Language: Finnish, Swedish
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Calling Code:
358
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a
member country of the European Union since 1995 and located in
northeastern Europe. It has borders to the west with Sweden, to the
east with Russia and to the north with Norway. To the west and south
it is surrounded by the Baltic Sea, which separates it from Sweden
and Estonia, crossing the gulfs of Botnia and Finland, respectively.
The most important capital and city of the country is Helsinki.
In 2017, Finland had a population of 5.5 million inhabitants in
an area of 338 145 km² The vast majority of the country's
population is concentrated in the extreme south, on the coast of the
Gulf of Finland and its surroundings ( including the Metropolitan
Area of Helsinki). Finland is the sixth largest country in Europe
and has a low population density of 16 inhabitants per km², which
makes the country the first lowest population density in the
European Union. Most Finns speak Finnish (or Finnish) as their
mother tongue, which is one of the few official languages of the
European Union that do not descend from the Indo-European family.
The second official language of Finland is Swedish, spoken as a
mother tongue by 5.6% of the population.
Finland was part of
Sweden until in 1809 it was annexed by the Russian Empire, becoming
the Grand Duchy of Finland (an autonomous entity of Russia until
1917, when it gained independence). Currently, Finland is a
democratic and parliamentary republic, and has been a member of the
United Nations since 1955, as well as of the European Union since
1995. The Finnish economy is one of the most prosperous in Europe,
based on the important service sectors, as well as as of
manufacture. In the country there is a welfare state, as well as a
highly democratic policy with extremely low levels of corruption.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the
capital and largest city of Finland, situated on the southern coast
along the Gulf of Finland. Founded in 1550 and moved to its current
location in 1640, it became the capital in 1812 during Russian rule
and has grown into a vibrant, modern Nordic metropolis known for its
elegant mix of neoclassical, Art Nouveau, and contemporary
architecture. The city is famous for landmarks like Senate Square
with its white Helsinki Cathedral, the waterfront Market Square, the
design district, and the monumental Temppeliaukio Rock Church carved
into bedrock. As a cultural and economic hub, Helsinki boasts
world-class museums (such as the Ateneum and Kiasma), the opera
house, and a thriving tech scene. It is surrounded by sea and
islands, offers excellent public transport, and is consistently
ranked among the world’s most livable cities for its clean
environment, high quality of life, and progressive design culture.
Southern Finland
Southern Finland (Etelä-Suomi) is the
southernmost and most densely populated region of Finland,
encompassing the coastal areas along the Gulf of Finland and
extending inland. It includes major cities such as Helsinki, Espoo,
Vantaa, Turku, and Tampere, and is characterized by a milder climate
compared to northern parts of the country, with fertile farmland,
numerous lakes, and an extensive archipelago. Historically, this
area has been the economic and cultural heartland of Finland,
serving as a crossroads for trade between Sweden, Russia, and the
Baltic states. Today it is the country’s industrial, commercial, and
technological powerhouse, home to leading universities, high-tech
companies (especially in the Helsinki metropolitan area), and
vibrant cultural institutions. The landscape blends urban centers
with scenic countryside, coastal towns, and historic sites, making
Southern Finland both the gateway to the country and its most
international face.
Mannerheim Line
The Mannerheim Line was a formidable defensive fortification system
built by Finland across the Karelian Isthmus during the 1930s to
protect against a potential Soviet invasion. Named after Field
Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, it stretched roughly 135
kilometers from the Gulf of Finland to Lake Ladoga and consisted of
bunkers, trenches, anti-tank obstacles, barbed wire, and concrete
fortifications integrated into the rugged, lake-dotted terrain.
Though often mythologized as an impenetrable barrier, it was
actually a series of interconnected strongpoints rather than a
continuous wall. The line played a crucial role in the Winter War
(1939–1940), where Finnish forces used it to inflict massive
casualties on the numerically superior Red Army through determined
defense and harsh winter conditions. Despite ultimately being
breached, the Mannerheim Line became a powerful symbol of Finnish
resilience and military ingenuity against overwhelming odds. Parts
of the remaining fortifications can still be visited today as
historical sites.
Tavastia Proper (Kanta-Häme) is a compact southern Finnish region
known for its rolling hills, fertile farmlands, and extensive lake
systems, particularly the scenic Vanajavesi Lake, which forms part of
Finland’s national landscapes. Centered around historic Hämeenlinna with
its medieval castle, the area blends cultural heritage—such as ancient
Tavastian hillforts and Aulanko Nature Reserve—with agricultural
traditions and outdoor pursuits like hiking and boating, making it a
charming inland destination within easy reach of Helsinki.
Forssa is a vibrant town in Kanta-Häme,
strategically positioned near the center of the Helsinki-Turku-Tampere
triangle and known as the "City of Parks" for its lush green spaces and
National Urban Park that traces its evolution from medieval village to
industrial hub. Historically tied to the textile industry along the
Loimijoki River, it offers a mix of sporting facilities (including the
popular Vesihelmi water park), cultural sites, and natural surroundings,
appealing to visitors seeking a relaxed small-town atmosphere with good
connectivity.
Hämeenlinna is the historic capital of Tavastia Proper,
situated on the shores of Lake Vanajavesi and recognized as Finland’s
oldest inland city, dominated by its iconic 13th-century Häme Castle.
Birthplace of composer Jean Sibelius, the city combines medieval
landmarks, elegant 18th-19th century architecture, Aulanko Park’s
landscaped gardens, and modern amenities in a compact, nature-rich
setting just an hour from Helsinki, ideal for cultural exploration and
lakeside relaxation.
Riihimäki is a dynamic
railway-junction town in southern Kanta-Häme, about 70 km north of
Helsinki, that grew rapidly around Finland’s first railway line in the
19th century. Known for its glassmaking heritage (home to the Finnish
Glass Museum), military garrison, and industrial roots, it offers
museums, green spaces, and convenient transport links, serving as a
practical hub for travelers between major cities.
Päijänne Tavastia (Päijät-Häme) is a lakeland region in southern
Finland dominated by the vast Lake Päijänne and the Salpausselkä Ridge,
offering pristine waters, forests, and hills shaped by glacial activity.
With a strong Tavastian cultural identity, it features lively towns,
outdoor recreation like boating and hiking, and a mix of nature and
heritage, positioning it as a gateway to Finland’s famous Lakeland.
Heinola is a charming lakeside town in eastern
Päijänne Tavastia, nestled between Ruotsalainen and Konnivesi lakes and
known for its spa traditions, parks, and historic trading role since the
18th century. With a population around 18,000, it blends agricultural
heritage, cultural sites like bird sanctuaries and towers, and natural
beauty, providing a peaceful retreat with good access to Lahti and
beyond.
Lahti is the vibrant capital of
Päijänne Tavastia, located at the southern end of Lake Vesijärvi and
renowned as a hub for winter sports, culture, and sustainability
(Europe’s Green Capital 2021). Featuring modern architecture like
Sibelius Hall, scenic ridges, and a mix of urban energy with lakeside
trails, it serves as a dynamic gateway to Finnish Lakeland, about 100 km
from Helsinki.
East Uusimaa (formerly Itä-Uusimaa) is a coastal area east of
Helsinki known for its flat farmlands, historic towns like Porvoo
and Loviisa, and bilingual Swedish-Finnish communities. Featuring
medieval wooden architecture, fortresses, archipelago scenery, and
cultural landmarks along the King’s Road, it provides a picturesque
contrast to the capital’s bustle with strong maritime and
agricultural traditions.
Sipoo (Sibbo) is a
growing bilingual municipality northeast of Helsinki, blending rural
tranquility with metropolitan proximity through forests, lakes,
cliffs, and the Sipoonkorpi National Park. With a mix of Finnish and
Swedish speakers, it offers outdoor activities like hiking, boating,
and horseback riding, serving as a peaceful residential and
recreational extension of the capital region.
Loviisa (Lovisa)
is a serene coastal town in eastern Uusimaa, famous for its
well-preserved 18th-19th century wooden houses, gardens, old
fortress remnants, and charming seaside atmosphere. Bilingual and
relaxed, it features historic trails, parks, and a slower pace ideal
for exploring Finnish coastal heritage away from larger crowds.
Porvoo (Borgå) is one of Finland’s oldest and most
picturesque towns, located on the Gulf of Finland with a renowned
Old Town of colorful wooden buildings, cobblestone streets, and the
15th-century cathedral. A cultural and food capital with strong
Swedish influences, it attracts visitors for its medieval charm,
riverside granaries, artisan shops, and seasonal events just 50 km
from Helsinki.
Middle Uusimaa refers to the central part of
the region around Helsinki, characterized by a mix of suburban
growth, transport corridors, and transitional landscapes between
urban and rural/coastal zones. It serves as a connective hub with
growing towns, green belts, and easy access to both the capital’s
amenities and surrounding nature.
Metropolitan area (Helsinki
region) is Finland’s bustling economic and cultural core, including
Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, and Kauniainen, home to over 1.6 million
people with diverse international influences. It combines modern
infrastructure, world-class design, technology hubs, and extensive
green spaces with coastal and inland recreation.
Espoo (Esbo) is Finland’s second-largest
city, west of Helsinki, known for its innovation ecosystem
(including Aalto University), tech headquarters, and expansive
natural areas like Nuuksio National Park, 58 km of shoreline, and
numerous lakes. It offers a balance of suburban living, cultural
sites, and outdoor opportunities in a bilingual setting.
Vantaa (Vanda) is a multicultural city north
of Helsinki, home to the main international airport and a hub for
logistics, aviation, and diverse communities. With green parks,
forests, historic churches, and family-friendly amenities, it
provides convenient urban living with strong transport links and a
young, dynamic population.
Kauniainen (Grankulla) is a small, affluent, bilingual
enclave town completely surrounded by Espoo, known for its leafy
villa-style residential areas, low taxes, and high quality of life.
With a population around 10,000, it emphasizes greenery, community,
and proximity to Helsinki’s opportunities while maintaining a
peaceful, upscale suburban character.
North from Helsinki
metropolitan area covers commuter towns and suburban extensions
north of the capital, featuring growing residential zones, good rail
and road connections, and access to both urban services and nearby
nature like lakes and forests.
Järvenpää (Träskända)
is a cultural lakeside town on Lake Tuusula, about 35 km north of
Helsinki, famous as the long-time home of Jean Sibelius (Ainola
estate) and other artists. It combines artistic heritage, scenic
waterside paths, and family-friendly recreation in a compact,
accessible setting.
Hyvinkää (Hyvinge) is a
green, active town north of Helsinki known for its railway history,
wool industry past, and excellent outdoor opportunities along the
Salpausselkä Ridge, including skiing, cycling, and nature parks. It
balances urban services with hilly forested landscapes for
recreation.
Kerava (Kervo) is a compact,
densely populated town in central Uusimaa, part of the Helsinki
metropolitan area, offering convenient commuting, local services,
and a safe, walkable environment with emerging cultural and
recreational spots.
Klaukkala is a rapidly growing suburban urban area in
Nurmijärvi municipality, north of Helsinki, featuring residential
neighborhoods, lakes like Valkjärvi, forests, and modern amenities.
It provides a family-oriented setting with good connectivity while
retaining natural surroundings.
West Uusimaa encompasses the
western coastal and inland parts of the region, known for its
bilingual communities, archipelagos, lakes, and historic routes,
offering a mix of seaside towns, rural idylls, and nature preserves.
Kirkkonummi (Kyrkslätt) is a coastal municipality west
of Helsinki with diverse landscapes including rocky shores, forests,
and cultural sites like Hvitträsk villa. Bilingual and growing, it
appeals for nature, history, and proximity to the capital.
Lohja
(Lojo) is a lakeside town in western Uusimaa, often
called a "lake city" with Lohjanjärvi and surrounding ridges, apple
orchards, and summer cottage culture. It offers authentic Finnish
experiences, caves, cultural events, and easy day-trip access from
Helsinki.
Raseborg (Raasepori) is a
coastal town in western Uusimaa, formed by merging Ekenäs, Karis,
and Pojo, featuring historic sites like Raseborg Castle, charming
wooden towns, and a strong Swedish-speaking heritage. It blends
archipelago beauty, culture, and local food scenes.
Hanko (Hangö) is Finland’s southernmost town,
dubbed the "Riviera of Finland" for its sunny climate, long sandy
beaches, 130 km of coastline, and vibrant summer harbor life. A
historic port with spa traditions and archipelago access, it excels
in sailing, relaxation, and seaside activities.
Nuuksio National Park is a pristine forested oasis in
Espoo, just a short trip from Helsinki, featuring rocky hills, clear
lakes, old-growth woods, and diverse trails ideal for hiking,
camping, and wildlife spotting. It showcases classic Finnish nature
close to the capital.
Lake Bodom
(Bodominjärvi) is a scenic lake in Espoo, popular for recreation and
surrounded by forests, but widely known for the infamous unsolved
1960 murders of campers that inspired cultural references. Today it
offers peaceful trails, swimming, and nature experiences with a
layer of dark history.
Ekenäs Archipelago National Park
is a beautiful marine park near Raseborg, encompassing hundreds of
islands, skerries, sheltered harbors, and varied coastal ecosystems
from lush inner forests to rugged outer islets. Ideal for boating,
kayaking, and nature immersion, it highlights Finland’s southern
archipelago heritage.
Kymenlaakso is a region in southeastern Finland, known as the Valley
of the Kymi River (Kymijoki), one of the country's largest rivers. It is
one of the earliest industrialized areas in Finland, historically
central to the paper and pulp industry, and features a mix of coastal
charm, dense forests, rocky hills, and thousands of islands in the
eastern Gulf of Finland archipelago. The region borders Uusimaa,
Päijät-Häme, South Savo, South Karelia, and Russia, offering a blend of
industrial heritage, natural beauty like Repovesi National Park, and
vibrant port cities.
Kotka is a major coastal
port city in Kymenlaakso, situated at the mouth of the Kymi River on the
Gulf of Finland. With a population of around 52,000, it serves as an
important industrial and import harbor for eastern Finland, known for
its maritime history, beautiful parks, and cultural attractions like the
Vellamo Maritime Centre. The city features hundreds of islands, diverse
cultural influences, and a lively atmosphere blending seaside relaxation
with industrial roots.
Kouvola is the administrative capital of Kymenlaakso,
located inland along the Kymijoki River in southeastern Finland. With
about 78,000 residents, it functions as a key railway and logistics hub,
as well as Finland's largest garrison city, surrounded by forests,
nearly 500 lakes, and Repovesi National Park. The city offers a mix of
urban amenities, rural landscapes, sports, culture, and nature, making
it a versatile center in the region.
Hamina
is a historic coastal town in Kymenlaakso, founded in 1653 and known for
its unique circular town plan with a star-shaped fortress. Located near
Kotka, it features colorful wooden houses, an old town with museums and
cafés, and serves as a significant harbor for forest products. With
around 20,000 inhabitants, Hamina blends military history, charming
architecture, and modern industry like data centers.
South Karelia (Etelä-Karjala) is a region in southeastern Finland
bordering Kymenlaakso, South Savo, North Karelia, and Russia, centered
around the vast Lake Saimaa. It is renowned for its pristine lakes,
dense forests, cultural heritage tied to Karelian traditions, and appeal
as a tourist destination with summer cottages and waterways. The region
highlights natural beauty, border history, and outdoor activities in the
Finnish Lakeland.
Imatra is a city in South
Karelia, located on Lake Saimaa and the Vuoksi River near the Russian
border. Famous for its powerful Imatrankoski Rapids, which have
attracted tourists for centuries (including royalty and artists), it
combines industrial roots with natural wonders and a population of
around 25,000. The area offers scenic landscapes, history, and proximity
to attractions like the Imatran Valtionhotelli castle hotel.
Lappeenranta is the regional capital of South
Karelia, situated on the shores of Lake Saimaa in southeastern Finland.
With about 73,000 residents, it is a lively summer city known for its
harbor, fortress, mineral baths, university, and role as a trade and
tourist hub close to the Russian border. It blends historic sites,
modern sustainability efforts, beaches, and events in the heart of the
Finnish Lakeland.
West Coast
Central Ostrobothnia is a small coastal region in western Finland
along the Gulf of Bothnia, known as one of the country's least populous
mainland provinces with around 68,000 inhabitants. Its landscape
features flat agricultural plains, forests, and a scenic coastline, with
a bilingual heritage reflecting Finnish and Swedish influences. The
region emphasizes nature, culture, and traditional industries like
shipping and farming, offering visitors charming seaside towns, outdoor
activities, and a peaceful rural atmosphere.
Kannus
is a small unilingual Finnish town and municipality in Central
Ostrobothnia, with a population of about 5,200. Situated amid
agricultural lands, it has roots tracing back to Sámi habitation (its
name meaning "Sámi witch drum"), and it features a history shaped by
farming and recovery from a major 1930s fire. Today, it serves as a
quiet community hub with connections to neighboring areas like Kokkola.
Kokkola (Swedish: Karleby) is the regional
capital and largest city of Central Ostrobothnia, a charming bilingual
seaside town on the Gulf of Bothnia with around 48,000 residents.
Founded in 1620 by Swedish King Gustav II Adolf, it boasts a rich
trading and shipping heritage that continues today alongside modern
industries. Visitors enjoy its cultural events, historic wooden
architecture, coastal scenery, and role as a vibrant provincial center.
Ostrobothnia (Swedish: Österbotten) is a coastal region in western
Finland with a Swedish-speaking majority (about 51%), blending Finnish
and Swedish cultures along the Gulf of Bothnia. It features flat
farmlands, archipelago landscapes, and dynamic cities, serving as a hub
for energy, education, and exports while preserving strong maritime
traditions and bilingual identity.
Vasa / Vaasa
is the lively regional capital of Ostrobothnia on the Gulf of Bothnia, a
bilingual city (predominantly Finnish-speaking) with around 71,000
inhabitants. Known as Finland's sunniest city and an energy technology
powerhouse, it offers historic ruins of Old Vaasa, a modern university
campus by the sea, the nearby UNESCO Kvarken Archipelago, and a mix of
cultural festivals, ports, and green spaces.
Jakobstad / Pietarsaari
is a historic coastal town in Ostrobothnia founded in 1652, with a
strong Swedish-speaking character and about 19,000 residents. It
features well-preserved wooden districts like Skata, maritime heritage,
gardens, and industries such as tobacco processing. The town balances
quaint charm with nature access along the Gulf of Bothnia.
Kaskö / Kaskinen is Finland's smallest town, a
picturesque island harbor community in Ostrobothnia with around 1,300
inhabitants and a bilingual population. Founded in 1785, it offers
idyllic coastal scenery, maritime history, and a tranquil enclave
atmosphere surrounded by sea and archipelago.
Kristinestad / Kristiinankaupunki
is a historic wooden seaside town on the Bothnian Sea in Ostrobothnia,
recognized as a Cittaslow destination emphasizing slow, sustainable
living. Its cobblestone streets, old architecture, maritime museums, and
coastal charm make it a peaceful spot for cultural exploration and
relaxation.
Nykarleby / Uusikaarlepyy is a
bilingual coastal town in Ostrobothnia chartered in 1620, known for its
scenic location along the Gulf of Bothnia and cultural attractions like
museums and cider production. It maintains a small-town feel with
historical ties and natural surroundings.
Närpes / Närpiö
is a largely Swedish-speaking farming town in Ostrobothnia, often called
Finland's "Tomato Capital" due to its greenhouse agriculture. It
features vibrant multicultural countryside, beautiful archipelago areas,
forests, and a welcoming atmosphere blending sea proximity with rural
traditions.
Southern Ostrobothnia is an agricultural heartland region in western
Finland with fertile plains, river valleys, and around 192,000
residents. Centered around Seinäjoki, it highlights Finnish traditions,
farming (especially dairy and beef), Alvar Aalto architecture,
festivals, and vast rural landscapes ideal for nature and cultural
experiences.
Alajärvi is a peaceful
municipality in Southern Ostrobothnia known for its rural setting,
lakes, and connections to Finnish design heritage, including works by
Alvar Aalto. It offers a quiet community focused on agriculture and
local culture.
Alavus is a small town in Southern Ostrobothnia
characterized by agricultural landscapes, lakes, and traditional Finnish
rural life within the Kuusiokunnat sub-region.
Kauhajoki
is a municipality in Southern Ostrobothnia noted for its farming
heritage, natural areas, and role in the Suupohja sub-region, providing
a typical Ostrobothnian countryside experience.
Kauhava is a town in Southern Ostrobothnia
with strong agricultural roots and community spirit, situated amid the
region's expansive fields and serving local industries.
Kurikka is a rural municipality in Southern
Ostrobothnia focused on farming and local traditions within the fertile
plains.
Lapua is a historic town in Southern Ostrobothnia known
for its agricultural significance, cultural events, and ties to Finnish
history.
Seinäjoki is the dynamic regional
capital of Southern Ostrobothnia, a growing university and cultural city
with about 67,000 residents. Famous for Alvar Aalto-designed buildings,
lively festivals, entrepreneurship, and its role as a commercial hub
along the Seinäjoki River, it combines modern amenities with rural
charm.
Ähtäri is a town in Southern
Ostrobothnia known for its zoo, lakes, and natural attractions, offering
family-friendly outdoor experiences amid the region's agricultural
landscape.
Satakunta is a coastal region in western Finland encompassing diverse
landscapes from the Bothnian Sea to inland areas, with Pori as its main
center. It blends industrial heritage, nature, culture, and ports.
Harjavalta is an industrial municipality in
Satakunta along the Kokemäenjoki River, known for its energy and
metallurgy sectors within a rural-coastal setting.
Huittinen is a town in Satakunta focused on
agriculture, services, and community life in the region's southern
parts.
Kankaanpää is a municipality in Satakunta recognized for
its cultural scene, arts, and forested landscapes.
Kokemäki is a historic town in Satakunta along
the river, with ties to early Finnish settlement and agriculture.
Pori is the largest city and capital of Satakunta, a
vibrant coastal hub famous for its jazz festival, Yyteri Beach, and
industrial-port heritage on the Kokemäenjoki River.
Rauma is a UNESCO World Heritage old wooden town
in Satakunta, celebrated for its exceptionally well-preserved historic
center, lace-making traditions, and maritime culture.
Ulvila is a municipality near Pori in Satakunta,
blending rural charm with proximity to coastal urban amenities.
Finland Proper (Varsinais-Suomi) is the southwestern region of
Finland, historically significant as the cradle of Finnish culture,
featuring the Archipelago Sea, vibrant cities, and a mix of urban
innovation and natural beauty.
Turku (Åbo)
is Finland's oldest city and former capital in Finland Proper, a
bilingual cultural and university hub on the Aura River with medieval
history, a grand cathedral, castle, and lively arts scene as a gateway
to the archipelago.
Kaarina (S:t Karins) is a
growing municipality adjacent to Turku in Finland Proper, known for its
suburban-residential feel, services, and access to coastal and inland
nature.
Naantali (Nådendal) is a charming
historic spa town in Finland Proper near Turku, famous for its
well-preserved old town, Moomin World theme park, luxury resorts, and
beautiful archipelago setting.
Finnish Lakeland
North Savonia (Pohjois-Savo) is a scenic region in eastern Finland,
part of the famous Finnish Lakeland, known for its countless lakes,
dense forests, and rolling countryside. With Kuopio as its vibrant
capital, the region blends authentic Savo culture, outdoor recreation,
and traditional cuisine like kalakukko (a fish-and-bacon pie). It offers
a peaceful rural character alongside growing industries, education hubs,
and year-round activities from summer boating and hiking to winter
skiing.
Iisalmi is a lively lakeside town in
northern North Savonia, located about 87 km north of Kuopio. Surrounded
by water and forests, it serves as a hub for export industries,
education, and outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy watersports, skiing, and
nature trails. With a population of around 20,000, it provides an
authentic, uncrowded Finnish small-town experience rich in local culture
and history.
Juankoski, now part of Kuopio since 2017, is a small
historic community in North Savonia known for its industrial heritage
dating back to 1746 with Finland’s first lake ore furnace and ironworks.
The area features preserved factory sites, museums like Museo Brunou,
old hydro power plants, and scenic locks along waterways, making it
appealing for those interested in cultural history and nature.
Kiuruvesi is a peaceful countryside town and
municipality in North Savonia, home to about 7,300 residents spread
across a vast, lake-dotted landscape. It emphasizes sustainable living,
unspoiled nature, and a relaxed rural lifestyle, with opportunities for
outdoor activities amid forests and fields. Its low population density
creates a tranquil setting ideal for those seeking authentic Finnish
countryside charm.
Kuopio, the largest city and regional capital of North
Savonia, is a dynamic lakeside hub in the Finnish Lakeland with around
127,000 residents. Famous for its stunning Lake Kallavesi views from
Puijo Tower, vibrant market square, rich Savo culture, public saunas,
and student life, it balances urban amenities with abundant nature,
making it a top destination for tourism, education, and biotech.
Varkaus is an industrial town in North Savonia
situated on the straits of Lake Saimaa, between Kuopio and Savonlinna,
with a population of about 19,400. Known for its waterways, canals
running through the city center, and lush forested shores, it combines
manufacturing heritage with scenic lake living, offering a mix of quiet
Saimaa charm and modern small-city character.
North Karelia is the easternmost region of mainland Finland, sharing
a long border with Russia's Republic of Karelia and known as the heart
of Finnish Lakeland. Characterized by vast forests (covering about 70%
of its area), over 2,000 lakes, rolling hills, and a rich cultural
heritage tied to Karelian traditions, it offers a slower pace of life
focused on nature, hospitality, and local food. Its capital is Joensuu,
and the region includes iconic national parks like Koli, making it a
prime destination for hiking, relaxation, and experiencing authentic
Finnish wilderness and folklore.
Joensuu is
the lively capital and largest city of North Karelia, located at the
mouth of the Pielis River on the shores of Lake Pyhäselkä in the Finnish
Lakeland. Founded in 1848 by Russian Emperor Nicholas I, it serves as a
major hub for education (home to the University of Eastern Finland),
culture, trade, and technology, with strengths in forestry, photonics,
and industry. The city blends urban amenities like museums, events, and
shopping with easy access to surrounding nature, functioning as an
economic and cultural center for eastern Finland.
Kitee is a vibrant town and municipality in North
Karelia, situated about 65 km southeast of Joensuu near the Russian
border. With around 10,000 residents, it features beautiful beaches,
crystal-clear lakes, and lush nature ideal for outdoor activities. It is
internationally recognized as the birthplace of the symphonic metal band
Nightwish, adding a modern cultural draw to its traditional Karelian
heritage and small-town charm.
Lieksa is a
town and municipality in North Karelia, known for its stunning natural
surroundings, including proximity to Koli National Park and the roaring
rapids of Ruunaa along the eastern border. With a population of about
10,000, it offers attractions like the Pielinen Museum, Paateri (an
artistic site), and opportunities for hiking, fishing, and wildlife
observation in a landscape of forests, lakes, and wilderness. It has a
strong connection to Finnish music and traditional culture.
Nurmes is a charming town in northern North
Karelia on the shores of Lake Pielinen, with a population of around
8,800. Chartered in 1810, it features a picturesque wooden house
district (Puu-Nurmes) with historic architecture, steep streets, and
birch trees, reflecting traditional Karelian life. It developed through
19th-century industry but now attracts visitors with its natural beauty,
spa facilities like Bomba, and tranquil atmosphere blending history,
tourism, and lakeside scenery.
Outokumpu is a town and municipality in North Karelia,
located about 48 km west of Joensuu. Originally known for its
significant copper mine (which gave the town its name, meaning "strange
hill"), it transitioned from mining heritage to a modern community with
a population of around 6,400. Surrounded by forests and lakes, it offers
a peaceful rural setting with connections to broader Finnish industry,
including ties to the global stainless steel company that shares its
name.
Koli National Park is one of Finland’s most beloved
national landscapes, situated on the western shore of Lake Pielinen in
North Karelia. Covering 30 square kilometers of ancient forested hills
(including the iconic Ukko-Koli peak at 347 m, the highest in southern
and central Finland), it features rolling ridges, old-growth forests,
herb-rich woodlands, meadows, and breathtaking views that have inspired
artists and poets for centuries. Established in 1991, it is ideal for
hiking, cultural heritage exploration, and experiencing Finland’s rugged
natural beauty.
Patvinsuo National Park is a wilderness-oriented
national park in North Karelia, spanning the municipalities of Lieksa
and Ilomantsi and covering 105 square kilometers. Established in 1982,
it is renowned for its expansive mires (bogs), old-growth forests, clear
lakes with sandy beaches, and diverse wildlife, including Finland’s
large carnivores. With 80 km of marked trails, it serves as an important
international site for mire conservation and offers peaceful hiking,
nature observation, and a true sense of untouched Finnish wilderness.
Central Finland (Keski-Suomi) is a scenic region in southern-central
Finland, known for its rolling hills, dense forests, and thousands of
lakes that form part of the Finnish Lakeland. Positioned slightly south
of the country's geographical center, it serves as a cultural and
economic hub with Jyväskylä as its vibrant capital. The area blends
natural beauty with modern amenities, offering outdoor activities like
hiking, boating, and fishing, alongside a strong emphasis on education,
innovation, and sustainable living. Its unilingual Finnish character and
harmonious mix of urban centers and rural landscapes make it a
distinctive part of the country.
Jyväskylä is
the lively regional capital and largest city of Central Finland, often
called the "Athens of Finland" due to its rich educational heritage and
cultural scene. Nestled in the heart of the Lakeland with Lake Päijänne
nearby, it features stunning Alvar Aalto architecture, a major
university, and a dynamic mix of urban energy and pristine nature. As a
hub for sports, innovation, and events, the city boasts excellent
connections, numerous national parks, and a population of around
150,000, making it an attractive place for residents and visitors
seeking both city life and outdoor adventures.
Jämsä is a welcoming town and municipality in Central
Finland, located about 58 km southwest of Jyväskylä, renowned for its
beautiful natural surroundings and the popular Himos ski resort. With a
population of around 19,000, it combines peaceful rural charm with
industrial strength, particularly in paper production, while offering
year-round leisure opportunities from winter sports and summer festivals
to lakeside relaxation. The area emphasizes close-to-nature living,
wellness, and community events, providing a balanced lifestyle amid
forests and waterways.
Keuruu is a tranquil
town and municipality in Central Finland, known for its serene
landscapes, historical wooden churches, and strong sense of community.
Situated amid lakes and forests, it serves as a hub for learning,
business, and outdoor pursuits, with attractions like nature reserves
and observation towers. Home to about 9,000 residents, Keuruu offers a
peaceful environment that highlights the best of regional Finnish life,
from traditional craftsmanship to modern services.
Saarijärvi is a historic town and municipality
in northern Central Finland, approximately 65 km north of Jyväskylä,
celebrated for its ancient settlements dating back over 10,000 years and
abundant natural beauty. Surrounded by forests, lakes, and rivers, it
features attractions like Pyhä-Häkki National Park and cultural trails.
With around 8,800 inhabitants, the area promotes a relaxed rural
lifestyle intertwined with opportunities for nature exploration and
community activities.
Viitasaari is a small,
picturesque town in Central Finland, nestled between lakes such as the
expansive Keitele and surrounded by over 230 bodies of water that cover
a significant portion of its area. Known for its natural harmony,
historical roots in the Stone Age, and cultural offerings, it provides
attractive living conditions with modern services amid pristine forests
and waterways. The community of about 5,700 residents enjoys outdoor
recreation, observation towers, and a peaceful atmosphere ideal for
those seeking connection with nature.
Äänekoski is an industrious town in Central Finland,
located about 45 km north of Jyväskylä, blending world-class technology
and paper industry expertise with stunning lake-dotted landscapes. It
offers contrasts of modern innovation and natural serenity, including
opportunities for fishing, hiking, and cultural experiences. With a
population of around 17,500, Äänekoski stands as a forward-looking
community that values sustainability, local heritage, and easy access to
the broader Jyväskylä region.
South Savonia (also known as South Savo or Etelä-Savo) is a scenic
region in southeastern Finland, nestled in the heart of the Finnish
Lakeland. It borders several other regions and is characterized by
thousands of lakes, including the vast Lake Saimaa, dense forests, and
rolling countryside that create a tranquil, nature-rich environment
ideal for outdoor activities like boating, fishing, and hiking. With
Mikkeli as its capital, the region blends rural charm with cultural
heritage, featuring historic sites, traditional Savo culture, and
vibrant summer festivals. Its population centers are modest, emphasizing
a peaceful lifestyle surrounded by pristine waters and woodlands.
Mikkeli is the regional capital of South
Savonia, a charming lakeside city in Finland’s Lakeland with a
population of around 52,000. Located on the shores of Lake Saimaa, it
serves as an administrative and tourist hub, known for its WWII history
as the headquarters of Marshal Mannerheim’s Finnish Army. The city
offers a mix of natural beauty, with beaches, islands, and forests,
alongside cultural attractions like museums, a cathedral, and holiday
resorts. It combines modern amenities with a relaxed, historic
atmosphere, making it a popular destination for nature lovers and
history enthusiasts.
Pieksämäki is a peaceful town and municipality in the
South Savo region of Finland, with a population of about 17,000.
Situated roughly 75 km north of Mikkeli amid lakes and forests, it
functions as a regional transport node with strong railway heritage,
including the Savo Railway Line Museum and historic locomotive depots.
The area emphasizes outdoor recreation, cultural events at sites like
Iso-Pappila manor, and proximity to Lake Saimaa, offering a quiet,
nature-oriented lifestyle away from larger urban crowds.
Savonlinna is a picturesque town in the heart of
the Saimaa Lakeland in South Savonia, often called the “Capital of
Saimaa.” With around 31,000 residents, it is renowned for its stunning
archipelago scenery, medieval castle, and world-famous Savonlinna Opera
Festival held annually in summer. The town is surrounded by lakes and
forests, providing endless opportunities for boating, hiking, and
wildlife spotting, while its historic center and vibrant cultural scene
make it a major tourist draw in eastern Finland.
Olavinlinna Castle
(St. Olaf’s Castle) is Finland’s northernmost medieval stone fortress,
built in the late 15th century on a small island in the Kyrönsalmi
strait near Savonlinna. Constructed by the Swedes as a border defense
against Russia, it features three massive round towers and thick walls
that have withstood sieges over centuries. Today, it is one of Finland’s
most iconic landmarks, serving as the dramatic venue for the Savonlinna
Opera Festival and housing exhibitions on its rich history. The castle’s
scenic lakeside setting and preserved architecture make it a highlight
for visitors exploring the region.
Pirkanmaa, also known as the Tampere Region, is a vibrant
administrative region in southern Finland characterized by its beautiful
Finnish Lakeland landscape of forests, ridges, and numerous lakes. It
serves as the country's second-most populous region with around 529,000
inhabitants, centered around the dynamic city of Tampere. The area
blends urban innovation with rural charm, featuring strong industrial
heritage (particularly in paper and technology), rich cultural scenes,
outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking and boating, and historic
sites. It borders several other regions and is known for its modern
architecture, public saunas, and events that draw visitors year-round.
Akaa
Akaa is a lively town and municipality
in southern Pirkanmaa, formed in 2007 through the merger of Toijala,
Viiala, and later Kylmäkoski. With a population of about 16,400 across
314 square kilometers, it offers a friendly, energetic atmosphere with a
mix of urban services and rural landscapes. Known for its central
location in a growth area, Akaa features active community life, clubs,
events, and picturesque surroundings ideal for outdoor activities,
making it a welcoming spot for residents and visitors seeking a balance
of convenience and nature.
Ikaalinen
Ikaalinen is a small city and municipality
in Pirkanmaa, located about 55 km northwest of Tampere, renowned as a
historic spa town with traditions dating back to the 19th century. Home
to around 6,700 residents across a large 843 square kilometer area
dominated by lakes like Kyrösjärvi, it attracts visitors with its
Ikaalinen Spa & Resort, beautiful natural settings for recreation, and a
relaxed pace. The town balances wellness tourism, cultural events, and
outdoor adventures in a scenic lakeland environment.
Mänttä-Vilppula
Mänttä-Vilppula is a town and
municipality in upper Pirkanmaa, created in 2009 by merging Mänttä and
Vilppula, with a population of about 9,100. It stands out as an "Art
Town" thanks to its rich cultural heritage, including the Serlachius
Museums and art centers set amid stunning lake landscapes like Ruovesi
and Kuorevesi. The area offers excellent opportunities for art
enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those seeking peaceful accommodation,
combined with local food and shopping in a tranquil, forested setting.
Nokia
Nokia is a growing town in Pirkanmaa,
situated about 15 km west of Tampere along the Nokianvirta River, with a
population nearing 37,000. While sharing its name with the famous
telecommunications company (which originated nearby), the town is known
for its industrial history, pleasant residential areas, and proximity to
the Tampere metropolitan region. It provides a mix of urban amenities,
riverside recreation, and community life in a scenic lakeland setting.
Orivesi
Orivesi is a town northeast of Tampere
in Pirkanmaa, with around 9,000 residents spread over 960 square
kilometers of lakes, forests, and rolling terrain. Often called the
"capital of woolsocks" for its cozy small-town vibe, it boasts natural
beauty around Lake Längelmävesi, cultural attractions like art centers
and summer dance pavilions, and opportunities for hiking and relaxation.
It combines rural tranquility with easy access to Tampere's services.
Parkano
Parkano is a town and municipality in
northwestern Pirkanmaa, about 84 km north of Tampere, home to roughly
6,000 people across 853 square kilometers. It features beautiful natural
scenery with lakes like Kaidatvedet, forests, and ancient shore views,
alongside a history tied to forest and metal industries. The town offers
hiking, scenic drives, and a peaceful atmosphere at a major highway
junction, appealing to nature seekers and those wanting a quiet base.
Sastamala
Sastamala is a substantial town in
southwestern Pirkanmaa, formed in 2009 from the merger of Vammala,
Äetsä, and Mouhijärvi, with about 23,000 residents. Straddling the
Kokemäenjoki River, it is the region's largest by area and popular for
its cultural heritage, historic churches (like St. Olaf's), stone
castles, river landscapes, and family-friendly activities. It blends
nature, history, and modern amenities, making it a top destination for
multi-day visits.
Tampere
Tampere, the
capital of Pirkanmaa and Finland's third-largest city (population around
263,000), is famously situated on an isthmus between Lakes Näsijärvi and
Pyhäjärvi, with the Tammerkoski rapids running through its center. Known
as a hub of culture, industry, education, and innovation, it features
red-brick factory buildings turned cultural venues, public saunas,
vibrant events, universities, and landmarks like the Näsinneula Tower.
It offers a unique blend of urban energy and lakeland serenity, often
called Finland's most beloved city.
Valkeakoski
Valkeakoski ("white rapids") is an industrial town in Pirkanmaa, located
35 km south of Tampere on an isthmus between lakes, with about 20,800
inhabitants. Historically tied to the paper industry, it is also known
for its successful football team FC Haka and scenic canal, beaches, and
historic sites like Rapola hillfort. The town provides a mix of cultural
events, lakeside living, and outdoor recreation in a charming central
Finnish setting.
Virrat
Virrat is a northern Pirkanmaa town about 104
km from Tampere, with around 6,100 residents across a vast, lake-rich
1,299 square kilometer area. Popular as a summer destination, it offers
hundreds of lakes, beautiful scenery, cultural heritage, and outdoor
activities like boating and hiking. Its tranquil, nature-dominated
environment makes it ideal for relaxation and experiencing authentic
Finnish lakeland life year-round.
Ylöjärvi
Ylöjärvi is a dynamic town west of Tampere in Pirkanmaa, with
approximately 34,000 residents, making it one of the region's larger
municipalities. Just 14 km from the city center, it combines suburban
growth with rural charm, featuring attractions like the Haveri Gold
Mine, sculptures, and natural sites such as Tree Mountain. It appeals to
families and commuters with its youthful vibe, services, and proximity
to urban opportunities while retaining green spaces.
Finnish Lapland is Finland’s northernmost and largest region, a vast
Arctic wilderness stretching above the Arctic Circle and known for its
pristine nature, dramatic seasonal contrasts, reindeer herds, Sámi
indigenous culture, and world-famous Northern Lights displays. It offers
year-round outdoor adventures—from midnight sun hiking and berry picking
in summer to dog sledding, snowmobiling, and glass igloo stays in
winter—while serving as Europe’s last great wilderness with sparse
population, ancient forests, fells, and rivers.
Southeast (or
Eastern/South-east Lapland) refers to the sub-region in the southeastern
part of Finnish Lapland, a quieter, less commercialized border area
between the Arctic and inland Finland. It features rolling hills,
extensive lake systems, old-growth forests, national parks, and peaceful
rural municipalities ideal for authentic nature immersion, hiking, and
experiencing traditional Lapland life away from major tourist hubs.
Rovaniemi is the vibrant capital of Finnish
Lapland and official hometown of Santa Claus, located right on the
Arctic Circle at the confluence of the Kemijoki and Ounasjoki rivers.
Rebuilt in a modernist style after WWII by architect Alvar Aalto, it
blends urban amenities with wilderness access, offering Santa Claus
Village visits, Arctic Circle crossings, museums, Northern Lights hunts,
and a mix of culture, shopping, and adventure activities year-round.
Kemijärvi is a small, peaceful northern town in
Eastern Lapland, often called the northernmost town in Finland, centered
around the large Lake Kemijärvi and surrounded by forests, dunes, and
fells. It serves as a relaxed base for outdoor pursuits like
snowmobiling, fishing, spa experiences, and exploring nearby Pyhä-Luosto
areas, with a focus on local culture, wilderness tranquility, and
proximity to the Arctic Circle.
Pelkosenniemi is one of Lapland’s smallest and most
tranquil municipalities, a quiet rural area in Eastern Lapland known for
its stunning Pyhä-Luosto National Park, fells, and ski resort. It
embodies authentic Lapland wilderness with excellent hiking trails,
cross-country skiing, Northern Lights viewing, and a sparse population,
making it perfect for those seeking untouched nature and peaceful
escapes.
Posio is a serene municipality in
southern Lapland, renowned for its pristine lakes (including long sandy
beaches at Livojärvi), Riisitunturi National Park, and Korouoma gorge.
Home to the famous Pentik ceramics factory, it appeals to nature lovers,
artists, and those seeking sustainable tourism, with opportunities for
hiking, fishing, and experiencing carbon-neutral rural Finnish life in a
beautiful, unhurried setting.
Ranua is a
southern Lapland municipality famous as Finland’s cloudberry capital and
home to the Ranua Wildlife Park (one of the world’s northernmost zoos),
where visitors can see Arctic animals like polar bears, lynx, and
reindeer. It offers a family-friendly mix of wildlife encounters, berry
forests, lakes, and traditional Lapland culture in a compact, accessible
rural environment.
Salla is a remote,
ecological destination in Eastern Lapland, often marketed as “in the
middle of nowhere,” featuring Salla National Park with its fells,
ravines, old-growth forests, and excellent winter activities. Known for
extreme cold records, pure air, ski resorts, and abundant wildlife, it
provides immersive wilderness experiences like snowshoeing, fat-biking,
and aurora viewing in one of Finland’s most authentic and peaceful
Arctic corners.
Sea Lapland and the Torne River Valley form the southwestern corner
of Finnish Lapland, where the Torne River (Torniojoki) flows from the
fells into the Gulf of Bothnia, marking a natural border with Sweden.
This culturally rich border region, known as Meänmaa or "Our Land,"
blends Finnish, Swedish, and Meänkieli influences with shared history,
trade, and traditions. It features lush river valleys, farmland,
salmon-rich waters, midnight sun in summer, and vibrant autumn colors,
offering activities like fishing, canoeing, cross-border exploration
between twin towns, and experiencing the unique bilingual culture of
this Arctic gateway.
Kemi
Kemi is a
coastal town in Sea Lapland on the Bothnian Bay at the mouth of the
Kemijoki River, serving as a key industrial and port center with paper
mills, a chromium mine, and strong timber heritage. Known for its
SnowCastle (rebuilt annually with different designs), icebreaker Sampo
cruises, and as a hub for trade and services, it combines modern
northern life with Arctic attractions like northern lights viewing and
proximity to the Swedish border. With a population around 19,000–20,000,
it offers a practical base for exploring Lapland's coastal and river
landscapes.
Keminmaa
Keminmaa is a municipality in Lapland near
Kemi and Tornio, historically significant as the original heart of the
Kemi area before the town developed. It features rural landscapes, the
Kemijoki River, and traditional Finnish Lapland life with a population
of about 7,500–7,600. The area emphasizes nature, local history, and
community, serving as a quieter residential and agricultural counterpart
to the more industrial Kemi, with easy access to coastal and border
attractions.
Pello
Pello is an Arctic
Circle municipality in the Tornio River Valley, renowned as Finland's
fishing capital for its salmon-rich waters and scenic border river
setting shared with Sweden. It offers opportunities to cross the Arctic
Circle at Juoksenki village, enjoy reindeer experiences, midnight sun,
northern lights, and outdoor activities in pristine nature. With a
population around 3,000, it blends rural charm, international border
flavor, and Lapland magic, making it ideal for authentic wilderness and
river-based adventures.
Simo
Simo is a
rural municipality in Lapland along the coast and Kemijoki River, about
50 km from the Swedish border, known for its vast forests, waters, and
low population density. It has a long history dating back centuries and
offers peaceful nature experiences, outdoor recreation, and a connection
to Lapland's traditional ways of life. With around 2,700 residents
spread over a large area, it provides a quiet, authentic escape focused
on natural beauty and simplicity.
Tervola
Tervola is a rural municipality in Sea Lapland divided by the Kemijoki
River, often passed through on Highway 4 with its gas stations and river
views. It features fields, forests, and a parish village on the
riverbank, emphasizing active community life and connections in southern
Lapland. With a population of about 2,800–3,000, it offers a low-key
base for those seeking genuine rural Lapland experiences away from major
tourist hubs.
Tornio
Tornio is a border
city in Lapland forming a seamless twin city with Haparanda in Sweden,
connected by bridges and shared daily life across the Torne River.
Chartered in 1621, it features historic sites like Tornio Church, the
Torne Valley Museum, and cross-border shopping or dining. With a
population around 21,000, it serves as an industrial and cultural hub
blending Finnish and Swedish influences, ideal for experiencing the
unique "two countries – one destination" Arctic lifestyle.
Ylitornio
Ylitornio (Upper Tornio) is a municipality
along the Tornio River opposite Övertorneå in Sweden, connected by an
international bridge. It spans both south and north of the Arctic
Circle, with attractions like Aavasaksa hill (a historic site for
midnight sun observations), salmon fishing, skiing at Aavasaksa resort,
and scenic river valleys. With around 3,700 residents, it offers a mix
of nature, cultural heritage, and outdoor activities in the beautiful
Tornio River Valley.
Northeast Lapland refers to the remote, wilderness-dominated areas of
Finnish Lapland, including vast national parks, Sámi homelands, and
sparse settlements. It is characterized by ancient fells, old-growth
forests, large lakes, and pristine Arctic nature, providing exceptional
opportunities for hiking, skiing, and immersive wilderness experiences
far from crowds. This region highlights Finland's most untouched
landscapes and indigenous Sámi culture.
Inari
Inari is Finland's largest municipality by area and a vibrant center of
Sámi culture in northern Lapland, situated by the vast Lake Inari (the
country's third-largest lake). The village serves as the Sámi capital
with institutions like the Sámi Parliament (Sajos) and Siida museum,
offering insights into indigenous traditions, reindeer herding, and
Arctic life. With four official languages and stunning wilderness
surroundings, it is a year-round destination for culture, northern
lights, hiking, and lake adventures.
Lemmenjoki
National Park
Lemmenjoki National Park is Finland's largest and one
of Europe's biggest wilderness areas, spanning over 2,850 km² in Inari
and Kittilä municipalities. Named after the gold-bearing Lemmenjoki
River, it encompasses old pine forests, fells, bogs, river valleys, and
Sámi homelands, with habitats for rare species. It offers marked trails
in recreation zones and true off-grid wilderness for hiking, gold
panning history, and solitude, embodying Lapland's raw natural beauty.
Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park
Pallas-Yllästunturi
National Park, Finland's third largest at 1,020 km², protects a long
chain of fells in western Lapland across several municipalities.
Established in stages since 1938, it features quartzite fell landscapes
(some of Finland's national landscapes), the world's cleanest air,
versatile trails, and ecosystems from forests to open tundra. Popular
for hiking, skiing, and nature immersion, it provides breathtaking views
and accessible wilderness near villages like Ylläs.
Urho Kekkonen
National Park
Urho Kekkonen National Park (UKK), one of
Finland's largest at 2,550 km², lies in eastern Lapland near Saariselkä,
extending to the Russian border. Named after President Urho Kekkonen, it
includes diverse fells, old-growth forests, mires, and the Suomujoki
River, with wilderness huts for multi-day treks. It attracts hikers and
skiers seeking vast Arctic landscapes, tranquility, and a connection to
Lapland's natural and cultural heritage.
The Kainuu and Eastern Oulu region in northeastern Finland is a vast
wilderness area characterized by dense boreal forests, rolling hills,
numerous lakes, and pristine nature, often called part of Arctic
Lakeland. It borders Russia to the east and is known for its rich
wildlife, including brown bears, wolves, and reindeer, as well as
cultural ties to Karelian and Savonian heritage. Outdoor enthusiasts
flock here for hiking, canoeing, fishing, and winter activities, with
highlights including national parks and events like chamber music
festivals. The region offers a peaceful, sparsely populated escape
focused on nature, local traditions, and sustainable tourism.
Kajaani
Kajaani is the lively capital of the
Kainuu region, situated along the Kajaaninjoki River and near Lake
Oulujärvi in central Finland. With around 36,000 residents, it serves as
a regional hub blending urban amenities with easy access to nature,
including ridges, forests, and waterways. Founded in the 17th century
amid the tar trade, it features a rich cultural scene with events like
poetry weeks and dance festivals, alongside sports, education, and
businesses. Its compact size makes daily life convenient, with nature
just outside the door.
Kuhmo
Kuhmo is a tranquil town and municipality in
southeastern Kainuu, near the Russian border, encompassing vast
wilderness with over 600 lakes, ancient taiga forests, and abundant
wildlife like bears and wolves. Designated a UNESCO Creative City of
Literature, it is renowned for the annual Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival
and its deep cultural ties to nature and Finnish epic traditions. The
area supports hiking, berry picking, and wildlife watching, offering a
serene blend of artistic inspiration and untouched boreal landscapes.
Kuusamo
Kuusamo, in northeastern Northern
Ostrobothnia near the Lapland border, is a major tourism center famous
for its dramatic fells, dense forests, pristine lakes, and heavy
snowfall. Home to the popular Ruka ski resort, it attracts a million
visitors yearly for winter sports, hiking the Karhunkierros trail, and
summer adventures like rafting and fishing. The town balances modern
amenities with wild nature close to the Russian border, making it a
gateway to Arctic experiences.
Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi is one of Finland’s largest municipalities by area, located
in Northern Ostrobothnia between Oulu and Kuusamo. It boasts expansive
wilderness, including the southernmost fell area at Syöte National Park
with old-growth forests, wetlands, and hills ideal for hiking and
skiing. Sparsely populated and nature-focused, it offers tranquility,
reindeer herding traditions, and outdoor pursuits in a vast, lightly
developed landscape.
Oulanka National Park
Oulanka National Park spans
Northern Ostrobothnia and Lapland, celebrated for its rugged canyons,
powerful waterfalls, rushing rivers, and diverse boreal forests.
Established in 1956, it features iconic trails like the Karhunkierros
(Bear’s Ring), hanging bridges, and rich biodiversity, including rare
plants and birds. Popular for hiking, rafting, and photography
year-round, it highlights Finland’s wild northern beauty with dramatic
scenery shaped by water and ice.
Kajaani Castle
Kajaani Castle, the northernmost stone
castle ruins in the world, stands on an islet in the Kajaaninjoki River
in the heart of Kajaani. Built in the early 17th century by Swedish
authorities to secure the eastern border, it served as a garrison,
prison, and administrative center before being destroyed in 1716 during
the Great Northern War. Today, the protected granite ruins offer a
scenic historical site with bridges and park surroundings, symbolizing
regional history and attracting visitors for cultural exploration.
The Southern Oulu region in Northern Finland is a flat, rural area of
farmlands, forests, and small towns without major urban centers or
famous landmarks. It serves mainly as a transit zone with agricultural
heritage, quiet villages, and traditional Ostrobothnian culture.
Travelers pass through for its peaceful countryside, local industries,
and connections to broader Northern Ostrobothnia.
Haapajärvi
Haapajärvi is a small town in the Nivala–Haapajärvi sub-region of
Northern Ostrobothnia, known for its serene rural setting, lakes, and
historical roots dating to the 16th century. With around 6,400
residents, it features a mix of agriculture, services, and cultural
ties, including notable figures like Finland’s first president. It
offers a peaceful community atmosphere with events and natural
surroundings.
Haapavesi
Haapavesi (“Aspen
Water”) is a town in Northern Ostrobothnia renowned as Finland’s
national kantele village for its traditional string instrument makers.
Surrounded by hills, lakes, and the Pyhäjoki River, it combines
agriculture, industry (like cheese production), and cultural heritage
with skiing traditions. Its charming, community-oriented vibe includes
historic sites like old parsonages and folk schools.
Nivala
Nivala, nicknamed the “Texas of Finland” for
its open agricultural landscapes and strong livestock production, is a
lively rural town in Northern Ostrobothnia. It features flat fields,
forests, and a focus on farming, industry, and community events. With
good road connections, it serves as a practical hub for countryside life
and nature tourism.
Oulainen
Oulainen is a
compact town along the Pyhäjoki River in Northern Ostrobothnia, with
about 7,000 residents and a history tied to rail development. It offers
beautiful riverside nature, local services, and a strong sense of
community in a peaceful setting ideal for those seeking small-town
Finnish life.
Pyhäjärvi
Pyhäjärvi is a southern Northern
Ostrobothnia town named after its large, fish-rich lake. It features
rural landscapes, an airfield, and a mix of agriculture and small-scale
industry. With a population around 4,500, it borders multiple regions
and provides tranquil natural surroundings and community-focused living.
Ylivieska
Ylivieska is the commercial and
administrative center of southern Oulu region, with over 15,000
residents and strong rail connections that fueled its growth. Known for
shopping, car dealerships, and services, it blends urban functions with
nearby rural areas, historic sites, and cultural walks in a dynamic
regional hub.
The Western Oulu region forms the coastal part of Northern
Ostrobothnia in northern Finland, stretching along the Gulf of Bothnia
with a landscape of sandy beaches, river estuaries, open fields, and
low-lying plains. It serves as a transition zone between the urban hub
of Oulu and more rural coastal communities, known for its natural
beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities like hiking and beach
activities, and a mix of traditional fishing villages alongside modern
tourism infrastructure. The area experiences distinct seasons, from long
summer daylight to snowy winters, and plays a key role in regional trade
and agriculture.
Oulu
Oulu is a vibrant
major port city and the capital of Northern Ostrobothnia in west-central
Finland, situated at the mouth of the Oulu River on the Gulf of Bothnia.
As Finland’s fifth-largest city with around 217,000 residents, it blends
high-tech innovation (historically a leader in mobile technology),
culture, and nature, earning recognition as the European Capital of
Culture 2026. The city features a lively waterfront, historic sites like
its cathedral, extensive parks, and a reputation for creativity—famously
hosting the Air Guitar World Championships—while offering easy access to
northern landscapes, forests, and winter activities such as experiencing
the northern lights.
Kalajoki
Kalajoki is a lively coastal town and
municipality in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, located where the
Kalajoki River meets the Bothnian Bay, renowned for its extensive sandy
beaches and dunes known as Hiekkasärkät. With a population of about
12,000, it has grown into a popular holiday destination featuring
resorts, spas, golf courses, nature trails, and family-friendly
attractions that draw comparisons to Mediterranean beach vibes in a
Nordic setting. The area combines tourism with local entrepreneurship,
agriculture, and traditional fishing heritage in a scenic environment of
dunes, river valleys, and open sea.
Raahe
Raahe is a historic seaside town in Northern Ostrobothnia along the Gulf
of Bothnia, founded in 1649 and one of Finland’s best-preserved wooden
towns from the 19th century. With around 23,000 residents, it boasts
charming old-town architecture, maritime heritage from the sailing ship
era, and a rich cultural scene centered on its museums and historic
buildings. The town balances its industrial port activities with
tourism, offering scenic coastal walks, forests, and lakes nearby,
making it an attractive destination for those seeking authentic Finnish
small-town charm with a seafaring history.
Hailuoto
Hailuoto is a picturesque island
municipality in the Gulf of Bothnia, part of Northern Ostrobothnia and
the third-largest sea island in Finland, located opposite Oulu with a
small population of around 900. Known for its diverse coastal landscapes
including sandy beaches, dunes, coastal meadows, bird wetlands, and
unique “glo” lakes, it appeals to nature lovers for activities like
cycling, hiking, birdwatching, and lighthouse visits at Marjaniemi. The
island’s tranquil, slowly evolving environment—shaped by land
uplift—offers a peaceful retreat with traditional rural character and
stunning Baltic Sea views.
Ii
Ii is a
municipality in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, situated by the Bothnian
Bay at the mouth of the Iijoki River, with a population of about 9,800
spread over a large, water-rich area. Chartered in the 15th century, it
combines natural beauty—rivers, forests, and coastal scenery—with
opportunities for outdoor pursuits like fishing, kayaking, and exploring
rural landscapes. The community maintains a balance between traditional
livelihoods and modern living in one of the region’s more expansive,
low-density municipalities.
Åland
Åland is an autonomous, Swedish-speaking archipelago region
of Finland located at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic
Sea, consisting of over 6,700 islands (about 60 inhabited) with a total
population of around 30,000. Demilitarized and self-governing since
1920, it features a mild climate, granite bedrock landscapes, fertile
soils, and a strong maritime heritage, with activities centered on
boating, island-hopping, cycling, and enjoying historic sites like
castles and ship museums. Its unique cultural blend of Finnish and
Swedish influences, peaceful atmosphere, and stunning archipelago
scenery make it a distinctive Nordic destination.
Mariehamn
Mariehamn is the charming capital and only town of the Åland Islands,
founded in 1861 on the main island and home to about 12,000 residents,
roughly 40% of the archipelago’s population. Known as a maritime hub
with tree-lined streets, 19th-century wooden architecture, parks,
beaches, and a vibrant harbor featuring historic sailing ships like the
Pommern, it offers a relaxed small-town vibe with cafés, shops, museums,
and cultural events. As an administrative and tourist center, it blends
seafaring history, modern services, and easy access to the surrounding
islands in a bilingual, autonomous setting.
The name of the country in Russian and many languages
comes from the Swedish Finland (“land of hunters” - from the Old
Norse fin “hunter”, and the Swedish land - “land, country”). In the
Ynglinga Saga (XIII century), written in Old Norse, the toponym Finnland
is mentioned.
The Finnish name for the country is Suomi. For the
first time it is mentioned on the pages of the Novgorod chronicles in
the form of Sum (since the beginning of the 12th century).
There
are several versions of the origin of this name:
It is assumed
that once there was an area called Suomaa (Fin. suo "swamp", maa "land";
literally: "land of swamps"). Settlers from this area transferred the
name of their homeland to southwestern Finland, which became known as
Suomi.
Another version says that "Suomi" - a distorted "Saami" - is
the self-name of the people who lived here before the arrival of the
Finnish tribes.
There is also a version that the Finnish self-name
suomi is of Estonian origin (from Estonian soo - “swamp”).
Ancient history
According to archaeological
research, the first settlements on the territory of Finland appeared
at the end of the ice age, that is, about 8500 BC. Inhabitants in
Finland were hunters and gatherers using stone tools. The first
pottery appeared in the 3rd millennium BC., when settlers from the
East brought the culture of comb ceramics. The arrival of the battle
ax culture on the southern coast of Finland in the 32 century BC coincided with the birth of agriculture. Despite this, hunting
and fishing still remained an important part of the settlers' lives,
especially in the northern and eastern parts of the country.
As part of Sweden (1150 / 1300-1809)
By the end of the Viking
era, Swedish merchants and kings had spread their influence
throughout the Baltic region.
For several centuries, Finland
was ruled by Catholic and then Protestant Sweden, since 1595 having
the name of the Grand Duchy of Finland.
March 1, 1753
throughout the duchy there was a transition from the Julian to the
Gregorian calendar.
As part of the Russian Empire (1809-1917)
In 1807, Russia, under the terms of the Tilsit Peace, became an ally
of the French Empire in the struggle against Great Britain and its
allies. One of the allies of Great Britain was Sweden. Russia was
obliged to force Sweden to join the so-called. “Continental
blockade” - the blockade of the British Isles. Great Britain, in
turn, suggested Sweden pay a million pounds for each month of the
war, no matter how much it went, and also land a British
expeditionary force in Sweden. King Gustav IV Adolf defiantly
returned to Alexander the highest order of the Russian Empire
granted to him, the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. Gustav IV
Adolf said that he could not wear the same order as Napoleon
Bonaparte, as this humiliates him.
Since Russia’s diplomatic
efforts have not yielded results, at the beginning of 1808 Russian
troops launched an offensive in Southeast Finland and in the summer
of that year, Alexander I announced the conquest of Finland. On
March 15, 1809, the Russian emperor signed the Manifesto on the
Finnish government, which preserved on its territory, in terms of
internal affairs, the effect of Swedish law, which was announced the
next day at the opening of the first estate meeting of
representatives of the peoples of Finland, but hostilities continued
interruptions until the summer of 1809 and ended with the conclusion
on September 5 in Friedrichsham of peace between Russia and Sweden,
according to which Sweden ceded Russia to Finland and part of
Westerbotnia before Tornio and Muonio (modern community Tornio,
Ylitornio, Pello, Kolari, Muonio and Enontekiö).
Beginning in
the 1840s, during the reign of Nicholas I, the princedom began to
carry out reforms in the field of education. From now on, teaching
in Finnish was allowed in local schools. The highest permission was
granted for the publication of religious, historical and economic
literature in national languages. This policy was carried out under
the emperor Alexander II. In 1858, the first lyceum appeared, where
teaching was conducted in Finnish.
Since the 1860s, a steady
cultural upsurge has taken place in the Grand Duchy, progressive
forces of the local intelligentsia sought to give the Finnish
language the status of the state language, which was done by
Alexander II. In addition, the equality of Swedish and Finnish
languages in court and administration was recognized at the
legislative level.
September 6 (18), 1861, the first issue of
the Swedish newspaper Barometern was published. It was the first
Swedish newspaper regularly published in the Russian Empire. Already
in the first years of its publication, the Finnish Barometern
becomes the “liberal ideal” of Swedish-speaking residents of the
Governor-General.
In 1863, in Helsingfors, after a long
break, the Finnish Diet was convened again. It was the beginning of
the reforms that strengthened the autonomous status of the Grand
Duchy of Finland.
The unpopular process of forced
Russification, which began in 1899, only contributed to the
intensification of the struggle for independence and instilled
protest sentiments in the multinational society of Finland.
Revolution of 1917
In 1917, after the February Revolution and the
fall of the autocracy in Russia, power passed to the Provisional
Government, which went towards public opinion. In Finland, a
manifesto was published that abolished all the integration measures
carried out since 1899. The privileges of Finland lost after the
1905 revolution were renewed. A new governor general was appointed
and a diet was convened. However, after the Sejm unilaterally
declared Finland independent in internal affairs, by a decision of
the Provisional Government of Russia of July 18, 1917, the law on
restoring the autonomous rights of Finland, which was approved by
the Sejm, was rejected, the sejm was dissolved, and its building was
occupied by Russian troops, however located in Veliky In the
Principality, parts of the Russian army no longer had control over
the situation. The police were disbanded and ceased to maintain
order, resulting in unrest in the country. In general, by the summer
of 1917, the idea of independence was widely spread.
The
October Revolution of 1917, which overthrew the Provisional
Government, allowed the Finnish Senate to sign the Declaration of
Independence of Finland on December 4, 1917, which was approved by
parliament on December 6. Thus, the independence of Finland was
proclaimed, which was simultaneously declared a republic (Republic
of Finland).
On December 18, 1917, by the Decree of the
Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR, it was proposed "to
recognize the state independence of the Republic of Finland."
Independent Finland (since 1917)
In December 1917 - January
1918, the struggle between the "Reds", supported by the Russian
Soviet Republic, and the Shyutskor ("guard units") intensified, an
amateur fighting organization that first arose in the 1905
revolution (the "Union of Forces"), banned in 1909 by the Russian
government and revived in 1917 on the same principles, but under a
new name. This confrontation grew into a revolution and civil war.
During the revolution, the “Reds" proclaimed the Revolutionary
Government of Finland, which took the name of the Council of
People's Commissioners of Finland, which was supported by the
Russian Soviet Republic. The Council of People's Commissioners of
Finland controlled the southern territory of the republic. The rest
of the territory was under the control of the former Finland Senate.
This side is called “white” (“white finns”). The backbone of her
future army was made up of representatives of the Shyutskor. The
whites were supported by Kaiser Germany, which sent its troops to
Finland (after the end of the civil war they were left in Finland).
During the 108 days of the civil war in Finland, about 35,000
people died. Even after its end, the White Terror against the Social
Democrats and those supporting them did not stop. In total, over 80
thousand suspects of sympathy for the left were arrested, of whom 75
thousand were imprisoned in concentration camps. Due to torture and
anti-human conditions, 13,500 people (15%) died, in addition to 7370
directly executed.
As a result of the civil war of 1918 and
carried out by the victorious forces of the Finnish "white"
political repressions, a ruling majority was formed in the Finnish
parliament, which excluded the participation of left-wing factions.
In the parliament convened in May 1918, out of 92 Social Democratic
deputies, 40 were hiding in Russia, and about 50 were arrested. 97
right-wing deputies and only one Social Democrat Matti Paasivuori
arrived at the first meeting. Parliament received the nickname
"parliament-stump" (Fin. Tynkäeduskunta). The maximum number of
deputies was 111, with 200 laid down. Due to incomplete
representation, parliamentary decisions were particularly
controversial.
Among the deputies of the parliament,
monarchical ideas were especially popular, a monarchical form of
government was widespread in Europe, the legislation of Finland
inherited from the Swedish period was also assumed. As a result, on
October 9, 1918, Finland was declared a kingdom (Finnish. Suomen
kuningaskuntahanke, literally: “Project of the Kingdom of Finland”),
and the husband of the sister of the German Emperor Wilhelm II,
Prince of Hesse Friedrich Karl (Fredrik Kararle in Finnish
transcription) was elected king.
However, just a month later,
a revolution took place in Germany, the German emperor Wilhelm II
left power and fled the country, and on November 11, 1918, the
Compiegne Peace Agreement was signed, ending the First World War, in
which Germany lost. German influence in Finland weakened, and the
elected king in Finland never arrived and was forced to abdicate. On
December 16, German troops departed for their homeland.
The state at that time was led by regents. While
waiting for the arrival of the elected king, the regent was the
current actual head of state, Chairman of the Senate (Government of
Finland), Per Ewind Svinhuvud. Following the abdication of the
elected king from the throne on December 12, 1918, Swinhuvud
announced his resignation to the parliament as regent. On the same
day, parliament approved the resignation and elected General
Mannerheim as the new regent of Finland. But legally Finland
remained a kingdom. During the Mannerheim Regency, there was an
active discussion about the future state system. The government
submitted two draft amendments to the parliament for the republic
and two for the monarchy. Legislative changes in the form of
government took place on July 17, 1919 after the election of a new
parliament in March 1919. The uncertainty that lasted a year and a
half ended, and the monarchical period, which lasted centuries,
also. Finland has become a republic. On July 25, 1919, the first
presidential elections in Finland were held. They became Kaarlo Juho
Stolberg.
The civil war unfolded in Finland and throughout
Russia. Moreover, the actions of the Finnish “whites” and “reds”
were not limited to the territory of Finland. On February 23, 1918,
while at the station of Antrea, turning to the troops, the Supreme
Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish Army General Gustav Mannerheim
pronounced “the oath of the sword”, in which he stated that “he
would not put his sword into the scabbard before the last warrior
and hooligan of Lenin was expelled as from Finland and from East
Karelia. ” At the end of March 1918, units of the Finnish “whites”
entered North Karelia. Local self-government was organized there
under the leadership of pro-minded supporters of the independence of
Karelia. After the end of the civil war in Finland in May 1918,
Finnish "white" units advanced to occupy East Karelia and the Kola
Peninsula. As a result, the civil war in Finland gradually grew into
a civil war in Karelia, called the First Soviet-Finnish War.
In the north, the troops of Finland were opposed by the forces of
the Entente, which landed in Murmansk in March 1918, in agreement
with the Bolshevik government, "to protect Murmansk and the railway
from the possible offensive of the German-Finnish troops." Of the
Finnish Red Guards who retreated to the east to act against the
White Finns associated with the Germans, on June 7, 1918, the
British formed the Murmansk Legion, led by Oscari Tokoy.
Simultaneously with the Murmansk Legion, the Karelian Legion
(“Karelian Squad”) was created in Kem under the command of Iivo
Ahab.
On October 15, 1918, the Finns occupied the Rebolsky
volost in East Karelia.
On December 30, 1918, Finnish troops
under the command of General Vetzer landed in Estonia, where they
assisted the Estonian government in the fight against the Bolshevik
troops, which continued during the Civil War in Russia. The First
Soviet-Finnish War ended on October 14, 1920, when the Tartu Peace
Treaty was signed, fixing a number of territorial concessions on the
part of Soviet Russia (at that time the Russian Socialist Federative
Soviet Republic - RSFSR).
Subsequently, already on November
6, 1921, the Second Soviet-Finnish War began on the invasion of
Finnish troops in East Karelia. Finland decided to support the
uprising of the Eastern Karelians, which was raised as a result of
the vigorous actions of Finnish activist agitators who have been
active in East Karelia since the summer of 1921, as well as about
500 Finnish military men who performed various command functions
among the rebels. Units of the Red Finns who emigrated to the RSFSR
after the civil war in Finland, in particular, the ski battalion of
the Petrograd International Military School (the commander of the
battalion Toivo Antikainen), took part in the rout of the Belofin
troops. The Second Soviet-Finnish War ended on March 21, 1922 by the
signing in Moscow of the Agreement between the governments of the
RSFSR and Finland on taking measures to ensure the inviolability of
the Soviet-Finnish border.
In the winter of 1939, the Soviet
Union launched the Third Soviet-Finnish War. On December 1, 1939, in
Terioki, on the part of the territory of the Karelian Isthmus
occupied by Soviet troops, the creation of the Finnish Democratic
Republic, a puppet state headed by the communist Otto Kuusinen, was
proclaimed. On March 12, 1940, the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual
Assistance was concluded between the USSR and the FDR. As a result
of several months of bloody battles, Finland lost part of its
territory, but the country managed to maintain independence.
After a short peace in 1941, Finland entered the
Second World War on the side of the “axis” countries. In the summer
of 1944, the Finns went to the conclusion of peace, after which
Finland fought against the German armed forces in Finnish Lapland
until the spring of 1945. In the postwar years, weakened Finland
took a new course in its relations with the Soviet Union.
In
1952, the Summer Olympic Games were held in Finland in Helsinki.
In 1956, Urho Kekkonen was elected President of Finland. The 25
years of his presidency (1956-1981) were characterized by smart
balanced actions: Kekkonen had a good command of the internal
situation in the country; he also managed to strengthen relations
with the Scandinavian countries, while not moving away from the
USSR.
The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 coincided with
the difficult economic downturn for Finland. At the end of 1995,
Finland joined the European Union.
Finland is located in the north of Europe, a
significant part of its territory is located beyond the Arctic Circle
(25%). On land, it borders on Sweden (the border is 586 km), Norway (the
border is 716 km) and Russia (the border is 1265 km), the sea border
with Estonia runs along the Gulf of Finland, with Sweden - in some
places of the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea.
The length of
the outer coastline (excluding sinuosity) is 1100 km. The length of the
coastline (excluding islands) is 46,000 km. In the coastal zone there
are almost 81,000 islands (over 100 m² in size).
The country is
divided into three main geographical regions.
Coastal lowlands -
they stretch along the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia, along
the coasts of which there are thousands of rocky islands; the main
archipelagos are the Aland Islands and the Turku archipelago. On the
southwestern coast, a heavily dissected coast develops into the largest
archipelago in Finland - the Archipelago Sea - with many islands of
various sizes.
The Lake District is an inland plateau south of
the center of the country with dense forests and a large number of
lakes, marshes and marshes.
The northern upper reaches, most of
which are located beyond the Arctic Circle. They differ in rather poor
soils. Rocky mountains and small hills are also characteristic of
Lapland. In the same place, in the western part of Lapland, is the
highest point in Finland (1324 meters above sea level) - it is located
on the slope of the Halti hill. Contrary to popular belief, this point
is not the top of the hill (the peak of Halti has a height of 1365 m and
is located in Norway). Previously, in reference books, the value of 1328
m was indicated as the highest point in Finland; later it was determined
that the Halti slope, which has such a height, is also located on the
territory of Norway, while the highest point on the Finnish slope is at
an altitude of 1324 m.
Timezone
Before the advent of railways,
there was no single time in Finland. With the start of construction in
1868 of the railway link St. Petersburg - Helsingfors (the movement was
opened personally by Emperor Alexander II on September 12, 1870),
Helsinki time was in effect to the west of Kaipiainen station (near
Kouvola), and St. Petersburg time to the east (the difference was 20
minutes) . In 1888, Emperor Alexander III introduced Helsinki time on
all railways of the Grand Duchy of Finland by his decree.
In
1921, Finland introduced standard time. Currently, the entire territory
of the country is in the time zone, designated according to the
international standard as UTC + 2 - Eastern European Time (EET). The
offset from UTC is +2:00 (standard time) and +3:00 (summer time) - the
country has a seasonal clock change. Time in Finland differs from Moscow
time by −1 hour in winter and coincides in summer. The same time as in
Finland is used by the Baltic countries - Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia; it
differs from Central European time by +1 hour.
In 1942, daylight
saving time was introduced for the first time in the country for a short
period, and since 1981, daylight saving time has been regularly changed
in Finland. Since 1996, the transition to daylight saving time is
carried out on the last Sunday of March (by moving the clock forward 1
hour), and the reverse transition takes place on the last Sunday in
October (by 1 hour back). The abolition of daylight saving time does not
find wide support in Finland.
Since 2002, according to the
European Union Directive (2000/84/EC), in Finland, as in other countries
of the Union, the transition to daylight saving time is carried out at 1
am GMT.
Finland has a temperate climate, transitional from
maritime to continental, depending on the random direction of the air
currents. The location to the west of the Gulf Stream affects the
climate of Finland and increases the temperature of the Finnish winter -
it is higher than in other regions of the same latitude of the zone. The
temperature increase due to the Gulf Stream is about 6-11 °C.
During the year, the country is dominated by westerly winds with
frequent cyclones. According to a study conducted by the University of
Eastern Finland and the Meteorological Institute, over the past 166
years, the temperature increase in Finland has averaged 2.3 degrees.
Winters are moderately cold. Despite the fact that in the northern
part of the country the polar night dominates in winter (in Utsjoki its
duration is two months), in the southern regions the sun shines from 48
(winter 1987/88) to 195 hours (winter 1996/97).
Rainfall in
Finland varies greatly from region to region. The least precipitation is
in Lapland and on the coast of Ostrobothnia, where the annual rainfall
is about 40 cm. On the coast of Ostrobothnia, snowstorms, among other
things, influence the low amount of precipitation. It is the wettest in
eastern and southeastern Finland, where the annual rainfall is about 70
cm. The southwestern and southern coasts also receive about 70 cm of
precipitation per year. The wettest month in Southern Finland is August,
when the average rainfall is around 70mm. In the southern part of
Finland, in contrast to the northern regions, the wettest time extends
far into autumn, and not only in August. While Oulu County and Lapland
are already fairly dry in November, southern Finland typically receives
an average of 70mm of rainfall. Rain can form in Finland in different
ways. The most typical are convection precipitation in the form of heavy
rains and thunderstorms due to evaporation from soil and vegetation in
summer, frontal precipitation caused by temperature differences during
the collision of cold and warm air masses, and precipitation with low
Atlantic pressure, most of which comes in the form of drizzle.
The thickness of the snow cover at the end of December averages 40 cm in
the north of the country, about 30 cm in the central regions and 10 cm
in the south of the country. The snowiest Decembers were 1915, 1965,
1973, 1980, 1981 and 2010. According to the Finnish Meteorological
Center, the average number of summer days marked by hail is 40, and in
2010, hailstones 8 cm in diameter were recorded in Sastamala.
The
average temperature in February in southern Finland is -6 °C, in Lapland
-14 °C. In July, respectively, - +17 in the south and up to +14 in the
north. The average number of hot days in June (with temperatures from +
25.1 to + 30 ° C, which is considered the heat limit for Finland) is 8
days. The hottest years (38 consecutive days with temperatures above
+25.1 °C) were 1973 and 2014. 2020 was the warmest year in Finland in
the history of meteorological measurements.
The lowest
temperature in Finland (as of February 14, 2011) was observed on January
28, 1999 in the community of Kittila (Lappi): -51.5 ° C, the highest -
on July 29, 2010 in the community of Liperi (North Karelia): + 37.2°C.
Geological structure
Most of Finland is lowland, but in the
northeast some mountains reach heights of over 1000 meters. The highest
point of the country is the slope of the mountain (fjeld) Halti (1324
m), located in Lappi in the Scandinavian mountains, near the border with
Norway.
Finland is located on an ancient (1.4-3 billion years)
granite crystalline shield, extending under the whole of Scandinavia and
the Kola Peninsula. The Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia are also on
this shield, and are essentially a lake that formed during the Ice Age.
The thickness of the ice reached 3 km, which caused a deflection of the
earth's crust up to 1 km. After the glacier melted, a reverse process
began, which continues at the present time. The rate of rise is maximum
in the north of the Gulf of Bothnia - about 90 cm per century. In some
places, steel rings embedded in granite for tying ships have been
preserved, but at present they are located hundreds of meters from the
coast.
According to existing estimates, on average, about 7
meters of bedrock were “ripped off” during the glaciers’ meltdown, at
present 3% of the country’s territory is open granite and 11% is hidden
under a layer of soil less than 1 meter thick. Most of the bedrock is
hidden by the resulting sediments up to several tens of meters thick.
The traces of the glacier are visible, for example, in the complex
system of lakes and in the huge boulders found throughout the country.
52% of the bedrock are various varieties of granite, 22% are mixed
rocks, 9% are layered rocks, 8% are diabases, 4% are quartz and sand, 4%
are granulites, 0.1% are limestones (the oldest in Europe ).
Every year, ten to twenty weak tremors are recorded in the country.
Earthquakes of magnitude greater than four on the Richter scale were
recorded in Tornio in 1898 and in the northern part of the Gulf of
Bothnia on March 20, 2016.
Almost all rivers in Finland flow into the Baltic Sea,
with the exception of a small number of rivers in the north of the
country that flow into the Arctic Ocean.
Often referred to as the
"land of a thousand lakes", Finland has about 190,000 lakes covering 9%
of its area. Usually lakes abound with numerous bays, peninsulas and
islands, interconnected by channels and form branched lake systems.
Small lakes with average depths of 5–20 m predominate. However, within
the Lake Plateau, located in central Finland, there are quite large and
deep reservoirs. Thus, the depth of Lake Päijänne reaches 93 meters. The
largest lake in the country is Saimaa, located in the southeast of the
country. To the north of the Lake Plateau there is a large lake
Oulujärvi, and in the north of the province of Lappi there is a large
lake Inarijärvi.
The number of rivers in Finland reaches 2000.
They abound in rapids and waterfalls. Most of the rivers are short and
connect the lakes with each other or flow from the lakes into the sea.
The largest rivers - Kemijoki, Oulujoki and Tornionjoki - flow in the
north. The Kemijoki River has the most extensive network of tributaries.
There are also 36 channels with 48 gateways in the country. The
canals are mostly small and connect the country's rivers and lakes,
sometimes bypassing waterfalls. The most important is the Saimaa Canal,
which partially passes through the Leningrad Region and connects Lake
Saimaa with the Gulf of Finland.
30% of the country's territory
is marshland.
As of June 2015, there are 39 national parks in the
country (on the right you can see their location on the map of Finland)
- territories inhabited by rare or valuable species of animals and / or
plants, there are landscape features, there are unique natural objects.
Their total area exceeds eight thousand square kilometers. Based on the
“right of every person to nature”, defined by Finnish law (Fin.
Jokamiehenoikeus), anyone can freely and freely be in the territory of
national parks. By the way, the Finnish Archipelago National Park, along
with the Oulanka National Park, is included in the list of the European
park protection organization PAN Parks.
However, hunting in
protected areas is strictly prohibited and punishable by law, and making
fires in national parks is allowed only in specially designated places.
In addition, in these areas it is impossible to cut trees and litter.
Often, national parks have special sites for overnight stays, and some
may even rent out houses.
Among the activities in the national
parks of Finland are canoeing, kayaking on river rapids, snowshoeing.
There are a large number of mountain bike routes, as well as routes for
riding snowmobiles. Mountain climbing and skiing are widespread.
Also, "the right of everyone to nature" determines that everyone can
move freely in any territory, except for cultivated agricultural land
and land directly adjacent to residential buildings. If there is no
direct threat to life, that is, at temperatures above zero, it is
prohibited to use open fire (making fires) without the permission of the
owner of the land. Gas burners and other similar heating appliances are
not classified as open flames. Throughout Finland there are so-called.
"shelters" (fin. laavu), where, as a rule, there is a shelter from the
rain, a fire pit, and there is also firewood for making a fire.
Since 2012 (on the first Sunday of August), the country has been hosting
an annual day of open gardens, during which everyone can get acquainted
with the achievements of crop production both in public and private
farms. On August 31, the country celebrates Finnish Nature Day.
Flora
When moving from the south of Finland to the north, the
landscapes of the sea coast with a huge number of small islands and
rocks are replaced by dense coniferous (mostly pine) forests covering
the central part of the country. The total forest area is 20 million
hectares (about 60% of the country's territory). The forests are rich in
blueberries, raspberries, lingonberries, cranberries, as well as
mushrooms - porcini, boletus, boletus, chanterelles, hornworts and
others. Some years are fruitful for matsutake mushroom. In the north
there are hills of Lapland, almost devoid of tree vegetation, overgrown
with thickets of cloudberries. In connection with climate warming, both
local broad-leaved species (maple, linden, oak) and introduced species
in some cases are becoming more widespread in southern Finland. For
example, there is a possibility of a wider spread of beech in the
coastal areas of southern Finland.
Among spring primroses,
coltsfoot, noble liverwort and others are common.
A number of
invasive plant species such as Mantegazzi hogweed, ferruginous
impatiens, multi-leaved lupine and a number of others threaten the
biodiversity of Finnish nature.
The symbol of Finland is the whooper swan (as of
November 2012, there were 55-60 thousand of them). Eiders, gray herons,
mergansers, crested ducks, divers, black-headed and herring gulls,
fieldfares, finches, white wagtails, lapwings, field larks, starlings,
cranes, and tundra partridges are also common among birds. A number of
birds of prey (osprey, etc.) are rare. Global warming affects birds and
leads to the fact that the territory of their distribution, as well as
the time of nesting and migration, is changing. Waterfowl are
increasingly wintering in Finland, and many species stay in the country
longer in autumn. Every third bird species in Finland is endangered
(many species of waders and ducks). BirdLife Suomi and the EuroBirdwatch
event held in the fall draw people's attention to autumn migration and
the protection of rare birds.
The only endemic mammal in Finland
is the endangered Saimaa seal (about 300 in 2013). Also on the verge of
extinction are arctic foxes, wolverines, wolves (for 2017, about 150-180
individuals united in 8 families (also 11 families migrate between
Finland and Russia)), Natterer's night bats, forest bats and forest
ferrets. Populations of the common beaver, brown bear (about 1.5
thousand individuals in 2014), lynx, white-tailed eagles and common
flying squirrels restored their population by 2015 and were excluded
from the category of rare species.
The moose population is about
73 thousand heads. In 2013, there was a decrease in the total number of
reindeer.
Of the reptiles, the common viper is common; from
crustaceans - river and introduction spotted crayfish, which are of
commercial importance within the country.
The reservoirs are rich
in smelt, roach, vendace and other fish species. The 2010s were marked
by the appearance on the territory of Finland of a number of invasive
animal breeds - slugs Arion vulgaris, American mink; fish - silver carp,
round goby, whitefin minnow (Lake Saimaa), "Russian salmon" (in 2013 in
the Tenoyoki River). It is noted that hedgehogs, rabbits, squirrels and
foxes have become habitual inhabitants of Finnish cities. Nesting
nesting sites of the protected flying squirrel have been observed in the
city parks and forest areas of Helsinki.
Evira's food safety
department annually conducts spring vaccination of wild predatory
mammals in the border areas with Finland, in order to prevent the
penetration of diseases into the country.
Since 2013, the
position of the Commissioner for Animal Affairs has been established,
whose competence includes: improving the welfare of animals in Finnish
society, making initiatives and proposals, as well as commenting on
issues related to animal rights. The law obliges citizens of the country
to report animals in distress.
Finland is one of the countries with the best state of
the environment. The issue of tightening the wording in the criminal
code in the field of environmental crimes is being considered.
One of the urgent environmental problems in the country is soil
acidification and atmospheric warming due to the impact of natural
fuels. These problems are recognized as international, and Finland is
solving them together with other countries of the European Union. Thus,
according to the EU resolution on reducing greenhouse gas emissions into
the atmosphere by 2030 by 40% from the level of 1990, Finland intends to
reduce emissions by up to 50%.
As of February 1, 2022, the population of Finland was
5,550,066, according to the Statistics Centre. For many years, the birth
rate in the country has been inferior to the death rate, however, there
has been an increase in the population, which is due to immigration. In
December 2015, for the first time since the 1990s, there was a decrease
in the number of Finns in the country (by 704 people or 0.01%) and an
increase of 7% in the number of foreigners. 2016 marked the lowest birth
rate in the history of the country since 1917.
The age structure
of the population of Finland as of 2020: 0-14 years old - 16.41%; 15-64
years old - 61.33%; 65 years and older - 22.26%. The average age of the
population of Finland as of 2020: the entire population is 42.8 years;
men - 41.3 years; women - 44.4 years. The ratio of the number of men and
women: the entire population - 0.97 (2020). Life expectancy of the
population of Finland as of 2021: total - 81.55 years; men - 78.63
years; women - 84.6 years. The population growth rate of Finland as of
2021 is 0.26% per year. As of 2021, the birth rate was 10.49 newborns
per 1,000 inhabitants (184th in the world). The total fertility rate
(TFR) is 1.74 births per woman. Due to the demographic aging of the
population, the death rate is steadily increasing; as of 2021, the death
rate was 10.33 deaths per 1,000 people (30th in the world). The level of
net migration to Finland was 2.46 migrants per 1,000 inhabitants (42nd
in the world). As of 2019, the average age of a woman at first birth in
Finland was 29.4 years (for comparison, in the Republic of Korea - the
country with the lowest TFR in the world - 0.84 births per woman in
2020, the average age of a woman at first childbirth in 2019 was 32.2
years). As of 2021, 85.6% of Finland's population lived in cities.
According to a study conducted in 2013 by the University of Oulu and
the Finnish Environment Center, 70% of Finns live in cities or
municipalities surrounding cities, which cover only 5% of Finland.
Finland population density
Since the beginning of 2020, the
population growth amounted to 10,854 people, the growth was only due to
immigration (the natural population decline was −9,025 people).
In 2021, there were 296,464 people living in Finland who had the
citizenship of a country other than Finland. 51,805 people of which are
Estonian citizens and 30,049 people are Russian citizens, 15,075 people
from Iraq, 11,405 people from China, 8,245 people from India, 7,925
people from Thailand, 7,921 people from Sweden, 7,686 people from
Afghanistan, 7,237 people from Vietnam, 7,203 people from Syria, 7,202
people from Ukraine, 134,711 people from other countries of the world.
The most common nationalities that received Finnish citizenship in 2020
were Russians (1,546 people), Iraqis (602 people), Somalis (541 people),
Estonians (516 people), Thais (304 people), Afghans (264 people),
Ukrainians (220 people), Syrians (205 people), Swedes (196 people),
Indians (181 people), other nationalities (3,241 people).
According to a survey conducted in 2013 by Helsingin Sanomat, 52% of
Finns believe that the arrival of immigrants in the country should be
limited (in 2011 there were 46% of such people).
From January to
June 2013, 1,400 asylum-seekers arrived in the country (according to the
number of asylum seekers, immigrants from Iraq are in the first place,
in the second - Russia, and in the third - Afghanistan). There are also
700 people in the country who have received a deportation decision.
The largest national minorities in Finland are Karelians, Finnish
Swedes (about 291,000), Gypsies, Finnish Jews, Finnish Tatars and Saami.
Despite the fact that there are more than 70 thousand Russian-speaking
residents in Finland, this group is not officially recognized as a
national minority. The Russian-speaking population of Finland consists
of a large number of different groups - from Russian-speaking residents
of Estonia who moved to Finland, to business emigrants and specialists
in various industries from St. Petersburg.
The largest
Russian-speaking group are the Ingrian Finns and their descendants. The
majority of Russian-speaking residents of Finland also speak Finnish.
There are no regions in Finland with a compact Russian-speaking
population.
The active integration policy pursued in the country
in relation to foreigners, however, does not relieve the signs of racism
observed at the everyday level, discrimination in the workplace, and the
spread of rumors in social networks about crime among foreigners. A
study conducted in 2014 among schoolchildren in 38 countries found that
Finnish boys have the most negative attitude towards immigrants. At the
end of 2021, there were 442,290 foreign-born people living in Finland,
which is 7.97% of the country's total population.
Until 1809 Swedish was the sole official language of
the Duchy of Finland. After the accession of the territory of Finland to
the Russian Empire, Russian was added as an official language to
Swedish, and after the issuance of an imperial decree of August 1, 1863,
three languages became official in the Grand Duchy of Finland until
1917 - Swedish, Finnish and Russian.
From 1864 to 1903, the names
of streets and official institutions were duplicated in the following
order: in Swedish, in Finnish and in Russian, and from 1903 to 1917 in
Russian, in Finnish and in Swedish. After Finland gained independence,
according to a special law adopted in 1922, the use of two official
languages, Finnish and Swedish, has been preserved in the country to
this day.
An initiative announced in 2011-2012 by six
municipalities in Eastern Finland – Tohmajärvi, Imatra, Lappeenranta,
Puumala, Mikkeli and Savonlinna – who applied for a 5-year pilot project
in which it would be possible to replace the study of Swedish with the
study of Russian in the schools of these municipalities , starting from
the 7th grade, did not find support in the government and was not
approved by the Ministry of Education.
In 1992, the “Law on the
Sami Language” came into force in Finland, according to which the Sami
language has a special status in the country: in particular, those
decisions of the Parliament, decrees and government regulations that
relate to Sami issues must also be translated into the Sami language .
From December 2013, Finland's national broadcaster Yle started
broadcasting TV news in Sami; broadcast from a television studio in
Inari.
In the 2010s, there was an increase in interest in
learning the Finnish language among students of European universities.
As of 2021, 86.5% (4,800,243 people) of the population of Finland
speak Finnish, 5.2% (287,933 people) of the population speak Swedish,
0.04% (2,023 people) of the population speaks Sami, and other languages
are spoken by 8.3% (458,042 people) of the population. In Russian -
1.6% (87,552 people), in Estonian - 0.9% (50,232 people). Other
languages are spoken by 5.8% of the population of Finland, in
particular: Arabic - 0.7% (36,466 people); in English - 0.5% (25,638
people); in Somali - 0.4% (23,656 people); in Persian - 0.3% (16,432
people); in Kurdish - 0.3% (15,850 people); in Chinese - 0.3% (14,780
people); in Albanian - 0.2% (13,830 people); in Vietnamese - 0.2%
(12,310 people), etc.
Statistical data classify Finland as one of the
countries with the least religiosity of its inhabitants, although
according to the Constitution of Finland, the Evangelical Lutheran, as
well as the Orthodox, have the status of state churches. Representatives
of the churches themselves use the concept of "national church", and not
the state. Relations between church and state are regulated by special
agreements, and the activities of the churches themselves are regulated
by special legislation. The state church has the right to a special
church tax (collected with the help of state tax structures on the basis
of the voluntary entry of citizens into one or another church
structure).
In 2014, 74.0% of the country's population belonged
to the Lutheran church, about 1% to the Orthodox. In 2009, 1.4% belonged
to other church denominations, and 19.2% of the inhabitants had no
religious affiliation. Among the Lutherans of Finland, a fairly large
percentage are Laestadians.
In 2013, there were 304 communities
of Jehovah's Witnesses in the country, in which about 19 thousand people
were registered, and more than 26 thousand adherents of the organization
attended the meetings. Since 1985, by a special amendment in the
legislation, male adherents have been exempted from military duty in the
armed forces of the country, but currently (2018) the issue of its
abolition is being considered. In 2014, at the request of the Society
for the Support of Victims of Religion, the Ministry of Internal Affairs
and the Ministry of Justice of Finland conducted a series of ministerial
checks on the legality of the activities of the legal committees of
Jehovah's Witnesses.
In 2013, about 50,000 Muslims lived in
Finland, most of whom were immigrants and their children. In 2016, the
number of Muslims in Finland outnumbered the Orthodox for the first
time. There are more than 40 Muslim prayer rooms in the country, and the
construction of the first mosque in Helsinki is planned.
Since
the second quarter of the 19th century, a Finnish Jewish community has
also formed in the country with functioning synagogues in Turku and
Helsinki.
Studies in 2015 note an increase in extremist
sentiments among students in Finnish lyceums and schools in the form of
hatred or intolerance, based, among other things, on religious ideology.
Since 2016, the Radinet project has been operating on the
de-radicalization of society.
In 2021, 66.6% of the population of
Finland belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Orthodox were 1.1%,
adherents of another religion were 1.8%, non-religious - 30.6%.
State structure
Finland is a unitary state with one
partial autonomy (Aland Islands).
Form of government
According
to the form of government, Finland is a republic. The highest executive
power in the country belongs to the president, who is elected for a
six-year term by direct popular vote.
Political structure
According to the constitution, legislative power belongs to the
president and Eduskunte, the country's parliament, and executive power,
to the president and the State Council. All these power structures are
located in the capital.
Legislature
Eduskunta is the
unicameral parliament of the country, consisting of 200 deputies.
Deputies are elected by popular vote for a term of 4 years.
Parliament in Finland elects the government - the State Council, makes
decisions on the state budget, approves international agreements.
Deputies have the right to submit bills on their own behalf or on behalf
of the party. In addition, parliamentarians accept for consideration the
bills supported in the course of the so-called civil initiative, for
which it is necessary to collect at least 50,000 signatures of the
country's citizens.
In April 2019, regular parliamentary
elections were held in Finland.
executive branch
The executive
power in the country is exercised by the State Council (valtioneuvosto),
which includes the prime minister and the required number of ministers,
no more than 18. The prime minister is chosen by the Eduskunta and then
formally approved by the president. The President of the country
appoints other ministers in accordance with the recommendations of the
Prime Minister. The government, together with the prime minister,
resigns after each parliamentary election, as well as by decision of the
president of the country in case of loss of confidence in the
parliament, by personal statement and in some other cases.
Judicial branch
The Finnish judiciary is divided into a court dealing
with ordinary civil and criminal cases, and an administrative court in
charge of cases between the people and the administrative bodies of the
state. Finnish laws are based on Swedish, and more broadly, on civil law
and Roman law. The judiciary is made up of local courts, regional courts
of appeal and a high court. The administrative branch consists of
regional administrative courts (alueelliset hallinto-oikeudet) (until
1999 - provincial administrative courts (Lääninoikeus)) and the Supreme
Administrative Court (Korkein hallinto-oikeus). Elected for a six-year
term by direct popular vote. The highest court is the Supreme Court of
Finland (Korkein oikeus), the courts of appeal are court courts
(Hovioikeus), the courts of first instance are courts of Things
(Käräjäoikeus) (until 1993 - county courts (Kihlakunnanoikeus)), the
body for the trial of officials - The Supreme Court (Valtakunnanoikeus),
the supreme body of prosecutorial supervision is the Chancellor of
Justice (Oikeuskansleri).
The territory of Finland is divided into regions
(Finnish maakunnat/Swedish landskap), regions into cities (Finnish
kaupunki/Swedish stad) and communes (Finnish kunta/Swedish kommun) (Due
to mergers, their number is reduced almost every year. In 2010 there
were 342), in 2011 there are 336, large cities into urban parts (Fin.
kaupunginosa/Swed. stadsdel).
The regions are governed by
regional government agencies (Finnish aluehallintovirasto/Swedish
regionförvaltningsverk).
Representative bodies of cities - city
councils (Fin. kaupunginhallitus / Swedish stadsfullmäktige), elected by
the population, executive bodies of cities - city boards (Fin.
kaupunginhallitus / Swedish stadsstyrelse) (until 1978 - magistrate
(Finnish maistraatti / Swedish magistrat), consisting of a communal
burgomaster (Fin. kunnallispormestari/Swedish kommunalborgmästare) and
ratmans (Finnish neuvosmies/Swedish rådman)), headed by burgomasters
(Finnish pormestari/Swedish borgmästare) or city directors (Finnish
kaupunginjohtaja/Swedish stadtdirektör ).
The representative
bodies of the communes are communal councils (Fin.
kunnanvaltuusto/Swedish kommunalfullmäktige, earlier in small communes -
communal assembly - Finnish kuntakokous/Swedish Kommunalstämma), elected
by the population, the executive bodies of the communes are communal
boards (Finnish kunnanhallitus/Swedish kommunstyrelse) , headed by
burgomasters (Fin. pormestari/Swedish borgmästare) or communal directors
(Finnish kunnanjohtaja/Swedish kommundirektör).
The communes are
grouped into 19 provinces/regions/regions (fin. maakunta or fin.
provinssi / swed. provins) governed by regional councils. The activities
of the provincial authorities, their powers, relations with the central
government and the bodies of the European Union are regulated by Law No.
602 "On Regional Development" of July 12, 2002.
Until 2010, the
country's territory was divided into provinces (lyani), which were ruled
by provincial boards (fin. lääninhallitus) headed by governors (fin.
maaherra) appointed by the president.
In addition, communes
within provinces can unite into sub-provinces (Finnish seutukunta /
Swedish ekonomisk region) used for police purposes and for the
collection of statistics. Their number is also declining and since 2011
is 70 (67 in mainland Finland and 3 in the Åland Islands). There are no
nationwide laws governing activities at the sub-provincial level.
Part of the territory of Finland, mainly in skerry areas, is used by
the navy and is closed to the public.
There are also other parties - Change 2011, Communist
Party of Finland, Freedom Party - The Future of Finland (moderate
right), Pirate Party, "Poor" (social Christian), Patriotic People's
Movement (far right), Finnish Workers' Party (ultra left, communist ),
the Independence Party (Eurosceptics), the Finnish Party of the Elderly,
the Communist Party of Workers - For Peace and Socialism. The Åland
Islands have a special autonomous status, in connection with which they
have their own political parties, for example, the separatist Future of
Åland.
Unions
The largest trade union center is the Central
Organization of Trade Unions of Finland (Suomen Ammattiliittojen
Keskusjärjestö).
Foreign policy
In 2015, the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Finland planned to close the embassies in Luxembourg,
Slovakia and Slovenia, and the temporary representation of Finland in
Lebanon was transformed into an embassy. By the beginning of 2016,
Finland was represented by representative offices in 89 foreign
countries.
Armed forces
The Finnish Defense Forces consist of
regular employees (8.7 thousand professionals), as well as conscripts
(in January and July, about 12 thousand recruits are called up,
including 250-300 women). The entire structure is subordinate to the
commander of the defense forces, who, in turn, is accountable to the
president of the republic. Since August 1, 2014, the commander of the
Finnish Defense Forces has been Lieutenant General Jarmo Lindberg. The
budget of the Finnish Defense Forces is just under 3 billion euros per
year. In 2014, the armed forces consisted of 31 general positions, of
which by 2015, due to a general reduction in personnel, 28 remained.
After the Second World War, Finland stably adhered to the non-bloc
status. The question of joining NATO in Finland is periodically raised
by right-wing forces. In 2022, the country's leadership seriously
thought about the prospect of joining NATO after the start of Russia's
invasion of Ukraine. At the moment, a program of military cooperation is
being implemented with many countries that are members of the NATO bloc.
Since the population of the entire country is slightly more than 5.5
million people, for the most part, the equipment of the Finnish Armed
Forces is draft. All Finnish male citizens between the ages of 18 and 30
who are deemed fit are subject to conscription either for military or
alternative service. The term of service is six to 12 months
(alternative non-military service). In recent years, there has been an
increase in the so-called total refuseniks (in 2011 - 21, in 2012 - 41
people), for whom military or alternative civilian service is replaced
by controlled house arrest. Residents of the Åland Islands are not
drafted into the army. Since 1995, women have been allowed to serve as
volunteers in the army. In 2014, ~4 thousand soldiers interrupted their
service (of which 3 thousand were due to mental and behavioral disorders
- depression, depression, problems with adaptation, alcohol and drug
addiction). There is a Union of conscripts that defends the rights of
conscripts.
During the Cold War, Finland could mobilize up to
490,000 reservists in the event of hostilities, but this number has now
decreased to 350,000 due to a reduction in the military budget. The age
of mobilization is 60 years.
The Finnish Defense Forces include
the Finnish Army (Finnish Suomen maavoimat, Swedish Finländska armén),
the Finnish Navy (Finnish Suomen merivoimat, Swedish Finländska
marinen), the Finnish Air Squads (Finnish Suomen ilmavoimat, Swedish
Finländska flygvapnet). The Finnish Border Guard is subordinate to the
Ministry of the Interior, but can be included in the armed forces if
necessary.
Currently, there is a reduction in funding, the number
of personnel (for 2008-2012, personnel were reduced by more than 10%)
and garrisons of the Finnish Defense Forces. In order to save money, it
is planned to reduce the term of conscription service by two weeks, and
it is also possible to dismiss regular military personnel, that is,
officers, which has never been offered before.
The Finnish Police (Finnish Poliisi, Swedish Polisen)
is subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior, and the total number of
employees in the police department is 10.9 thousand people, of which 7.5
thousand were directly police officers in 2014 (in 2012 - 7.7 thousand).
There are ~681 people from the civilian population of the country per
one policeman.
Approximately 800 police officers are the targets
of citizen complaints every year. Of this number, about 100 police
officers are under investigation. According to prosecutor Anssi Hiivala,
police officers are suspected mainly of using violence or driving under
the influence of alcohol in their spare time. From 2013 to 2015, there
was a decrease in the trust of Finns in the police in the area of
corruption.
In 2013, in order to prevent a number of crimes
(drug trafficking, etc.), the police received ~2 thousand permits for
the use of secret methods of electronic surveillance, in connection with
which the phones of 770 people were tapped.
Since 2015, police
vehicles throughout Finland have been equipped with devices that read
vehicle registration numbers and can tell whether the vehicle has passed
the inspection, taxes paid, speed and driving method.
To control
the territory, vehicles and people, the police use quadrocopters and
drones. Also put into operation armored police vehicles "Morra" (Mörkö)
for use during the riots.
Crime
In 2012, about half a million
crimes were committed in Finland.
In 2014, 9789 crimes related to
the illegal transportation of drugs were recorded (10% less than in
2013). However, the number of serious drug crimes increased from 202 in
2013 to 300 in 2014. The total number of detected drug offenses in 2015
was 23,478 cases.
In 2015, there was an increase in the share of
foreigners (20-25%) in the overall statistics on rape in the country.
In 2016, there was an overall decrease in the number of crimes.
penitentiary system
In 2014, according to the independent
organization World Justice Project, Finland ranked fourth in the ranking
of the rule of law, and Finnish criminal justice was recognized as the
best in the world.
In 2013, there were 3,200 prisoners in Finnish
prisons, serving an average ten-month sentence. Despite good security,
there are a number of cases of violence among those serving sentences.
In 2014, there were a record number of those serving a “life
sentence” (from 12 years to 14 years and 4 months in recent years)
imprisonment for premeditated murder - 211 people (in 2000 there were 59
life prisoners, and in 1990 - th years - less than thirty). For
manslaughter over the past decade, on average, sentenced to nine years
in prison. In the 1980s, only 10% of those who killed were convicted
under the article "premeditated murder", in 2013 - almost a third. A
number of Finnish prisons are implementing educational programs for
prisoners to help with their rehabilitation after the end of their
prison term.
At the end of 2011, a law on controlled house arrest
came into force in Finland, under which persons sentenced by a court to
up to six months in prison can stay at home with an electronic bracelet
attached to their leg or arm, which is triggered when they leave a zone
specified by the police. The daily cost of supervised house arrest is
three times less than the maintenance of a prisoner in prison.
During the presidency of Tarja Halonen, the latter granted ~22 clemency
petitions per year. Incumbent President Sauli Niinistö considers the
practice of pardons a relic of the past and intends to fully transfer
the institution of pardons to the judiciary.
In 2015, the
Parliament approved a legislative amendment, according to which fines
left without payment from January 2016 will again bring the non-payer to
the dock.
Finnish intelligence services
According to
ex-Minister of Defense Karl Haglund, the Finnish legislation does not
currently provide for a situation where Finland, involved in the
conflict, could act by non-military methods, in connection with which
the minister proposed to develop a methodology and strategy for
conducting a cyber war by Finland. Interior Minister Petteri Orpo is
also pushing for an update to Finland's intelligence law, which would
give the police and military the right to scout information networks.
Finland is one of the small highly developed
industrial countries. Its share in world production is small - 0.4%, in
world trade - 0.8%. Finland's gross domestic product in 2002 was 140.5
billion euros. Growth compared to 2001 amounted to 1.7%.
Finland
is in the top group of countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita
- $44,492 (purchasing power parity) or $45,927 (nominal) in 2017.
In January 2013, exports amounted to 4.6 billion € (3% more than in
January 2012); the share of chemical industry products from Finnish
exports exceeded one quarter (about 50% - oil products); increased
export of wood and metal products; there was a collapse in the export of
mobile phones (from 0.5 million units in January 2012 to 32 thousand in
January 2013).
Government revenues from tax collection amount to
~65 billion euros (according to estimates, Finland annually loses
4.6-7.7 billion euros due to non-payment of taxes; bankrupt firms and
other companies that evade taxes account for about 4.1 billion euro)
Government revenues from excises on sweets in 2013 amounted to ~78
million euros.
As of the second quarter of 2016, the average
salary in Finland is 2509 € (net) and 3380 € (gross) per month.
Advantages: export-oriented and quality-oriented industry. Developed
high-tech sector (Here mapping service, Internet services). First place
in the world in the production of paper. Rapid recovery of export
volumes after recession. Low inflation, sometimes below 2% per year.
Growing investment attractiveness. Gateway to the Russian and Baltic
economy. Part of the euro area. Strengthened economic growth.
Weaknesses: severe recession in 1991-1993, real GDP fell by 15%. Rapidly
aging population, early retirement. Large public debt and external debt;
high unemployment (10%). Undeveloped domestic market; peripheral
location in Europe.
Alexander Stubb has been the Minister of
Foreign Trade of Finland since 2011.
In 2009, the police
conducted 611 investigations of economic crimes, in 2013 there were 326.
The same trend is noticeable in court verdicts: in 2010, the court
issued 416 business bans, and in 2013 - 342. As of 2014, Finland has
about 1,000 bans on doing business, while every year 30 to 40
businessmen are caught violating it.
According to 2014 estimates,
the annual damage to the state from computer problems in the workplace
of civil servants reaches 275 million euros.
In 2013, based on a
report by the anti-corruption body of the Council of Europe GRECO, as
well as research by the German branch of Ernst & Young, Finland remained
one of the least corrupt countries in the European Union.
In
2012-2014, the Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch Ratings rating
agencies, based on annual inspections of a number of large companies and
government agencies, assigned Finland the highest rating for long-term
loans (AAA). Only in October 2014, the Standard & Poor's agency
downgraded the country's rating to AA +, justifying the decision with
weak prospects for the growth of the national economy.
In the
annual ranking of the World Economic Forum, Finland in 2013 ranked third
(after Switzerland and Singapore) in terms of competitiveness, and in
2014 - fourth.
According to a study conducted in 2014 by the
OECD, the Finnish school system is the most cost-effective among
industrialized countries.
Finland belongs to one of the northernmost
agricultural countries. Agricultural land occupies 8% of the entire
territory of the country, and arable land is estimated at 2 million
hectares. Most farms are small farms with less than 10 hectares of
arable land, but there is a trend towards larger farms. Agriculture,
like cattle breeding, has a high degree of mechanization.
In
connection with the country's accession to the EU, only the number of
poultry farms in the country in the period 1995-2012 decreased from 3
thousand to 350.
Every year, up to 15,000 people are involved in
seasonal agricultural work to pick berries and mushrooms, half of which
are foreigners.
The Russian food embargo of 2014-2015 brought
multimillion-dollar losses to Finnish agriculture.
Finnish steel companies (Outokumpu, FNsteel, etc.) are
among the leading stainless steel producers in the world.
Wärtsilä Oyj Abp is a Finnish publicly traded engineering company that
manufactures machinery and equipment for gas, oil and other power
plants.
Wärtsilä are one of the most popular diesels on large
marine vessels and large yachts.
In 2006, electricity consumption in Finland amounted
to about 83.6 billion kWh, of which about 20% was imported (at the same
time, imports from Russia tripled in 2021 due to higher energy prices
and reached 8.2 billion kWh h). Since June 7, 2015, due to the decrease
in the cost of electricity produced in Fennoscandia, Finland for the
first time in history began to export (up to 350 MWh) electricity to
Russia. The Fenno-Skan power cable connects the power systems of Sweden
and Finland in the region of Rauma.
According to Biolan research,
only ¼ of Finns trust the prospects for solar energy in Finland, and the
development of this area is constrained by the lack of subsidies.
Nuclear power
In 2005, about 20% of electricity was generated at
the Loviisa and Olkiluoto nuclear power plants. In 2005, the
construction of the third Olkiluoto power unit began, the unit was
supposed to be launched in 2010, but the deadline is constantly being
postponed. The current launch date is set for 2018.
Tourism
Tourism is one of the components of the Finnish economy: in 2011, 7.3
million tourists visited the country, which is 17% more than in 2010. In
2015, 7.4 million foreign tourists visited Finland. One of the most
popular cities among foreign tourists is the capital of Finland,
Helsinki. Other major cities are also popular: Tampere, Turku, Oulu,
Kuopio and Porvoo. During the Christmas holidays and the New Year, up to
100,000 tourists from Russia visit the country.
According to the
MEK tourism promotion center, the development of the tourism business in
the country is constrained by the stereotypes that foreigners have that
Finland is a distant, cold and expensive country, in connection with
which the MEK called for destroying existing prejudices. According to
the Eurostat agency, Finland is recognized as one of the most expensive
countries in Europe. Prices in the country are 20% higher than the
European average.
Among the natural monuments of Finland, Mount
Aavasaksa, located near the Arctic Circle, Lake Saimaa and others are
distinguished.
In Finland, mostly in Lapland, winter tourism is
developed - slopes for lovers of skiing and snowboarding, snowmobiling,
dog and reindeer sledding.
In Kemi every winter they build a huge
snow fortress LumiLinna with an Ice Hotel. Salla, Ruka near Kuusamo,
Suomu near Kemijärvi, Saariselkä, Levi, Himos and Ylläs are famous for
their ski slopes.
Due to the demand for healthcare services,
there has been an increase in the number of Russian tourists coming to
Finland for treatment and recreational activities.
A separate
category is religious tourism (or pilgrimage) for the purpose of which
is visiting Christian centers located in Finland, one of which is the
Novo-Valaam and Lintul monasteries. Up to 15 thousand tourists from
Russia visit the monasteries a year, which is 1/7 of all visitors, and
by the decision of the guild of Finnish journalists writing about
tourism, the New Valaam Monastery was chosen as the best tourist
attraction in Finland in 2012.
According to the unified museum
card that has appeared since May 2015 (sold at the box office of museums
and is valid for a year), you can visit more than 200 museums in the
country.
Taxation
Since January 2015, an electronic portal has
been operating on the website of the Tax Administration, through which
concerned citizens can report information on cases of violation of tax
laws (about 3.5 thousand applications were received in six months).
Also, as of mid-2016, more than half of tax returns were received
electronically.
Under a provision in force until 2016, Finland
was not entitled to levy taxes on Finnish pensioners living in Spain,
with the exception of those who worked in the public sector before
retirement. Also, Finnish pensioners living in Portugal were completely
exempted from paying taxes for the first ten years. Since April 2016,
this practice has been abolished.
Passenger transportation to Finland is carried out by
all major modes of transport - road, rail, air and sea.
Roads in
Finland are managed by the Road Administration (Fin. Tiehallinto) - an
agency subordinate to the Ministry of Transport and Communications. In
2014, the permissible blood alcohol content of a driver was 0.5 ppm, but
a program has been proposed to reduce the rate to 0.2 ppm.
The
Finnish railway network is operated by the state-owned company
Ratahallintokeskus, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Transport
and Communications. Finland is connected with Russia by two trains, Leo
Tolstoy (Helsinki-Moscow) and Allegro (Helsinki-St. Petersburg). Allegro
is a high-speed train based on the Pendolino platform and has a speed of
up to 220 kilometers per hour. On the territory of Finland, a gauge with
a width of 1524 mm is used.
Domestic and international air travel
in Finland is operated by about twenty airlines, including two Finnish
ones: Finnair (formerly Aero), a Finnish state-controlled airline, and
Finncomm Airlines, a privately owned airline operating joint ventures.
air travel with Finnair. There are 28 airports in the country, the
largest of which is Helsinki-Vantaa located in Vantaa. 25 airports are
operated by Finavia.
Ferry service is carried out with Sweden,
Estonia, Poland, Germany and Russia; export of products of pulp and
paper, woodworking, machine-building, chemical, light, food industries.
Main foreign trade partners: EU countries, Russia.
Until 2010,
the Maritime Administration of Finland was responsible for the
communication by water transport, since January 1, 2010 it was divided
into two parts: the Transport Administration and the Transport Security
Administration.
During the Christmas holidays and the New Year,
the shortage of tickets for all means of public transport increases
sharply.
Mail
Over the past few years, Finnish Post has
evolved from a purely postal company into a company that offers a
variety of logistics, data and material management services. The company
operates in the international market.
For the convenience of
users in a number of major cities of the country, Itella has introduced
Smartpost machines for issuing parcels in standardized postal packaging.
In 2013, a Finnish postage stamp featuring a 1933 Volvo postal car
and two drivers standing in front of it was awarded the best postage
stamp in a competition held by Posteurop, a union of European postal
services. The brand was created by Susanna Rumpu and Ari Lakaniemi.
Telecommunications
There are three telecommunications companies
in Finland, leaders in the cellular communications market - Elisa Oyj
(Elisa), TeliaSonera Oyj (Sonera) and DNA Oy (DNA). Research conducted
by Aalto University in 2013 showed that mobile network data rates often
do not match the advertised promises of TV operators: in large cities,
the DNA mobile network of the TV operator was the fastest, while the
Elisa and Sonera mobile networks performed better in urban outskirts and
in rural areas .
Since June 2017, roaming in the countries of the
European Union has been cancelled.
Internet
In 2015, in the
ranking of the World Economic Forum, Finland was designated as the
leader in the number of mobile Internet connections (125 connections per
hundred inhabitants; Japan - 116; Hungary - 33); At the same time,
researchers noted a low level of digitization in the country, but
already in 2016, according to an assessment compiled by the Finnish
Economic Research Institute Etla, the country became a leader in terms
of digitization among 22 European countries.
In 2013, among
Finnish citizens aged 75-89, only one in five used the Internet, about
300,000 Finnish pensioners did not have a computer, and 40,000
pensioners did not have a mobile phone.
According to statistics,
in 2013 Finns used the Google search engine 30 million times a day (5
million times more than in 2012).
A number of companies have
opened their data centers in the country: in 2013, Google invested about
800 million euros in the project in Hamina (sea water is used to cool
electronic equipment in the center); in 2014, Microsoft opened its
center in the Uusimaa region; In 2015, the German company Hetzner
announced its intention to invest about 200 million euros in the
construction of its data center in the city of Tuusula.
Plans are
underway to lay a fiber optic cable from Germany to Finland under the
Baltic Sea.
In the international ranking of social development[d]
as of 2020, Finland ranks third, while there is a steady upward movement
of the country in this ranking: in 2015, Finland ranked 7th, in 2019 -
4th.
Housing stock
In 2011, there were 1,459,705 buildings in
the country, of which 1,245,671 (85.3%) were residential buildings.
Private detached houses - 1,111,378 (76.1% of all buildings); row one-
and two-story houses (neighbor only on the side) - 77,060 (5.3%);
high-rise buildings - 57,233 (3.9%). On average, the provision of
housing for Finnish citizens in 2015 was 40 m² (in Helsinki - 34 m²).
In August 2012, the average price for housing in an old high-rise
building in the metropolitan area was about 3,300 € per m², and in other
cities - 2,100 €. In February 2013, the value increase was 4.3% in
Helsinki (€3,501 per m²) and 1.4% in the country (€2,185 per m²). In
2014, according to the forecast of the economic research center Pellervo
(PTT), the growth in housing prices will be 2.5%. According to the
Statistical Center, renting an apartment can be profitable only for a
short period, in other cases it is advisable to buy a home.
In
2013, the cost of a land plot for the construction of a residential
building in the capital region was 720 euros per m², and in other parts
of the country - 87 euros per m² (total growth since the beginning of
the 2000s was: in the capital region - 108.9% , in the country -
52.7%.According to Danske Bank forecasts, in 2014-2015, a new increase
in housing prices will begin in Finland.
In the last quarter of
2012, there was an increase in rent for rented housing (in the Helsinki
region the increase was 2%, in other regions of the country - 3.7%), and
the overall increase in rent in 2012 amounted to an average of 4% (in
Helsinki - 5%, in Tampere - 2.6%, in Turku - 3.2%). The decline in the
construction of rental housing in the Helsinki region has caused sharp
criticism of the Katainen government from the opposition.
According to the state program for the development of housing for the
elderly, which requires 92% of people over the age of 75 years to live
at home, receiving services at home, by 2030 there should be one million
unobstructed apartments in cities for an increasing number of elderly
people (for 2013 there were only 300 thousand).
A family
A
typical Finnish family is a man and a woman living in a marriage union.
The average size of a Finnish family at the end of 2018 is 2.75 people
(in 1990, the average Finnish family consisted of three people). About
1,015,000 people live alone.
According to the Statistics Center,
at the end of 2018 there were 1,469,000 families in Finland, but their
number began to decline as early as 2017, and in 2018 it decreased by
2,800 (25,000 marriages were concluded in the country and 14,000 were
dissolved in 2013). ).
Between 1995 and 2014, a total of 1,138
minors were married in Finland, most of them girls. Of these, about 30
people were at the time of marriage at the age of 14-15 years. Under the
Marriage Act, minors require permission from the Department of Justice.
In 2013, there were 26 thousand families in Finland, in which one or
both parents come from Russia or the former USSR (parents from Sweden
are in second place in terms of country of origin and Estonia is in
third place).
The number of families with children in 2018
decreased from the previous year to 562,000.
In parallel with the
reduction in the number of families, the proportion of childless couples
is increasing. In 2018, the number of childless couples living in civil
unions increased by 2,530 compared to 2017, and the number of childless
married couples increased by 1,900.
At the end of 2009 in Finland
there were 12% of incomplete families where one of the parents is a
single mother or single father; 1,244 people were listed as being in
same-sex civil partnerships (in 2013, the number of such unions
decreased to 405; they brought up about 600 minor children).
In
the case of a divorce and an aggravation of interpersonal relations, the
so-called “prohibition on approach” operates in the country.
In
November 2014, the Finnish Parliament approved a bill initiated by the
citizens of the country, legalizing same-sex marriage in the country and
granting same-sex spouses the right to joint adoption of children. In
February 2015, the President of the country, Sauli Niinistö, approved
the introduction of appropriate changes to the Finnish marriage law. The
law came into force on March 1, 2017.
According to the ratings of
the international organization Save the Children (for 2013 and 2014),
Finland is the best country in the world for mother and child (in 2012,
the country occupied the sixth position). The material situation of
families with children in Finland was one of the best in Europe, but
despite this, 102,000 children lived in families with low incomes in
2014.
According to experts, the choice of a name for newborn
children is influenced by fashion trends in culture, as well as the laws
of the Finnish language.
In 2016, with the adoption of a new
bill, the fee for kindergarten services was increased.
According
to 2015 estimates, the sexual activity of Finns has decreased in recent
years and couples have had sex on average 1-2 times a week. Two thirds
of Finnish men and one third of women use porn products.
Finland was the first country in the world to
introduce the concept of a patient's right in the 1960s. These rights
actually apply in real life, greatly complicating the doctor's work and
facilitating participation in the patient's care. For example, hiding a
diagnosis from a patient in Finland is impossible and even criminal; at
the same time, the patient also has the right not to know about his
diagnosis, about which he must notify the doctor.
Medicine in
Finland is evidence-based, that is, only those methods of treatment (and
diagnostics) are used, the effectiveness of which has been proven by a
scientific method; a bill is being drafted to ban the use of alternative
medicine methods on young children and seriously ill patients.
In
2010, medicine is practically free for residents of the country. Almost
all treatment costs are reimbursed from the state budget. Insulin and
other medicines needed for chronic diseases are free for Finnish
citizens.
From January 2014, due to a new EU directive, foreign
workers from third countries who have entered into an employment
contract for a period of at least 6 months will be entitled to the same
health and social services as Finnish citizens, and will also be able to
receive a monthly child allowance. The new rules will not apply to
international students from third countries.
Magnetic and
computed tomographs are available in every district hospital
(approximately one tomograph for every 20,000 residents).
Since
October 2010, a new smoking law has come into force in Finland,
completely prohibiting the sale or otherwise transfer of tobacco
products to persons under 18 years of age. It was also forbidden to
purchase tobacco products via the Internet. In stores, tobacco products
cannot be displayed - smokers must choose cigarettes from the catalog,
naming the number. Due to the popularity of tattooing, since 2013 the
Finnish Ministry of Health has been considering ways to increase control
over tattooing.
One of the reasons why the number of abortions
among women aged 25-34 did not decrease in Finland during the 2000s is
the continuing decline in incomes of the population, and the high number
of abortions among adolescents - gaps in education in the field of
sexual health.
In accordance with the instructions, in urgent
cases, an ambulance in Finland should reach the patient in no more than
8 minutes. Starting from 2013, the medical districts will not be
responsible for the work of the ambulance service.
The Finnish population is highly educated. By the end
of 2020, 3,469,000 people or 74% of the Finnish population aged 15 and
over have completed higher education. According to studies conducted in
2013 by the OECD, adult Finns became the second in the world (after the
inhabitants of Sweden and Japan) in terms of knowledge, in particular,
this concerns reading and arithmetic, as well as the ability to use a
computer in solving various problems, however, the IQ level of the
Finnish population has not risen since 1997, and reading skills are on
the decline (among fourth-grade Finnish students, motivation to read is
second to last among schoolchildren in 45 countries).
Finnish
legislation guarantees its citizens universal secondary education
(school attendance is not a prerequisite, and about 200 children are
homeschooled).
A comprehensive school involves nine years of
study, and children begin to go to it from the age of seven. The school
year lasts 188 days and the municipalities independently distribute them
between the autumn and spring semesters; most often the first half of
the year lasts 89 school days, and the spring - 98. Classes begin in
August and end at the end of May. Schools pay attention to ensuring the
safety of children and the educational process.
The child goes to
the school closest to the house, but there is a tendency among parents
to send their children to more prestigious educational institutions from
their point of view. If the school is more than two and a half
kilometers, then by law the student (up to the 6th grade) is required to
deliver back and forth by taxi at the expense of the municipality. The
school gives textbooks and all stationery free of charge and teaches
Finnish, mathematics, natural history, and home economics. Education in
the basics of religion (Lutheranism or Orthodoxy) occurs only with the
consent of the parents and in accordance with the religion. Atheists
have the right to allow a child to be taught secular ethics, and in case
of objection, children are exempted from any of the courses. Library
shelves are in the corridor, and access to them is free. Researchers
note that every tenth Finnish student is bullied at the place of study.
In August 2013, Education Minister Krista Kiuru announced that she
intended to pass a new law that would possibly regulate school class
sizes.
Grades in the lower grades are not given; verbal grading
is used: excellent, good, changeable, and "requires training". Starting
from the 4th grade, grades are given in the range from 4 to 10 points.
There are also marks for behavior - the ability to work in a group and
alone, good manners, and the desire to influence others for the better.
From the 3rd grade, the first foreign language, English, is added to
the subjects. From 5 - the second (German-French) by choice and desire.
A foreign-speaking child (for example, from an immigrant family) is
entitled to study his native language from the first grade. From the 7th
grade, they begin to learn the second state language - Swedish (see
Compulsory Swedish).
In the lower grades, subjects are combined
(chemistry with physics and biology, language with literature) and home
economics is taught to everyone without distinction of gender. In the
Finnish school, they write a lot: all kinds of essays are designed to
teach the child to have their own opinion on each issue and express it
in literary language.
After leaving school, a young person can
continue their studies at a gymnasium, where education ends with a
matriculation exam, or enter a secondary vocational educational
institution.
In 2013, 25 higher educational institutions operated
in Finland: ten universities, ten more specialized institutes (they
study technology, business and economics, art), and the military academy
is also ranked among the universities. In 2014, the Ministry of
Education increased the university quota by 3,000 full-time study
places, but the reduction in funding for universities by 280 million
euros per year since 2015 has led to a reduction in the staff of
university teachers by 5,200 people. Among the universities, the oldest
and most famous is the University of Helsinki.
In Finland, there
are a significant number of programs for those who plan to study at the
bachelor's level, as well as at the following levels. Programs are
presented in Finnish, Swedish and English.
Higher education, like
primary education, is completely free for citizens of the country, for
foreigners from EU countries and the European Economic Area, as well as
exchange students. For other groups of students, paid education will be
introduced from 2016, the cost of which will be ~4 thousand euros per
year. A number of students take bank loans for their studies at
universities.
In April 2020, 433,000 unemployed people were
registered in Finland (in 2010, unemployment among Finns was 8.7%; among
Russian speakers - 28%, and immigrants from Somalia, Iraq and
Afghanistan occupied the leading positions in unemployment in Finland -
more than 50%) . Between 2012 and 2013, the unemployment rate among
people with higher education, especially in science and technology,
increased by 30%. Experts do not note a downward trend in the number of
unemployed in the country. Labor Minister Lauri Ihalainen urged Finnish
men to become more active in the traditionally female professions in the
social sector, education and health care, which remain in demand.
Effective in 2013, the government-approved new "public guarantee"
initiative for youth, which requires the authorities to give employment
or school commitments to all young people under the age of 25, has
encountered significant difficulties in large cities, where annual peaks
the number of unemployed falls in May-June, when university graduates
are registered as unemployed in employment centers.
As of October
2013, the average salary of a working Finn was €3,647 in the public
sector, €2,932 in the municipal sector and €3,279 in the private sector.
Compared to 2003, the salaries of civil servants increased by an average
of 44%, and in the municipal and private sector - 35%. It is noted that
the difference in salaries in Finland between men and women increases
with age: in the age group under 30, men and women receive the same
salary (or the difference is a maximum of 10%); among forty-year-olds
and above, the difference grows to 15-20%, and in some cases up to 40%.
According to the Statistical Committee, the income gap among Finnish
citizens began to grow sharply in the mid-1990s and reached its peak in
2007. For 2013, the incomes of the wealthiest decreased by 5.9% due to a
decrease in sales and dividend income, while the incomes of the poorest
increased by 2.6% due to indexation of social benefits and tax cuts.
Pension system
In 2014, according to the rating of pension
systems Melbourne Mercer Global Index, Finland took the fourth place. A
number of Finnish insurance companies invest in China (Varma has 1%,
Ilmarinen has 5%).
At the beginning of 2013, 870 thousand
households in the country consisted of pensioners; the average pension
was 1,600 euros (despite the fact that the pensions of individual
ex-heads of listed companies ranged from 0.4-0.6 million euros per
month).
In 2012-2013, the average retirement age of Finnish
citizens was 60.9 years. According to the draft of the new pension
reform, starting from 2017, the age barrier for retirement is planned to
be gradually increased to 65 years, which was approved by the
parliamentary commission. According to the THL Health and Social
Development Authority, of Finns over 80, only one in six lives in a
nursing home or nursing home, and 85.8% live at home. Some of them
receive home care. Only one in twenty (5.4%) is cared for by a relative
or spouse who has taken care of guardianship (fin. omaishoito).
In 2013, 73 thousand people became pensioners. It is predicted that the
continuing trend of reducing the total work experience will lead in the
future to the presence in the country of up to half a million pensioners
with a minimum pension.
In 2016, the Minister of Labor and
Justice, Jari Lindström, proposed that all long-term unemployed people
over 60 whose unemployed status be more than five years old should be
retired, which was approved by the government.
The leading research institute in Finland is the State
Technical Research Center VTT, which employs 2,500 scientists and
specialists in 9 cities. The VTT budget in 2006 was slightly reduced and
amounted to 216 million euros (225 million euros in 2005). State funding
has also decreased slightly - 76 million euros and accounts for 35% of
the WTT budget (2005 - 78 million euros).
The Academy of Finland
(AF) is located in the administrative structure of the Ministry of
Education and, like Tekes, does not include research units. The AF acts
as a coordinator of Finland's international cooperation, primarily
through the European Union and the European Science Foundation. The main
activities of the AF are the development of directions for the country's
scientific policy, increasing the authority of scientific work and the
effectiveness of implementing the results of scientific research.
In 2006, funding for research work through the AF amounted to 15% of
the total R&D expenditure and was distributed: universities - 80%;
research institutes - 10%; foreign organizations - 8%;
In
Finland, much attention is paid to the development of technology parks,
which are considered as one of the most important elements of the
country's innovation infrastructure, contributing to the deepening of
cooperation between public research centers and universities with
industry.
The largest number of technology parks are located in
the Helsinki metropolitan area - 3 technology parks, in Tampere - 3 and
in Seinäjoki - 2. The largest technology park is the research complex in
the Helsinki metropolitan region "Otaniemi", which is located in Espoo
with WTT and the Helsinki University of Technology, in which 14 thousand
students study.
Finland quite effectively uses the financial
resources of the EU to conduct both its own and international R&D. In
Finland, more than 2% of all scientific research is funded by the EU.
Within the framework of the EU budget for research activities in
2002-2006, Finland participated in 400 European projects in the
subsequent major research areas, for which 146 million euros were
allocated.
Finland actively participates in international
cooperation in the field of innovation through the network of EU
Innovation Relay Centers (IRCs), with the aim of developing and
disseminating innovative technologies. The Finnish national network of
Innovation Promotion Centers - IRC Finland was created under the
leadership of Tekes and includes 7 technology companies in the largest
cities of the country: Helsinki, Espoo, Turku, Tampere, Oulu and Kuopio.
In 2012, Finland ranked third (out of 142 countries) in the field of
information technology development[358]. In the country, 80% of
households have a computer (16th in the ranking); 87% of the population
regularly uses the Internet (7th place in the world); Wi-Fi is used by
61% of the population.
As of June 2022, one of the Finnish
scientific IT centers is located in Kajaani, in which one of the EU
supercomputers is installed, within the framework of the EuroHPC JU
project, the LUMI supercomputer. In June 2022, LUMI became the fastest
supercomputer in Europe and the EU and third in the world in the Top500.
"LUMI" has a claimed performance of 151.90 petaflops, and a peak
performance of 214.35 petaflops with an average power consumption of
about 2.9 MW.
At the legislative level, the number of
experimental animals in scientific experiments has been reduced as much
as possible in the country.
Along with Norway and Japan, Finland is in the lead in
terms of total newspaper circulation in relation to population, although
the popularity of print publications has declined significantly in
recent years. In 2011, more than two thousand magazines were published
in the country, and their total circulation was more than fifteen
million copies.
According to past studies, nine out of ten people
in Finland aged 12 to 69 read a newspaper every day, but data from 2015
showed a decline (since autumn 2014) in readability of print newspapers
by 3%, and magazines by 2%. Based on a survey by the Media Research
Institute (KMT) in 2014, ½ of Finns used various gadgets when reading
newspapers and magazines, and smartphone reading of newspapers almost
tripled between 2012 and 2014.
In 2014, about 200 newspapers were
published in Finland, ¼ of which are published at least four times a
week, and 30 newspapers are published daily. The total circulation of
newspapers is 4.25 million copies. Party press accounts for 40% of them.
In 2015, researchers from the Lappeenranta University of Technology
noted the lack of diversity and similarity in the content of Finnish
newspapers.
The largest Finnish-language newspaper is the
independent Helsingin Sanomat, which has a daily circulation of 338,000
copies and up to 100 pages. The next most popular are "Aamulehti" and
"Turun Sanomat" (the latter has a daily circulation of more than 100,000
copies). The largest Russian-language publication in Finland is the
monthly newspaper Spektr, published in Helsinki with a circulation of
15,000 copies (as of July 2015). The largest Swedish-language newspapers
are Hufvudstadsbladet and Åbo Underrättelser.
From 2010 to 2015,
in the "Press Freedom Index" compiled by the international organization
"Reporters Without Borders", Finland was ranked first, but at the end of
2016 it was criticized by this international organization, which
expressed concern about the position of Yleisradio in connection with
the scandal related to with news about Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and
the Prime Minister's possible involvement in the financing of the
Terrafame mine. In 2019, Finland ranked second in the Press Freedom
Index (after Norway).
According to surveys conducted by
Taloustutkimus in December 2014, it follows that only 40% of
Russian-speaking citizens of Finland fully trust the Finnish media, and
47% have not decided on their position.
Radio and TV
The
nationwide radio and television broadcasting system belongs to the
state. Radio programs are broadcast throughout the country on three
channels. In addition, local radio stations with mixed capital operate
in a number of communes.
Television has three nationwide
channels. Along with the programs of the editorial office of the state
joint-stock company YLE (Finnish Yleisradio Oy, Swedish Rundradion Ab),
which includes the TV channels Yle TV1, Yle TV2 and the radio channel
YLE Radio 1, they also broadcast on a lease basis the programs of the
private television company MTV and the concern TV-3. Over the past 15
years, regional and city cable television networks have become
widespread, relaying satellite transmissions.
Currently, everyone
who owns a TV at home is required to pay a fee for using it in the
amount of approximately 250 euros per year. From 2013, this fee will be
replaced by a television tax, which will have to be paid by all
permanent residents in Finland, except for those who do not have income.
The amount of tax will depend on income, and range from 50 to 140 euros
per person per year.
Finland is one of the three countries that has been
awarded the title of "Capital of Design" (2012), and the most famous
Finnish design brands are: Marimekko, Fiskars, Aarikka, Arabia, Nokia
and others. The activities of artists are supported in the country by a
system of numerous grants.
Literature
The export of
translation rights for Finnish literature in 2012 increased by almost
60% compared to the previous year (2011: 1.26 million euros, 2012: about
2 million euros). Approximately half of sales of literary translation
rights are in fiction, one-third in children's literature, and 10% in
non-fiction.
Cinema
In 1904, the filming of newsreels began
for the first time in the Grand Duchy of Finland, and in 1906, the
national production company Apollo was founded by Karl Stolberg.
In 1907, with the participation of the actors of the Finnish National
Theatre, the first national short feature film "Secret Moonshiners" was
shot (directed by Luis Sparre and Teuvo Puro).
In 1913, the first
full-length feature film Sylvi appeared (based on Minna Kant's play
Sylvi, directed by Teuvo Puro). In the periods from 1909 to 1911 and
from 1917 to 1918 films were not released in Finland. In 1919, a new
production company was founded, which marked the beginning of the film
adaptation of works of Finnish national literature - Anna Liisa (based
on the comedy Anna Liisa by M. Kant, 1922, directors Puro and J.
Snelman), The Old Baron from Rautaküla (based on the short story S.
Topelius, 1923, directed by Fager), The Shoemakers of Nummi (based on
the comedy by A. Kivi, 1923, directed by E. Karu). In the 1920s, new
firms "Komedia-Film", "Fennika-Film" and "Akila-Suomi-Company" were
created.
Animation trials were made in Finland in 1914 by Eric
Vasström, but his work has survived only in isolated drawings. The
oldest surviving cartoon is the work of director Hjalmar Löfving "A few
meters of wind and rain" (Fin. Muutama metri tuulta ja sadetta),
presented to the viewer in 1932. The first full-length Finnish cartoon
"The Seven Brothers" was released in the late 1970s. Since the 2000s,
the art of animation has been taught in the educational institutions of
Turku.
In 1933, Erkki Karu founded the largest company in the
country, Suomen Filmiteollisuus. Among the best Finnish films of this
period are Juha (1937), The Way of Man (1940), directed by Nyurki
Tapiovar.
Since 1931, the magazine "Kinolehti" has been
published. In 1952, the Finnish Film Workers Union was founded.
Research conducted in 2009-2011, carried out under the
coordination of specialists from the University of Eastern Finland,
revealed a pattern that following the traditional diet for the Nordic
countries, which includes whole grains (especially rye), vegetables and
root crops, berries, fruits grown in Finland (apples), butter cabbage
(rypsiöljy), low-fat dairy products and three times a week fish, reduces
the likelihood of inflammatory processes in the body, which in turn
reduces the risk of atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and certain
types of cancer.
According to opinion polls in 2017, the cinnamon
bun is recognized as the most popular coffee treat in Finland.
Cultural diplomacy
In addition to the Ministry of Culture and Sports,
Finland has an extensive network of institutions and departments
responsible for developing cooperation between states and regions in the
field of culture and science.