Finland

highest point:

Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m

lowest point:

Baltic Sea 0 m

mean elevation:

164 m

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

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

noun:

Finn(s)

adjective:

Finnish

total:

43.3 years (2024 est.)

male:

41.8 years

female:

44.9 years

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.79 male(s)/female

total population:

0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

total:

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male:

2.3 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

1.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

82.2 years (2024 est.)

male:

79.3 years

female:

85.2 years

total:

8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

3.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

1.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

21.6% (2020 est.)

male:

26.9% (2020 est.)

female:

16.3% (2020 est.)

total population:

NA

male:

NA

female:

NA

• limited air pollution in urban centers;
• some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals;
• habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

urban population:

85.8% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

particulate matter emissions:

5.47 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions:

45.87 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions:

4.46 megatons (2020 est.)

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.)

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

municipal:

1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial:

2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural:

500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

total global geoparks and regional networks:

4 (2024)

global geoparks and regional networks:

• Impact Crater Lake - Lappajarvi;
• Rokua;
• Lauhanvuori-Haemeenkangas;
• Saimaa;
• Salpausselka (2024)

conventional long form:

Republic of Finland

conventional short form:

Finland

local long form:

Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish)

local short form:

Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish)

etymology:

name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D.

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"

• 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]

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

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

chief of state:

President Alexander STUBB (since 1 March 2024)

head of government:

Prime Minister Petteri ORPO (since 20 June 2023)

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);
• first round held on 28 January 2024 with a runoff on 11 February 2024 (next to be held by 28 January 2030);
• prime minister appointed by Parliament

election results:

• 2024: Alexander STUBB elected in the second round;
• percent of vote in the first round - Alexander STUBB (KoK) 27.2%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 25.8%, Jussi HALLA-AHO (PS) 19.0%, Olli REHN (Kesk) 15.3%;
• percent of vote in second round - STUBB 51.6%, HAAVISTO 48.4%

;

• 2018: 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%

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 2 April 2023 (next to be held on 30 April 2027)

election results:

• percent of vote by party/coalition - Kok 24%, PS 23%, SDP 21.5%. Center Party 11.5%, Vihr 6.5%, Vas 5.5%, SFP 4.5%, KD 2.5%, Aland 0.5%;
• Movement Now 0.5%;
• seats by party/coalition - Kok 48, PS 46, SDP 43, Center Party 23, Vihr 13, Vas 11, SFP 9, KD 5;
• Aland 1;
• Movement Now 1;
• composition - men 108, women 92, percentage women 46%

highest court(s):

• 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

• Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands)
• Center Party or Kesk
• Christian Democrats or KD
• Finns Party or PS
• Green League or Vihr
• Left Alliance or Vas
• Movement Now or Liike Nyt
• National Coalition Party or Kok
• Social Democratic Party or SDP
• Swedish People's Party or RKP or SFP

chief of mission:

Ambassador Leena-Kaisa MIKKOLA (since 18 September 2024)

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

chief of mission:

Ambassador Douglas HICKEY (since 11 May 2022)

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/

• 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

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

total World Heritage Sites:

7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales:

• Fortress of Suomenlinna (c);
• Old Rauma (c);
• Petäjävesi Old Church (c);
• Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c);
• Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c);
• High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n);
• Struve Geodetic Arc (c)

• high-income, export-based EU and eurozone economy;
• major timber, metals, engineering, telecom, and electronics industries;
• emerging from recession triggered by inflation, weak consumer and export demand, and lower private investment;
• labor market reform plan to address structural rigidities

Fitch rating:

AA+ (2016)

Moody's rating:

Aa1 (2016)

Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2014)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

agriculture:

2.5% (2023 est.)

industry:

24.5% (2023 est.)

services:

60.7% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

total:

15.9% (2023 est.)

male:

16.4% (2023 est.)

female:

15.5% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

on food:

11.9% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco:

5.1% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

lowest 10%:

3.8% (2021 est.)

highest 10%:

22.9% (2021 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Number of operational nuclear reactors:

5 (2023)

Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors:

4.93GW (2023 est.)

Percent of total electricity production:

42% (2023 est.)

production:

808,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption:

4.141 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports:

37,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports:

4.068 million metric tons (2022 est.)

total petroleum production:

8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

175,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

consumption:

1.157 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports:

106.77 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports:

1.372 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

general assessment:

• Finland’s telecom market is among the more progressive in Europe, with operators having been at the forefront in deploying technologies and with the regulator being among the first to auction spectrum for 5G use;
• these efforts have been supported by the government which is working towards its target of providing a broadband service of at least 100Mb/s by 2025;
• 5G services were available to more than 40% of the population by early 2021, and take-up among subscribers has been strong although most will remain with LTE in the short term;
• the country enjoys one of the highest broadband and mobile subscription rates in the region, with customers able to make use of the latest iterations of technologies including
  • DOCSIS3.1,
  • LTE-A,
  • 5G,
  • and GPON fiber infrastructure
  ;
• Finland has emerged as one of the pioneers in 5G;
• the auction of spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.5GHh bands has enabled network operators to extend the availability of LTE services nationally and to prepare for 5G services;
• Spectrum in the 2.5GHz band was auctioned in mid-2020 and has since enabled the MNOs to widen their 5G footprint considerably;
• there is an ongoing shift away from DSL to fiber and mobile networks (2021)

domestic:

fixed-line 4 per 100 subscriptions and nearly 129 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)

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)

• 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

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 (2018) mt-km

total:

108,637 km (2019)

private and forest roads:

350,000 km (2012)

urban:

26,000 km (2012)

• 8,000 km (2013) (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

total ports:

37 (2024)

large:

5

medium:

7

small:

11

very small:

14

ports with oil terminals:

21

key ports:

Helsinki, Kaskinen, Kokkola, Kotka, Kristinestad, Mantyluoto, Oulu, Pietarsaari, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Vaasa

• the military's inventory consists of a wide mix of modern US, European, Israeli, South Korean, and domestically produced weapons systems;
• the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels;
• Finland also cooperates with other European countries and the US in the joint production of arms (2024)