The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1999 to 2025 Europe

Background Finland, in 27 editions.

The entry for Finland published Background in 27 editions of 36, from 1999 to 2025. The text changed in 13 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
13
the first edition with it
1999
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (1999 to 2025).

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.

2002 edition

Changed since 2001

Open the 2002 entry

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 finally won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and fend off invasions by the Soviet Union and Germany. In the subsequent half century, the Finns have made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Ruled by Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and by an autonomous grand duchy of Russia from 1809, Finland after 1809. It finally won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and fend off invasions by the Soviet Union and Germany. In the subsequent half century, the Finns have made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Cite this page

Central Intelligence Agency. “Finland: Background.” The World Factbook, 1999–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/finland/background.

How to cite