Europe :: FINLAND

  • Introduction :: FINLAND

  • 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.

  • Geography :: FINLAND

  • Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
    64 00 N, 26 00 E
    Europe
    total: 338,145 sq km
    land: 303,815 sq km
    water: 34,330 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 65
    slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana
    total: 2,563 km
    border countries (3): Norway 709 km, Sweden 545 km, Russia 1,309 km
    1,250 km
    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
    cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
    mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
    mean elevation: 164 m
    elevation extremes: lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
    highest point: Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m
    timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
    agricultural land: 7.5%
    arable land 7.4%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.1%
    forest: 72.9%
    other: 19.6% (2011 est.)
    690 sq km (2012)
    the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated
    NA
    air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
    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
    long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

  • People and Society :: FINLAND

  • 5,498,211 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 118
    noun: Finn(s)
    adjective: Finnish
    Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)
    Finnish (official) 89%, Swedish (official) 5.3%, Russian 1.3%, other 4.4% (2014 est.)
    Lutheran 73.8%, Orthodox 1.1%, other or none 25.1% (2014 est.)
    0-14 years: 16.42% (male 461,432/female 441,244)
    15-24 years: 11.6% (male 325,919/female 312,045)
    25-54 years: 37.9% (male 1,063,494/female 1,020,194)
    55-64 years: 13.42% (male 362,788/female 374,985)
    65 years and over: 20.66% (male 492,143/female 643,967) (2016 est.)
    total dependency ratio: 58.3%
    youth dependency ratio: 25.9%
    elderly dependency ratio: 32.4%
    potential support ratio: 3.1% (2015 est.)
    total: 42.4 years
    male: 40.8 years
    female: 44.3 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 25
    0.38% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 169
    10.7 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 185
    9.9 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 42
    3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 37
    the vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated
    urban population: 84.2% of total population (2015)
    rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
    HELSINKI (capital) 1.18 million (2015)
    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 (2016 est.)
    28.5 (2012 est.)
    3 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    total: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 220
    total population: 80.9 years
    male: 77.9 years
    female: 84 years (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 31
    1.75 children born/woman (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 162
    9.7% of GDP (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 39
    2.91 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
    5.5 beds/1,000 population (2011)
    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 (2015 est.)
    improved:
    urban: 99.4% of population
    rural: 88% of population
    total: 97.6% of population
    unimproved:
    urban: 0.6% of population
    rural: 12% of population
    total: 2.4% of population (2015 est.)
    NA
    NA
    NA
    22.8% (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 77
    7.2% of GDP (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 27
    total: 19 years
    male: 18 years
    female: 20 years (2014)
    total: 20.5%
    male: 22.8%
    female: 18.4% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 65

  • Government :: FINLAND

  • conventional long form: Republic of Finland
    conventional short form: Finland
    local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
    local short form: Suomi/Finland
    etymology: name may derive from the ancient Fenni peoples who are first described as living in northeastern Europe in the first centuries A.D.
    parliamentary republic
    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
    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]
    6 December 1917 (from Russia)
    Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
    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 2012 (2016)
    civil law system based on the Swedish model
    accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
    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
    18 years of age; universal
    chief of state: President Sauli NIINISTO (since 1 March 2012)
    head of government: Prime Minister Juha SIPILA (since 28 May 2015)
    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 appointed by Parliament in 2015
    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%; Juha SIPILA appointed prime minister
    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 by 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)
    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
    Center Party or Kesk [Juha SIPILA]
    Christian Democrats or KD [Sari ESSAYAH]
    Finns Party or PS [Timo SOINI]
    Green League or Vihr [Ville NIINISTO]
    Left Alliance or Vas [Paavo ARHINMAKI]
    National Coalition Party or Kok [Petteri ORPO]
    Social Democratic Party or SDP [Antti RINNE]
    Swedish People's Party or SFP [Carl HAGLUND]
    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
    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
    chief of mission: Ambassador Charles C. ADAMS, Jr. (since 3 August 2015)
    embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
    mailing address: APO AE 09723
    telephone: [358] (9) 616250
    FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800
    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
    lion; national colors: blue, white
    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

  • Economy :: FINLAND

  • Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita GDP 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 information and communications technology, 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 cold climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export industry, 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, causing Finland’s economy to contract from 2012-14. The recession affected general government finances and the debt ratio.
    Finland's main challenges will be reducing high labor costs and boosting demand for its exports. In the long 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 and Russia’s general economic slowdown will dampen exports to Russia.
    $225 billion (2015 est.)
    $224 billion (2014 est.)
    $225.6 billion (2013 est.)
    note: data are in 2015 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 62
    $229.7 billion (2015 est.)
    0.4% (2015 est.)
    -0.7% (2014 est.)
    -0.8% (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 190
    $41,100 (2015 est.)
    $41,100 (2014 est.)
    $41,600 (2013 est.)
    note: data are in 2015 US dollars
    country comparison to the world: 41
    21.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
    19.9% of GDP (2014 est.)
    19.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 79
    household consumption: 55.3%
    government consumption: 24.4%
    investment in fixed capital: 20.4%
    investment in inventories: 0.3%
    exports of goods and services: 36.6%
    imports of goods and services: -37.1% (2015 est.)
    agriculture: 2.5%
    industry: 26.8%
    services: 70.6% (2015 est.)
    barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
    metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
    -1.8% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 176
    2.689 million (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 110
    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)
    9.3% (2015 est.)
    8.7% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 108
    NA%
    lowest 10%: 3.6%
    highest 10%: 24.7% (2007)
    26.8 (2008)
    25.6 (1991)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    revenues: $127.6 billion
    expenditures: $134 billion
    note: Central Government Budget (2015 est.)
    55.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 8
    -2.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 108
    62.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
    59.3% of GDP (2014 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 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: 61
    calendar year
    -0.2% (2015 est.)
    1.2% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 39
    0.05% (31 December 2013)
    0.3% (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: 151
    2% (31 December 2015 est.)
    2.2% (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 176
    $121.4 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $118.8 billion (31 December 2014 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: 31
    $179.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $195.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 43
    $357.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $410.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 30
    $158.7 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
    $143.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
    $118.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 36
    $272 million (2015 est.)
    -$2.566 billion (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 47
    $61.29 billion (2015 est.)
    $75.6 billion (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 44
    electrical and optical equipment, machinery, transport equipment, paper and pulp, chemicals, basic metals; timber
    Germany 13.9%, Sweden 10.1%, US 7%, Netherlands 6.6%, Russia 5.9%, UK 5.2%, China 4.7% (2015)
    $58.5 billion (2015 est.)
    $74.43 billion (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, computers, electronic industry products, textile yarn and fabrics, grains
    Germany 17%, Sweden 16%, Russia 11%, Netherlands 9.1%, Denmark 4.1% (2015)
    $10.02 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $10.67 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 75
    $547.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    $571.8 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 20
    $135.9 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $131.7 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 40
    $141.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    $155.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 30
    euros (EUR) per US dollar -
    0.885 (2015 est.)
    0.7525 (2014 est.)
    0.7634 (2013 est.)
    0.78 (2012 est.)
    0.7185 (2011 est.)

  • Energy :: FINLAND

  • electrification - total population: 100% (2016)
    66 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 40
    81 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 35
    3.7 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    22 billion kWh (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 11
    16 million kW (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 45
    51.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 146
    16.2% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 12
    18.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 95
    13.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 25
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 122
    226,100 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 31
    0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)
    country comparison to the world: 131
    257,700 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 43
    192,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 59
    134,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 35
    109,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 44
    4 million cu m (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 94
    3.063 billion cu m (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 72
    0 cu m (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 97
    3.063 billion cu m (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)
    country comparison to the world: 136
    48 million Mt (2013 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 62

  • Communications :: FINLAND

  • total subscriptions: 537,000
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 10 (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 90
    total: 7.399 million
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 135 (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 99
    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) (2015)
    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)
    .fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax
    total: 5.074 million
    percent of population: 92.6% (July 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 64

  • Transportation :: FINLAND

  • number of registered air carriers: 3
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 73
    annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 9,972,333
    annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 713.484 million mt-km (2015)
    OH (2016)
    148 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 39
    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)
    total: 74
    914 to 1,523 m: 3
    under 914 m: 71 (2013)
    gas 1,689 km (2010)
    total: 5,919 km
    broad gauge: 5,919 km 1.524-m gauge (3,067 km electrified) (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 32
    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
    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); Finland also maintains 8,200 km of coastal fairways (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 17
    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
    major seaport(s): Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma

  • Military and Security :: FINLAND

  • Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army (Puolustusvoimat), Navy (Merivoimat; includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2013)
    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)
    1.37% of GDP (2016 est.)
    1.29% of GDP (2015)
    1.3% of GDP (2014)
    1.41% of GDP (2013)
    1.47% of GDP (2012)
    1.42% of GDP (2011)
    country comparison to the world: 62

  • Transnational Issues :: FINLAND

  • 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
    stateless persons: 2,427 (2015)