Finland
Republic of FinlandSuomen tasavalta/
parliamentary republicIndependence 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
Finland as the 2021 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 171 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
18 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
- highest point:
- Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m
- lowest point:
- Baltic Sea 0 m
- mean elevation:
- 164 m
Major lakes (area sq km)
- Fresh water lake(s):
- Saimaa - 1,760 sq km;
- Paijanne - 1,090 sq km;
- Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km;
- Oulujarvi - 900 sq km;
- Pielinen - 850 sq km
Population distribution
the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated
Geography - note
- long boundary with Russia;
- Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent;
- population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
People and Society
35 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2020 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2021 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2020 est.)
Languages
Finnish (official) 86.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.5%, other 6.4% (2020 est.); major-language sample(s): World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
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
- 0-14 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.97 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.78 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Environment
12 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
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-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Air pollutants
- particulate matter emissions:
- 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
- carbon dioxide emissions:
- 45.87 megatons (2016 est.)
- methane emissions:
- 4.46 megatons (2020 est.)
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
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 85.6% of total population (2021)
- rate of urbanization:
- 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
- municipal solid waste generated annually:
- 2.738 million tons (2015 est.)
- municipal solid waste recycled annually:
- 769,926 tons (2015 est.)
- percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
- 28.1% (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
- Fresh water lake(s):
- Saimaa - 1,760 sq km;
- Paijanne - 1,090 sq km;
- Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km;
- Oulujarvi - 900 sq km;
- Pielinen - 850 sq km
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 400 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
- industrial:
- 1.417 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
- agricultural:
- 50 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Government
Parliamentary republic; President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012); Prime Minister Sanna MARIN (since 10 December 2019)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Eduskunta, elected 14 April 2019percent 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
- etymology:
- the name may derive from the Swedish "helsing," an archaic name for "neck" ("hals"), and which may refer to a narrowing of the Vantaa River that flows into the Gulf of Finland at Helsinki;
- "fors" refers to "rapids," so "helsing fors" meaning becomes "the narrows' rapids"
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
- 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 2018
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Sanna MARIN (since 10 December 2019)
- 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 14 April 2019 (next to be held in April 2023)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party/coalition - SDP 17.7%, PS 17.5%, Kok 17.0%. Center Party 13.8%, Vihr 11.5%, Vas 8.2%, SFP 4.5%, KD 3.9%, other 5.9%;
- seats by party/coalition - SDP 40, PS 39, Kok 38, Centre Party 31, Vihr 20, Vas 16, SFP 9, KD 5;
- composition men 108, women 92, percent of women 46%
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 68
- 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
Political parties and leaders
- Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands)
- Center Party or Kesk [Annika SAARIKKO]
- Christian Democrats or KD [Sari ESSAYAH]
- Finns Party or PS [Riikka PURRA]
- Green League or Vihr [Maria OHISALO]
- Left Alliance or Vas [Li ANDERSSON]
- National Coalition Party or Kok [Petteri ORPO]
- Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sanna MARIN]
- Swedish People's Party or RKP 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 Mikko Tapani HAUTALA (since 17 September 2020)
- chancery:
- 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 298-5800
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 298-6030
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission
- consulate(s) general:
- Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ian CAMPBELL (since 14 January 2021)
- embassy:
- Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki
- mailing address:
- 5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310
- telephone:
- [358] (9) 616-250
- FAX:
- [358] (9) 174-681
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://fi.usembassy.gov/
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.
34 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)
Budget(2017 est.)
Economic 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
Exports
$108.22 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) · $106.01 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) · $109.513 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, paper and wood pulp products, cars, stainless steel, lumber (2019)
Imports
$107.39 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) · $109.45 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.) · $110.701 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, cars and vehicle parts, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$10.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $11.2 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.82771 (2020 est.) · 0.90338 (2019 est.) · 0.87789 (2018 est.) · 0.885 (2014 est.) · 0.7634 (2013 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2020)
Installed generating capacity, 16.27 million kW(2016 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2020–21 est.)
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- Finland’s telecom market is among most progressive in Europe through favorable regulatory action and competitive technological innovation;
- orientation towards high technology, research, and development with high investment in information and communication sectors;
- large proportion of population on 5G and most on LTE;
- high broadband and mobile penetration;
- fixed-voice density falling;
- government provided universal 5Mb/s broadband (2020)
- domestic:
- fixed-line 5 per 100 subscription and 129 per 100 mobile-cellular (2019)
- international:
- country code - 358;
- landing points for Botnia, BCS North-1 & 2, SFL, SFS-4, C-Lion1, Eastern Lights, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC, and EESF-2 & 3 submarine cables that provide links to many Finland points, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Russia;
- 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) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production;
many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes;
the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
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
Transportation
11 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
National air transport system
- number of registered air carriers:
- 3 (2020); inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 77
- annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
- 13,364,839 (2018)
- annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
- 957.64 million mt-km (2018)
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:
- 272
- by type:
- bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 74, oil tanker 4, other 184 (2021)
Military and Security
7 fieldsPersonnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2021)
Military and security forces
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Maavoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat); Ministry of the Interior: Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos) (2021); note - the Border Guard becomes part of the FDF in wartime
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the inventory of the Finnish Defense Forces consists of a wide mix of mostly modern US, European, and domestically-produced weapons systems;
- the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels (2021)
Military service age and obligation
- at age 18, all Finnish men are obligated to serve 6-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard, and women may volunteer for service;
- after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 60 (2021)
Military - note
Finland is not a member of NATO, but the two actively cooperate in peace-support operations, exercise together, and exchange analysis and information; Finland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994; Finnish Armed Forces participated in NATO-led military operations and missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq
Finland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and actively participates in CSDP crisis management missions and operations
the Finnish Armed Forces closely cooperate with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009
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):
- 8,398 (Iraq) (2020)
- stateless persons:
- 3,428 (2020)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Finland.” The World Factbook 2021. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/finland/2021.