Finland

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More Facts & Figures

National name: Suomen Tasavalta—Republiken Finland

Current government officials

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%

National Holiday: Independence Day, December 6

Literacy rate: 100% (2000 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2009 est.): $182.6 billion; per capita $34,900. Real growth rate: –7.6%. Inflation: 0%. Unemployment: 8.5%. Arable land: 7%. Agriculture: barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish. Labor force: 2.68 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: $57.8 billion (2009 est.): machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999). Imports: $54.1 billion (2009 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, China (2006) .

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 1.92 million (2006); mobile cellular: 5.67 million (2006). Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998). Television broadcast stations: 120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999). Internet hosts: 2.323 million (2007). Internet users: 2.925 million (2006).

Transportation: Railways: total: 5,741 km (2006). Highways: total: 78,189 km; paved: 50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways); unpaved: 27,556 km (2006). 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 (2007).

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.

Major sources and definitions