Finland

Broadcast media

a mix of publicly operated TV stations and privately owned TV stations; in 2008, the 2 publicly owned TV stations expanded services and the largest private TV station has introduced several special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals have been broadcast digitally since September 2007; analog broadcasts via cable networks were terminated in February 2008; public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters (2008)

Internet country code

.fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax

Internet users

total: 5.1 million | percent of population: 94.0% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 59, shortwave 2 (2008)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system with excellent service | domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive mobile-cellular network provide domestic needs | international: country code - 358; submarine cables provide links to Estonia and Sweden; 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) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 640,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 7.6 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Television broadcast stations

120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999); note - on 1 September 2007, Finland began broadcasting all television signals digitally; analog broadcasts via cable networks were discontinued 29 February 2008

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $146.3 billion | expenditures: $156.1 billion | note: Central Government Budget (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Central bank discount rate

0.75% (31 December 2013) | 1.5% (31 December 2010) | note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area | country comparison to the world: 138

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2% (31 December 2014 est.) | 2.11% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Current account balance

-$1.555 billion (2014 est.) | -$2.466 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Debt - external

$586.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $478.5 billion (31 December 2011) | country comparison to the world: 21

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.8 (2008) | 25.6 (1991) | country comparison to the world: 130

Economy - overview

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output almost as high as that of Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, or Sweden. Trade is important, with exports accounting for over one-third of GDP in recent years. Finland is historically competitive in manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland excels in export of technology for mobile phones as well as promotion of startups in the ICT, gaming, cleantech, and biotechnology sectors. 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. Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU before 2009 and its banks and financial markets avoided the worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit exports and domestic demand hard in that year, with Finland experiencing one of the deepest contractions in the euro zone. A recovery of exports, domestic trade, and household consumption stimulated economic growth in 2010-12, however, continued recession within the EU dampened the economy in 2012-14. The recession affected general government finances and the debt ratio, turning previously strong budget surpluses into deficits, losing its coveted triple-A credit rating, and on pace to breach EU debt limits in 2015. Finland's main challenge will be to stimulate growth while faced with weak export demand in the EU and its own government austerity measures. Longer-term, Finland must address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity in traditional industries that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth. The depreciating ruble will retard exports to Russia.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.7489 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.) | 0.78 (2012 est.) | 0.7185 (2011 est.) | 0.755 (2010 est.)

Exports

$78 billion (2014 est.) | $78.56 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Exports - commodities

electrical and optical equipment, machinery, transport equipment, paper and pulp, chemicals, basic metals; timber

Exports - partners

Germany 12.2%, Sweden 11.2%, Russia 8.1%, US 6.7%, Netherlands 6.2%, UK 5.5%, China 4.5% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$271.2 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$221 billion (2014 est.) | $221.3 billion (2013 est.) | $224.3 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 62

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 55.1% | government consumption: 24.9% | investment in fixed capital: 20.9% | investment in inventories: 0.6% | exports of goods and services: 36.9% | imports of goods and services: -38.4% | (2014 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.7% | industry: 27% | services: 70.3% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$40,300 (2014 est.) | $40,400 (2013 est.) | $40,900 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 38

GDP - real growth rate

-0.1% (2014 est.) | -1.3% (2013 est.) | -1.4% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Gross national saving

19.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | 20% of GDP (2013 est.) | 21.2% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6% | highest 10%: 24.7% (2007)

Imports

$73.01 billion (2014 est.) | $73.76 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, computers, electronic industry products, textile yarn and fabrics, grains

Imports - partners

Sweden 15.8%, Germany 15.3%, Russia 14.8%, Netherlands 8.7%, Denmark 4.2% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.2% (2014 est.) | 2.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

Labor force

2.665 million (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry: 4.4% | industry: 15.5% | construction: 7.1% | commerce: 21.3% | finance, insurance, and business services: 13.3% | transport and communications: 9.9% | public services: 28.5% (2011)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$158.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | $143.1 billion (31 December 2011) | $118.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

59.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | 57% of GDP (2013 est.) | note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data include debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions | country comparison to the world: 54

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$11.4 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $11.27 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Stock of broad money

$179.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $195.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$202.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $197.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$138 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $136.1 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Stock of domestic credit

$267.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $283.9 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Stock of narrow money

$136.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $144.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders | country comparison to the world: 30

Taxes and other revenues

53% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Unemployment rate

8.6% (2014 est.) | 8.1% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

46.81 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Crude oil - imports

203,800 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - consumption

81.06 billion kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Electricity - exports

1.878 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Electricity - from fossil fuels

52.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

18.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

16.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Electricity - from other renewable sources

12.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity - imports

17.59 billion kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 9

Electricity - installed generating capacity

16.73 million kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Electricity - production

67.69 billion kWh (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Natural gas - consumption

3.485 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Natural gas - imports

3.482 billion cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - production

3 million cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Refined petroleum products - consumption

198,400 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Refined petroleum products - exports

144,400 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Refined petroleum products - imports

122,900 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Refined petroleum products - production

290,500 bbl/day (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Area

total: 338,145 sq km | land: 303,815 sq km | water: 34,330 sq km | country comparison to the world: 65

Area - comparative

slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m | highest point: Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.63 cu km/yr (25%/72%/3%) | per capita: 308.9 cu m/yr (2005)

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

Irrigated land

685.8 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

total: 2,563 km | border countries (3): Norway 709 km, Sweden 545 km, Russia 1,309 km

Land use

agricultural land: 7.5% | arable land 7.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.1% | forest: 72.9% | other: 19.6% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm) | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia | continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

110 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

19 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]

Capital

name: Helsinki | geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E | time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Constitution

previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000; amended several times, last in 2011 (2011)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Finland | conventional short form: Finland | local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland | local short form: Suomi/Finland

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Bruce J. ORECK (since 12 August 2009) | embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki | mailing address: APO AE 09723 | telephone: [358] (9) 616250 | FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Kirsti KAUPPI (since 17 September 2015) | chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 | FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 | consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012) | head of government: Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 22 June 2011) | cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament | elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 5 February 2012 (next to be held in February 2018); prime minister elected by Parliament and appointed by the president | election results: percent of vote in first round - Sauli NIINISTO (Kok) 37%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 18.8%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (Kesk) 17.5%, Timo SOINI (TF) 9.4%, Paavo LIPPONEN (SDP) 6.7%, Paavo ARHINMAKI (Vas) 5.5%, Eva BIAUDET (SFP) 2.7%, Sari ESSAYAH (KD) 2.5%; Sauli NIINISTO elected president in second round held on 5 February 2012 - NIINISTO 62.6%, HAAVISTO 37.4%; Jyrki KATAINEN elected prime minister

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); the blue represents the thousands of lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow that covers the land in winter

Government type

republic

Independence

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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 and organized into 3 chambers); note - 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 | 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 65 | subordinate 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 rights

Legal system

civil law system based on the Swedish model

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; 199 members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 1 member in the province of Aland directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 19 April 2015 (next to be held in April 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 21.1%, PS 17.6%, Kok 18.2%, SDP 16.5%, Vihr 8.5%, Vas 7.1%, SFP 4.9%, KD 3.5%, other 2.6%; seats by party - Kesk 49, PS 38, Kok 37, SDP 34, Vihr 15, Vas 12, SFP 9, KD 5, other 1 (Aland Coalition)

National anthem

name: "Maamme" (Our Land) | lyrics/music: Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS | note: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted by law, the anthem has been popular since it was first sung by a student group in 1848; Estonia's anthem uses the same melody as that of Finland

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: blue, white

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Kesk [Juha SIPILA] | Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN] | Green League or Vihr [Ville NIINISTO] | Left Alliance or Vas [Paavo ARHINMAKI] | National Coalition Party or Kok [Alexander STUBB] | Social Democratic Party or SDP [Antii RINNE] | Swedish People's Party or SFP [Carl HAGLUND] | The Finns Party or PS [Timo SOINI]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 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. In the subsequent 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 European Union 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 - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,155,368 | females age 16-49: 1,106,193 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 955,151 | females age 16-49: 912,983 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 32,599 | female: 31,416 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Puolustusvoimat), Navy (Merivoimat; includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2013)

Military expenditures

1.47% of GDP (2012) | 1.42% of GDP (2011) | 1.47% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 62

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory - and female voluntary - national military and nonmilitary service; service obligation 6-12 months; military obligation to age 60 (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.41% (male 459,560/female 439,343) | 15-24 years: 11.79% (male 329,815/female 316,130) | 25-54 years: 38.03% (male 1,062,429/female 1,020,216) | 55-64 years: 13.56% (male 365,383/female 377,390) | 65 years and over: 20.21% (male 477,024/female 629,632) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

10.72 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Death rate

9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 58.3% | youth dependency ratio: 25.9% | elderly dependency ratio: 32.4% | potential support ratio: 3.1% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.8% of GDP (2011) | country comparison to the world: 27

Ethnic groups

Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

9.4% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 39

Hospital bed density

5.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.52 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 2.65 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 2.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 218

Languages

Finnish (official) 89%, Swedish (official) 5.3%, Russian 1.3%, other 4.4% (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.77 years | male: 77.82 years | female: 83.86 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Major urban areas - population

HELSINKI (capital) 1.18 million (2015)

Median age

total: 42.4 years | male: 40.7 years | female: 44.3 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Finn(s) | adjective: Finnish

Net migration rate

3.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

22.8% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 77

Physicians density

2.91 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

5,476,922 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Population growth rate

0.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Religions

Lutheran 78.4%, Orthodox 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.2%, none 19.2% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.4% of population | rural: 88% of population | total: 97.6% of population | urban: 0.6% of population | rural: 12% of population | total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years | male: 16 years | female: 18 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female | total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 17.7% | male: 17.6% | female: 17.9% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Urbanization

urban population: 84.2% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 2,293 (2014)

Airports

148 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 39

Airports - with paved runways

total: 74 | over 3,047 m: 3 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 | 914 to 1,523 m: 21 | under 914 m: 14 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 74 | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 | 71 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 97 | by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 25, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, container 3, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 16, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 31, vehicle carrier 3 | foreign-owned: 5 (Cyprus 1, Estonia 2, Iceland 1, Sweden 1) | registered in other countries: 47 (Bahamas 8, Germany 3, Gibraltar 2, Malta 3, Netherlands 13, Panama 2, Sweden 16) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 51

Pipelines

gas 1,689 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma

Railways

total: 5,919 km | broad gauge: 5,919 km 1.524-m gauge (3,067 km electrified) (2014) | country comparison to the world: 31

Roadways

total: 454,000 km | highways: 78,000 km (50,000 paved, including 700 km of expressways; 28,000 unpaved) | urban roads: 26,000 km | private and forest roads: 350,000 km (2012) | country comparison to the world: 60

Waterways

8,000 km (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia; water transport used frequently in the summer and widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are 187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km); Finand also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways (2013) | country comparison to the world: 17