Estonia (Republic of Estonia)

Estonia Republic of Estonia
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	31st best
Capital	Tallinn
Land Area	42 390km21
Location	Europe, Baltic States, Scandinavia
Population	1.3m2
Life Expectancy	77.14yrs (2017)3
GNI	$38 048 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	EE, EST, 2335
Internet Domain	.ee6
Currency	Euro (EUR)7
Telephone	+3728

1. Overview
2. Estonia National and Social Development
3. Estonia's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Estonia's Health
6. Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Estonia's Modernity and Learning
8. Estonia's Culture, Peace and Inequality
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Scandinavian?
11. Links

---

1. Overview

#denmark #germany #russia #sweden

“After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US - 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 the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004, formally joined the OECD in late 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2011.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Embracing change with gusto, Estonia is a country of understated charms, an irresistible mix of Baltic earthiness and Nordic flavours. Estonia doesn´t have to struggle to find a point of difference in Eastern Europe; it´s completely unique. It shares a similar geography and history with Latvia and Lithuania. Its closest ethnic and linguistic buddy is Finland, yet they were separated by 50 years of Soviet rule. For the past 300 years Estonia has been linked to Russia, but the two states have as much in common as a barn swallow and a bear (their respective national symbols).

In recent decades, and with a new-found confidence, Estonia has crept from under the Soviet blanket and leapt into the arms of Europe. The love affair is mutual: Europe has fallen for the chocolate-box allure of Tallinn, while travellers seeking something different are tapping into Estonia´s captivating blend of Eastern European and Nordic appeal.

National parks provide plenty of elbow room and quaint villages evoke a timeless sense of history. You can experience unspoilt seaside or windswept island solitude, while still enjoying the comforts of a thoroughly modern, e-savvy country that´s hell-bent on catching up with its Nordic neighbours in the quality-of-life stakes.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Estonia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
28	France	0.903
29	Cyprus	0.896
30	Italy	0.895
31	Estonia	0.890
32	Czechia	0.889
33	Greece	0.887
34	Poland	0.876
35=	Saudi Arabia	0.875
	Europe Avg	0.87
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
36	Czechia	$38 745
37	Spain	$38 354
38	Cyprus	$38 188
39	Estonia	$38 048
40	Lithuania	$37 931
41	Portugal	$33 155
42	Poland	$33 034
43	Latvia	$32 803
	Europe Avg	$40 512
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	27.3
2	Norway	30.5
3	Switzerland	32.2
	...
28	Singapore	54.5
29	Cyprus	55.1
30	Uruguay	55.3
31	Estonia	55.6
32	Costa Rica	55.7
33	Malta	57.6
34	Poland	57.8
35	Hungary	57.9
	Europe Avg	55.7
	World Avg	88.8
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Estonia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Estonia's population is predicted to fall to 1 296 000 by 2030. Developed countries with falling populations face a pension's crises, whereby an increasingly ageing population must be cared for by fewer and fewer workers. Economic stability can be maintained by increasing foreign workers from younger countries. This country has a fertility rate of 1.41. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₃

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
149	Guinea-Bissau	1.9m
150	Bahrain	1.6m
151	Trinidad & Tobago	1.4m
152	Estonia	1.3m
153	Equatorial Guinea	1.3m
154	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	1.3m
155	Mauritius	1.3m
156	Cyprus	1.2m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
44	Croatia	77.6
45	Barbados	77.6
46	USA	77.2
47	Estonia	77.1
48	Costa Rica	77.0
49	Saudi Arabia	76.9
50	Albania	76.5
51	Poland	76.5
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
103	Russia	1.42
104=	Austria	1.41
104=	Norway	1.41
104=	Estonia	1.41
107	Bhutan	1.40
108	Switzerland	1.39
109	St Lucia	1.39
110	Turkmenistan	2.62
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better15
Pos.		2016 Per 10015
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
165	Denmark	37.1
166	Bosnia & Herzegovina	37.3
167	S. Korea	37.6
168	Estonia	37.9
169	Belgium	38.1
170	Switzerland	38.3
171	Canada	38.5
172	Croatia	39.7
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants16
Pos.		2017 %16
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
34	USA	15.3%
35	Norway	15.1%
36	Germany	14.8%
37	Estonia	14.7%
38	Gabon	13.8%
39	St Kitts & Nevis	13.7%
40	Seychelles	13.6%
41	Croatia	13.4%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants17
Pos.		2010 %17
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
50	Romania	13.1%
51	Iceland	13.0%
52	Bahamas	12.8%
53	Estonia	12.6%
54	Nicaragua	12.5%
55	Latvia	12.3%
56	Luxembourg	11.8%
57	Jordan	11.3%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #Estonia #estonia_freedom #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank18
1	Sweden	5.9
2	Norway	8.0
3	Denmark	8.1
	...
22	Italy	32.6
23	Uruguay	34.3
24	Japan	34.7
25	Estonia	35.0
26	USA	38.1
27	Malta	38.7
	Europe Avg	47.37
	World Avg	86.35
q=198.

Estonia performs very well in ensuring human rights and freedom compared to most other countries. Estonia performs the best in its average Freedom in the World rating. It does the second-best in supporting press freedom₁₉. It comes in the best 20 when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₀. And finally, it does better than average when it comes to supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms₂₁, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)₂₂ (but high for Europe), opposing gender inequality₂₃, LGBT equality₂₄, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice₂₅, combatting modern slavery₂₆, freethought₂₇ (but bad for Europe) and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₈ (but low for Europe).

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Estonia

5. Estonia's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #estonia #health #hungary #latvia #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Europe (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
	...
29	Slovakia	74.3
30	Poland	75.3
31	Macedonia	76.9
32	Estonia	77.1
33	Albania	79.0
34	Hungary	79.5
35	Bosnia & Herzegovina	81.5
36	Serbia	82.2
37	Lithuania	82.2
	Europe Avg	86.87
q=48.

Health (2025)29
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank29
1	Monaco	12.4
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	San Marino	30.6
	...
58	Bahrain	76.6
59	Macedonia	76.9
60	UAE	77.0
61	Estonia	77.1
62	Albania	79.0
63	Hungary	79.5
64	Tunisia	80.2
65	Grenada	81.0
	World Avg	96.86
q=204.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and San Marino₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

36 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, its immunizations take-up and childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far). The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Health Datasets:

Estonia has some poor policies and cultural issues which cause some public health problems. Estonia comes in the best 20 in childhood mortality in the 2020s (so far)₃₁. It does better than average when it comes to its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₂, its adolescent birth rate₃₃, its average life expectancy₁₁, its immunizations take-up₃₄ and in its fertility rate₁₄ (but bad for Europe). Estonia still has work to do. Estonia does worse than average for its smoking rate₃₅ and in the prevalence of overweight adults₃₆. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for its suicide rate₃₇ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₈. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Estonia improved by +8.8yrs in the 30 years from 1990, just over the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. Estonia had the 3rd-lowest average fertility rate in the world throughout the 1960s (after Latvia and Hungary). It has had a long-term consistent fertility rate, and is one of only 22 countries to vary by less than 1.0 each decade since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 2.27 in 1987.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
44	Croatia	77.6
45	Barbados	77.6
46	USA	77.2
47	Estonia	77.1
48	Costa Rica	77.0
49	Saudi Arabia	76.9
50	Albania	76.5
51	Poland	76.5
	Europe Avg	78.36
	World Avg	71.28
q=195.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better38
Pos.		2016 Per Capita38
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
169=	Slovakia	11.5
169=	Switzerland	11.5
171=	Austria	11.6
171=	Estonia	11.6
171=	Poland	11.6
174	Russia	11.7
175	Seychelles	12.0
176	Belgium	12.1
	Europe Avg	10.3
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best14
Pos.		202214
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
103	Russia	1.42
104=	Austria	1.41
104=	Norway	1.41
104=	Estonia	1.41
107	Bhutan	1.40
108	Switzerland	1.39
109	St Lucia	1.39
110	Turkmenistan	2.62
	Europe Avg	1.53
	World Avg	2.47
q=208.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better35
Pos.		Total %35
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
125	Laos	27.2%
126	Kyrgyzstan	27.3%
127	Fiji	27.6%
128	Estonia	28.3%
129	Nepal	28.4%
130	Spain	28.5%
131	Chile	28.8%
132	Russia	29.2%
	Europe Avg	27.0%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165.

Suicide Rate37
Pos.		2013 Per 100k37
1	Haiti	0
2	Grenada	0
3	Egypt	0.1
	...
74	Moldova	35.7
75	Switzerland	36.2
76	Croatia	36.4
77	Estonia	37.9
78	Serbia	38.1
79	Finland	39
80	Belgium	39.1
81	Slovenia	44
	Europe Avg	26.99
	World Avg	20.93
q=91.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
24	Italy	24
25	Qatar	25
26	Oman	26
27	Estonia	27
28	Austria	28
29	Greece	29
30	Nicaragua	30
31	Armenia	31
	Europe Avg	47.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better36
Pos.		1976 %36
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
168	New Zealand	42.7
169	Russia	43.8
170=	Belgium	43.9
170=	Estonia	43.9
172	Hungary	44.0
173	Latvia	44.1
174	Bahrain	44.9
175	UAE	45.5
	Europe Avg	38.2
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better39
Pos.		2022 %39
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
108	Serbia	26.1%
109	Belarus	26.6%
110	Albania	26.6%
111	Estonia	26.7%
112	Ecuador	27.0%
113	Portugal	27.1%
114	Peru	27.2%
115	Swaziland	27.3%
	Europe Avg	25.9%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199.

Children's Health Datasets:

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better33
Pos.		2022 Per 100033
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
33	Germany	7.2
34	Israel	7.4
35	Australia	7.7
36	Estonia	8.1
37	Croatia	8.2
38	Greece	8.3
39	Bahrain	8.7
40	Malaysia	9.1
	Europe Avg	11.4
	World Avg	43.8
q=195.

Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 Higher is better34
Pos.		2015 Avg %34
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
81=	Tanzania	94.0
81=	Germany	94.0
83	Lithuania	93.9
84	Estonia	93.9
85	N. Korea	93.8
86	Italy	93.8
87	Austria	93.8
88	Argentina	93.7
	Europe Avg	92.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better31
Pos.		Total Per 100031
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
9=	Japan	2.87
10	Cyprus	3.03
11	Czechia	3.18
12	Estonia	3.39
13	Spain	3.42
14=	Monaco	3.55
14=	Italy	3.55
16	S. Korea	3.57
	Europe Avg	6.30
	World Avg	32.19
q=195.

6. Responsibility Towards The Environment

#climate_change #environmentalism #Estonia #Estonia_environment #estonia_environmentalism #internationalism #the_environment

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)40
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank40
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
142=	St Kitts & Nevis	96.9
142=	Iceland	96.9
144=	Laos	97.0
144=	Estonia	97.0
146	Montenegro	97.3
147	Sudan	97.8
	Europe Avg	86.45
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Estonia comes 144th in the world. This is computed from 21 data sets. Estonia comes in the best 20 in terms of its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment. It does better than average in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₁ and in its environmental performance₄₂ (but bad for Europe). But, there's bad news too. Estonia does worse than average in energy to GDP efficiency₄₃ and in reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₄. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 for the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₅ (one of the lowest in Europe).

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Estonia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

7. Estonia's Modernity and Learning

#belgium #education #english #estonia #intelligence #maths #modernity #politics #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Europe (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
4	Iceland	15.0
5	Sweden	15.8
6	Germany	16.3
7	Switzerland	17.4
8	Estonia	17.9
9	Norway	18.3
10	UK	19.4
11	Netherlands	19.5
12	Ireland	19.8
13	Austria	19.9
	Europe Avg	39.81
q=45.

Modernity & Learning (2020)46
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank46
1	Finland	7.1
2	Belgium	12.9
3	Denmark	13.6
	...
7	Germany	16.3
8	Australia	16.6
9	Switzerland	17.4
10	Estonia	17.9
11	Norway	18.3
12	UK	19.4
13	Netherlands	19.5
14	Ireland	19.8
	World Avg	86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark₄₇. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone₄₇. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₈.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₉

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₇, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₇.

For more, see:

• "Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Modernity and Education Datasets:

Research & Development Higher is better
Pos.		2016 % RDP PPP
1	S. Korea	4.2950
2	Israel	4.1150
3	Japan	3.5850
	...
21=	UK	1.7050
22	Canada	1.6150
23	Ireland	1.5250
24	Estonia	1.4350
25	Hungary	1.3750
26	Italy	1.2950
27	Portugal	1.2850
28	Luxembourg	1.2650
	Europe Avg	1.32
	World Avg	0.84
q=126.

Secondary Education Higher is better51
Pos.		201851
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
1=	Canada	100.0%
1=	Finland	100.0%
1=	Iceland	100.0%
7	Uzbekistan	99.9%
8	Czechia	99.8%
9	Slovakia	99.3%
10	Latvia	99.2%
11	Kazakhstan	98.6%
12	Kyrgyzstan	98.4%
	Europe Avg	88.3%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better52
Pos.		2021 Years52
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
37	Tonga	16.0
38	Poland	16.0
39	Austria	16.0
40	Estonia	15.9
41	Thailand	15.9
42	France	15.8
43	Palau	15.8
44	Russia	15.8
	Europe Avg	16.1
	World Avg	13.5
q=193.

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
33	Croatia	33
34	Israel	34
35	Barbados	35
36	Estonia	36
37	Luxembourg	37
38	USA	38
39	Portugal	39
40	Spain	40
	Europe Avg	31.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Maths, Science & Reading Higher is better53
Pos.		2015 Score53
1	Singapore	1655
2	Hong Kong	1598
3	Japan	1586
4	Macau	1582
5	Estonia	1573
6=	Taiwan	1571
6=	Canada	1571
8	Finland	1568
9	S. Korea	1557
10	China	154354
11=	Ireland	1528
11=	Slovenia	1528
	Europe Avg	1417
	World Avg	1389
q=70.

Religiosity Lower is better55
Pos.		2018 %55
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
4=	Switzerland	9
4=	Denmark	9
6=	Germany	10
6=	UK	10
6=	Sweden	10
6=	Japan	10
6=	Finland	10
11=	Latvia	11
11=	France	11
	Europe Avg	25.8
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better56
Pos.		200656
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
16=	Poland	99
16=	Germany	99
16=	Finland	99
16=	Estonia	99
16=	Sweden	99
16=	Belgium	99
16=	Canada	99
23=	Andorra	98
	Europe Avg	96.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information Datasets:

Internet Users Higher is better57
Pos.		201657
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
14	Qatar	92%
15	UAE	92%
16	Bahrain	92%
17	Estonia	91%
18	Japan	91%
19	New Zealand	89%
20=	USA	89%
20=	Canada	89%
	Europe Avg	76.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

Freedom On The Internet Lower is better58
Pos.		201258
1	Estonia	10
2	USA	12
3	Germany	15
4	Australia	18
5	Hungary	19
6=	Philippines	23
6=	Italy	23
8	UK	25
9=	S. Africa	26
9=	Argentina	26
11=	Ukraine	27
11=	Brazil	27
	Europe Avg	31.4
	World Avg	46.7
q=47.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better59
Pos.		2017 Ratio59
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
13	Canada	18.3
14	Peru	18.3
15	Ecuador	18.2
16	Estonia	17.6
17	Malaysia	16.5
18	Norway	14.7
19	Australia	14.6
20	Trinidad & Tobago	14.5
	Europe Avg	8.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Estonia's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #charity #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Europe (2020)62
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank62
1	Denmark	11.3
2	Netherlands	13.7
3	Finland	13.7
	...
20	Spain	39.3
21	Cyprus	40.1
22	Portugal	41.7
23	Estonia	41.8
24	Italy	42.2
25	Slovakia	43.9
26	Croatia	50.0
27	Latvia	54.0
28	Lithuania	54.3
	Europe Avg	48.48
q=44.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)62
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank62
1	Denmark	11.3
2	Netherlands	13.7
3	Finland	13.7
	...
26	Hong Kong	40.1
27	Cyprus	40.1
28	Portugal	41.7
29	Estonia	41.8
30	S. Korea	42.1
31	Italy	42.2
32	Slovakia	43.9
33	USA	46.3
	World Avg	80.34
q=186.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 32 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, passport utility in the 2020s (so far), Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty in the 2020s (so far), Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

National Culture Datasets:

World Giving Index Higher is better63
Pos.		2022 %63
1	Indonesia	68.0
2	Kenya	61.0
3	USA	59.0
	...
59=	Malaysia	40.0
59=	Nicaragua	40.0
59=	Senegal	40.0
59=	Estonia	40.0
59=	Uruguay	40.0
59=	Turkey	40.0
59=	Hungary	40.0
59=	India	40.0
	Europe Avg	39.0
	World Avg	39.6
q=125.

Corruption Higher is better64
Pos.		2022 Points64
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
11=	Luxembourg	77.0
12	Hong Kong	76.0
13	Australia	75.0
14=	Estonia	74.0
14=	Uruguay	74.0
14=	Iceland	74.0
14=	Canada	74.0
18=	UK	73.0
	Europe Avg	57.61
	World Avg	42.98
q=180.

Estonia has an great long-term record on keeping corruption low. Thoughout the 2010s, it made serious improvements to its Corruption Perception Index score (+10), sitting amongst the top 10 best-improvers that decade.

Happiness Higher is better65
Pos.		2024 Score65
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
36	Brazil	6.5
37	El Salvador	6.5
38	Spain	6.5
39	Estonia	6.4
40	Italy	6.4
41	Panama	6.4
42	Argentina	6.4
43	Kazakhstan	6.4
	Europe Avg	6.37
	World Avg	5.58
q=147.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
4	Switzerland	4
5	Sweden	5
6	Denmark	6
7	Austria	7
8	Ireland	8
9	Czechia	9
10	Luxembourg	10
11	UK	11
12	Portugal	12
	Europe Avg	35.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better66
Pos.		Total Q66
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
30	Slovakia	182.8
31=	Latvia	182.2
31=	Slovenia	182.2
31=	Estonia	182.2
34	Iceland	181.2
35	Malaysia	179.8
36	Liechtenstein	179.2
37	UAE	178.0
	Europe Avg	160.7
	World Avg	108.8
q=195.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
34	Spain	34
35	UK	35
36	Italy	36
37	Estonia	37
38	Cyprus	38
39	Bulgaria	39
40	Turkey	40
41	Marshall Islands	41
	Europe Avg	42.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability Datasets:

Global Peace Index Lower is better67
Pos.		2023 Score67
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
22	Australia	1.53
23	Mauritius	1.55
24	Norway	1.55
25	Estonia	1.56
26	Slovakia	1.58
27	Latvia	1.58
28	Sweden	1.63
29	Poland	1.63
	Europe Avg	1.70
	World Avg	2.07
q=163.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
90	Uganda	90
91	Congo, DR	91
92	Pakistan	92
93	Estonia	93
94	Bahamas	94
95	Mauritania	95
96	Nicaragua	96
97	Peru	97
	Europe Avg	84.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better32
Pos.		2017 Rank32
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
69	Malawi	69
70	Latvia	70
71	Guatemala	71
72	Estonia	72
73	Guinea-Bissau	73
74	Albania	74
75	Botswana	75
76	Lebanon	76
	Europe Avg	37.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better68
Pos.		2019 Score68
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
25	Liberia	0.11
26=	Moldova	0.12
26=	Serbia	0.12
26=	Estonia	0.12
29	New Zealand	0.14
30	Uruguay	0.17
31	Dominican Rep.	0.18
32	Hungary	0.18
	Europe Avg	1.62
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets:

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better69
Pos.		Total %69
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
24	Canada	0.25%
25	Albania	0.34%
26	Croatia	0.36%
27	Estonia	0.39%
28	Portugal	0.40%
29	Tonga	0.41%
30	Mongolia	0.44%
31	Slovakia	0.45%
	Europe Avg	1.20%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better70
Pos.		201970
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
18=	Greece	3.50
18=	Switzerland	3.50
20=	Belgium	3.60
20=	Estonia	3.60
20=	Montenegro	3.60
20=	Cyprus	3.60
20=	Denmark	3.60
25=	Australia	3.70
	Europe Avg	4.86
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better71
Pos.		2023 %71
1	Slovakia	24.1%72
2	Slovenia	24.3%72
3	Belarus	24.4%73
	...
44	Taiwan	31.6%72
45	Canada	31.7%74
46=	Lebanon	31.8%75
46=	Estonia	31.8%72
48	Egypt	31.9%74
49	Mauritania	32.0%74
50	Seychelles	32.1%76
51	Vanuatu	32.3%74
	Europe Avg	30.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)55
Pos.		Lower is better %55
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
4=	Switzerland	9
4=	Denmark	9
6=	Germany	10
6=	UK	10
6=	Sweden	10
6=	Japan	10
6=	Finland	10
11=	Latvia	11
11=	France	11
11=	Belgium	11
14	Austria	12
15	Hungary	14
16	Albania	15
17=	Lithuania	16
17=	S. Korea	16
17=	Russia	16
20=	Australia	18
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Disbelief In God (2007)77
Pos.		Higher is better %77
1	Vietnam	81
2	Japan	65
3	Sweden	64
4	Czechia	61
5	Estonia	49
6	Denmark	48
7	France	44
8	Belgium	43
9=	Netherlands	42
9=	Germany	42
9=	UK	42
12	Cuba	40
13	Slovenia	35
14	Bulgaria	34
15	Hungary	32
16	Norway	31
17	S. Korea	30
18	Finland	28
19	Russia	27
20	Australia	25
	World Avg	9.9
q=137.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₈:

	2010	2020
Christian	61.2%	52.6%
Unaffiliated	31.5%	43.6%
Other	6.42%	2.79%
Muslim	0.499%	0.598%
Buddhist	0.126%	0.196%
Jewish	0.206%	0.135%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%

By adding up the Pew Forum data for the major monotheistic religions we can see that these make up 53.3% of the population. Yet there are simply too many who disbelieve in God for this to be true (49%). This is due to the so-called 'Census Effect', whereby many put down a religion for cultural reasons rather than because it reflects their beliefs. In highly Christian countries, as many as half of those who say they're a Christian lack any connection to a Church, and do not hold Christian beliefs (such as believing in God!).

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 56.4% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 6% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

• "Institutionalized Religions Have Their Numbers Inflated by National Polls" by Vexen Crabtree (2009)

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)₇₉.

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?

10. Scandinavian?

#baltic_states #estonia #finland #latvia #lithuania #scandinavia #sweden

Estonia is traditionally considered one of the Baltic nations (alongside Latvia and Lithuania). But as the colonial history of Sweden provides a 100-year window where Estonia was 'scandinavian' due to being ruled by Sweden, it borders the Gulf of Finland, and as it shares many cultural, some linguistic, and economic factors with Scandinavia, some have called for Estonia to be considered Scandinavian₈₀. The Prime Minister of Sweden) from 1991-1994, Mr Bildt, did describe Estonia as part of Scandinavia₈₁ in 2006, but, this claim remains largely ignored. The historical connection to Sweden is tenuous. The public will require time and much convincing if Estonia is to be considered Scandinavian rather than Baltic.

For more, see:

• "Scandinavia, the Crown of Civilisation: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Iceland" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).