Finland

Location

• Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
• long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Helsinki	658,864	Capital
Espoo	256,760
Tampere	244,315
Oulu	209,648
Turku	195,301
Vantaa	190,058
East Helsinki	170,557
Jyväskylä	144,477
Kuopio	121,557
Lahti	120,093

Size

• 130,127 square miles
• 337,030 square kilometers
• slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana

History

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. During the next 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, although the system is currently facing the challenges of an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.

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

Terrain

mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Languages

Finnish (official) 85.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.7%, other 7.2% (2022 est.)major-language sample(s): World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2022 est.)

Government

parliamentary republic

• Constitution: history: previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000amendment process: 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
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: civil law system based on the Swedish model
• Executive Branch: 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 Parliamentelection/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by Parliamentmost recent election date: 28 January 2024, with a runoff on 11 February 2024election 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%expected date of next election: by 28 January 2030
• Judicial Branch: 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; organized into 3 chambers)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 68subordinate 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 rightsnote: 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
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliament (Eduskunta - Riksdagen)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 200 (all directly elected)electoral system: proportional representationscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 4/2/2023parties elected and seats per party: National Coalition Party (KOK) (48); The Finns Party (PS) (46); Social Democratic Party (SDP) (43); Center Party (KESK) (23); The Greens (13); Left Alliance (Vas) (11); Other (16)percentage of women in chamber: 45.5%expected date of next election: April 2027

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $126.337 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $131.978 billion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
• Industries: metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
• Agricultural Products: milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, chicken, peas, rye (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 7.5% (2022 est.)arable land: 7.4% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 0.1% (2022 est.)forest: 73.7% (2022 est.)other: 18.8% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: Germany 14%, Sweden 12%, China 9%, Norway 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: paper, refined petroleum, steel, wood pulp, ships (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: USA 11%, Germany 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports