Finland country profile

27 August 2006
by eub2 -- last modified 04 January 2008

Finland became an independent state following the Russian revolution in 1917. Finland is one of the Member States of the European Union, having joined in 1995.

Suomen Tasavalta (Finnish) / Republik Finland (Swedish)

Finland, a country of forests and lakes, is perhaps best known for its unspoilt natural beauty. In the far north, the White Nights, during which the sun does not set, last for around 10 weeks of the summer. In winter the same area goes through nearly eight weeks when the sun never rises above the horizon.

As a result of the fact that Finland was a part of Sweden for seven centuries, (from the 12th century until 1809) some 6% of the population is Swedish-speaking. Finland became an independent state following the Russian revolution in 1917. Since this date Finland has been a republic. It has a one-chamber parliament whose 200 members are elected every four years.

The country has developed a modern, competitive economy, and is a world leader in telecommunications equipment. Main exports include telecoms equipment and engineering products, paper, pulp and lumber, glassware, stainless steel and ceramics.

Its remote northern beauty has inspired many artists, including the composer Jean Sibelius and the designer Alvar Aalto.

Finnish food has been influenced by continental, Russian and Swedish cuisines. Traditional specialities include fish (especially salmon and turbot roe), as well as reindeer meat. Specific dishes to look for include karjalanpiirakka (rice or potato pastry) and kalakukko (fish and pork fat baked inside a loaf).

Area: 338 145 km²
Population: 5.26 million
Capital city: Helsinki
Currency: 1 euro = 100 cent
National day: 6 December
EU-membership: 1 January 1995

Head of State: President Tarja Halonen
Head of Government: Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen
Foreign Minister: Ilkka Kanerva
Government: Coalition: Suomen Keskusta (KESK, Finnish Centre Party, 55 seats), Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (SDP, Finnish Social Democratic Party, 53 seats), Svenska Folkpartiet i Finland (SFP, Swedish People’s Party in Finland, 9 seats)
Parliament: Unicameral: Eduskunta, 200 members, elections every 4 years

GDP: € 157.4 billion (5)
GDP per capita in PPS: € 30 005 (2005)
Economic growth in real terms: + 2.8% (2005)

Links:
Head of State: http://www.president.fi
Head of Government: http://www.vnk.fi
Government: http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi
Foreign Minister: http://formin.finland.fi
Parliament: http://www.eduskunta.fi

Map of Finland


Source: European Commission, Slovenia EU Presidency