Republic of Finland

National name: Suomen Tasavalta—Republiken Finland

President: Tarja Halonen (2000)

Prime Minister: Matti Vanhanen (2003)

Land area: 117,942 sq mi (305,470 sq km); total area: 130,558 sq mi (338,145 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 5,231,372 (growth rate: 0.1%); birth rate: 10.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 3.5/1000; life expectancy: 78.5; density per sq mi: 44

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Helsinki, 1,162,900 (metro. area), 582,600 (city proper)

Other large cities: Espoo, 229,500; Tampere, 201,200; Vantaa, 189,200; Turku, 178,100

Monetary unit: Euro (formerly markka)

Languages: Finnish 92%, Swedish 6% (both official); small Sami- (Lapp) and Russian-speaking minorities

Ethnicity/race: Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Sami (Lapp) 0.1%, Roma 0.2%, Estonian 0.2%

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 84%, Greek Orthodox 1%, other Christian 1%, none 14%

Literacy rate: 100% (1980 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $159.7 billion; per capita $30,600. Real growth rate: 2.2%. Inflation: 1.2%. Unemployment: 7.9%. Arable land: 7%. Agriculture: barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish. Labor force: 2.61 million; agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%. Industries: metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing. Natural resources: timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone. Exports: $67.88 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999). Imports: $56.45 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains. Major trading partners: Sweden, Germany, Russia, UK, U.S., Netherlands, Denmark, France (2004) .

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 2.548 million (2003); mobile cellular: 4.7 million (2003). Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998). Television broadcast stations: 120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999). Internet hosts: 1,219,173 (2004). Internet users: 2.65 million (2002).

Transportation: Railways: total: 5,851 km (2004). Highways: total: 78,197 km; paved: 50,539 km (including 794 km of expressways); unpaved: 27,658 km (2004). Waterways: 7,842 km note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2004). Ports and harbors: Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvou, Raahe, Rauma, Turku. Airports: 148 (2004 est.).

International disputes: various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands.

 

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