FINLAND FACTS

Fun & Interesting Facts about Finland:

• Finland is situated in northern Europe and shares its borders with Sweden, Norway and Russia.
• Finland is a constitutional republic and became a member of the European Union in the year 1995.
• The capital of Finland is Helsinki. A quarter of the country’s total area lies north of the Arctic Circle.
• Forest covers about 75 per cent of Finland and water bodies, around 188,000 lakes, make about 10 percent of the country.
• The principal archipelago and the self-governing province of the Åland Islands lie off the south-west coast, while the main lake district of Finland is in the east.
• Finland is the seventh largest country in Europe, in terms of area, but has a very low population density.
• Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. However, majority of the people in the country have Finnish as their native language.
• The majority of people in Finland belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church and a fraction of them follow Finnish Orthodoxy.
• Initially a part of Sweden, Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire, in 1809. The country declared independence from Russia in 1917 and became a republic in 1919.
• Finland joined the United Nations in 1955 and the Nordic Council in 1956.
• There are as many as 180,000 islands in Finland.
• The Finnish currency is euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents (sentti).
• Finland is the home of the Santa Claus. He also has an office in the North of Finland, on the Arctic Circle.
• Finland was one of the last regions in Europe to adopt Christianity.
• According to the World Audit study of 2006, Finland is the least corrupt and most democratic country in the world.
• Finland ranked 1st at the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report Index Ranking in 2006 and 2nd in terms of Growth Competitiveness Index.
• Nokia Corporation, a Finnish company, is amongst the largest mobile manufacturers of the world.
• Finland is the only country in the world, which broadcasts news in Latin.
• Halti, 1,327 m high Artic hill in Northern Finland, forms the highest point in the country.
• There are 1.8 million saunas in Finland, of which approximately 500 are traditional smoke saunas.
• The famous wife-carrying competition originated in Finland.
• Finland was the first country to enforce the right to vote act to all the adult citizens, including women.
• According to the UN, Finland is the second most stable country in the world.
• Karaoke in Finland is very popular. One can find karaoke bars almost everywhere in this country.
• In Finland children do not go to school until they are seven.
• Known as a land of thousand lakes, Finland is home to more than 180,000 lakes.
• Finland is also called the land of midnight sun, because in the months of June and July the sun shines all day and all night.
• Surprisingly, there are no public payphones in Finland! More than 5 million mobile phones are used by a population of 5.4 million.
• Keeping the headlights on all the time while driving, is a law here.
• Finland won its complete independence in 1917.
• During World War II, it resisted invasions by the Soviet Union.
• Per capita income is now among the highest in Western Europe.
• Finland's has a high standard of education, equality promotion, and national social security system.
• Their Social Security System is currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.
• Finland is slightly smaller than Montana.
• Border countries: Norway, Sweden, Russia
• There are more than 60,000 lakes.
• Arizona has about 1,000,000 more residents than Finland.
• Natural resources: Timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
• Ethnic groups: Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)
• Religions: Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)
• The average age of a first-time mother is 28 years.
• The life expectance of a Finn is 79.8 compared to 78.6 in the U.S.
• 36% of adults in the U.S. are obese while in Finland, it’s only 23%
• Finns have a 100% literacy rate compared to the U.S. at 99%
• Their current constitution is only 14 years old.
• The president is elected for a 6-year term.
• Citizens have a military obligation until age 60.
• The Finland unemployment rate is 8.4% compared to the U.S. at 7.3%