ment 12%, foodstuffs 10%, minerals 9%, textiles 8%, metals 8%,
chemical products 8% (1997)

Imports--partners: Finland, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Japan, US
(1997)

Debt--external: $270 million (January 1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $137.3 million (1995)

Currency: 1 Estonian kroon (EEK) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: krooni (EEK) per US$1--13.473 (January 1999),
14.075 (1998), 13.882 (1997), 12.034 (1996), 11.465 (1995), 12.991
(1994); note--krooni are tied to the German deutsche mark at a fixed
rate of 8 to 1

Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications

Telephones: 531,000 (1997)

Telephone system: the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications (MOTC) administers Estonia's telephone system;
Internet services available throughout most of the country; about
150,000 unfilled subscriber requests
domestic: local--cellular phones services are growing and expanding
to develop rural networks under direction of the MOTC;
intercity--Estonia has a highly developed fiber-optic backbone
(double loop) system presently serving at least 16 major cities
(1998)
international: foreign investment in the form of joint business
ventures greatly improved Estonia's telephone service; fiber-optic
cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide
packet switched service

Radio broadcast stations: 27 commercial broadcast stations, 1
government broadcast station (1997); note--by law 51% of shows must
be produced within the EU; equal air time must be given to all
candidates during elections by public and private stations

Radios: 1.12 million (1997 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 7 (1997); note--Ministry of Culture
administers television licensing; mainly Estonian, European, and
Russian programming; by law 51% of shows must be produced within the
EU; equal air time must be given to all candidates during elections
by public and private stations

Televisions: 1.132 million (1997 est.)

Transportation

Railways:
total: 1,018 km common carrier lines only; does not include
dedicated industrial lines
broad gauge: 1,018 km 1.520-m gauge (132 km electrified) (1995)

Highways:
total: 16,437 km
paved: 8,343 km (including 65 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,094 km (1997 est.)

Waterways: 320 km perennially navigable

Pipelines: natural gas 420 km (1992)

Ports and harbors: Haapsalu, Kunda, Muuga, Paldiski, Parnu,
Tallinn

Merchan