2005 Edition

Administrative divisions

6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.3% (male 460,977/female 443,859) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,764,874/female 1,723,385) 65 years and over: 15.9% (male 328,952/female 501,395) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

Airports

148 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

75 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

73 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 69 (2004 est.) Military Finland

Area

land

304,473 sq km

total

338,145 sq km

water

33,672 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Background

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 won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns 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. Geography Finland

Birth rate

10.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$91.95 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$96.43 billion

Capital

Helsinki

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

Coastline

1,250 km

Constitution

1 March 2000

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Finland

conventional short form

Finland

local long form

Suomen Tasavalta

local short form

Suomi

Currency (code)

euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$11.39 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

9.79 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$30 billion (December 1993)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Earle I. MACK

embassy

Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki

FAX

[358] (9) 6162 5800

mailing address

APO AE 09723

telephone

[358] (9) 616250

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARI

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles and New York

FAX

[1] (202) 298-6030

telephone

[1] (202) 298-5800

Disputes - international

various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Distribution of family income - Gini index

25.6 (1991)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $379 million (2001)

Economy - overview

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 2003 was held back by the global slowdown but picked up in 2004. High unemployment remains a persistent problem.

Electricity - consumption

78.58 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

1.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

13.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

71.59 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

39%

hydro

18.7%

nuclear

30.4%

other

11.8% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; 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

Ethnic groups

Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Sami 0.1%

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.81 (2004), 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament

chief of state

President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)

election results

Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4% note: government coalition - Kesk, SDP, and SFP

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to be held February 2006); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment

head of government

Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September 2005)

Exports

$61.04 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999)

Exports - partners

Sweden 11.1%, Germany 10.7%, Russia 8.9%, UK 7%, US 6.4%, Netherlands 5.1% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Finland

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) Economy Finland

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.3%

industry

30.2%

services

66.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$151.2 billion (2004 est.)

Geographic coordinates

64 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

50,539 km (including 794 km of expressways)

total

78,197 km

unpaved

27,658 km (2004)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,500 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.2% highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)

Imports

$45.17 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains (1999)

Imports - partners

Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.3%, Russia 12.8%, Netherlands 6.3%, Denmark 5.2%, UK 4.6%, France 4.3% (2004)

Independence

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2004 est.)

Industries

metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Infant mortality rate

female

3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

3.89 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.57 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.7% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.fi

Internet hosts

1,219,173 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2002)

Internet users

2.65 million (2002) Transportation Finland

Investment (gross fixed)

18.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

640 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)

Labor force

2.66 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%

Land boundaries

border countries

Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 km

total

2,681 km

Land use

arable land

7.19%

other

92.78% (2001)

permanent crops

0.03%

Languages

Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.6% (official), other 2.4% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2003)

Legal system

civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%, Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party - Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4

elections

last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.02 years (2005 est.)

male

74.82 years

total population

78.35 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% Government Finland

male

100%

total population

100% (2000 est.)

Location

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,121,275 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 913,617 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

32,040 (2005 est.)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone

12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden

territorial sea

12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)

Median age

female

42.52 years (2005 est.)

male

39.43 years

total

40.97 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 3, cargo 27, chemical tanker 6, container 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 25

foreign-owned

2 (Norway 1, United States 1)

registered in other countries

42 (2005)

total

94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,152,175 GRT/1,053,906 DWT

Military branches

Finnish Defense Forces

Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (2003)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.8 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY98/99) Transnational Issues Finland

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (October 2004)

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Nationality

adjective

Finnish

noun

Finn(s)

Natural gas - consumption

4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone

Net migration rate

0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

211,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

101,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

318,300 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Pipelines

gas 694 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green League or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left Alliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-Erik ENESTAM]

Population

5,223,442 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

0.16% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvou, Raahe, Rauma, Turku

Public debt

46.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

7.7 million (1997)

Railways

broad gauge

5,851 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2004)

total

5,851 km

Religions

Lutheran National Church 84.2%, Greek Orthodox in Finland 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 13.5% (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.17 billion (2003)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive cellular network provide domestic needs

general assessment

modern system with excellent service

international

country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (Finland Estonia Connection); 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.548 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.7 million (2003)

Television broadcast stations

120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)

Televisions

3.2 million (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.9% (2004 est.)

Waterways

7,842 km note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2004)