2020 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. During the next 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, although the system is currently facing the challenges of an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.

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

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

80 sq km (2016)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

2,563 km

Land use

agricultural land

7.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.)

forest

74.2% (2023 est.)

other

18.4% (2023 est.)

Location

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

fresh water lake(s)

Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km

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 populated

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

16.2% (male 464,939/female 444,585)

15-64 years

60.3% (male 1,725,072/female 1,668,604)

65 years and over

23.5% (2024 est.) (male 583,645/female 739,569)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

7.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 18

0.1% (2017)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

57.1% (2023 est.)

Death rate

11.01 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

39 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

2.6 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

62.3 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

23.3 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

6.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

12.1% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami

Gross reproduction rate

0.63 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

10.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

1.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

2.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

1.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Finnish (official) 85.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.7%, other 7.2% (2022 est.)

major-language sample(s)

World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

85.2 years

male

79.3 years

total population

82.2 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.338 million HELSINKI (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

44.9 years

male

41.8 years

total

44 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.5 years (2020 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Finnish

noun

Finn(s)

Net migration rate

3.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.2% (2016)

Physician density

3.61 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Population

female

2,800,392

male

2,750,057

total

5,550,449 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.02% (2025 est.)

Religions

Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

21 years (2023 est.)

male

18 years (2023 est.)

total

20 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.79 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

14.3% (2025 est.)

male

21.7% (2025 est.)

total

18% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.28 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

85.8% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

the modern name is a Finnish derivation; King Gustav VASA of Sweden founded the city in 1550 as Helsingfors; the name came from Helsing, the Old Norwegian name for a local people, and the word fors, or "waterfall," referring to a waterfall at the city's original location on the Vantaa River

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

amendment process

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

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 derives from the Finns, an ethnic group in northeastern Europe; their name comes from the Germanic word finna, meaning "fish scale;" the local name, Suomi, may come from two local words: suo, meaning "marsh," and maa, meaning "land"

local long form

Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish)

local short form

Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Howard W. BRODIE (since 13 November 2025)

email address and website

HelsinkiACS@state.gov https://fi.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki

FAX

[358] (9) 174-681

mailing address

5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310

telephone

[358] (9) 616-250

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Leena-Kaisa MIKKOLA (since 18 September 2024)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, New York

email address and website

sanomat.WAS@gov.fi https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission

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 Alexander STUBB (since 1 March 2024)

election results

2024:  Alexander STUBB elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Alexander STUBB (KoK) 27.2%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 25.8%, Jussi HALLA-AHO (PS) 19.0%, Olli REHN (Kesk) 15.3%; percent of vote in second round - STUBB 51.6%, HAAVISTO 48.4% 2018:  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%

election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by Parliament

expected date of next election

by 28 January 2030

head of government

Prime Minister Petteri ORPO (since 20 June 2023)

most recent election date

28 January 2024, with a runoff on 11 February 2024

Flag

description: white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the blue stands for the country's thousands of lakes, and the white for snow

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, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, 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; organized into 3 chambers)

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

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

April 2027

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Eduskunta - Riksdagen)

most recent election date

4/2/2023

number of seats

200 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

National Coalition Party (KOK) (48); The Finns Party (PS) (46); Social Democratic Party (SDP) (43); Center Party (KESK) (23); The Greens (13); Left Alliance (Vas) (11); Other (16)

percentage of women in chamber

45.5%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

in use since 1848; although never officially adopted, the anthem has been popular since a student group first sang it in 1848

lyrics/music

Paavo Eemil KAJANDER, Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS

title

"Maamme" (Our Land)

National color(s)

blue, white

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

Fortress of Suomenlinna (c); Old Rauma (c); Petäjävesi Old Church (c); Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c); Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c); High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c)

total World Heritage Sites

7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

National symbol(s)

lion

Political parties

Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands) Center Party or Kesk  Christian Democrats or KD  Finns Party or PS  Green League or Vihr  Left Alliance or Vas  Movement Now or Liike Nyt  National Coalition Party or Kok  Social Democratic Party or SDP  Swedish People's Party or RKP or SFP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, chicken, peas, rye (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

4.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

12.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$131.978 billion (2023 est.)

revenues

$126.337 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$7.026 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$1.58 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$930.393 million (2024 est.)

Economic overview

high-income, export-based EU and eurozone economy; major timber, metals, engineering, telecom, and electronics industries; emerging from recession triggered by inflation, weak consumer and export demand, and lower private investment; labor market reform plan to address structural rigidities

Exchange rates

Currency

euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$129.389 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$127.098 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$124.531 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

paper, refined petroleum, steel, wood pulp, ships (2023)

Exports - partners

USA 11%, Germany 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

43.1% (2023 est.)

government consumption

25.6% (2023 est.)

household consumption

53.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-42.8% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

23.4% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.5% (2024 est.)

industry

22.1% (2024 est.)

services

62.9% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$299.836 billion (2024 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

27.9 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

23.1% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

3.8% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$135.119 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$126.175 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$122.644 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Imports - partners

Germany 14%, Sweden 12%, China 9%, Norway 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.2% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.1% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.6% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.898 million (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.2% (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

61.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$317.078 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$314.075 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$313.591 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

-0.9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

-0.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$57,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$56,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$55,600 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2022

0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$16.036 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$16.929 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$17.993 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

6.8% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

7.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

8.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

18.3% (2024 est.)

male

20% (2024 est.)

total

19.2% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

3.933 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

113,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

2.624 million metric tons (2023 est.)

production

811,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

77.419 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

7.883 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

9.644 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

26.782 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

2.721 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

19.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

41.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

18.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

183.54 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

1.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

479.457 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

2.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Nuclear energy

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors

4.37GW (2025 est.)

Number of operational nuclear reactors

5 (2025)

Percent of total electricity production

42% (2025 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

172,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

total petroleum production

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

35 (2023 est.)

total

1.98 million (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

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 digital; 13 national and 25 regional public radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters

Internet country code

.fi

Internet users

percent of population

94% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

158,000 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

126 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

7.07 million (2024 est.)

Airports

98 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OH

Heliports

17 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 9, general cargo 75, oil tanker 4, other 194

total

282 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Helsinki, Kaskinen, Kokkola, Kotka, Kristinestad, Mantyluoto, Oulu, Pietarsaari, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Vaasa

large

5

medium

7

ports with oil terminals

21

small

11

total ports

37 (2024)

very small

14

Railways

total

5,918 km (2020) 3,349 km electrified

Military - note

the Finnish Defense Forces (FDF) are focused primarily on territorial defense, which is based on having a large, trained reserve force created by general conscription; other FDF responsibilities include support to international peacekeeping operations and some domestic security duties, such as assisting the National Police in maintaining law and order in crises the FDF is also focused on fulfilling its commitment to NATO; following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland applied for NATO membership, gaining entry in April 2023; Finland had been part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program since 1994 and participated in NATO-led military missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq; in 2024, it joined NATO's Air Policing mission in Eastern Europe Finland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and actively participates in EU crisis management missions and operations; the FDF also cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation structure (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden and involves cooperation in such areas as armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; Sweden, the UK, and the US are close bi-lateral defense partners; in 2022, Finland signed a mutual security agreement with the UK, and since 2014 has been part of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions (2025)

Military and security forces

Finnish Defense Forces (FDF; Puolustusvoimat): Army (Maavoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 31,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)

Military deployments

165 Lebanon (UNIFIL); Finland also contributes to several ongoing EU and NATO missions (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory consists of a mix of modern European, Israeli, South Korean, US, and domestically produced weapons systems; the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels; Finland also cooperates with other European countries and the US in the joint production of armaments (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2021

1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

2.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

2.8% of GDP (2025 est.)

Military service age and obligation

all Finnish men are obligated to serve 5.5-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard upon reaching the age of 18 (length of service depends on the type of duty); women 18-29 may volunteer for service; there is also an option to perform non-military service which lasts for 8.5 or 11.5 months; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 50 for rank-and-file and 60 for non-commissioned and commissioned officers (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

97,568 (2024 est.)

stateless persons

1,326 (2024 est.)

Terrorist group(s)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

7.536 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

2.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

23.069 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

33.594 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

limited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Geoparks

global geoparks and regional networks

Impact Crater Lake - Lappajarvi; Rokua; Lauhanvuori-Haemeenkangas; Saimaa; Salpausselka (2024)

total global geoparks and regional networks

4 (2024)

International environmental agreements

party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

110 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

1.299 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

500 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

3.124 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

35.4% (2022 est.)