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Communications

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

4.98 million (1991 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

modern system with excellent service domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular net care for domestic needs international: 1 submarine cable; 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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

2.5 million (1995 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

120 (in addition, there are 431 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

1.92 million (1995 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

Budget [time series]

revenues: $33 billion expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$30 billion (December 1993)

Economic aid (Economic aid--donor) [time series]

ODA, $388 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

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 the export of goods representing about 30% of GDP. 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. The economy has come back from the recession of 1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe--Finland was one of the 11 countries joining the euro monetary system (EMU) on 1 January 1999--will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 1999 probably will slow, perhaps to 3%, a barrier to any substantial drop in unemployment.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

71.169 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

1.7 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

5.4 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

67.469 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 54.73% hydro: 17.35% nuclear: 27.9% other: 0.02% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

markkaa (FMk) per US$1--5.12 (January 1999), 5.3441 (1998), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994); note: on 1 January 1999, the European Union introduced a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in some member countries at the rate of 0.8597 euros per US$ and a fixed rate of 5.93472 Markkaa per euro; the euro will replace the local currency in consenting countries for all transactions in 2002

Exports [time series]

$43 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, and pulp

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Germany 11%, UK 10%, Sweden 10%, US 7%, Russia 7%, France 4%, Japan (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$103.6 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5% industry: 32% services: 63% (1997)

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$20,100 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

5.1% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$30.7 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

Germany 15%, Sweden 12%, UK 8%, Russia 8%, US 7%, Japan 5% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.4% (1995)

Industries [time series]

metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force [time series]

2.533 million

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15%, finance, insurance, and business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%, construction 7.2%

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

12% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 337,030 sq km land: 305,470 sq km water: 31,560 sq km

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Montana

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

64 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note (Geography--note) [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

640 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,628 km border countries: Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 8% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: 76% other: 16% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 6 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland--3 nm)

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Helsinki

Constitution [time series]

17 July 1919

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Finland conventional short form: Finland local long form: Suomen Tasavalta local short form: Suomi

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric EDELMAN embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki mailing address: APO AE 09723

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of vote--Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

white with a blue cross that extends 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)

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

International organization participation [time series]

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president

Legal system [time series]

civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party--Social Democratic Party 22.9%, Center Party 22.5%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, Finnish Christian League 4.2%; seats by party--Social Democratic Party 51, Center Party 48, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20, Swedish People's Party 11, Green Union 11, Finnish Christian League 10, other 3

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Finnish Communist

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Long ruled by foreign powers, including Sweden and the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire, Finland finally declared independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland fought the USSR twice and then the Germans toward the end of the war. In the following half-century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy. Per capita income has risen to the West European level; Finland is a member of the European Union and is the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$1.8 billion (1999)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2% (1999)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,274,654 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 1,050,944 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower--military age) [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower--reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 34,336 (1999 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 18% (male 483,700; female 464,431) 15-64 years: 67% (male 1,743,340; female 1,706,873) 65 years and over: 15% (male 289,405; female 470,623) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.77 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.67 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Lapp 0.11%, Gypsy 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.32 years male: 73.81 years female: 80.98 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% (1980 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish

Net migration rate [time series]

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Population [time series]

5,158,372 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.15% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.61 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.68 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

minor transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for the West European market

Transportation

Airports [time series]

157 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 68 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 9 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 89 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 83 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 77,796 km paved: 49,789 km (including 444 km of expressways) unpaved: 28,007 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 101 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,192,559 GRT/1,161,594 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 6, oil tanker 11, passenger 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 38, short-sea passenger 12 (1998 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

natural gas 580 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus

Railways [time series]

total: 5,859 km broad gauge: 5,859 km 1.524-m gauge (2,073 km electrified; 480 km double- or more-track) (1996)

Waterways [time series]

6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers