Finland

Internet country code

.fi

Internet hosts

1,219,173 (2004)

Internet users

2.65 million (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

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; 1 submarine cable (Finland Estonia Connection); 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 - main lines in use

2.548 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.7 million (2003)

Television broadcast stations

120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $87.03 billion expenditures: $81.62 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 est.)

Currency

euro (EUR) note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code

EUR

Current account balance

$10.3 billion (2003)

Debt - external

$30 billion (December 1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

25.6 (1991)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $379 million (2001)

Economy - overview

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 exports equaling one-third 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. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 2003 was held back by the global slowdown but will pick up in 2004 provided the world economy suffers no further blows.

Electricity - consumption

76.18 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

1.81 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

11.77 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

71.2 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates

euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)

Exports

$54.28 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999)

Exports - partners

Germany 11.8%, Sweden 9.9%, US 8.2%, UK 8%, Russia 7.5%, Netherlands 4.8% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $142.2 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 4.3% industry: 32.7% services: 62.9% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $27,400 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$37.35 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains (1999)

Imports - partners

Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.1%, Russia 11.7%, Netherlands 6.3%, Denmark 5.7%, UK 5.3%, France 4.3% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2003 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.9% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

2.599 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%

Natural gas - consumption

4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

211,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

101,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

318,300 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

48.7% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold

$11.17 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate

9% (2003 est.)

Area

total: 338,145 sq km land: 304,473 sq km water: 33,672 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Montana

Climate

cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Coastline

1,250 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geographic coordinates

64 00 N, 26 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

640 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,690 km border countries: Norway 736 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 km

Land use

arable land: 7.19% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 92.78% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

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

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Helsinki

Constitution

1 March 2000

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Earle I. MACK embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, FIN-00140, Helsinki mailing address: APO AE 09723 telephone: [358] (9) 616250 FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARI chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800 FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000) head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Antti KALLIOMAKI (since 17 April 2003); note - former Prime Minister Anneli JAATTEENMAKI resigned 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 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to be held February 2006); 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 election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4% note: government coalition - KESK, SDP, and SFP

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)

Government type

republic

Independence

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)

Legal system

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

unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%, Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party - Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green League or VIHR [Osmo SOININVAARA]; Left Alliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Paavo LIPPONEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-Erik ENESTAM]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It 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 on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.8 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2% (FY98/99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,226,890 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,013,961 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (October 2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 32,058 (2004 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.5% (male 466,036; female 448,339) 15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,760,472; female 1,719,917) 65 years and over: 15.7% (male 323,082; female 496,666) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

10.56 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Sami 0.1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,500 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.59 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages

Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.24 years male: 74.73 years female: 81.89 years (2004 est.)

Literacy

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

Median age

total: 40.7 years male: 39.1 years female: 42.2 years (2004 est.)

Nationality

noun: Finn(s) adjective: Finnish

Net migration rate

0.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

5,214,512 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

0.18% (2004 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

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: 0.65 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

148 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 75 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 69 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 78,137 km paved: 50,398 km (including 750 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,739 km (2003)

Merchant marine

total: 90 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,152,175 GRT/1,053,906 DWT by type: bulk 9, cargo 26, chemical tanker 5, container 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 9, roll on/roll off 28, short-sea/passenger 10 foreign-owned: Estonia 1 registered in other countries: 39 (2004 est.)

Pipelines

gas 694 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

total: 5,851 km broad gauge: 5,851 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2003)

Waterways

7,842 km note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2004)