Finland
Republic of FinlandSuomen tasavalta/
republicIndependence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
Finland as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 148 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are a high standard of education, equality promotion, and national social security system - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.
Geography
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
20 fieldsLand useshare of 338,145 sq km
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
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
Elevation extremes
- lowest point:
- Baltic Sea 0 m
- highest point:
- Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 2.33 cu km/yr (14%/84%/3%)
- per capita:
- 444 cu m/yr (1999)
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 and Society
31 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2006)
Religions(2006)
Languages
Finnish (official) 91.2%, Swedish (official) 5.5%, other (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) 3.3% (2007)
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:
- 0.69 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Government
Republic; President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000); Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 22 June 2011)
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Eduskunta, 200 seats, elected 17 April 2011one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Finland
- conventional short form:
- Finland
- local long form:
- Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
- local short form:
- Suomi/Finland
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
- 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];
- Osterbotten (Swedish), Pohjanmaa (Finnish) [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]
Legal system
civil law system based on the Swedish model; note - the president may request the Supreme Court to review laws
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 22 June 2011)
- cabinet:
- Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 15 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2012);
- the parliament elects a prime minister who is then appointed to office by the president;
- Prime Minister KATAINEN elected on 22 June 2011
- 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% other 10.5%;
- a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held 29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%;
- Jyrki KATAINEN elected prime minister;
- election results 118-72
note: government coalition - KoK, SDP, VIHR, SFP, VAS, and KD
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 17 April 2011 (next to be held in April 2015)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - Kok 20.4%, SDP 19.1%, TF 19%, Kesk 15.8%, VAS 8.1%, VIHR 7.2%, SFP 4.3%, KD 4%, other 2%;
- seats by party - Kok 44, SDP 42, TF 39, Kesk 35, VAS 14, VIHR 10, SFP 9, KD 6, other 1 (the constituency of Aland)
Judicial branch
general courts - deal with criminal and civil cases (include district courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, whose judges are appointed by the president); administrative courts
Political parties and leaders
- Center Party or Kesk [Mari KIVINIEMI];
- Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN];
- Green Party or VIHR [Anni SINNEMAKI];
- Left Alliance or VAS [Paavo ARHINMAKI];
- National Coalition Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN];
- Social Democratic Party or SDP [Jutta URPILAINEN];
- Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN];
- The Finns or TF [Timo SOINI]
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Ritva KOUKKU-RONDE
- 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 Bruce J. ORECK
- 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);
- the blue represents the thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow that covers the land in winter
National anthem
- name:
- "Maamme" (Our Land)
- lyrics/music:
- Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS
note: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted by law, the anthem has been popular since it was first sung by a student group in 1848; Estonia's anthem uses the same melody as that of Finland
Economy
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output roughly that of Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
53 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output roughly that of Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Trade is important with exports accounting for over one third of GDP in recent years. Finland is strongly competitive in manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries.
Finland excels in high-tech exports such as 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. Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU in recent years and its banks and financial markets avoided the worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit exports and domestic demand hard in 2009, with Finland experiencing one of the deepest contractions in the euro zone.
A recovery of exports, domestic trade, and household consumption stimulated economic growth in 2010. The recession left a deep mark on general government finances and the debt ratio, turning previously strong budget surpluses into deficits. Despite good growth prospects, general government finances will remain in deficit during the next few years.
The great challenge of economic policy will be to implement a post-recession exit strategy in which measures supporting growth will be combined with general government adjustment measures. Longer-term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.
Labor force - by occupation
- agriculture and forestry:
- 4.9%
- industry:
- 16.7%
- construction:
- 7.1%
- commerce:
- 19.4%
- finance, insurance, and business services:
- 12.8%
- transport and communications:
- 6.3%
- public services:
- 32.8% (2009)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
26.8 (2008) · 25.6 (1991) country comparison to the world: 131
Central bank discount rate
1.75% (31 December 2010) · 1.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 117 note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate
2.267% (31 December 2010 est.) · 2.552% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 184
Stock of narrow money
$113 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $113.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
Stock of broad money
$172.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $173.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 41
Stock of domestic credit
$242.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $242.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Industries
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Current account balance
$7.561 billion (2010 est.) · $5.892 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 27
Exports - commodities
electrical and optical equipment, machinery, transport equipment, paper and pulp, chemicals, basic metals; timber
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
$9.555 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $11.46 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Debt - external
$518 billion (30 June 2011) · $370.8 billion (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 24
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$82.71 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $84.44 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$130.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $126.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.755 (2010) · 0.7198 (2009) · 0.6827 (2008) · 0.7345 (2007) · 0.7964 (2006)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- modern system with excellent service
- domestic:
- digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive mobile-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)
Broadcast media
- a mix of publicly-operated TV stations and privately-owned TV stations;
- the 2 publicly-owned TV stations recently expanded services and the largest private TV station has introduced several special-interest pay-TV channels;
- cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available;
- all TV signals have been broadcast digitally since September 2007;
- analog broadcasts via cable networks were terminated in February 2008;
- public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations;
- a large number of private radio broadcasters (2008)
Transportation
9 fieldsMerchant marine, 93 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 5,919 km
country comparison to the world: 31
- broad gauge:
- 5,919 km 1.524-m gauge (3,067 km electrified) (2009)
Roadways
- total:
- 78,141 km
country comparison to the world: 61
- paved:
- 50,914 km (includes 739 km of expressways)
- unpaved:
- 27,227 km (2009)
Waterways
7,842 km (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia; water transport is used frequently in the summer and is widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are 187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km) (2010) country comparison to the world: 18
Military
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)
6 fieldsMilitary 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 - and female voluntary - national military and nonmilitary service;
- service obligation 6-12 months;
- mandatory retirement at age 60 (2010)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 1,155,368
- females age 16-49:
- 1,106,193 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Finland.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/finland/2011.