e-Estonia

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e-Estonia – beyond digital  

A lifestyle shaped by and for the people

Estonia’s pioneering role in the global digital transformation places us at the forefront of what lies beyond. Digital has never been an end in itself – together with enhanced cybersecurity; it has enabled us to modernise the public sector, promote transparent democracy built on trust, and foster economic development. We are heading towards a future where digital technology is integral to our lives.  

Estonia has progressed through various stages of digital development, from the first e-solutions to full-fledged digital governance. Our next step is towards greater proactive and personalised governance. Imagine a world where society integrates with reliable services that operate sustainably and respond in real-time to people’s changing needs and expectations – a digital lifestyle shaped by people. 

We collaborate with public and private entities to build a better digital tomorrow that promotes positive changes for all individuals, businesses, and the state. 

E-Estonia paves the way toward a digitally empowered future, significantly impacting how we connect and live our lives. 

Supportive facts:

• Estonia is ranked first in digital public services in the 2022 DESI index.  
• Estonia is ranked 3rd in the National Cybersecurity Index and Global Cybersecurity Index in 2022 
• Estonia is ranked 2nd on the internet freedom, Freedom House Index 2022 
• Estonia is ranked 9th among European countries and 16th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023. 

Living the digital future

Seamless integration of digital services into everyday life.

Imagine living in a country where state services are 100% digital. We sign documents on the way to choir practice and declare our taxes during an elevator ride. There are virtually no bureaucratic hurdles. Public services are available 24/7, regardless of location, and are personalised to the needs of individuals and businesses. It is empowerment through efficiency: valuing people and their time and allowing everyone to reach their potential. Open and transparent governance promotes trust in our digital public services and assures wide adoption. 

Everyone is invited to embrace the digital future.

Supportive facts:

All Estonians have a state-issued digital identity, no matter where they live. This electronic identity system, called e-ID, has existed for over 20 years and is a cornerstone of the country’s e-state. e-ID and its ecosystem are part of citizens’ daily transactions in the public and private sectors. People use their e-identities to pay bills, vote online, sign contracts, shop, access health information, and much more. Among others: 

• 99% of medical prescriptions are handled online and repeat prescriptions can be issued without appointments. 
• A one-stop online service for drivers and vehicle owners with access to an e-portal that provides services six times faster, 20% cheaper, and increases transparency.  
• E-marriage enables people to get married by submitting a marriage application online via the e-population register. 

Innovating for a future-proof tomorrow 

Adopting a future-ready mindset is our starting point. 

We are committed to designing solutions that anticipate change and tackle pressing societal issues including environmental sustainability and AI readiness. Our legal framework supports the testing and validating of innovative ideas – such as self-driving cars or personal pickup lockers – before widespread implementation. We innovate and refine through structured experimentation, preparing for future challenges and opportunities. 

We have created the ideal testing ground, welcoming trailblazing ideas from everywhere. 

Our future-proof tomorrow is built on a top-tier education system, a business-friendly environment, and innovative thinkers.

Supportive facts:  

Estonia is hailed as the world’s most advanced digital society. The innovative mindset is evident in the digitised services and solutions: from world-leading ICT to sustainable wood and food industries. 

• Estonia is known for a result-driven mindset – the digital environment supports us being the perfect test bed to try out new ideas and fail fast at minimum cost.  
• Estonia is a world leader in unicorns per capita, counting 10 today and hopefully more in the future. 
• Naturally, digital integration has also extended into education. Since the e-diary platform eKool launched in 2002, a myriad of e-solutions, state-sponsored and private, have made the learning experience more accessible. Estonian EdTechs are fuelled by an entrepreneurial spirit and supported by research collaborations, which have earned them local and global recognition.  
• The blockchain technology KSI is designed in Estonia and used globally to ensure networks, systems, and data are compromise-free while retaining 100% data privacy. Estonia ranks as the #1 country to use blockchain nationally. 

Straight to business 

Nothing should get in the way of a good idea. 

We stand out as a global business hub thanks to a highly educated workforce and cutting-edge digital capabilities. We have eliminated all bureaucratic obstacles to starting a business. The process can be completed online in minutes, along with essential tasks such as tax declaration. Through our e-Residency program, we extend these services to global entrepreneurs, providing a digital identity to launch and manage their EU businesses from any corner of the globe. Our tight-knit ecosystem nurtures new entrepreneurs, connecting them to a business network and unlocking doors to exponential growth opportunities. We welcome individuals worldwide through startup and scale-up visa programs tailored for digital nomads and international talent. 

The speed and seamlessness of every interaction define our business environment.

Supportive facts: 

Estonia’s open and stable economy is characterised by adaptability and innovation. With a conservative budget policy, flat-rate income taxation, extensive freedom for foreigners to own land, and 100% profit repatriation, Estonia is one of the most business-friendly countries in the whole world.  

• Estonia ranks 3rd in economic freedom in Europe in 2023 and 6th globally. 
• 99% of banking transactions are done online and 98% of all companies are established online.
• Estonia has the 2nd fastest court proceedings in Europe. 
• There is 0% tax on retained and reinvested profits, and 14-20% tax on distributed profits. All taxes can be declared online.  
• Transparent, stable, and functioning legislation makes doing business in Estonia easy. 

Digital society is a team sport 

Shared responsibility and teamwork inspire innovation.  

Estonia’s digital state is built on partnership and trust between the state, private sector, academia, and civil society. From e-ID to e-health services, everything has been built through partnerships. Through collaborative efforts and sharing knowledge across industries, we’ve transformed the public sector’s mindset to prioritise people and ensure the delivery of high-quality services. This collaborative effort has enabled us to export our e-government solutions, contributing to economic growth. 

Community-based cooperation has been essential to efficiently using limited resources, resulting in remarkable success through innovative ideas.

Supportive facts:

Innovation in Estonia is often born out of strong public-private partnerships where challenges are sought together, and the best model is chosen for the specialists from the private sector to execute. Not all public-private partnerships get off the ground, but in Estonia, the tendency has been for success and, mostly, widespread adoption in recent years. 

• Such collaborations have yielded platforms as Texta, an open-source toolkit for text analytics; Hans, a speech recognition-based system for producing verbatim parliamentary records; Hoia, a mobile app for preventing the spread of COVID-19; and Neurotõlge, a translation engine that can translate from Estonian into six other languages. 
• Estonia plans for digital transformation 2.0, a system that automatically informs a person that they need to act when the time is right. Both individuals and entrepreneurs can use it. 
• Being in a digital society means exposure to cyber threats. Having the cyber security in- and by-design mindset, cyber command integrated into our defence capabilities, and with solid investments in cyber security and defence, Estonia has developed extensive expertise both in the public and private sectors in this area, becoming one of the most recognised and valued international cyber security and cyber defence experts. 

Democracy has a digital spirit

Empowering modern democracy in the digital age. 

Our commitment to digital democracy is made through transparency, inclusion, and accountability. We empower our citizens by creating a digital environment of openness and trust. Technologies such as i-voting and the citizens’ initiative platform have democratised decision-making, giving individuals a direct voice. Digital solutions enable participation, regardless of physical constraints or geographical location. Our commitment to data transparency ensures that individuals retain control over their personal information, safeguarding it from misuse.  

As we progress, designing and utilising appropriate digital tools is paramount to protecting democracy.

Supporting facts:

 Democracy is supported by digital identity, secure data exchange, and high-quality databases, which allows government-backed institutions to work efficiently. 

• The Information System Authority (RIA) has made an ally available to citizens to manage their data. Today, four major government agencies participate in the project, making the automatic tracking of personal data usage by subject possible. These are: 
• The Population Register 
• The Health Insurance Fund 
• The Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund
• The Social Insurance Board

Estonia is among the 12 least corrupt nations out of 180 countries, according to the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International, reaching a record low in 2023.