Estonia vs France development indicators, 2024

Indicator	Estonia, Value	France, Value	Estonia, Rank	France, Rank	Estonia as % of France
Current account balance (% of GDP)	-1.15	0.392	64	49
Exports of goods and services (% of GDP)	76.3	33.2	15	75	229 %
Foreign direct investment, net inflows (% of GDP)	-8.18	1.75	105	63
GDP per capita (current US$)	31,170	46,150	41	26	67.5 %
GDP per capita, PPP (current international US$)	49,334	61,322	44	28	80.5 %
Imports of goods and services (% of GDP)	75.7	34	15	85	223 %
Inflation, consumer prices (annual %)	3.52	2	62	114	176 %
Net migration	-7,742	90,527	147	20
Population, total	1,371,986	68,516,699	155	23	2 %

Demography and Health

Estonia and France exhibit notable differences in demographic indicators. Estonia's birth rate stands at 8 per 1,000 people, slightly lower than France's 9.9. Conversely, Estonia faces a higher death rate of 11.7 per 1,000 people compared to France's 9.2, indicating potential demographic challenges.

In terms of life expectancy, Estonia records 78.5 years, while France enjoys a significantly higher life expectancy at 82.9 years, reflecting differences in healthcare quality and lifestyle factors between the two nations. The mortality rate of under-5 children in Estonia is lower at 2.1 per 1,000 live births compared to France's 4.3, which indicates relatively effective healthcare for children.

In terms of mental health, Estonia's suicide mortality rate is 14.9 per 100,000 population, while France's is slightly higher at 16.6.

While both countries show a similar prevalence of undernourishment at 2.5%, Estonia's healthcare expenditure is lower at 7% of GDP compared to France's 11.9%, suggesting a potential area for improvement in Estonia's health system.

Economy

Estonia's economy demonstrates a distinct profile compared to France's. With a GDP per capita of $31,170, Estonia ranks 59th globally, while France, with a GDP per capita of $46,150, ranks 37th, demonstrating a more robust economy.

The purchasing power parity (PPP) GDP per capita also illustrates this disparity, with Estonia at $49,334 (66th) compared to France's $61,322 (37th). Estonia's high reliance on exports is notable; exports of goods and services constitute 76.3% of its GDP, far exceeding France's 33.2%, reflecting Estonia's export-driven economic model. However, Estonia's foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows are negative at -8.2% of GDP, indicating challenges in attracting foreign capital compared to France's positive net inflows of 1.8%.

Inflation rates are also higher in Estonia at 3.5% versus France's 2%, further highlighting economic challenges in comparison to France.

Trade and Investment

Estonia's trade dynamics reveal heavy reliance on international markets, as indicated by its exports and imports of goods and services, both above 75% of GDP, showcasing its strong integration into the global economy. In contrast, France's figures are significantly lower at 33.2% for exports and 34% for imports, indicating a more self-sufficient economy.

Moreover, while Estonia struggles with negative foreign direct investment (FDI) net inflows, France maintains a more stable investment climate, reflecting in its positive net inflows of FDI. This difference suggests Estonia may need to enhance its investment attractiveness through better policies and incentives.

Governance and Institutions

In terms of governance, both Estonia and France show relative strengths. Estonia scores higher in control of corruption (1.5 vs. 1.2) and government effectiveness (1.3 vs. 1.1), indicating a more efficient bureaucratic structure. Additionally, Estonia's regulatory quality and rule of law also outperform France's, reflecting a robust governance framework that supports economic development.

Political stability is an area where Estonia performs better (0.7) than France (0.3), suggesting that Estonia has a more secure political environment, which is essential for investment and growth.

Unemployment rates reveal another difference, with Estonia at 6.4% versus France's higher rate of 7.3%, indicating a relatively healthier job market in Estonia.

Infrastructure and Technology

Estonia showcases a good logistics performance index of 3.5, suggesting decent quality of trade and transport-related infrastructure, though slightly behind France's score of 3.8. Internet usage is notably high in Estonia at 93.2% of the population, reflecting the country's advanced digital infrastructure and commitment to e-governance.

Estonia's investment in research and development funding at 1.8% of GDP is slightly lower than France's 2.2%, which could impact long-term growth and innovation capacities.

Moreover, Estonia leads in patent applications relative to its size, with 25 applications, figuring prominently relative to its resident population, while France recorded 13,386 applications, highlighting the innovative potential of the larger economy.

Environment and Sustainability

Estonia excels in renewable energy consumption, with 38% of its energy derived from renewable sources, significantly outperforming France's 16.2%. This positions Estonia as a leader in sustainability efforts, emphasizing its commitment to environmental issues.

In contrast, France has a more strenuous demand on its water resources, indicated by a higher level of water stress at 21.6% of available freshwater resources compared to Estonia's much lower 10.8%. This suggests Estonia's more sustainable management of water resources.

However, Estonia's total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are higher at 10.5 tons of CO2e compared to France's 5.6 tons, indicating potential challenges in reducing carbon footprints despite its stronger position in renewable energy.