Estonia

Estonia is a country in Northern Europe, located on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea, opposite Sweden and north of Latvia. With an area of approximately 45,000 square kilometers and a population of approximately 1.3 million people, Estonia is one of Europe's most sparsely populated countries. The country has a long coastline with over 2,000 islands. The capital Tallinn is one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities and offers cobblestone streets, towered city walls and an old town center that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the same time, Tallinn is a high-tech hub that combines history with digital innovation - Estonia is internationally known as one of the world's most digitalized societies. Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since made a rapid journey from a planned economy to a market economy. Estonia is today a member of the EU, the eurozone, NATO and the Schengen area. Its political and economic stability has contributed to strong development in IT, industry and tourism. Estonia is a naturally forested country – over 50% of its surface is covered in forest. There are many national parks, wetlands and lakes, making the country a favorite among nature lovers, birdwatchers and hikers.