Finland

highest point:

Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m

lowest point:

Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation:

164 m

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

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

noun:

Finn(s)

adjective:

Finnish

total:

44 years (2025 est.)

male:

41.8 years

female:

44.9 years

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

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

total population:

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

total:

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

male:

2.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

1.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

82.2 years (2024 est.)

male:

79.3 years

female:

85.2 years

total:

8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

3.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

1.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

18% (2025 est.)

male:

21.7% (2025 est.)

female:

14.3% (2025 est.)

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

urban population:

85.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

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

municipal solid waste generated annually:

3.124 million tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

35.4% (2022 est.)

municipal:

500 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial:

1.299 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

total global geoparks and regional networks:

4 (2024)

global geoparks and regional networks:

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

conventional long form:

Republic of Finland

conventional short form:

Finland

local long form:

Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish)

local short form:

Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish)

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"

name:

Helsinki

geographic coordinates:

60 10 N, 24 56 E

time difference:

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

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

• 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]

history:

previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000

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

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

legislature name:

Parliament (Eduskunta - Riksdagen)

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

200 (all directly elected)

electoral system:

proportional representation

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

4 years

most recent election date:

4/2/2023

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%

expected date of next election:

April 2027

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

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

• 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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Leena-Kaisa MIKKOLA (since 18 September 2024)

chancery:

3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 298-5800

FAX:

[1] (202) 298-6030

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission

consulate(s) general:

Los Angeles, New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Howard W. BRODIE (since 13 November 2025)

embassy:

Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki

mailing address:

5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310

telephone:

[358] (9) 616-250

FAX:

[358] (9) 174-681

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://fi.usembassy.gov/

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

title:

"Maamme" (Our Land)

lyrics/music:

Paavo Eemil KAJANDER, Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS

history:

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

total World Heritage Sites:

7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)

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)

• 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

agriculture:

2.5% (2024 est.)

industry:

22.1% (2024 est.)

services:

62.9% (2024 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

19.2% (2024 est.)

male:

20% (2024 est.)

female:

18.3% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

12.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

4.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

lowest 10%:

3.8% (2022 est.)

highest 10%:

23.1% (2022 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Number of operational nuclear reactors:

5 (2025)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors:

4.37GW (2025 est.)

Percent of total electricity production:

42% (2025 est.)

production:

811,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

consumption:

3.933 million metric tons (2023 est.)

exports:

113,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

2.624 million metric tons (2023 est.)

total petroleum production:

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

172,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

consumption:

1.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports:

479.457 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports:

2.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

• 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

total ports:

37 (2024)

large:

5

medium:

7

small:

11

very small:

14

ports with oil terminals:

21

key ports:

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

• 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)

• 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)

note: Finland has had conscription since 1951; each year, the military inducts and active-duty units train approximately 21,000 conscripts; the resulting pool of trained reservists gives the FDF a wartime strength of approximately 280,000 and a total reserve of some 900,000 citizens with military service

refugees:

97,568 (2024 est.)

stateless persons:

1,326 (2024 est.)