Finland

Republic of FinlandSuomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland

republicIndependence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)

Finland as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 133 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

5.24 million July 2008 est. · 4.98m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.112% 2008 est. · 0.37% in 1993

Median ageyears

41.8 years 2008 est. · 40.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.82 years 2008 est. · 75.65 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.73 children per woman 2008 est. · 1.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

3.5 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$36,000 2007 est. · $15,900 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.5% 2007 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 among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, 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

20 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)contiguous zone: 24 nmexclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Swedencontinental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Highest point

1,328m

Haltiatunturilowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m

Land boundaries

2,654km

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

Total renewable water resources

110 cu km (2005)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:: 2.33 cu km/yr (14%/84%/3%)
per capita:: 444 cu m/yr (1999)

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

21 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

349,826

65 and over16.6%

518,270

1,773,232

15-6466.8%

1,731,808

443,738

0-1416.6%

427,875

MaleFemale

Population

5,244,749

(July 2008 est.)growth rate: 0.112% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth

10.39Death

10Net migration

0.73

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)78.82

75.31 · 82.46Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)3.5

3.81 · 3.17Literacy (2000 est.)100%

100% · 100%

TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)41.8

40.3 · 43.4School life expectancy years (2006)17

17 · 18

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2006)

Finn 93.4%Swede 5.6%Russian 0.5%Estonian 0.3%Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%Sami 0.1% (2006)

Religions(2006)

Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%Orthodox Church 1.1%other Christian 1.1%other 0.1%none 15.1% (2006)

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:: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2008 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

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Finn(s)
adjective:: Finnish

Languages

Finnish 91.5% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2006)

Education expenditures

6.4% of GDP (2005)

Government

Republic; President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000); Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003)

17 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

23.1%

Kesk 23.1%Kok 22.3%SDP 21.4%VAS 8.8%VIHR 8.5%KD 4.9%SFP 4.5%True Finns 4.1%other 3.4%last held 18 March 2007 (next to be held March 2011)

Parliament or Eduskunta, 200 seats, elected 18 March 2007one dot, one seat

Kesk 51Kok 50SDP 45VAS 17VIHR 15SFP 9KD 7True Finns 5other 1

Percent of vote

Kesk 23.1%Kok 22.3%SDP 21.4%VAS 8.8%VIHR 8.5%KD 4.9%SFP 4.5%True Finns 4.1%other 3.4%

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 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

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani (Southern Finland), Ita-Suomen Laani (Eastern Finland), Lansi-Suomen Laani (Western Finland), Lappi (Lapland), 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); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007)
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 in 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;
Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected 17 April 2007
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 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%;
Matti VANHANEN reelected prime minister;
election results 121-71

note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, 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 18 March 2007 (next to be held March 2011)
election results:: percent of vote by party - Kesk 23.1%, Kok 22.3%, SDP 21.4%, VAS 8.8%, VIHR 8.5%, KD 4.9%, SFP 4.5%, True Finns 4.1%, other 3.4%;
seats by party - Kesk 51, Kok 50, SDP 45, VAS 17, VIHR 15, SFP 9, KD 7, True Finns 5, other 1

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 Party or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG];
Left Alliance or VAS [Martti KORHONEN] (composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative);
National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN];
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA];
Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN];
True Finns [Timo SOINI]

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, 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 Barbara BARRETT
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.

50 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$188.4billion

(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $245 billion (2007 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

$36,000

(2007 est.)

Real growth rate

4.5%

(2007 est.)industrial production growth: 8.1% (2007 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.5%

(2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)

agriculture 3.1%industry 32.6%services 64.3% (2007 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

10.9%

Germany

15.8%

10.3%

Russia

14%

10.7%

Sweden

13.7%

5.6%

Netherlands

6.8%

6.4%

5.8%

4.9%

China

5.5%

Exports $89.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)Imports $78.05 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)(2007)

Budget

Revenues

$62.02 billionExpenditures

$58.16 billion (2007)

Electricity

Electricity production

77.02 billion (2007 est.)Electricity consumption

86.04 billion (2006 est.)Electricity exports

2.86 billion (2007 est.)Electricity imports

15.42 billion (2007 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, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important;

exports equal nearly 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. High unemployment remains a persistent problem. In 2007 Russia announced plans to impose high tariffs on raw timber exported to Finland. The Finnish pulp and paper industry will be threatened if these duties are put into place in 2008 and 2009, and the matter is now being handled by the European Union.

Labor force

2.675 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 4.4%, industry 18.6%, construction 6%, commerce 16.3%, finance, insurance, and business services 13.9%, transport and communications 7.6%, public services 33.2% (2004)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2007 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26 (2005)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Public debt

35.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.62% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the Euro Area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 15 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU);

individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of quasi money

Stock of domestic credit

$240.7 billion (31 December 2007)

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

8,951 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

228,200 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - exports

126,300 bbl/day (January-September 2007 est.)

Oil - imports

281,300 bbl/day (January-September 2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

NA bbl

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

4.581 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.576 billion cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006)

Current account balance

$11.4 billion (2007 est.)

Exports

$89.91 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp

Imports

$78.05 billion f.o.b. (2007 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

$8.385 billion (2007)

Debt - external

$271.2 billion (30 June 2007)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$85.24 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$113 billion (2007 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.095 trillion (January 2008)

Currency (code)

euro (EUR)

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003)

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

6.08 million

(2007)

Internet users

3.877 million

(2008)

Fixed lines

1.74 million

(2007) · country code .fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax

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;
submarine cables provide links to Estonia and Sweden;
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); note - On 1 September 2007, Finland became one of the first countries in the world to broadcast all television signals digitally

Internet users

3.6 million (2007)

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

78,821Railways

5,741Waterways

7,842

Roadways: paved: 50,854 km (includes 700 km of expressways) · unpaved: 27,967 km (2008) · Railways: broad gauge: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2006) · Waterways: note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2006)

Airports

148 (2007)

Pipelines

gas 694 km (2007)

Railways

total:: 5,741 km
broad gauge:: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2006)

Roadways

total:: 78,821 km
paved:: 50,854 km (includes 700 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 27,967 km (2008)

Waterways

7,842 km note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2006)

Merchant marine

total:: 98
by type:: bulk carrier 3, cargo 28, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, container 3, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 18, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 27, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned:: 8 (Estonia 2, Germany 1, Norway 3, Sweden 2)
registered in other countries:: 47 (Bahamas 9, Germany 4, Gibraltar 3, Netherlands 14, Norway 1, Panama 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sweden 12, UK 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Raahe, Rauma, Turku

Military

Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)

6 fields

Military expenditures

2%of GDP

(2005 est.)

Military branches

Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory national military and nonmilitary service; service obligation 6-12 months (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:: 1,169,910
females age 16-49:: 1,121,187 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:: 965,131
females age 16-49:: 923,224 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:: 34,152
female:: 32,870 (2008 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 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/finland/2008.

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