Statistical information Finland 1998

Finland in the World
top of pageBackground: Long ruled by foreign powers, including Sweden and the pre-revolutionary Russian Empire, Finland finally declared independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland fought the USSR twice and then the Germans toward the end of the war. In the following half-century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy. Per capita income has risen to the West European level; Finland is a member of the European Union and is the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1998.
top of pageLocation: 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 reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 337,030 km²
Land: 305,470 km²
Water: 31,560 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Montana
Land boundariesTotal: 2,628 km
Border countries: (3) Norway 729 km;
, Sweden 586 km;
, Russia 1,313 kmCoastline: 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 6 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland_3 nm)
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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
Natural resources: timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver
Land useArable land: 8%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 76%
Other: 16% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 640 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
top of pagePopulation: 5,149,242 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 0.2% (1998 est.)
NationalityNoun: Finn(s)
Adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups: Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Lapp 0.11%, Gypsy 0.12%, Tatar 0.02%
Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 19% (male 488,974; female 469,343)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,736,883; female 1,700,466)
65 years and over: 14% (male 284,929; female 468,647) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.2% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 11.24 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 9.65 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.45 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
International agreements party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulphur 94
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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: 0.61 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 3.82 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 77.15 years
Male: 73.61 years
Female: 80.83 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100% (1980 est.)
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Finland
Conventional short form: Finland
Local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
Local short form: Suomi
Government type: republic
Capital: Helsinki
Administrative divisions: 6 provinces (laanit, singular_laani; Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Lanni, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani
Dependent areasIndependence: 6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution: 17 July 1919
Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
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 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Martti AHTISAARI elected president; percent of vote_Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
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 19 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999)
Election results: percent of vote by party_Social Democratic Party 28.3%, Center Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green League 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats by party_Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22, Swedish People's Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1, Finnish Christian League 7, Young Finns 2, Aaland Islands 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus, judges appointed by the president
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA
In the us chancery: 3,301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 298-5,800
In the us fax: [1] (202) 298-6,030
In the us consulates general: Los Angeles and New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER
From the us embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
From the us mailing address: APO AE 9,723
From the us telephone: [358] (9) 171,931
From the us fax: [358] (9) 174,681
Flag description
: white with a blue cross that extends 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)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of goods representing about 30% 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. The economy has come back from the recession of 1990-92, which had been caused by economic overheating, depressed foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods. The Finns voted in an October 1994 referendum to enter the EU, and Finland officially joined the Union on 1 January 1995. Attempts to cut the unacceptably high rate of unemployment and increasing integration with Western Europe will dominate the economic picture over the next few years. Despite high unemployment and moderate GDP growth of 3.9% anticipated for 1998, inflation is forecast to rise to 2.5%
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 4.6% (1997 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $20,000 (1997 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 7%
Industry: 37%
Services: 56% (1995)
Agriculture products: cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric tons
Industries: metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1995)
Labor forceTotal: 2.533 million
By occupation public services: 30.4%
By occupation industry: 20.9%
By occupation commerce: 15.0%
By occupation finance insurance and business services: 10.2%
By occupation agriculture and forestry: 8.6%
By occupation transport and communications: 7.7%
By occupation construction: 7.2%
Unemployment rate: 14.6% (1997 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $33 billion
Expenditures: $40 billion, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1996 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: total value:$38.4 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
Commodoties: paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timber
Partners: EU 46.5% (Germany 13.4%, UK 10.4%), Sweden 10.1%, US 6.7%, Japan 2.6%, Russia 4.8% (1995)
Imports: total value:$29.3 billion (c.i.f., 1996)
Commodoties: foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains
Partners: EU 44% (Germany 16.6%, UK 8.0%), Sweden 11.7%, US 7.1%, Russia 7.1%, Japan 6.3% (1995)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $30 billion (December 1993)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: markkaa (FMk) per US$1_5.4948 (January 19,987), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994), 5.7123 (1993)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 14.143 million kW (1995)
Production: 58.626 billion kWh (1995)
Consumption per capita: 13,181 kWh (1995)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 2.5 million (1995 est.)
Telephone system: good service from cable and microwave radio relay network
Domestic: cable and microwave radio relay
International: 1 submarine cable; 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $1.9 billion (1995)
Percent of gdp: 1.6% (1995)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 158 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 69
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 23
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 13
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 21
With paved runways under 914 m: 9 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 89
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 84 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: natural gas 580 km
RailwaysTotal: 5,859 km
Broad gauge: 5,859 km 1.524-m gauge (2,073 km electrified; 480 km double- or more-track) (1996)
RoadwaysWaterways: 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal; 3,700 km suitable for steamers
Merchant marineTotal: 93 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,069,794 GRT/1,127,087 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 8, cargo 22, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 11, passenger 1, railcar carrier 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 34, short-sea passenger 11 (1997 est.)
Ports and terminalsFinland - Transnational issues 1998
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: minor transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for the West European market