Finland

Finland
Type	Country
Key terms	Nordic, welfare state, biodiversity
Related	Nordic countries, European Union, Baltic Sea
Examples	Helsinki, Lapland, Åland Islands
Domain	Geography, History, Economy
Wikidata	Q33

Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Northern European country and one of the Nordic nations (with Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland). It lies east of Sweden and south of Norway, with Russia to its east, and fronts on the Gulf of Bothnia (western Baltic Sea) and the Gulf of Finland (southern Baltic). Finland covers about 338,000 square kilometers, making it among the larger countries of Europe, though most of its 5.6 million people live in towns in the south. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki. The country’s two official languages are Finnish (a Uralic language) and Swedish (a Germanic language), reflecting its history under Swedish rule.

Finland is noted for its vast boreal landscape: roughly 70–75% of its land is forest, often called taiga (northern coniferous forest), and it boasts over 180,000 lakes and thousands of coast and inland islands. The climate ranges from humid continental in the south (cold winters, warm summers) to subarctic in the north; summers are short and winters long, with snow cover several months of the year. Despite its high latitude (roughly 60°–70° N), Finland’s climate is tempered by maritime influences (Atlantic currents and warm air from the southwest) so the southern coast is milder than one might expect. The Arctic Circle crosses northern Finland, where the midnight sun shines around the summer solstice and polar night occurs in midwinter. Finland’s modern society is highly developed, with one of the highest standards of living and education in the world. It is a parliamentary republic and member of the European Union (since 1995) and was a founding member of the United Nations.

Geography and Environment

Finland’s terrain is largely flat or gently rolling, shaped by glaciation. The south and west feature archipelagos and coastal lowlands; central Finland rises to a lake district on a rocky plateau; and the far north (Lapland) is upland and fells (rounded hills and low mountains). The highest point is Haltitunturi at 1,324 m, and the lowest is sea level along the Baltic coast. Approximately 10% of Finland’s area is water: its lakes, rivers and wetlands. The famous Lakeland region in central and eastern Finland alone contains tens of thousands of lakes and ponds. Much of the country is covered by coniferous forest (pine and spruce) and mires (peatlands). Agriculture is possible only on about 7–8% of the land (mostly in the south and southwest), due to the cool climate and thin soils; potatoes, barley, wheat and oats are the chief crops in good years. In Lapland and the far north, nature transitions to tundra-like conditions with birch and reindeer moss.

Finland’s climate is heavily influenced by latitude and altitude. Winters (December–March) are long and cold, with average January temperatures from about 0 °C on the southern coast to –10 °C in the interior. The coldest recorded temperature is around –51.5 °C in Kittilä (Lapland). Summers are brief but warm, especially in the south and Helsinki region where July daytime highs average 20–22 °C (68–72 °F). Finland’s position between the Atlantic Ocean and Eurasian continent produces variable weather: milder, wetter air from the west keeps winter temperatures well above those of Siberia at the same latitude, while strong high-pressure systems over Eurasia can occasionally bring very cold spells. Precipitation is moderate (roughly 500–700 mm per year), spread evenly through the seasons. Snow covers much of the country from late autumn to spring (longer in the north).

Despite its large forest cover, Finland faces environmental challenges. Forestry products (timber, pulp and paper) are important to the economy, but excessive logging and drainage of peat have raised concerns about habitat loss and carbon emissions. Finland has aggressively pursued renewables: bioenergy, hydroelectricity and wind account for a large share of its national energy, and the last coal power plant was retired in 2025. The country aims to become carbon-neutral by 2035. Pollution levels are generally low compared to many industrial nations, and Finland’s air and water are relatively clean. The natural environment remains a point of pride: about 10% of the land is officially protected (national parks, nature reserves and wilderness areas). Well-known parks include Nuuksio and Kolovesi near the south, and Urho Kekkonen and Lemmenjoki in Lapland. Wildlife includes brown bears, wolves, lynx, moose, reindeer (in Lapland) and the rare Saimaa ringed seal in the lakes. Finland’s national concept of everyman’s right (jokamiehenoikeus) guarantees public access to nature for hiking, berry-picking and fishing on both public and many private lands, reflecting the cultural importance of the outdoors.

Population and Society

Finland’s population is about 5.6 million (2024 estimate), giving a low density of roughly 18 inhabitants per square kilometer – one of the lowest in the EU. Over 70% of Finns live in urban areas in the southern part of the country. The Helsinki metropolitan area (including Espoo and Vantaa) is home to about 1.5 million people (around 27% of the total population). Other major cities are Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä and Kuopio, mostly in the south and west. In contrast, Lapland in the north has only about 2 inhabitants per km², and the rural interior is sparsely populated.

Finland’s ethnic majority (over 85%) are ethnic Finns, a Uralic-speaking people whose language is distantly related to Estonian and Hungarian. About 5% of the population are Finland-Swedes (Swedish-speaking Finns), descended from the historic Swedish rule; Swedish is a co-official language, and both Finnish and Swedish are taught in schools. The indigenous Sámi people (20,000 or so) live in the far north, mainly practicing reindeer herding and speaking Sámi languages (several Sámi languages are recognized in the north). In recent decades Finland has become more diverse: foreign-born residents and their children now exceed 600,000 (over 10% of the population), hailing largely from Russia, Estonia, Iraq, Somalia, Ukraine and Asia. Despite this growth in immigrants, society remains relatively homogeneous, and the Finnish majority retains a strong sense of cultural identity.

Finns have one of the world’s oldest populations. The fertility rate (about 1.25 children per woman, one of the lowest globally) is well below the replacement level. As a result, the median age is around 44 years and nearly a quarter of Finns are 65 or older. Life expectancy is high (around 79 years for men, 84 for women), reflecting advanced healthcare. Education is universal and free: literacy is virtually 100%. Indeed, Finland’s education system is highly regarded internationally, and Finnish students have consistently scored near the top in OECD assessments. The society is generally secular and egalitarian. Approximately 60–65% of Finns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (a national church by law, though church and state have been formally separated), about 1–2% belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church (a remnant of the Russian era), and around 35% have no religious affiliation; church attendance is low. Finnish culture values personal privacy and modesty: Finns tend to be reserved, straightforward and punctual. Trust in institutions is high – Finland regularly ranks near the top worldwide for absence of corruption and rule of law. Social equality is a clear priority, reflected in policies like extensive welfare programs, universal healthcare and free higher education.

History

Finland has a complex history as a borderland between East and West. The first humans arrived in Finland soon after the last Ice Age (about 9000 BC), migrating from the south and east. These hunter-gatherers were later followed by Finno-Ugric tribes in the first millennium BC; over the centuries, farming and metal-working spread, and trade links developed across the Baltic Sea. By the Middle Ages (around 1200s AD), Finland was loosely incorporated into the Kingdom of Sweden. For the next 600 years, Finnish territory was governed from Stockholm (Sweden), and Swedish laws and culture (including Lutheran Christianity) took root. Finnish language and identity were maintained largely among the rural peasant majority.

After the Napoleonic Wars, Sweden ceded Finland to the Russian Empire in 1809. Under the Tsar, Finland became the Grand Duchy of Finland, with a remarkable degree of self-rule (it had its own currency, laws and administration). The 19th century saw a rise in Finnish national consciousness: Finnish became an official language (alongside Swedish) in 1863, and scholars and artists gathered folk tales and traditions (Kalevala, the Finnish national epic, was published in 1835). In 1906 Finland became one of the first countries in the world to grant all adult citizens – including women – the right to vote and run for office.

The upheavals of World War I and the Russian Revolution brought Finland full independence on 6 December 1917, when the Finnish Parliament declared a sovereign republic. The following year saw a bitter civil war (Clash of “Reds” vs. “Whites”) in which the conservative-led Whites prevailed. Finland emerged with a democratic system and land reforms favoring small farmers.

During World War II, Finland fought the Soviet Union twice: the Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944, aligned with Germany). In harsh conflict, Finland defended its territory fiercely but ultimately ceded some eastern lands (notably Karelia and Petsamo) to the USSR under the Moscow Armistice of 1944. A subsequent Lapland War (1944–1945) forced retreating German troops out of northern Finland. Despite these losses and heavy war reparations to the Soviet Union, Finland retained its independence and democratic institutions (unlike many other countries caught between great powers).

In the postwar era, Finland pursued a policy of careful neutrality between East and West – a situation sometimes called “Finlandization.” The country rapidly industrialized and built a comprehensive welfare state (universal healthcare, extensive education, pensions). Finland became culturally and economically aligned with the other Nordic countries, even as it maintained good relations with the Soviet Union. In 1955 Finland joined the United Nations, cementing its international role. By the 1980s the long-serving President Urho Kekkonen had guided Finland through the Cold War with a pragmatic, pro-Scandinavian approach.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Finland moved closer to Western institutions. It quickly joined the European Union in 1995 (and adopted the euro in 2002), while retaining strong ties to its Russian neighbor. In recent years Finland has continued to modernize its economy and infrastructure. In 2023 Finland abandoned its long-standing non-alignment policy by joining NATO after a national debate sparked by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. In March 2024 Alexander Stubb became president (succeeding Sauli Niinistö). Today Finland is noted as one of the most stable and peaceful nations: it regularly ranks at or near the top of indices for democracy, press freedom and quality of life.

Government and Politics

Finland is a unitary parliamentary republic. Political power is shared between a directly elected President (head of state) and a Prime Minister (head of government). The President of Finland (currently Alexander Stubb) is elected for a six-year term and formally leads foreign policy and national defense, but has limited veto power over legislation. In practice the Prime Minister (currently Petteri Orpo) and the Cabinet conduct most domestic and executive policymaking.

Legislative authority is vested in the Parliament of Finland (Eduskunta in Finnish), a single chamber of 200 members elected every four years by proportional representation. Finland has a multi-party system, and governments are always coalitions. Major parties include the Social Democratic Party (center-left), the National Coalition Party (center-right), the Centre Party (rural interests), the Green League, the Left Alliance, the Swedish Peoples’ Party (representing Swedish speakers), and the Finns Party (populist right-wing). No one party wins an outright majority, so prime ministers must assemble alliances across the spectrum. For example, the government formed in mid-2023 is a coalition of four parties (Centre, National Coalition, Finns, and Swedish People’s Party) led by the National Coalition’s Petteri Orpo.

Finland’s constitution guarantees extensive individual rights and the rule of law. Universal suffrage applies at age 18; notably, Finnish women were the first in the world to gain full political rights (in 1906). The judiciary is independent, with a Supreme Court for criminal and civil appeals and a separate Supreme Administrative Court for disputes involving government decisions. Local government is decentralized: there are 19 regions (maakunta) and 300+ municipalities, each with taxation power and responsibility for services like schools and healthcare (though many services are nationally regulated).

Finnish politics traditionally emphasize consensus-building and social partnership. National income policy agreements (collected during tripartite negotiations among unions, employers and government) are common. Unions have high membership and collective bargaining coverage. Finland maintains one of the strongest social safety nets in Europe: extensive public health care, child care, unemployment benefits and pensions are financed by high taxes.

Foreign policy and defense have been marked by caution. Until 2023 Finland stayed outside military alliances, relying on careful neutrality (while increasing cooperation with EU and NATO exercises in recent decades). Both houses of Parliament and public opinion backed NATO membership after 2022. Finland also is a member of the Schengen Area and closely integrated in European affairs through the EU; it was the first Nordic country to adopt the euro. Its foreign relations are generally amicable: it has close ties with other Nordic and EU countries, and it maintains pragmatic dialogue with Russia, its long eastern neighbor.

Economy

Finland has a high-income mixed economy, combining free-market capitalism with a comprehensive welfare state. Its GDP per capita is comparable to Western Europe’s (the IMF ranked Finland around 16th globally in nominal GDP per person as of 2022). The economy is highly diversified, export-oriented, and among the most competitive in the world. Finland’s currency is the euro, adopted in 2002.

The service sector is the largest part of the economy (around 70–73% of GDP), led by information technology, communications, trade, banking and education. Industry (about 27–30% of GDP) includes key fields like electronics (e.g. telecommunications equipment and electronic parts), machinery and vehicle manufacturing, forest products and chemicals. Agriculture is small (under 3% of GDP) and heavily mechanized. In 2018, for example, services generated roughly two-thirds of GDP, industry about a third, and primary production (forestry/farming) about 3%. Major Finnish companies include Nokia (telecommunications), Kone (elevators/escalators), UPM and Stora Enso (forestry and paper products), Wärtsilä (marine engines), Fortum (energy), and Neste (refining and biofuels). The Helsinki metropolitan area alone produces about one-third of Finland’s GDP.

Exports and trade are crucial: roughly a third of GDP comes from foreign trade. The European Union (Germany, Sweden, Netherlands) accounts for over half of exports, but important markets also include the U.S., China, Russia, and others. Major export categories are electronics and software, machinery and vehicles, chemicals, metals, paper and timber. Imports include machinery, electronic products, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs and energy products. Finland is the only Nordic country in the Eurozone (Sweden and Denmark retained their own currencies). It is generally pro-free trade within the EU framework, though sensitive sectors (like agriculture and forestry) see more protection.

Over the past decades, Finland has prided itself on innovation and education as economic drivers. In the early 1990s, following a deep recession, Finland invested heavily in technology and education. For a time it became a world leader in mobile communications (Nokia’s rise transformed the economy). Today Finland consistently ranks high on measures of innovation (7th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023) and digital readiness. The country’s workforce is highly skilled; R&D spending is around 2–3% of GDP and public investment in research is substantial.

The Finnish economic model is known for its comprehensive social welfare system. Government revenue and spending each exceed 50% of GDP (among the highest in Europe), supporting universal publicly funded healthcare, education (including free universities), and pensions. Employees and employers pay heavy taxes but receive strong social security in return. This model has contributed to low poverty and extremely low income inequality: Finland’s Gini coefficient is one of the lowest in the world. Unemployment has varied (for example, reaching about 10% in early 2025), but social insurance programs help cushion jobless workers. In general, living standards are high: Finland often ranks near the top of human development indices.

Growing sectors include clean technology, software, game development, and specialty manufacturing (forestry-based bioproducts, advanced machinery). The Finnish start-up scene (for example, gaming company Supercell, navigation company Wartsila) is lively. Tourism also plays a role: in particular winter tourism in Lapland and summer lake tourism are sizeable. Agriculture is protected by the climate; Finnish farmers have adapted by using short-season crops, greenhouses, and sophisticated machinery. Despite the harsh climate in parts of the country, Finland has productive commercial forests (with state support) and some of the world’s largest peatlands (used for heat but phased out due to CO₂ concerns). Indeed, in 2025 the last coal power plant in Finland closed, as part of ambitious climate goals to cut carbon emissions by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2035.

Culture and Society

Finnish culture blends indigenous heritage with Nordic and global influences. Due to centuries under Swedish and Russian rule, Finland absorbed elements of Western and Eastern European cultures, yet it preserved its own Finno-Ugric folklore and traditions. The national language Finnish (Suomi) is central to identity; schools also teach compulsory Swedish, reflecting the bilingual heritage. Historically, the Finnish-speaking majority and Swedish-speaking minority have coexisted peacefully, with minority rights protected by law. Finland also officially recognizes Sami languages (in Lapland) and a few other minority languages.

A strong value in Finnish society is egalitarianism. From social policies to informal life, people tend to believe in fairness and gender equality. (Finland was led by a female prime minister, Sanna Marin, from 2019 to 2023.) Public services such as child care and healthcare are widely accessible, and there is an emphasis on consensus and community. Individualism is balanced by a sense of social responsibility: Finns pay high taxes but enjoy wide safety nets. Privacy and humility are cultural norms – bragging is frowned upon, and silence is valued as much as speech in communication.

The famous Finnish trait of sisu — a roughly untranslatable word meaning grit, resilience and determination in adversity — captures a national spirit shaped by the long-run winters and historic struggles. Outdoor life is also a cornerstone: virtually every Finn owns or has access to a mökki (summer cottage) by a village or lake, and activities like cross-country skiing, ice hockey, berry-picking and sauna are ingrained in culture. Indeed, the sauna (a hot steam bath) is an institution: traditionally a communal and family ritual, nearly every house and many corporate offices have a sauna.

Finland has contributed to arts and literature in the Nordic tradition. The 19th-century national epic Kalevala (compiled by Elias Lönnrot) sparked interest in Finnish folklore and helped develop literary Finnish. Renowned Finns in literature and science include Nobel laureates Frans Eemil Sillanpää (literature, 1939) and Artturi Virtanen (chemistry, 1945), and architect Alvar Aalto (who introduced organic modernist design in furniture and buildings worldwide). Composer Jean Sibelius (1865–1957) is another national icon, known for symphonies and the patriotic tone poem “Finlandia.” In design, Finnish modernism (for example, Marimekko fashion prints and Aino Aalto furniture) has global renown.

Contemporary culture is lively and often innovative. Finnish cinema has produced international directors and over a dozen celebrated film festivals. In music, Finns have more heavy metal bands per capita than any country, and Finnish pop, techno and classical artists enjoy global audiences. Winter sports are Finland’s athletic forte: cross-country skiing champions like Paavo Nurmi and current NHL ice hockey stars are national heroes. Finland also claims to be the home of Santa Claus, with a winter tourism industry around Rovaniemi, Lapland. Every year Finns celebrate unique festivals: “Juhannus” the Midsummer (with bonfires) and “Vappu” (May Day carnival). Finnish cuisine traditionally emphasizes clean, natural ingredients: for example, rye bread, smoked salmon, fresh berries and mushrooms, reindeer meat, and hearty stews.

Finns place a high importance on education and knowledge. Schooling is free at all levels, including university. Finnish students have for decades scored at the top of international studies (PISA), a result often credited to equal school funding, untracked classrooms, and respect for teachers (teaching is a competitive and highly trained profession in Finland). Adult education and participation in research are strongly supported, and the country boasts high numbers of inventors and patents per capita. This focus on learning permeates daily life: library use in Finland is among the highest in the world, and Finns devote considerable time to reading and cultural activities.