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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

4.205 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 18

Internet users [time series]

4.383 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 46

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 59, shortwave 2 (2008)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern system with excellent service domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive 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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

1.65 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 63

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

6.83 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 73

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $143.8 billion expenditures: $132.3 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

3% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 95 5% (31 December 2007) note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

5.79% (31 December 2008)

Current account balance [time series]

$5.518 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 $10.12 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$339.5 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 25 $314.1 billion (31 December 2007)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

29.5 (2007) country comparison to the world: 117 25.6 (1991)

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; Finland's ratio of exports to GDP has risen from a quarter to 37% over the past 15 years. Finland excels in high-tech exports such as 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. Although Finland has been one of the best performing economies within the EU in recent years and its banks and financial markets have avoided the worst of global financial crisis, the world slowdown has hit export growth and domestic demand and will serve as a brake on economic growth in 2009 and 2010. The slowdown of construction, other investment, and exports will cause unemployment to rise. During 2009, unemployment will climb to over 8% of the labor force. Long-term challenges include the need to address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity that threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

86.9 billion kWh (2008) country comparison to the world: 32

Electricity - exports [time series]

3.335 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

16.11 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

77.24 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Exchange rates [time series]

euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6827 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$96.62 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $90.2 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 11.6%, Sweden 10%, Germany 10%, US 6.4%, UK 5.5%, Netherlands 5.1% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$271.9 billion (2008 est.)

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

$194 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $192.4 billion (2007 est.) $184.8 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2.8% industry: 32.4% services: 64.9% (2008 est.)

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

$37,000 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 $36,700 (2007 est.) $35,300 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

0.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 4.1% (2007 est.) 4.9% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$87.51 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $78.22 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Russia 16.3%, Germany 15.7%, Sweden 13.6%, Netherlands 6.3%, China 5.1%, UK 4.2% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.1% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 2.5% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

20.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Labor force [time series]

2.703 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture and forestry 4.5%, industry 18.3%, construction 7.3%, commerce 16%, finance, insurance, and business services 14.5%, transport and communications 7%, public services 32.4% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 26 $369.2 billion (31 December 2007) $265.5 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

4.735 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas - imports [time series]

4.739 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Oil - consumption [time series]

215,600 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Oil - exports [time series]

133,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Oil - imports [time series]

347,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

Oil - production [time series]

9,789 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl country comparison to the world: 171

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

33.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 46.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$8.346 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $8.385 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$116 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 24 $114.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$84.44 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38 $88.69 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$241.1 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 29 $225.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$NA (31December 2008) $NA (31 December 2007) note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money and quasi money circulating within their own borders

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $NA (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

6.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 6.9% (2007 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 338,145 sq km country comparison to the world: 64 land: 303,815 sq km water: 34,330 sq km

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]

1,250 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

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-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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 2.33 cu km/yr (14%/84%/3%) per capita: 444 cu m/yr (1999)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

64 00 N, 26 00 E

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 (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,654 km border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,313 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 6.54% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 93.44% (2005)

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]

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 continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

110 cu km (2005)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Ahvenanmaan Laani (Aland), Etela-Suomen Laani (Southern Finland), Ita-Suomen Laani (Eastern Finland), Lansi-Suomen Laani (Western Finland), Lapin Laani (Lapland), Oulun Laani

Capital [time series]

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 [time series]

1 March 2000

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara BARRETT 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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Pekka LINTU 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 [time series]

chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007) cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006 (next to be held in January 2012); 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; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected 17 April 2007 election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA (VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held 29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN reelected prime minister; election results 121-71 note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

International organization participation [time series]

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, 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; the president may request the Supreme Court to review 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 18 March 2007 (next to be held March 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 23.1%, Kok 22.3%, SDP 21.4%, VAS 8.8%, VIHR 8.5%, KD 4.9%, SFP 4.5%, True Finns 4.1%, other 3.4%; seats by party - Kesk 51, Kok 50, SDP 45, VAS 17, VIHR 15, SFP 9, KD 7, True Finns 5, other 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

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

Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green Party or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left Alliance or VAS [Martti KORHONEN] (composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative); National Coalition Party (conservative) or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Jutta URPILAINEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]; True Finns [Timo SOINI]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,169,910 females age 16-49: 1,121,187 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 962,479 females age 16-49: 920,297 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 33,784 female: 32,621 (2009 est.)

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

Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)

Military expenditures [time series]

2% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 83

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory - and female voluntary - national military and nonmilitary service; service obligation 6-12 months; mandatory retirement at age 60 (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.4% (male 438,425/female 422,777) 15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,773,495/female 1,732,792) 65 years and over: 16.8% (male 357,811/female 524,975) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.38 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Death rate [time series]

10.07 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.4% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 33

Ethnic groups [time series]

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 [time series]

less than 0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 100 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

2,400 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 3.47 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 216 male: 3.78 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

Finnish 91.2% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3.3% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2007)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 78.97 years country comparison to the world: 37 male: 75.48 years female: 82.61 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100% (2000 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 42.1 years male: 40.5 years female: 43.7 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish

Net migration rate [time series]

0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Population [time series]

5,250,275 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Population growth rate [time series]

0.098% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Religions [time series]

Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2006)

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: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.73 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 63% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands

Transportation

Airports [time series]

148 (2009) country comparison to the world: 37

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 75 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 22 under 914 m: 14 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 70 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 98 country comparison to the world: 51 by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 28, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6, container 3, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 18, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 27, vehicle carrier 2 foreign-owned: 8 (Estonia 2, Germany 1, Norway 3, Sweden 2) registered in other countries: 47 (Bahamas 9, Germany 4, Gibraltar 3, Netherlands 14, Norway 1, Panama 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Sweden 12, UK 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 694 km (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Raahe, Rauma, Turku

Railways [time series]

total: 5,794 km country comparison to the world: 31 broad gauge: 5,794 km 1.524-m gauge (3,047 km electrified) (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 78,141 km country comparison to the world: 62 paved: 50,914 km (includes 700 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,227 km (2009)

Waterways [time series]

7,842 km country comparison to the world: 18 note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2008)