Finland
Republic of FinlandSuomen tasavalta/
parliamentary republicIndependence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
Finland as the 2018 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 162 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 gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is among the highest in Western Europe.
A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare 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
19 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
- mean elevation:
- 164 m
- elevation extremes:
- 0 m lowest point: Baltic Sea; 1328 highest point: Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi)
Population distribution
the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated
Environment - current issues
- limited air pollution in urban centers;
- some 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
34 fieldsPer 1,000 population
Male · female
Religions(2017 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 16.44% (male 465,298 /female 445,186)
- 15-24 years:
- 11.21% (male 317,500 /female 303,326)
- 25-54 years:
- 37.64% (male 1,064,751 /female 1,019,748)
- 55-64 years:
- 13.19% (male 359,434 /female 370,993)
- 65 years and over:
- 21.51% (male 519,775 /female 671,353) (2018 est.)
Dependency ratios
- total dependency ratio:
- 57.9 (2015 est.)
- youth dependency ratio:
- 25.9 (2015 est.)
- elderly dependency ratio:
- 32 (2015 est.)
- potential support ratio:
- 3.1 (2015 est.)
Population distribution
the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
- 0-14 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
- 15-24 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
- 25-54 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
- 55-64 years:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
- 65 years and over:
- 0.76 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
- total population:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Government
Parliamentary republic; President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012); Prime Minister Juha SIPILA (since 28 May 2015)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Eduskunta, elected 19 April 2015percent 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
- etymology:
- name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D.
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];
- 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]
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000 (2016)
- amendments:
- 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;
- amended several times, last in 2012 (2016)
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- 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
Judicial branch
- highest courts:
- Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges);
- Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges including the court president and organized into 3 chambers);
- 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
- 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 65
- 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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Juha SIPILA (since 28 May 2015)
- cabinet:
- Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
- elections/appointments:
- president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 28 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2024);
- prime minister appointed by Parliament
- election results:
- Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7%
Legislative branch
- description:
- unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; 199 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member in the province of Aland directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 19 April 2015 (next to be held by April 2019)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party/coalition - Kesk 21.1%, PS 17.6%, Kok 18.2%, SDP 16.5%, Vihr 8.5%, Vas 7.1%, SFP 4.9%, KD 3.5%, other 2.6%;
- seats by party/coalition - Kesk 49, PS 38, Kok 37, SDP 34, Vihr 15, Vas 12, SFP 9, KD 5, Aland Coalition 1;
- composition men 117, women 83, percent of women 41.5%
Political parties and leaders
- Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands)
- Center Party or Kesk [Juha SIPILA]
- Christian Democrats or KD [Sari ESSAYAH]
- Finns Party or PS [Jussi HALLA-AHO]
- Green League or Vihr [Pekka HAAVISTO]
- Left Alliance or Vas [Li ANDERSSON]]
- National Coalition Party or Kok [Petteri ORPO]
- Social Democratic Party or SDP [Antti RINNE]
- Swedish People's Party or SFP [Anna-Maja HENRIKSSON]
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Kirsti KAUPPI (since 17 September 2015)
- 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 Robert "Bob" Frank PENCE (since 24 May 2018) (2018)
- embassy:
- Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
- mailing address:
- APO AE 09723
- telephone:
- [358] (9) 6162-50
- FAX:
- [358] (9) 6162-5135
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 GDP almost as high as that of Austria and the Netherlands and slightly above that of Germany and Belgium.
40 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2017 est.)
Economy - overview
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita GDP almost as high as that of Austria and the Netherlands and slightly above that of Germany and Belgium. Trade is important, with exports accounting for over one-third of GDP in recent years. The government is open to, and actively takes steps to attract, foreign direct investment.
Finland is historically competitive in manufacturing, particularly in the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland excels in export of technology as well as promotion of startups in the information and communications technology, gaming, cleantech, and biotechnology sectors.
Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the cold climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export industry, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population.
Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU before 2009 and its banks and financial markets avoided the worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit exports and domestic demand hard in that year, causing Finland’s economy to contract from 2012 to 2014.
The recession affected general government finances and the debt ratio. The economy returned to growth in 2016, posting a 1.9% GDP increase before growing an estimated 3.3% in 2017, supported by a strong increase in investment, private consumption, and net exports. Finnish economists expect GDP to grow a rate of 2-3% in the next few years.
Finland's main challenges will be reducing high labor costs and boosting demand for its exports. In June 2016, the government enacted a Competitiveness Pact aimed at reducing labor costs, increasing hours worked, and introducing more flexibility into the wage bargaining system. As a result, wage growth was nearly flat in 2017.
The Government was also seeking to reform the health care system and social services. In the long term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity in traditional industries that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.
Industries
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Public debt
61.3% of GDP (2017 est.) · 62.9% of GDP (2016 est.) note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Central bank discount rate
1.25% (31 December 2017) · 0% (31 December 2010) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Stock of narrow money
$152.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $124 billion (31 December 2016 est.) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 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 domestic credit
$323.9 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $351.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
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, computers, electronic industry products, textile yarn and fabrics, grains
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$10.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $11.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$135.2 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $84.8 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$185.6 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $116.7 billion (2016 est.)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.885 (2017 est.) · 0.903 (2016 est.) · 0.9214 (2015 est.) · 0.885 (2014 est.) · 0.7634 (2013 est.)
Energy
24 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2016)
Installed generating capacity, 16.27 million kW(2016 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2016–17 est.)
Telephone system
- general assessment:
- modern system with excellent service;
- one of the most progressive in Europe;
- one of the highest broadband and mobile penetrations rates in the region;
- forefront in testing 5G networks;
- for 2025 and 2030 FttP (fiber to the home) and DOCSIS3.1 (new generation of cable services for high speed connections) technologies (2017)
- domestic:
- digital fiber-optic, fixed-line 7 per 100 subscription;
- 132 per 100 mobile-cellular;
- network and an extensive mobile-cellular network provide domestic needs (2017)
- 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) (2015)
Broadcast media
- a mix of 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 broadcast digitally;
- Internet television, such as Netflix and others, is available;
- public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations;
- a large number of private radio broadcasters and access to Internet radio (2017)
Transportation
11 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 3 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 73 (2015)
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 9,972,333 (2015)
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 713.484 million mt-km (2015)
Roadways
- total:
- 454,000 km (2012)
- highways:
- 78,000 km (50,000 paved, including 700 km of expressways; 28,000 unpaved) (2012)
- private and forest roads:
- 350,000 km (2012)
- urban:
- 26,000 km (2012)
Waterways
- 8,000 km (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia; water transport used frequently in the summer and widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are 187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km);
- Finland also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways (2013)
Merchant marine
- total:
- 267 (2017)
- by type:
- bulk carrier 7, container ship 1, general cargo 92, oil tanker 5, other 162 (2017)
Military and Security
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Puolustusvoimat), Navy (Merivoimat, includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2016)
3 fieldsMilitary branches
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Puolustusvoimat), Navy (Merivoimat, includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2016)
Military service age and obligation
- all Finnish men are called-up for military service the year they turn 18;
- at 18, women may volunteer for military service;
- service obligation 6-12 months;
- individuals enter the reserve upon completing their initial obligation;
- military obligation to age 60 (2016)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the former Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 7,849 (Iraq) (2017)
- stateless persons:
- 2,749 (2017)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Finland.” The World Factbook 2018. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/finland/2018.