2019 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2019 Archive (Wayback Machine)
Introduction
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 EU 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.
Geography
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
- Highest Point
- Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m
- Lowest Point
- Baltic Sea 0 m
- Mean Elevation
- 164 m
Environment Current Issues
limited air pollution in urban centers; some 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
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
690 sq km (2012)
Land Boundaries
- Border Countries
- Norway 709 km, Sweden 545 km, Russia 1309 km
- Total
- 2,563 km
Land Use
- Agricultural Land
- 7.5% (2011 est.)
- Agricultural Land Arable Land
- 7.4% (2011 est.)
- Agricultural Land Permanent Crops
- 0% (2011 est.)
- Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture
- 0.1% (2011 est.)
- Forest
- 72.9% (2011 est.)
- 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
severe winters in the north
Natural Resources
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
Population Distribution
the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated
Terrain
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
People and Society
Age Structure
- 0 14 Years
- 16.44% (male 465,298 /female 445,186)
- 15 24 Years
- 11.21% (male 317,500 /female 303,326)
- 25 54 Years
- 37.64% (male 1,064,751 /female 1,019,748)
- 55 64 Years
- 13.19% (male 359,434 /female 370,993)
- 65 Years And Over
- 21.51% (male 519,775 /female 671,353) (2018 est.)
Birth Rate
10.7 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate
85.5% (2015)
Current Health Expenditure
9.5% (2016)
Death Rate
10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Dependency Ratios
- Elderly Dependency Ratio
- 32 (2015 est.)
- Potential Support Ratio
- 3.1 (2015 est.)
- Total Dependency Ratio
- 57.9 (2015 est.)
- Youth Dependency Ratio
- 25.9 (2015 est.)
Drinking Water Source
- Improved Rural
- 100% of population
- Improved Total
- 100% of population
- Improved Urban
- 100% of population
- Unimproved Rural
- 0% of population
- Unimproved Total
- 0% of population (2015 est.)
- Unimproved Urban
- 0% of population
Education Expenditures
6.9% of GDP (2016)
Ethnic Groups
Finn, Swede, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate
0.1% (2018)
HIV/AIDS Deaths
<100 (2018)
HIV/AIDS People Living With HIV/AIDS
4,000 (2018)
Hospital Bed Density
4.4 beds/1,000 population (2015)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Female
- 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births
- Male
- 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
Languages
Finnish (official) 87.6%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.4%, other 5.8% (2018 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Female
- 84.2 years
- Male
- 78.1 years
- Total Population
- 81.1 years (2018 est.)
Major Urban Areas Population
1.292 million HELSINKI (capital) (2019)
Maternal Mortality Rate
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Median Age
- Female
- 44.3 years
- Male
- 41 years
- Total
- 42.6 years (2018 est.)
Mother's Mean Age at First Birth
28.8 years (2015 est.)
Nationality
- Adjective
- Finnish
- Noun
- Finn(s)
Net Migration Rate
2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate
22.2% (2016)
Physicians Density
3.81 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Population
5,537,364 (July 2018 est.)
Population Growth Rate
0.33% (2018 est.)
Religions
Lutheran 69.8%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, unspecified 27.4% (2018 est.)
Sanitation Facility Access
- Improved Rural
- 88% of population (2015 est.)
- Improved Total
- 97.6% of population (2015 est.)
- Improved Urban
- 99.4% of population (2015 est.)
- Unimproved Rural
- 12% of population (2015 est.)
- Unimproved Total
- 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
- Unimproved Urban
- 0.6% of population (2015 est.)
School Life Expectancy Primary To Tertiary Education
- Female
- 20 years (2016)
- Male
- 19 years
- Total
- 19 years
Sex Ratio
- 0 14 Years
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15 24 Years
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 25 54 Years
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 55 64 Years
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- 65 Years And Over
- 0.77 male(s)/female
- At Birth
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- Total Population
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2018 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
1.75 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24
- Female
- 19.3% (2017 est.)
- Male
- 20.9%
- Total
- 20.1%
Urbanization
- Rate Of Urbanization
- 0.42% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
- Urban Population
- 85.4% of total population (2019)
Government
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)
Citizenship
- Citizenship By Birth
- no
- Citizenship By Descent Only
- at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland
- Dual Citizenship Recognized
- yes
- Residency Requirement For Naturalization
- 6 years
Constitution
- Amendments
- proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only; amended several times, last in 2012 (2016)
- History
- previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000
Country Name
- Conventional Long Form
- Republic of Finland
- Conventional Short Form
- Finland
- Etymology
- name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D.
- Local Long Form
- Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
- Local Short Form
- Suomi/Finland
Diplomatic Representation From The Us
- Chief Of Mission
- Ambassador Robert "Bob" Frank PENCE (since 24 May 2018)
- Embassy
- Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
- Fax
- [358] (9) 6162-5135
- Mailing Address
- APO AE 09723
- Telephone
- [358] (9) 6162-50
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
- Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7%
- 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 28 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2024); prime minister appointed by Parliament
- Head Of Government
- Prime Minister Sanna MARIN (since 10 December 2019)
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
parliamentary 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 Courts
- 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 68
- 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) (e.g. 2019)
- Election Results
- percent of vote by party/coalition - SDP 17.7%, Finn Party 17.5%, Kok 17.0%. Centre Party 13.8%, Green League 11.5%, Left Alliance 8.2%; seats by party/coalition -SDP 40, Finn Party 39, Kok 38, Centre Party 31, Green League 20, Left Alliance 16; composition men 107, women 93, percent of women 46.5% (e.g. 2019)
- Elections
- last held on 14 April 2019 (next to be held on April 2023) (e.g. 2019)
National Anthem
- Lyrics Music
- Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS
- Name
- "Maamme" (Our Land)
National Holiday
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
National Symbol S
lion; national colors: blue, white
Political Parties And Leaders
Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands) Center Party or Kesk [Juha SIPILA] Christian Democrats or KD [Sari ESSAYAH] Finns Party or PS [Jussi HALLA-AHO] Green League or Vihr [Pekka HAAVISTO] Left Alliance or Vas [Li ANDERSSON]] National Coalition Party or Kok [Petteri ORPO] Social Democratic Party or SDP [Antti RINNE] Swedish People's Party or SFP [Anna-Maja HENRIKSSON]
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture Products
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
Budget
- Expenditures
- 135.6 billion (2017 est.)
- Revenues
- 134.2 billion (2017 est.)
Budget Surplus Or Deficit
-0.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Central Bank Discount Rate
- 31 December 2010
- 0%
- 31 December 2017
- 1.25%
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
- 31 December 2016
- 1.79%
- 31 December 2017
- 1.61%
Current Account Balance
- 2016
- -$819 million
- 2017
- $1.806 billion
Debt External
- 31 December 2015
- $147.8 billion
- 31 December 2016
- $150.6 billion
Distribution Of Family Income Gini Index
- 1995
- 22.2
- 2016
- 27.2
Economy Overview
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita GDP almost as high as that of Austria and the Netherlands and slightly above that of Germany and Belgium. Trade is important, with exports accounting for over one-third of GDP in recent years. The government is open to, and actively takes steps to attract, foreign direct investment.Finland is historically competitive in manufacturing, particularly in the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland excels in export of technology as well as promotion of startups in the information and communications technology, 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 cold climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export industry, 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, causing Finland’s economy to contract from 2012 to 2014. The recession affected general government finances and the debt ratio. The economy returned to growth in 2016, posting a 1.9% GDP increase before growing an estimated 3.3% in 2017, supported by a strong increase in investment, private consumption, and net exports. Finnish economists expect GDP to grow a rate of 2-3% in the next few years.Finland's main challenges will be reducing high labor costs and boosting demand for its exports. In June 2016, the government enacted a Competitiveness Pact aimed at reducing labor costs, increasing hours worked, and introducing more flexibility into the wage bargaining system. As a result, wage growth was nearly flat in 2017. The Government was also seeking to reform the health care system and social services. In the long term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity in traditional industries that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.
Exchange Rates
- 2013
- 0.7634
- 2014
- 0.885
- 2015
- 0.9214
- 2016
- 0.903
- 2017
- 0.885
- Currency
- euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Exports
- 2016
- $51.9 billion
- 2017
- $67.73 billion
Exports Commodities
electrical and optical equipment, machinery, transport equipment, paper and pulp, chemicals, basic metals; timber
Exports Partners
Germany 14.2%, Sweden 10.1%, US 7%, Netherlands 6.8%, China 5.7%, Russia 5.7%, UK 4.5% (2017)
Fiscal Year
calendar year
GDP Composition By End Use
- Exports Of Goods And Services
- 38.5% (2017 est.)
- Government Consumption
- 22.9% (2017 est.)
- Household Consumption
- 54.4% (2017 est.)
- Imports Of Goods And Services
- -38.2% (2017 est.)
- Investment In Fixed Capital
- 22.1% (2017 est.)
- Investment In Inventories
- 0.4% (2017 est.)
GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin
- Agriculture
- 2.7% (2017 est.)
- Industry
- 28.2% (2017 est.)
- Services
- 69.1% (2017 est.)
GDP Official Exchange Rate
$252.8 billion (2017 est.)
GDP Per Capita Ppp
- 2015
- $42,500
- 2016
- $43,400
- 2017
- $44,500
GDP Purchasing Power Parity
- 2015
- $232.4 billion
- 2016
- $238.2 billion
- 2017
- $244.9 billion
GDP Real Growth Rate
- 2015
- 0.1%
- 2016
- 2.5%
- 2017
- 2.8%
Gross National Saving
- 2015
- 20% of GDP
- 2016
- 21.7% of GDP
- 2017
- 23.3% of GDP
Household Income Or Consumption By Percentage Share
- Highest 10
- 45.2% (2013)
- Lowest 10
- 6.7%
Imports
- 2016
- $58.18 billion
- 2017
- $65.26 billion
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
Germany 17.7%, Sweden 15.8%, Russia 13.1%, Netherlands 8.7% (2017)
Industrial Production Growth Rate
6.2% (2017 est.)
Industries
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Inflation Rate Consumer Prices
- 2016
- 0.4%
- 2017
- 0.8%
Labor Force
2.473 million (2017 est.)
Labor Force By Occupation
- Agriculture
- 4%
- Industry
- 20.7%
- Services
- 75.3% (2017 est.)
Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares
- 31 December 2014
- $208.7 billion
- 31 December 2015
- $207.5 billion
- 31 December 2016
- $231 billion
Public Debt
- 2016
- 62.9% of GDP
- 2017
- 61.3% of GDP
Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold
- 31 December 2016
- $11.2 billion
- 31 December 2017
- $10.51 billion
Stock Of Broad Money
- 31 December 2016
- $124 billion
- 31 December 2017
- $152.6 billion
Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
- 2016
- $116.7 billion
- 31 December 2017
- $185.6 billion
Stock Of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
- 31 December 2016
- $84.8 billion
- 31 December 2017
- $135.2 billion
Stock Of Domestic Credit
- 31 December 2016
- $351.6 billion
- 31 December 2017
- $323.9 billion
Stock Of Narrow Money
- 31 December 2016
- $124 billion
- 31 December 2017
- $152.6 billion
Taxes And Other Revenues
53.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment Rate
- 2016
- 8.8%
- 2017
- 8.5%
Energy
Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy
46.01 million Mt (2017 est.)
Crude Oil Exports
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude Oil Imports
236,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude Oil Production
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude Oil Proved Reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity Access
100% (2016)
Electricity Consumption
82.79 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity Exports
3.159 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity From Fossil Fuels
41% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants
20% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity From Nuclear Fuels
17% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity From Other Renewable Sources
23% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity Imports
22.11 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity Installed Generating Capacity
16.27 million kW (2016 est.)
Electricity Production
66.54 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Natural Gas Consumption
2.35 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural Gas Exports
4 million cu m (2017 est.)
Natural Gas Imports
2.322 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural Gas Production
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural Gas Proved Reserves
NA cu m (1 January 2016 est.)
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption
217,100 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined Petroleum Products Exports
166,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined Petroleum Products Imports
122,200 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Refined Petroleum Products Production
310,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Communications
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants
- 31 (2017 est.)
- Total
- 1,709,400
Broadcast Media
a mix of 3 publicly operated TV stations and numerous privately owned TV stations; several free and special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals are broadcast digitally; Internet television, such as Netflix and others, is available; public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters and access to Internet radio
Internet Country Code
.finote - Aland Islands assigned .ax
Internet Users
- Percent Of Population
- 87.7% (July 2016 est.)
- Total
- 4,822,132
Telephone System
- Domestic
- digital fiber-optic, fixed-line 7 per 100 subscription; 132 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018)
- General Assessment
- modern system with excellent service; one of the most progressive in Europe; one of the highest broadband and mobile penetrations rates in the region; forefront in testing 5G networks; for 2025 and 2030 FttP (fiber to the home) and DOCSIS3.1 (new generation of cable services for high speed connections) technologies (2018)
- International
- country code - 358; landing points for Botnia, BCS North-1 & 2, SFL, SFS-4, C-Lion1, Eastern Lights, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC, and EESF-2 & 3 submarine cables provide links to many Finland points, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Russia; 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) (2019)
Telephones Fixed Lines
- Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants
- 7 (2017 est.)
- Total Subscriptions
- 378,200
Telephones Mobile Cellular
- Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants
- 132 (2017 est.)
- Total Subscriptions
- 7,307,800
Transportation
Airports
148 (2013)
Airports With Paved Runways
- 1 524 To 2 437 M
- 10 (2017)
- 2 438 To 3 047 M
- 26 (2017)
- 914 To 1 523 M
- 21 (2017)
- Over 3 047 M
- 3 (2017)
- Total
- 74 (2017)
- Under 914 M
- 14 (2017)
Airports With Unpaved Runways
- 914 To 1 523 M
- 3 (2013)
- Total
- 74 (2013)
- Under 914 M
- 71 (2013)
Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix
OH (2016)
Merchant Marine
- By Type
- bulk carrier 7, container ship 1, general cargo 88, oil tanker 4, other 159 (2018)
- Total
- 259
National Air Transport System
- Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers
- 713.484 million mt-km (2015)
- Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers
- 9,972,333 (2015)
- Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers
- 73 (2015)
- Number Of Registered Air Carriers
- 3 (2015)
Pipelines
1288 km gas transmission pipes, 1976 km distribution pipes (2016)
Ports And Terminals
Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma
Railways
- Broad Gauge
- 5,926 km 1.524-m gauge (3,270 km electrified) (2016)
- Total
- 5,926 km (2016)
Roadways
- Highways
- 78,000 km (50,000 paved, including 700 km of expressways; 28,000 unpaved) (2012)
- Private And Forest Roads
- 350,000 km (2012)
- Total
- 454,000 km (2012)
- Urban
- 26,000 km (2012)
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); Finland also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways (2013)
Military and Security
Military And Security Forces
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Puolustusvoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2019)
Military Expenditures
- 2015
- 1.29% of GDP
- 2016
- 1.31% of GDP
- 2017
- 1.26% of GDP
- 2018
- 1.23% of GDP
- 2019
- 1.29% of GDP
Military Service Age And Obligation
all Finnish men are called-up for military service the year they turn 18; at 18, women may volunteer for military service; service obligation 6-12 months; individuals enter the reserve upon completing their initial obligation; military obligation to age 60 (2016)
Transnational Issues
Disputes International
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the former Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands
Refugees And Internally Displaced Persons
- Refugees Country Of Origin
- 8,523 (Iraq) (2018)
- Stateless Persons
- 2,759 (2018)