Finland Travel Podcast with Eero Virtanen

Location

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Terrain

Mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Climate

Cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Elevation

Highest point

Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m

Lowest point

Baltic Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

164 m

Area

Total

338,145 sq km

Land

303,815 sq km

Water

34,330 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana

Coastline

1,250 km

Land borders

Total

2,563 km

Border countries

Norway 709 km; Sweden 545 km; Russia 1,309 km

Natural resources

Timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone

Land use

Agricultural land

7.4% (2023 est.)

Arable land

7.4% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

0% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

0% (2023 est.)

Forest

74.2% (2023 est.)

Other

18.4% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

Severe winters in the north

Note

Long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

Population

Total

5,550,449 (2025 est.)

Male

2,750,057

Female

2,800,392

Nationality

Noun

Finn(s)

Adjective

Finnish

Ethnic groups

Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami

Languages

Languages

Finnish (official) 85.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.7%, other 7.2% (2022 est.)

Major-language sample(s)

World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolähde. (Finnish)

Religions

Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2022 est.)

Median age

Total

44 years (2025 est.)

Male

41.8 years

Female

44.9 years

Life expectancy

Total population

82.2 years (2024 est.)

Male

79.3 years

Female

85.2 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

85.8% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

The vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated

Largest cities

1.338 million HELSINKI (capital) (2023)

Background

Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union, albeit with some loss of territory. During the next half-century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per-capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high-quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system, although the system is currently facing the challenges of an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.

Government

Parliamentary republic

Capital

Helsinki

Time zone

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish)

Independence

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

National day

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Overview

High-income, export-based EU and eurozone economy; major timber, metals, engineering, telecom, and electronics industries; emerging from recession triggered by inflation, weak consumer and export demand, and lower private investment; labor market reform plan to address structural rigidities

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$55,600 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$56,200 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$57,100 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

1.6% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.3% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

8.3% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

7.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.8% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Euros (EUR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

0.924 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.925 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.95 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.845 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.876 (2020 est.)

Main industries

Metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Agriculture

Milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, chicken, peas, rye (2023)

Airports

98 (2025)

Railways

Total 5,918 km (2020) 3,349 km electrified

Ports

Total ports

37 (2024)

Large

5

Medium

7

Small

11

Very small

14

Ports with oil terminals

21

Key ports

Helsinki, Kaskinen, Kokkola, Kotka, Kristinestad, Mantyluoto, Oulu, Pietarsaari, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Vaasa

Internet domain

.fi

Internet users

Percent of population 94% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

7.07 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

126 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Limited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Fresh water

110 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

UNESCO Global Geoparks

Total global geoparks and regional networks

4 (2024)

Global geoparks and regional networks

Impact Crater Lake - Lappajarvi; Rokua; Lauhanvuori-Haemeenkangas; Saimaa; Salpausselka (2024)