Finland
Introduction
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 EU 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. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
Geographic coordinates
64 00 N, 26 00 E
Map references
Europe
Area - comparative
slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundaries
total: 2,563 km
border countries (3): Norway 709 km; Sweden 545 km; Russia 1,309 km
Coastline
1,250 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia
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
Terrain
mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Elevation
highest point: Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
mean elevation: 164 m
Natural resources
timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
Land use
agricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 72.9% (2018 est.)
other: 19.6% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
80 sq km (2015)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km
Population distribution
the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated
Natural hazards
severe winters in the north
Geography - note
long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups
Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami
note: 91.5% of the population has a Finnish background
Languages
Finnish (official) 86.5%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.6%, other 6.7% (2021 est.)
major-language sample(s):
World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2021 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 16.25% (male 466,311/female 446,015)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,726,110/female 1,670,981)
65 years and over: 23.25% (2023 est.) (male 575,259/female 729,895)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 62.1
youth dependency ratio: 25
elderly dependency ratio: 37.1
potential support ratio: 2.7 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 42.8 years
male: 41.3 years
female: 44.4 years (2020 est.)
Population distribution
the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated
Urbanization
urban population: 85.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.338 million HELSINKI (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
29.5 years (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149Infant mortality rate
total: 2.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 1.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 81.96 years
male: 79.08 years
female: 84.98 years (2023 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.85 (2023 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
85.5% (2015)
note: percent of women aged 18-49
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current health expenditure
9.6% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
4.64 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Hospital bed density
3.6 beds/1,000 population (2018)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 1.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
total: 21.6% (2020 est.)
male: 26.9% (2020 est.)
female: 16.3% (2020 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.2% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 0% (2017 est.)
Literacy
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 19 years
male: 18 years
female: 20 years (2020)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 18.1%
male: 19%
female: 17.1% (2021 est.)
Environment
Environment - current issues
limited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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
Land use
agricultural land: 7.5% (2018 est.)
arable land: 7.4% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 0.1% (2018 est.)
forest: 72.9% (2018 est.)
other: 19.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 85.8% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 5.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 45.87 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 4.46 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.738 million tons (2015 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 769,926 tons (2015 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 28.1% (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 1 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 500 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
110 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish)
local short form: Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish)
etymology: name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D.
Government type
parliamentary republic
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
etymology: the name may derive from the Swedish helsing, an archaic name for "neck" (hals), and which may refer to a narrowing of the Vantaa River that flows into the Gulf of Finland at Helsinki; fors refers to "rapids," so helsing fors meaning becomes "the narrows' rapids"
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]
Independence
6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution
history: previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000
amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only; amended several times, last in 2018
Legal system
civil law system based on the Swedish model
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Finland
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 6 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012)
head of government: Prime Minister Sanna MARIN (since 10 December 2019)
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 28 January 2018 (next to be held in January 2024); prime minister appointed by Parliament
election results: 2018: Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote - Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7%
2012: Sauli NIINISTO elected president; percent of vote - Sauli NIINISTO (National Coalition Party) 62.6%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 37.4%
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 2 April 2023 (next to be held on 30 April 2027)
election results: percent of vote by party/coalition - Kok 24%, PS 23%, SDP 21.5%. Center Party 11.5%, Vihr 6.5%, Vas 5.5%, SFP 4.5%, KD 2.5%, Aland 0.5%; Movement Now 0.5%; seats by party/coalition - Kok 48, PS 46, SDP 43, Center Party 23, Vihr 13, Vas 11, SFP 9, KD 5; Aland 1; Movement Now 1; composition men 108, women 92, percent of women 46%
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 68
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
Political parties and leaders
Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands)
Center Party or Kesk [Annika SAARIKKO]
Christian Democrats or KD [Sari ESSAYAH]
Finns Party or PS [Riikka PURRA]
Green League or Vihr
Left Alliance or Vas [Li ANDERSSON]
Movement Now or Liike Nyt [Harry HARKINO]
National Coalition Party or Kok [Petteri ORPO]
Social Democratic Party or SDP [Sanna MARIN]
Swedish People's Party or RKP or SFP [Anna-Maja HENRIKSSON]
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, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Mikko Tapani HAUTALA (since 17 September 2020)
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
email address and website:
sanomat.was@formin.fi
https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas HICKEY (since 11 May 2022)
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: 5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310
telephone: [358] (9) 616-250
FAX: [358] (9) 174-681
email address and website:
HelsinkiACS@state.gov
https://fi.usembassy.gov/
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
National symbol(s)
lion; national colors: blue, white
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 heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Fortress of Suomenlinna (c); Old Rauma (c); Petäjävesi Old Church (c); Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c); Bronze Age Burial Site of Sammallahdenmäki (c); High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c)
Economy
Economic overview
highly industrialized, export-based EU economy and euro user; high per capita GDP; major timber, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries; manageable public debts; rigid labor laws impose higher regulatory burdens
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$270.143 billion (2021 est.)
$262.343 billion (2020 est.)
$268.259 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
2.97% (2021 est.)
-2.21% (2020 est.)
1.22% (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$48,800 (2021 est.)
$47,400 (2020 est.)
$48,600 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$269.259 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.19% (2021 est.)
0.29% (2020 est.)
1.02% (2019 est.)
Credit ratings
Fitch rating: AA+ (2016)
Moody's rating: Aa1 (2016)
Standard & Poors rating: AA+ (2014)
note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 2.7% (2017 est.)
industry: 28.2% (2017 est.)
services: 69.1% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption: 54.4% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 22.9% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 22.1% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.4% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 38.5% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -38.2% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products
milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, rye, pork, poultry, beef
Industries
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 4%
industry: 20.7%
services: 75.3% (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
7.53% (2021 est.)
7.76% (2020 est.)
6.69% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 18.1%
male: 19%
female: 17.1% (2021 est.)
Population below poverty line
12.2% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
27.7 (2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164Average household expenditures
on food: 11.5% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 4.3% of household expenditures (2018 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 6.7%
highest 10%: 45.2% (2013)
Budget
revenues: $140.643 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures: $153.635 billion (2020 est.)
note: Central Government Budget data; these numbers represent a significant reduction from previous official reporting
Public debt
61.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
62.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
note: data cover general government debt and include 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 intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental 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
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
$1.896 billion (2021 est.)
$2.169 billion (2020 est.)
-$879.445 million (2019 est.)
Exports
$116.905 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$97.789 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$107.084 billion (2019 est.)
Exports - partners
Germany 13%, Sweden 9%, United States 8%, Netherlands 6%, China 6% (2021)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, kaolin coated paper, cars, lumber, stainless steel, wood pulp (2021)
Imports
$116.277 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$97.037 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
$106.664 billion (2019 est.)
Imports - partners
Germany 16%, Sweden 15%, Russia 11%, China 7%, Netherlands 7% (2021)
Imports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, crude petroleum, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines (2021)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$16.744 billion (31 December 2021 est.)
$13.48 billion (31 December 2020 est.)
$11.427 billion (31 December 2019 est.)
Debt - external
$631.549 billion (2019 est.)
$536.301 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
0.893 (2019 est.)
0.847 (2018 est.)
0.885 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 20.418 million kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 79.356 billion kWh (2020 est.)
exports: 6.666 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 21.615 billion kWh (2020 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.574 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 13.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 33.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 11.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 23.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 17.8% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 762,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 3.552 million metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 101,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 2.661 million metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 8,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 207,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 232,400 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
310,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40Natural gas
production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption: 2.393 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
exports: 181.143 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
imports: 2.569 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
41.996 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 9.377 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 27.737 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.882 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
216.571 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 207,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2021 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 7.15 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 129 (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: Finland’s telecom market is among the more progressive in Europe, with operators having been at the forefront in deploying technologies and with the regulator being among the first to auction spectrum for 5G use; these efforts have been supported by the government which is working towards its target of providing a broadband service of at least 100Mb/s by 2025; 5G services were available to more than 40% of the population by early 2021, and take-up among subscribers has been strong although most will remain with LTE in the short term; the country enjoys one of the highest broadband and mobile subscription rates in the region, with customers able to make use of the latest iterations of technologies including DOCSIS3.1, LTE-A, 5G, and GPON fiber infrastructure; Finland has emerged as one of the pioneers in 5G; the auction of spectrum in the 700MHz and 3.5GHh bands has enabled network operators to extend the availability of LTE services nationally and to prepare for 5G services; Spectrum in the 2.5GHz band was auctioned in mid-2020 and has since enabled the MNOs to widen their 5G footprint considerably; there is an ongoing shift away from DSL to fiber and mobile networks (2021)
domestic: fixed-line 4 per 100 subscriptions and nearly 129 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)
international: country code - 358; landing points for Botnia, BCS North-1 & 2, SFL, SFS-4, C-Lion1, Eastern Lights, Baltic Sea Submarine Cable, FEC, and EESF-2 & 3 submarine cables that provide links to many Finland points, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and Russia; 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) (2019)
Broadcast media
a mix of 3 publicly operated TV stations and numerous privately owned TV stations; several free and special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals are broadcast digitally; Internet television, such as Netflix and others, is available; public broadcasting maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters and access to Internet radio
Internet users
total: 5.115 million (2021 est.)
percent of population: 93% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 1.846 million (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 77
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 13,364,839 (2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 957.64 million (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
74
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
74
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Pipelines
1,288 km gas transmission pipes, 1,976 km distribution pipes (2016)
Roadways
total: 454,000 km (2012)
highways: 78,000 km (2012) (50,000 paved, including 700 km of expressways; 28,000 unpaved)
private and forest roads: 350,000 km (2012)
urban: 26,000 km (2012)
Waterways
8,000 km (2013) (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); Finland also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways
country comparison to the world: 19Merchant marine
total: 278
by type: bulk carrier 9, container ship 1, general cargo 74, oil tanker 5, other 189 (2022)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma
LNG terminal(s) (import): Hamina, Inkoo (operational 2023), Pori, Tornio Manga
Transportation - note
Finland operates icebreakers in the Baltic Sea including seven PC 3 or 4 class medium icebreakers and two PC 5 or 6 class light icebreakers
note - PC indicates a Polar Class vessel: PC 3 - year-round operation in second-year ice which may include multi-year ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 2.5 m); PC 4 - year-round operation in thick first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 120 cm); PC 5 - year-round operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 70-120 cm); PC 6 - summer/autumn operation in medium first-year ice which may include old ice inclusions (ice thickness up to 30-70 cm)
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Maavoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat); Ministry of the Interior: Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos) (2023)
note: the Border Guard becomes part of the FDF in wartime
Military expenditures
2% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.9% of GDP (2021)
1.5% of GDP (2020)
1.4% of GDP (2019)
1.4% of GDP (2018)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 30,000 active-duty personnel (22,000 Army; 5,000 Navy; 3,000 Air Force) (2023)
note: active-duty figures include conscripts carrying out their obligated military service (approximately 17,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 1,000 Air Force)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory consists of a wide mix of mostly modern US, European, and domestically produced weapons systems; in recent years, the US has been the leading supplier; the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels (2023)
Military service age and obligation
at age 18, all Finnish men are obligated to serve 5.5-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard (length of service depends on the type of duty), and women 18-29 may volunteer for service; there is also an option to perform non-military service which lasts for 8.5 or 11.5 months; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 50 for rank-and-file and 60 for non-commissioned and commissioned officers (2023)
note 1: the military trains approximately 21,000 conscripts each year; women have served on a voluntary basis since 1995, and as of 2022 made up about 19% of the military's full-time personnel
note 2: Finland has had conscription since 1951
Military deployments
160 Lebanon (UNIFIL) (May 2022)
Military - note
Finland joined NATO in April 2023; Finland had been part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program since 1994, and Finnish Armed Forces participated in NATO-led military operations and missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq
Finland is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) and actively participates in CSDP crisis management missions and operations
the Finnish Armed Forces cooperate closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009 (2023)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the former Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin): 9,175 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 47,067 (Ukraine) (as of 23 May 2023)
stateless persons: 3,546 (2022)