2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.1% (male 455,420/female 438,719) 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,766,674/female 1,724,858) 65 years and over: 16.2% (male 337,257/female 508,444) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

Airports

148 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23

total

76

under 914 m

14 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

72 914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m

67 (2006)

Area

land

304,473 sq km

total

338,145 sq km

water

33,672 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Background

Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999. Geography Finland

Birth rate

10.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$101 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

revenues

$105.6 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

60 10 N, 24 58 E

name

Helsinki

time difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Coastline

1,250 km

Constitution

1 March 2000

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Finland

conventional short form

Finland

local long form

Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland

local short form

Suomi/Finland

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)

note

on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$8.749 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$251.9 billion (30 June 2006)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Marilyn WARE

embassy

Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki

mailing address

APO AE 09723

telephone

[358] (9) 616250

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Pekka LINTU

telephone

[1] (202) 298-5800

Disputes - international

various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.9 (2000)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $850,536,746.4905 (2005)

Economy - overview

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important; exports equal two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. High unemployment remains a persistent problem.

Electricity - consumption

80.79 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

11.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

81.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

39%

hydro

18.7%

nuclear

30.4%

other

11.8% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment - international agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Sami 0.1%

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.79987 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament

chief of state

President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)

election results

percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti Vanhanen (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA (VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held 29 January 2006 - HOLONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006 (next to be held January 2012); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment

head of government

Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September 2005)

note

government coalition - Kesk, SDP, and SFP

Exports

$84.72 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999)

Exports - partners

Russia 11.2%, Sweden 10.7%, Germany 10.5%, UK 6.6%, US 6.2%, Netherlands 4.8% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 298-6030

[358] (9) 6162 5800

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

Finnish Defense Forces

Army, Navy (includes coastal defense forces), Air Force (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Finland

Flag description

white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) Economy Finland

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.7%

industry

30.3%

services

67% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$32,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$196.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$171.7 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

64 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note

long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain People Finland

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,500 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

21.6% (1991)

lowest 10%

4.2%

Imports

$71.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains

Imports - partners

Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.1%, Russia 13.9%, Netherlands 6.2%, Denmark 4.6%, UK 4.3%, China 4.2% (2005)

Independence

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2006 est.)

Industries

metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Infant mortality rate

female

3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

3.86 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.7% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.fi; note - the IANA has assigned the ccTLD of .ax to the Aland Islands

Internet hosts

1,633,614 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2002)

Internet users

3.286 million (2005) Transportation Finland

Investment (gross fixed)

18.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

640 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)

Labor force

2.62 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 4.4%, industry 4.4%, construction 6%, commerce 17.5%, finance, insurance, and business services 12%, transport and communications 6%, public services 30.2%

Land boundaries

border countries

Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 km

total

2,681 km

Land use

arable land

6.54%

other

93.44% (2005)

permanent crops

0.02%

Languages

Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.6% (official), other 2.4% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2003)

Legal system

civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%, Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party - Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, other 4

elections

last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.17 years (2006 est.)

male

74.99 years

total population

78.5 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (2000 est.) Government Finland

male

100%

total population

100%

Location

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

1,076,684 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,121,275

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

875,689 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

913,617

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

30,519 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

32,040

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone

12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden

territorial sea

12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)

Median age

female

42.8 years (2006 est.)

male

39.7 years

total

41.3 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 4, cargo 22, chemical tanker 6, container 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 25

foreign-owned

3 (Norway 1, Russia 1, UK 1)

registered in other countries

48 (Bahamas 8, Germany 2, Gibraltar 3, Luxembourg 4, Marshall Islands 2, Netherlands 13, Norway 4, Sweden 11, UK 1) (2006)

total

87 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,250,600 GRT/952,072 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.8 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY98/99) Transnational Issues Finland

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (October 2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Nationality

adjective

Finnish

noun

Finn(s)

Natural gas - consumption

4.86 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.866 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone

Net migration rate

0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

220,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

101,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

318,300 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

9,105 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 694 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green League or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left Alliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Martti KORHONEN]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]

Population

5,231,372 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.14% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma, Turku Military Finland

Public debt

37.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

7.7 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2005)

total

5,741 km

Religions

Lutheran National Church 84.2%, Greek Orthodox in Finland 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 13.5% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.561 billion (August 2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways)

total

78,189 km

unpaved

27,556 km (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive cellular network provide domestic needs

general assessment

modern system with excellent service

international

country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (Finland Estonia Connection); satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.12 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.231 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)

Televisions

3.2 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7% (2006 est.)

Waterways

7,842 km

note

includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2005)