Finland

Republic of FinlandSuomen Tasavalta

republicIndependence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)

Finland as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalHelsinki

Position64 00 N, 26 00 E

Area337,030 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia,

Populationas each edition published it

5.15 million July 1998 est. · 4.98m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.2% 1998 est. · 0.37% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 40.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.15 years 1998 est. · 75.65 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.73 children per woman 1998 est. · 1.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

3.82 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$20,000 1997 est. · $15,900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.6% 1997 est. · -3.5% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 337,030 sq km

arable land 8%permanent pastures 0%forests and woodland 76%other 16% (1993 est.)irrigated 640 sq km (1993 est.)permanent crops: NA%

Area

337,030sq km

land: 305,470 sq kmwater: 31,560 sq kmslightly smaller than Montana

Coastline

1,126km

(excludes islands and coastal indentations)contiguous zone: 6 nmcontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 12 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland-3 nm)

Highest point

1,328m

Haltiatunturilowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m

Land boundaries

2,628km

border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

64 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references

Europe

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

Terrain

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

Natural resources

timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

Natural hazards

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94

Geography-note

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

People

15 fields

Population

5,149,242

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 0.2% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

11.24Death

9.65Net migration

0.45

Ethnic groups

Finn 93%Swede 6%Lapp 0.11%Gypsy 0.12%Tatar 0.02%

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 89%Greek Orthodox 1%none 9%other 1%

Literacy

100%

(1980 est.)definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: NA%female: NA%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 19% (male 488,974; female 469,343)
15-64 years:: 67% (male 1,736,883; female 1,700,466)
65 years and over:: 14% (male 284,929; female 468,647) (July 1998 est.)

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:: 0.61 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

3.82 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 77.15 years
male:: 73.61 years
female:: 80.83 years (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Finn(s)
adjective:: Finnish

Languages

Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

Government

Republic; President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994); Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

54%

Martti AHTISAARI 54%Elisabeth REHN 46%election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000)

Parliament or Eduskunta, 161 seats, elected 19 March 1995one dot, one seat

Social Democratic Party 63Center Party 44Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22Swedish People's Party 11Green League 9Ecology Party 1Rural 1Finnish Christian League 7Young Finns 2Aaland Islands 1

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Finland
conventional short form:: Finland
local long form:: Suomen Tasavalta
local short form:: Suomi

Data code

Government type

republic

National capital

Helsinki

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (laanit, singular-laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Lanni, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani

Independence

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution

17 July 1919

Legal system

civil law system based on Swedish law;
Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994)
head of government:: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
cabinet:: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000);
prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of vote-Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held 19 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999)
election results:: percent of vote by party-Social Democratic Party 28.3%, Center Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green League 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%;
seats by party-Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22, Swedish People's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1, Finnish Christian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders

government coalition:: Social Democratic Party [Paavo LIPPONEN];
National Coalition (conservative) Party [Sauli NIINISTO];
Leftist Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Claes ANDERSSON];
Swedish People's Party [(Johan) Ole NORRBACK];
Green League [Pekka HAAVISTO]
other:: Center Party [Esko AHO];
Finnish Christian League [C. P. Bjarne KALLIS];
Rural Party [Raimo VISTBACKA];
Liberal People's Party [Pekka RYTILA];
Greens Ecological Party or EPV [Eugen PARKATTI];
Young Finns [Risto PENTTILA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Finnish Communist Party-Unity [Yrjo HAKANEN];
Constitutional Rightist Party;
Finnish Pensioners Party;
Communist Workers Party [Timo LAHDENMAKI]

International organization participation

AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA
chancery:: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 298-5800

FAX

[1] (202) 298-6030; consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER
embassy:: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
mailing address:: APO AE 09723
telephone:: [358] (9) 171931

FAX

[358] (9) 174681

Flag description

white with a blue cross that extends 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)

Economy

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely | free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, | France, Germany, and Italy.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$102.1billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$20,000

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

4.6%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 7.4% (1995)

Inflation, consumer prices

1.2%

(1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1995)

agriculture 7%industry 37%services 56% (1995)

Budget

Revenues

$33 billionExpenditures

$40 billion (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Fixed lines

2.5 million

(1995 est.)

Economy-overview

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing-principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. 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. The economy has come back from the recession of 1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods.

The Finns voted in an October 1994 referendum to enter the EU, and Finland officially joined the Union on 1 January 1995. Attempts to cut the unacceptably high rate of unemployment and increasing integration with Western Europe will dominate the economic picture over the next few years. Despite high unemployment and moderate GDP growth of 3.9% anticipated for 1998, inflation is forecast to rise to 2.5%

Labor force

total:: 2.533 million
by occupation:: public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%

Unemployment rate

14.6% (1997 est.)

Industries

metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Electricity-capacity

14.143 million kW (1995)

Electricity-production

58.626 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

13,181 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

cereals, sugar beets, potatoes;
dairy cattle;
annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons

Exports

total value:: $38.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities:: paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timber
partners:: EU 46.5% (Germany 13.4%, UK 10.4%), Sweden 10.1%, US 6.7%, Japan 2.6%, Russia 4.8% (1995)

Imports

total value:: $29.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
commodities:: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains
partners:: EU 44% (Germany 16.6%, UK 8.0%), Sweden 11.7%, US 7.1%, Russia 7.1%, Japan 6.3% (1995)

Debt-external

$30 billion (December 1993)

Economic aid

donor: ODA, $355 million (1993)

Currency

1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia

Exchange rates

markkaa (FMk) per US$1-5.4948 (January 19987), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994), 5.7123 (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Telephone system

good service from cable and microwave radio relay network

domestic:: cable and microwave radio relay
international:: 1 submarine cable;
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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0

Radios

4.98 million (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

235

Televisions

1.92 million (1995 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 93 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1997 est.)

bulk 8cargo 22chemical tanker 5oil tanker 11passenger 1railcar carrier 1roll-on/roll-off cargo 34short-sea passenger 11

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 21

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

total: 89 914 to 1,523 m: 5

Networkskm

Highways

77,782Railways

5,859Waterways

6,675

Highways: paved: 49,780 km (including 431 km of expressways) · unpaved: 28,002 km (1996 est.) · Railways: broad gauge: 5,859 km 1.524-m gauge (2,073 km electrified; 480 km double- or more-track) (1996) · Waterways: (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers