This document provides an overview of the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. For each country, it includes sections on general data, economic data, development highlights, and either foreign investment, labor market, or migration trends. The document aims to introduce key facts and recent history for understanding the Baltic region.

1. 1
Introduction to the Baltic
States

2. 2

3. 3
Structure
1 Estonia
 General Data
 Economic Data
 Remarkable
Facts
 Excursus:
Foreign
Investment
2 Latvia
• General Data
• Economic Data
• Development
Remarkable
Facts
• Excursus:
Labor Market
3 Lithuania
• General Data
• Economic Data
• Development
• Remarkable
Facts
• Excursus:
Migration
4 Sources
• Development

4. 4
Estonia
Governement: Parliamentary Republic
Total area: 45 000 km²
Population: 1.31 million
Density: 28 inhabitants per km²
Capital: Tallinn (396 000 inhabitants)
ISO-Code: EE
Eesti Vabariik

5. 5
Unemployment rate:
 7,7% ( 5,0 % )
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0,5% ( 0.9 %)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$20,090 ( $ 67,966)
Economic Data 2014

6. 6
Latest Development
1990 Declaration of Independence (Singing Revolution)
1993 Accession to the European Council
1994 Decampment of the last Russian troops
2002 Hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest
2004 Accession to the European Union and Nato
2011 Introduction of the Euro
2011 Tallin becomes European Capital of Culture

7. 7
Remarkable Facts
One of the least religious countries in the world
(75 % of Estonians are calling themselves irreligious)
Possibilty to vote by text message since 2011, besides,
possibility to vote online
 Highest HIV rate in Europe with 1.5 % of people
between 15 and 49 diagnosted with HIV

8. 8
Foreign Investment
Total amount of 15,9 Billion Euro (2014)
93% of investors would choose Estonia again
500 German companies operating in Estonia
Flat tax of 21%
No corporate income tax after reinvesting
Lower costs of production

9. 9
Latvia
Government: Parliamentary Republic
Total area: 65 000 km²
Population: 1.98 million
Density: 31 inhabitants per km²
Capital: Riga (698 000 inhabitants)
ISO-Code: LV
Latvijas Republika

10. 10
UUnemployment rate:
10,1% ( 5,0 % )
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.7% ( 0.9 %)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,730 ( $ 67,966)
Economic Data 2014

11. 11
Development
1991 Declaration of Independence
1991 Accession to the OSCE
2003 Hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest
2004 Accession to the European Union
2006 Hosting the Ice-hockey World Cup
2014 Introduction of the Euro
2014 Riga becomes European Capital of Culture

12. 12
Remarkable Facts
High minority of Russian people (nearly 30%)
Holding of one of the largest song and dance festivals
worldwide (with over 40,000 participants)
 40% of the total square are forested
Latvia is home to the widest waterfall in Europe:
Ventas Rumba (110 meter wide, 2 meter high)
Latvia has more than 2500 lakes

13. 13
Labour Market
Minimum wage of 360 Euro per month (2015)
High unemployment rate among young people (19,8%)
Little importance of labour unions (>10% of all employees)
Rate of part-time jobs equals 7,4% (2014)
 Since the EU-entry the number of
high-qualified emigrants has increased

14. 14
Lithuania
Government: Parliamentary Republic
Total area: 65 000 km²
Population: 2.88 million
Density: 45 inhabitants per km²
Capital: Vilnius (537 000 inhabitants)
ISO-Code: LT
Lietuvos Respublika

15. 15
Unemployment rate:
 11.3% ( 5,0 % )
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
0.2% ( 0.9 %)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$16,467 ( $ 67,966)
Economic Data 2015

16. 16
Development
1991 Declaration of Independence
1992 International Rehabilitation Loan
2004 Accession to the EU and Nato
2007 Member of the Schengen-Area
2009 Vilnius becomes European cap. of culture
2011 Hosting EuroBasket
2015 Introduction of the Euro

17. 17
Remarkable Facts
Lithuanian was the last nation in Europe that
converted to Christianity
Lithuania was the first to declare independence from
the Soviet Union in 1990
Lithuania has the world’s highest suicide-rate
 National sport is basketball
Vilnius University is the oldest university in Eastern Europe

18. 18
Migration
 Since the declaration of independence 1/3 of the population
has left the country (825 000 citiziens)
One of the highest emigration rates in Europe
 Since 2010 the immigration rate has raised (80% are
returning Lithuanian residents)
 Most popular immigration country is the United
Kingdom, followed by Ireland, Germany and Norway (2014)

19. 19
Discussion Questions
Do you consider the Baltic states as Northern-
or Eastern- European states?
Where to you see the reasons of the rather positive economic
development compared to other ex-communistic states?
Have you ever taken a holiday in the Baltic states into
consideration? Or even a longer stay?