn), Hiiu maakond (Kardla), Ida-Viru
maakond (Johvi), Jarva maakond (Paide), Jogeva maakond (Jogeva),
Laane maakond (Haapsalu), Laane-Viru maakond (Rakvere), Parnu
maakond (Parnu), Polva maakond (Polva), Rapla maakond (Rapla), Saare
maakond (Kuessaare), Tartu maakond (Tartu), Valga maakond (Valga),
Viljandi maakond (Viljandi), Voru maakond (Voru)
note: county centers are in parentheses

Independence: 6 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 24 February (1918)

Constitution: adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system: based on civil law system; no judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 21 October 1992) was
elected for a five-year term by Parliament; election last held 20
September 1992 (next to be held fall 1996); results - no candidate
received majority