About Estonia

Every person has their own story, but many of us are united by the fact that by the circumstances of fate, we ended up in a new country where we need to build a new life as soon as possible. We hope that our portal Expaterra can help you!

So, Estonia: a country of opportunities and warm hospitality, where everyone will find their home among picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

Culture and lifestyle

Estonia is a country with a rich cultural heritage, a unique lifestyle, and original cuisine.

Estonians are proud of their language and cultural traditions, which are reflected in folk songs, dances, and festivals. A special place is occupied by regilaul — an ancient form of folk singing.

Estonia is known as one of the most digital countries in the world, offering its citizens a wide range of electronic services, including electronic voting and electronic residency.

Estonians value nature and strive for an environmentally friendly lifestyle. The country is rich in forests, lakes, and national parks, which contributes to active outdoor recreation.

Estonians value personal space and independence, preferring restraint in communication. However, they are hospitable and open to new acquaintances. Sports activities, especially running, skiing, and hiking, are popular. Many Estonians have summer cottages where they spend time in nature. Among the favorite holidays are Jaanipäev, celebrated on the summer solstice day, and Christmas, accompanied by traditional dishes and rituals.

Estonian cuisine reflects agricultural roots and the seasonality of products. It is based on rye bread, pork, potatoes, and dairy products. In spring and summer, fresh berries, greens, and vegetables are popular, while in winter, preserved jams, pickles, and mushrooms are common.

In coastal areas, fish plays an important role, especially Baltic herring and sprats, which are often served as snacks or on open-faced sandwiches.

Soups hold a central place in the Estonian diet and are traditionally served as a main dish, although today they are often served as an appetizer. Pea soup is particularly popular, especially in the cold months.

Among desserts, cardamom and almond paste buns are popular, especially from Christmas to Easter.

Estonia ranks highly in various international rankings, reflecting its achievements in technology, ecology, and innovation. 

In 2022, Estonia was recognized as the country with the best government electronic services in the world. The capital, Tallinn, took third place among cities for the quality of electronic services, behind only Berlin and Madrid. 

In 2023, Estonia ranked 16th in the Global Innovation Index, demonstrating high performance in innovation and technology. Estonia is among the top 10 most favorable ecosystems for startups globally, confirming its status as one of the leading technology centers. 

Estonia is among the 13 countries in the world with the highest air quality, as confirmed by data from the IQAir company. Over 50% of the country is covered by forests, which helps maintain the ecological balance. 

In 2023, Estonia topped the international competitiveness ranking for the tenth consecutive year, evaluating tax policy and its impact on the business environment. 

Estonia, despite its achievements in various fields, faces certain challenges reflected in international rankings. In 2023, Estonia ranked 34th in the world's happiest countries rating, lagging behind many European countries. The index considers such indicators as GDP per capita, social support, expected healthy life expectancy, freedom of choice, generosity, and perception of corruption. 

Local Language

Learning the Estonian language can be a challenge for many foreign residents due to its unique characteristics and grammatical features. Estonian belongs to the Finno-Ugric group and is not related to Indo-European languages. The Estonian language does not use a separate future tense, which can cause confusion for speakers of other languages. Estonian has 14 cases, each of which changes the form of a word depending on its function in a sentence. Case endings are used instead of prepositions, making the language more complex to comprehend. Estonian contains sounds that are not present in many other languages, including diphthongs. The meaning of a word can change depending on the length of the vowel sound. The Estonian language actively uses root words to create new meanings, requiring a deep understanding of the language structure. Verbs can take up to 60 different forms depending on tense, person, number, and mood. Many words have multiple meanings that depend on context. The Estonian language has few borrowings from other widely spoken languages, making it harder to memorize words. The spoken form of the language differs from standard written speech, which can cause confusion for learners. The relatively small number of speakers (about 1 million) complicates access to diverse language resources. Learning Estonian requires patience and persistence, but understanding these challenges and using appropriate learning methods will significantly ease the process.