Society - thisisFINLAND

How livestreaming helped me learn Finnish – and what you can take from my experience

For the past two years, I have subjected myself – and, more importantly, a live audience – to the great and noble quest of learning Finnish. Here’s what I found out.

Life & society Politics

Finland’s election day coffee tradition unites all kinds of voters

Many people in Finland make voting into an outing by stopping for coffee and cake afterwards. We catch up with voters at their chosen cafés to get to the heart of the long-established Finnish custom of election day coffee.

Life & society Politics

Election time: Finland’s foreign residents cast their votes in county and municipal elections

Nationwide elections of some kind – presidential, parliamentary or others – happen in Finland at least every two years, and sometimes in consecutive years. Foreign residents can vote and run for office in the combined county and municipal elections. We talk with some of them.

First place in European Happiness Equality Index

Source: The Happiness Research Institute

Life & society Finnishness

Eight years in a row: Finland remains in first place in World Happiness Report – other Nordics in top 7

We’re happy to note that Finland has been the happiest country on the planet since 2018, according to the World Happiness Report. How does Finland’s “infrastructure of happiness” help happiness happen?

Life & society Society

Nordic cooperation covers everything from art to economics

The Nordic region is very diverse, but its citizens have many values in common. We hear from two significant Nordic institutions about their work in Finland and abroad.

63.5%

of Finns belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland

Arts & culture Music

Made in Finland: Sweden sends Finnish sauna-party band KAJ to Eurovision

In a curious turn of events, Sweden has chosen KAJ, a comedy group from Finland, as its representative for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. Finland’s own delegate is Erika Vikman.

Life & society Webpick

Finnish sauna offers a warm welcome for people from all walks of life

In Finland, sauna is not a rare luxury, but a central part of the culture. In fact, did you know that there are more saunas than cars in Finland?

Life & society Sustainability

Good news: Finland tops the Good Country Index

Out of 174 countries, Finland contributes the most to the common good of humanity relative to its size, according to a new study.

200

Members in Finland's Parliament