Changes in administrative boundaries have also contributed to growth of the rural population, at least according to official definitions. Estonia’s climate is primarily maritime with some continental influence, particularly in southern parts of the country. Average annual precipitation is about 500 mm in coastal regions and about 700 mm in central parts of the country. In late 1998, Estonia had a resident population of 1,453,844, 30 percent of which lived in villages (i.e., in rural areas). The ethnic structure of the population changed dramatically while Estonia was part of the Soviet Union. Under Soviet rule, large numbers of Russian workers poured into Estonia, settling primarily in the northeastern parts of the country and in Tallinn (Reval), the capital. In fear of reprisal, tens of thousands of Estonians left their country, with most emigrating to Canada and the United States. Estonia’s history as an independent state is relatively short, as is true of neighboring Latvia.