2010 Edition

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 among the highest in 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. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are a high standard of education, equality promotion, and national social security system; currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.

Area

land

303,815 sq km

total

338,145 sq km

water

34,330 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

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

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

444 cu m/yr (1999)

total

2.33 cu km/yr (14%/84%/3%)

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

Irrigated land

640 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,313 km

total

2,654 km

Land use

arable land

6.54%

other

93.44% (2005)

permanent crops

0.02%

Location

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

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)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

110 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.4% (male 438,425/female 422,777) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,773,495/female 1,732,792) 65 years and over: 16.8% (male 357,811/female 524,975) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.37 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

10.15 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

5.4% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,400 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

3.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Finnish 91.2% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3.3% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.76 years (2010 est.)

male

75.64 years

total population

79.13 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% (2000 est.)

male

100%

total population

100%

Median age

female

44 years (2010 est.)

male

40.7 years

total

42.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Finnish

noun

Finn(s)

Net migration rate

0.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

5,255,068 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.084% (2010 est.)

Religions

Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2008)

male

17 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

63% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

20 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Ita-Uusimaa (Finnish), Ostra Nyland (Swedish) [East Newland]; Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Osterbotten (Swedish), Pohjanmaa (Finnish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

60 10 N, 24 56 E

name

Helsinki

time difference

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Bruce J. ORECK

embassy

Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki

FAX

[358] (9) 6162 5800

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

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 298-6030

telephone

[1] (202) 298-5800

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN reelected prime minister; election results 121-71 note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 January 2006 (next to be held in 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; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected on 17 April 2007

head of government

Prime Minister Mari KIVINIEMI (since 22 June 2010); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007)

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); the blue represents the thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow that covers the land in winter

Government type

republic

Independence

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

general courts - deal with criminal and civil cases (include district courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, whose judges are appointed by the president); administrative courts

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 elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Kesk 23.1%, Kok 22.3%, SDP 21.4%, VAS 8.8%, VIHR 8.5%, KD 4.9%, SFP 4.5%, True Finns 4.1%, other 3.4%; seats by party - Kesk 51, Kok 50, SDP 45, VAS 17, VIHR 15, SFP 9, KD 7, True Finns 5, other 1 (the constituency of Aland)

elections

last held on 18 March 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS note: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted by law, the anthem has been popular since it was first sung by a student group in 1848; Estonia's anthem uses the same melody as that of Finland

name

"Maamme" (Our Land)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Kesk [Mari KIVINIEMI]; Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green Party or VIHR [Anni SINNEMAKI]; Left Alliance or VAS [Paavo ARHINMAKI]; National Coalition Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Jutta URPILAINEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]; True Finns [Timo SOINI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

1.75% (31 December 2009) 3% (31 December 2008) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate

3.51% (31 December 2009 est.) 5.79% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$4.696 billion (2010 est.) $3.444 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$370.8 billion (30 June 2010) $339.5 billion (31 December 2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

29.5 (2007) 25.6 (1991)

Economy - overview

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output roughly that of Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Trade is important with exports accounting for over one third of GDP in recent years. Finland is strongly competitive in manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland excels in high-tech exports such as 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. Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU in recent years and its banks and financial markets avoided the worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit exports and domestic demand hard in 2009, with Finland experiencing one of the deepest contractions in the euro zone. A recovery of exports stimulated economic growth in 2010, and led to a lowering of unemployment. The recession left a deep mark on general government finances and the debt ratio, turning previously strong budget surpluses into deficits. In the next few years, the great challenge of economic policy will be to implement a post-recession exit strategy in which measures supporting growth will be combined with general government adjustment measures. Longer-term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.

Electricity - consumption

87.25 billion kWh (2008)

Electricity - exports

3.335 billion kWh (2008)

Electricity - imports

16.11 billion kWh (2008)

Electricity - production

77.44 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)

Exports

$73.53 billion (2010 est.) $62.69 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

electrical and optical equipment, machinery, transport equipment, paper and pulp, chemicals, basic metals; timber

Exports - partners

Germany 10.32%, Sweden 9.79%, Russia 9%, US 7.85%, Netherlands 5.9%, UK 5.24%, China 4.1% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.6%

industry

29.1%

services

68.2% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$35,300 (2010 est.) $34,600 (2009 est.) $37,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.1% (2010 est.) -8.1% (2009 est.) 1% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$232 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$185.4 billion (2010 est.) $181.6 billion (2009 est.) $197.6 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6% highest 10%: 24.7% (2007)

Imports

$69.11 billion (2010 est.) $57.68 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Russia 16.28%, Germany 15.76%, Sweden 14.65%, Netherlands 6.99%, China 5.29%, France 4.22% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

6% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.1% (2010 est.) 0% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.68 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry

4.5%

commerce

15.9% finance, insurance, and business services: 14.5%

construction

7.3%

industry

18.2%

public services

32.7% (2008)

transport and communications

6.9%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$91.02 billion (31 December 2009) $154.4 billion (31 December 2008) $369.2 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

4.289 billion cu m (2009)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.289 billion cu m (2009)

Natural gas - production

NA (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

206,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

130,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

337,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

8,718 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

45.4% of GDP (2010 est.) 40.3% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$9.128 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $11.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$160.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $168.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$122.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $118.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$87.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $85.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$259.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.) $241.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$108 billion (31 December 2010 est) $110.4 billion (31 December 2009 est) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders

Unemployment rate

7.9% (2010 est.) 8.2% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

a mix of publicly-operated TV stations and privately-owned TV stations; the 2 publicly-owned TV stations recently expanded services and the largest private TV station has introduced several special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals have been broadcast digitally since September 2007; analog broadcasts via cable networks were terminated in February 2008; public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters (2008)

Internet country code

.fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax

Internet hosts

4.394 million (2010)

Internet users

4.393 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

modern system with excellent service

international

country code - 358; submarine cables provide links to Estonia and Sweden; 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

1.43 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7.7 million (2009)

Airports

148 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

75 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 14 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

73 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 70 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 26, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, container 3, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 16, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 28, vehicle carrier 3

foreign-owned

6 (Cyprus 1, Estonia 2, Iceland 1, Norway 2)

registered in other countries

52 (Bahamas 8, Germany 5, Gibraltar 2, Liberia 2, Malta 2, Netherlands 14, Norway 1, Panama 2, Sweden 16) (2010)

total

93

Pipelines

gas 694 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma

Railways

broad gauge

5,794 km 1.524-m gauge (3,047 km electrified) (2008)

total

5,794 km

Roadways

paved

50,914 km (includes 739 km of expressways)

total

78,141 km

unpaved

27,227 km (2009)

Waterways

7,842 km (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia; water transport is used frequently in the summer and is widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are 187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,160,812 females age 16-49: 1,111,743 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 958,949 females age 16-49: 916,818 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

32,233 (2010 est.)

male

33,297

Military branches

Finnish Defense Forces (FDF)

Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)

Military expenditures

2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory - and female voluntary - national military and nonmilitary service; service obligation 6-12 months; mandatory retirement at age 60 (2010)

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 page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================