Finland

Republic of FinlandSuomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland

republicIndependence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)

Finland as the 2006 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 123 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, UTC+2

Position64 00 N, 26 00 E

Area338,145 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

5.23 million July 2006 est. · 4.98m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.14% 2006 est. · 0.37% in 1993

Median ageyears

41.3 years 2006 est. · 40.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.5 years 2006 est. · 75.65 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.73 children per woman 2006 est. · 1.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

3.55 deaths per 1,000 live births 2006 est. · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$31,000 2005 est. · $15,900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 2005 est. · -3.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 338,145 sq km

arable land 6.54%permanent crops 0.02%other 93.44% (2005)irrigated 640 sq km (2003)

Area

338,145sq km

land: 304,473 sq kmwater: 33,672 sq kmslightly smaller than Montana

Coastline

1,250km

territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden

Highest point

1,328m

Haltiatunturilowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m

Land boundaries

2,681km

border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 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, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone

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-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

Geography - note

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

People

19 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2006 est.)

337,257

65 and over16.2%

508,444

1,766,674

15-6466.7%

1,724,858

455,420

0-1417.1%

438,719

MaleFemale

Population

5,231,372

(July 2006 est.)growth rate: 0.14% (2006 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2006 est.)

Birth

10.45Death

9.86Net migration

0.84

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2006 est.)78.5

74.99 · 82.17Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)3.55

3.86 · 3.22

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2000 est.)100%

100% · 100%Median age years (2006 est.)41.3

39.7 · 42.8

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Finn 93.4%Swede 5.7%Russian 0.4%Estonian 0.2%Roma 0.2%Sami 0.1%

Religions(2003)

Lutheran National Church 84.2%Greek Orthodox in Finland 1.1%other Christian 1.1%other 0.1%none 13.5% (2003)

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:: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Finn(s)
adjective:: Finnish

Languages

Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.6% (official), other 2.4% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2003)

Government

Republic; President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000); Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September 2005)

17 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

24.7%

Kesk 24.7%SDP 24.5%Kok 18.5%VAS 9.9%VIHR 8%KD 5.3%SFP 4.6%last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)

Parliament or Eduskunta, 200 seats, elected 16 March 2003one dot, one seat

Kesk 55SDP 53Kok 40VAS 19VIHR 14KD 7SFP 8other 4

Percent of vote

Kesk 24.7%SDP 24.5%Kok 18.5%VAS 9.9%VIHR 8%KD 5.3%SFP 4.6%

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Finland
conventional short form:: Finland
local long form:: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
local short form:: Suomi/Finland

Government type

republic

Capital

name:: Helsinki
geographic coordinates:: 60 10 N, 24 58 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

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution

1 March 2000

Legal system

civil law system based on Swedish law;
the president may request the Supreme Court to review laws;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government:: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September 2005)
cabinet:: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 15 January 2006 (next to be held January 2012);
the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment
election results:: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti Vanhanen (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA (VIHR) 3.5%;
a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held 29 January 2006 - HOLONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%

note: government coalition - Kesk, SDP, and SFP

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 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)
election results:: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%, Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%;
seats by party - Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, other 4

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN];
Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN];
Green League or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG];
Left Alliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Martti KORHONEN];
National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN];
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA];
Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]

International organization participation

AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Pekka LINTU
chancery:: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX:: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general:: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Marilyn WARE
embassy:: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address:: APO AE 09723
telephone:: [358] (9) 616250
FAX:: [358] (9) 6162 5800

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)

Economy

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

44 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$161.9billion

(2005 est.)official exchange rate: $184.2 billion (2005 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

$31,000

(2005 est.)

Real growth rate

(2005 est.)industrial production growth: -2% (2005 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

0.9%

(2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2005 est.)

agriculture 2.8%industry 29.5%services 67.6% (2005 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

10.5%

Germany

16.2%

10.7%

Sweden

14.1%

11.2%

Russia

13.9%

6.6%

4.3%

6.2%

4.8%

Netherlands

6.2%

Denmark

4.6%

China

4.2%

Exports $67.88 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)Imports $56.45 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)(2005)

Budget

Revenues

$99.61 billionExpenditures

$97.14 billion (2005 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

Electricity production

79.61 billion (2003)Electricity consumption

78.94 billion (2003)Electricity exports

7 billion (2003)Electricity imports

11.9 billion (2003)

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, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important;

exports equal two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. 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. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. High unemployment remains a persistent problem.

Labor force

2.61 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%

Unemployment rate

8.4% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.9 (2000)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Public debt

39.6% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

9,013 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

219,700 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

101,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

318,300 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

5.028 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance

$5.043 billion (2005 est.)

Exports

$67.88 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999)

Imports

$56.45 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.4 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$211.7 billion (30 June 2005)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $379 million (2001)

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)

note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries;

on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

5.231 million

(2005)

Internet users

1,633,614

(2006)

Fixed lines

2.12 million

(2005) · country code .fi; note - the IANA has assigned the ccTLD of .ax to the Aland Islands

Telephone system

general assessment:: modern system with excellent service
domestic:: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive cellular network provide domestic needs
international:: country code - 358;
1 submarine cable (Finland Estonia Connection);
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 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)

Internet users

3.286 million (2005)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 76Unpaved 72

Networkskm

Roadways

78,189Railways

5,741Waterways

7,842

Roadways: paved: 50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways) · unpaved: 27,556 km (2006) · Railways: broad gauge: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2005) · Waterways: note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2005)

Airports

148 (2006)

Pipelines

gas 694 km (2006)

Railways

total:: 5,741 km
broad gauge:: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways

total:: 78,189 km
paved:: 50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 27,556 km (2006)

Waterways

7,842 km note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2005)

Merchant marine

total:: 87 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,250,600 GRT/952,072 DWT
by type:: bulk carrier 4, cargo 22, chemical tanker 6, container 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll off 25
foreign-owned:: 3 (Norway 1, Russia 1, UK 1)
registered in other countries:: 48 (Bahamas 8, Germany 2, Gibraltar 3, Luxembourg 4, Marshall Islands 2, Netherlands 13, Norway 4, Sweden 11, UK 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals

Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma, Turku

Military

Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes coastal defense forces), Air Force (2003)

6 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

(FY98/99)

Military branches

Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes coastal defense forces), Air Force (2003)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (October 2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49:: 1,121,275
females age 18-49:: 1,076,684 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49:: 913,617
females age 18-49:: 875,689 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49:: 32,040
females age 18-49:: 30,519 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

1 field

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Finland.” The World Factbook 2006. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/finland/2006.

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