2015 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 gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare 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 more than two times the size of Georgia; 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

Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, 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

308.9 cu m/yr (2005)

total

1.63 cu km/yr (25%/72%/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

685.8 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Norway 709 km, Sweden 545 km, Russia 1,309 km

total

2,563 km

Land use

arable land 7.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.1%

agricultural land

7.5%

forest

72.9%

other

19.6% (2011 est.)

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, Estonia, and Russia

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

16.41% (male 459,560/female 439,343)

15-24 years

11.79% (male 329,815/female 316,130)

25-54 years

38.03% (male 1,062,429/female 1,020,216)

55-64 years

13.56% (male 365,383/female 377,390)

65 years and over

20.21% (male 477,024/female 629,632) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

10.72 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

32.4%

potential support ratio

3.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

58.3%

youth dependency ratio

25.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

9.4% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

5.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

2.65 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.52 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Finnish (official) 89%, Swedish (official) 5.3%, Russian 1.3%, other 4.4% (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.86 years (2015 est.)

male

77.82 years

total population

80.77 years

Major urban areas - population

HELSINKI (capital) 1.18 million (2015)

Median age

female

44.3 years (2015 est.)

male

40.7 years

total

42.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Finnish

noun

Finn(s)

Net migration rate

3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.8% (2014)

Physicians density

2.91 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

5,476,922 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.4% (2015 est.)

Religions

Lutheran 78.4%, Orthodox 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.2%, none 19.2% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.4% of population

rural: 88% of population

total: 97.6% of population

urban: 0.6% of population

rural: 12% of population

total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2012)

male

16 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.04 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.76 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

17.9% (2012 est.)

male

17.6%

total

17.7%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

84.2% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

19 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); 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]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [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

previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000; amended several times, last in 2011 (2011)

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 (since 12 August 2009)

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 Kirsti KAUPPI (since 17 September 2015)

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

chief of state

President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012)

election results

percent of vote in first round - Sauli NIINISTO (Kok) 37%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 18.8%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (Kesk) 17.5%, Timo SOINI (TF) 9.4%, Paavo LIPPONEN (SDP) 6.7%, Paavo ARHINMAKI (Vas) 5.5%, Eva BIAUDET (SFP) 2.7%, Sari ESSAYAH (KD) 2.5%; Sauli NIINISTO elected president in second round held on 5 February 2012 - NIINISTO 62.6%, HAAVISTO 37.4%; Jyrki KATAINEN elected prime minister

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 February 2012 (next to be held in February 2018); prime minister elected by Parliament and appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 22 June 2011)

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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - Finland has a dual judicial system - courts with civil and criminal jurisdiction, and administrative courts with jurisdiction for litigation between individuals and administrative organs of the state and communities

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court judges appointed by the president of the republic; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 65

subordinate courts

6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues relating to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, tenancy, and water rights

Legal system

civil law system based on the Swedish model

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; 199 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member in the province of Aland directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Kesk 21.1%, PS 17.6%, Kok 18.2%, SDP 16.5%, Vihr 8.5%, Vas 7.1%, SFP 4.9%, KD 3.5%, other 2.6%; seats by party - Kesk 49, PS 38, Kok 37, SDP 34, Vihr 15, Vas 12, SFP 9, KD 5, other 1 (Aland Coalition)

elections

last held on 19 April 2015 (next to be held in April 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS

name

"Maamme" (Our Land)

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: blue, white

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Kesk [Juha SIPILA]

Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]

Green League or Vihr [Ville NIINISTO]

Left Alliance or Vas [Paavo ARHINMAKI]

National Coalition Party or Kok [Alexander STUBB]

Social Democratic Party or SDP [Antii RINNE]

Swedish People's Party or SFP [Carl HAGLUND]

The Finns Party or PS [Timo SOINI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$156.1 billion

note

Central Government Budget (2014 est.)

revenues

$146.3 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2013)

1.5% (31 December 2010)

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

2% (31 December 2014 est.)

2.11% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.555 billion (2014 est.)

-$2.466 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$586.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$478.5 billion (31 December 2011)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.8 (2008)

25.6 (1991)

Economy - overview

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output almost as high as that of Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, or Sweden. Trade is important, with exports accounting for over one-third of GDP in recent years. Finland is historically competitive in manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland excels in export of technology for mobile phones as well as promotion of startups in the ICT, gaming, cleantech, and biotechnology sectors. 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 before 2009 and its banks and financial markets avoided the worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit exports and domestic demand hard in that year, with Finland experiencing one of the deepest contractions in the euro zone. A recovery of exports, domestic trade, and household consumption stimulated economic growth in 2010-12, however, continued recession within the EU dampened the economy in 2012-14. The recession affected general government finances and the debt ratio, turning previously strong budget surpluses into deficits, losing its coveted triple-A credit rating, and on pace to breach EU debt limits in 2015. Finland's main challenge will be to stimulate growth while faced with weak export demand in the EU and its own government austerity measures. Longer-term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity in traditional industries that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth. The depreciating ruble will retard exports to Russia.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

0.7489 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.78 (2012 est.)

0.7185 (2011 est.)

0.755 (2010 est.)

Exports

$78 billion (2014 est.)

$78.56 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Germany 12.2%, Sweden 11.2%, Russia 8.1%, US 6.7%, Netherlands 6.2%, UK 5.5%, China 4.5% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

36.9%

government consumption

24.9%

household consumption

55.1%

imports of goods and services

-38.4%

investment in fixed capital

20.9%

investment in inventories

0.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.7%

industry

27%

services

70.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$40,300 (2014 est.)

$40,400 (2013 est.)

$40,900 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-0.1% (2014 est.)

-1.3% (2013 est.)

-1.4% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$271.2 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$221 billion (2014 est.)

$221.3 billion (2013 est.)

$224.3 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

19.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

20% of GDP (2013 est.)

21.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

24.7% (2007)

lowest 10%

3.6%

Imports

$73.01 billion (2014 est.)

$73.76 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Sweden 15.8%, Germany 15.3%, Russia 14.8%, Netherlands 8.7%, Denmark 4.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (2014 est.)

2.2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

2.665 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry

4.4%

commerce

21.3%

construction

7.1%

finance, insurance, and business services

13.3%

industry

15.5%

public services

28.5% (2011)

transport and communications

9.9%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$158.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$143.1 billion (31 December 2011)

$118.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

59.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

57% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.27 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$179.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$195.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$202.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$197.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$138 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$136.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$267.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$283.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$136.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$144.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

note

see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 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

Taxes and other revenues

53% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.6% (2014 est.)

8.1% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

46.81 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

203,800 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

81.06 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

1.878 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

52.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

18.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

16.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

12.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

17.59 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

16.73 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

67.69 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

3.485 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

3.482 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

3 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

198,400 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

144,400 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

122,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

290,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

a mix of publicly operated TV stations and privately owned TV stations; in 2008, the 2 publicly owned TV stations 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 users

percent of population

94.0% (2014 est.)

total

5.1 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 59, shortwave 2 (2008)

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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

640,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

139 (2014 est.)

total

7.6 million

Television broadcast stations

120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999); note - on 1 September 2007, Finland began broadcasting all television signals digitally; analog broadcasts via cable networks were discontinued 29 February 2008

Airports

148 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

10

2,438 to 3,047 m

26

914 to 1,523 m

21

over 3,047 m

3

total

74

under 914 m

14 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

71 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

74

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, cargo 25, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, container 3, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 16, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 31, vehicle carrier 3

foreign-owned

5 (Cyprus 1, Estonia 2, Iceland 1, Sweden 1)

registered in other countries

47 (Bahamas 8, Germany 3, Gibraltar 2, Malta 3, Netherlands 13, Panama 2, Sweden 16) (2010)

total

97

Pipelines

gas 1,689 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma

Railways

broad gauge

5,919 km 1.524-m gauge (3,067 km electrified) (2014)

total

5,919 km

Roadways

highways

78,000 km (50,000 paved, including 700 km of expressways; 28,000 unpaved)

private and forest roads

350,000 km (2012)

total

454,000 km

urban roads

26,000 km

Waterways

8,000 km (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia; water transport used frequently in the summer and widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are 187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km); Finand also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways (2013)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,106,193 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,155,368

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

912,983 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

955,151

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

31,416 (2010 est.)

male

32,599

Military branches

Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Puolustusvoimat), Navy (Merivoimat; includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2013)

Military expenditures

1.47% of GDP (2012)

1.42% of GDP (2011)

1.47% of GDP (2010)

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; military obligation to age 60 (2012)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

2,293 (2014)