Finland

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Finland's Information


Capital	Helsinki
Languages	Finnish (official) 88.3%, Swedish (official) 5.3%, Russian 1.4%, other 5% (2016 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Romani 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)
Religion	Lutheran 72%, Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 25.3% (2016 est.)
Government	Parliamentary republic
Independance	6 December 1917 (from Russia)
Area	338,145.00 km²
Water Area	34,330.00 km²
Land Area	303,815.00 km²
Population	5,498,211.00 The vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely poplulated
Location	Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
No. Bordering Countries	3
Bordering Countries	Norway 709 km, Sweden 545 km, Russia 1,309 km
GDP(PPP)	$226,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$40,600.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Germany, Sweden, and the United States.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are electrical and optical equipment, machinery, and transport equipment.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Germany, Sweden, and Russia.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, and chemicals.
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

Where is Finland?

Located in Northern Europe, Finland has a 2,563.00 km border with Norway (709 km), Sweden (545 km) and Russia (1,309 km). It has a 1,250.00 km coastline. Various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas which were ceded to the former Soviet Union.

Helsinki became the capital city of Finland in 1812 when Russia invaded and conquered the present-day Finland. It is the largest city in the country and an important business hub. It has a population of 588,941 in the city itself. The climate of Helsinki is comprised of 4 distinct seasons, with the coldest month being December.

Geography

Finland has a mean elevation of 164 m above sea level.

It has a cool temperate climate that is relatively mild. Its terrain is mostly low, with flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills.

Population

Finland has a population of 5,498,211 making it the 117th largest in the world. The vast majority of the population lives in the south.

Finnish and Swedish are official languages. The major ethnic group is Finn followed by Swede. The majority of the population is Lutheran.

The two official languages that are included in the Language Act of Finland are Swedish and Finnish. Besides, there are some other unofficial languages as well. The government of Finland protects the rights of its citizen to use Finnish and Swedish languages at the administrative level. The minority languages spoken in Finland are unique and only used by a small percentage of the total population. Some of the statements used in Finland are the same as used in different counties but have a different meaning. Finnish sign language is also among the minority languages spoken in the country.

Government

Finland is an independent country. It gained independence from Russia in 1917. Its constitution was last ratified in 2000.

The government of Finland is a constitutional republic where the president is the head of state. The current president is Sauli Niinisto who has served since March of 2012. The prime minister is Juha Sipila, and has been in office since May 29, 2015. Sauli Niinisto is the 12th president to serve Finland. The house of parliament is located in Helsinki. The formal residence of the president is in the capital north of Esplanadi. The president is entitled to serve a six year term under the constitution of Finland. Citizens aged 18 years and above have a right to vote in Finland.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Finland's GDP is $226,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $40,600.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 62nd largest economy and its citizens the 40th richest in the world. The currency of Finland is the Euro (EUR).

Its major export partners are Germany, Sweden, and the United States. Its main exports are electrical and optical equipment, machinery, and transport equipment. Its major import partners are Germany, Sweden, and Russia. Its major imports include foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, and chemicals.

Flag

The Finnish flag features a blue cross on a white backgrond. It is the national (civil) flag of the country, although authorities also have access to both a state and a presidential flag. The current flag has been in use since May 29, 1918. The flag symbolizes Finland as a nation of many lakes with snowy landscape by its blue cross and white background. The current flag is a product of design work of two great designers that came up with the blue cross on white background.