Facts

Finland in facts

Updated June 2010

You won't be ready for a PhD on Finland, but this page will give you enough info to impress at least your pals.

Population: 5.3 million, 15.7 inhabitants per km2 (40.2 per square mile)
Life expectancy: Men 76 years, women 83 years
Languages: Official languages are Finnish (spoken by 91%) and Swedish (5.4%). Sámi is the mother tongue of about 1,700 people, members of the indigenous Sámi people of northern Lapland
Religion: 80.7% Lutheran and about 1.1% Orthodox. In practice society is fairly secularized

Independence: Declared on December 6, 1917. Previously a grand duchy in the Russian empire for 108 years, and a part of Sweden for 600 years before that
Form of government: Parliamentary democracy
Parliament: 200 members in one chamber, elected every 4 years in a direct vote
Cabinet: Multiparty coalition cabinet. The current Cabinet is run by Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi
Head of State: President of the Republic, elected every 6 years, two-term maximum. Currently Ms Tarja Halonen, first elected in 2000
International cooperation: Member of United Nations since 1955 and European Union since 1995

Key features: High standard of education, social security and healthcare, all financed by the state
GDP per capita: 34,769 euros
Main exports: Electrotechnical goods, metal products, machinery, transport equipment, wood and paper products, chemicals
Main imports: Raw materials, investment goods, energy, consumer goods (for example cars and textiles)
Currency unit: Euro

Area: 338,424 km² (131,985 square miles), the fifth-largest country in Western Europe
Greatest length from north to south: 1,160 km (720 miles)
Greatest width rom east to west: 540 km (335 mi)
Capital: Helsinki (1.25 million inhabitants in metropolitan area)
Climate: Great contrasts – cold winters and fairly warm summers

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