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{{about|the Republic of Finland}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name    = Republic of Finland
| common_name                = Finland
| native_name                = {{ubl|{{native name|fi|Suomen tasavalta}}|{{native name|sv|Republiken Finland}}}}
| image_flag                = Flag of Finland.svg
| image_coat                = Coat of arms of Finland.svg
| national_anthem                = <br />{{native name|fi|[[Maamme]]|nolink=yes}}<br />{{native name|sv|[[Maamme|Vårt land]]|nolink=yes}}<br />({{Lang-en|"Our Land"}})<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:United States Navy Band - Maamme.ogg|center]]</div>
| image_map                = {{Switcher|[[File:EU-Finland (orthographic projection).svg|frameless]]|Show globe|[[File:EU-Finland.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show map of Europe|default=2}}
| map_caption                = {{map caption|location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Finland.svg}}
| capital                = [[Helsinki]]
| coordinates                = {{Coord|60|10|N|24|56|E|type:city}}
| largest_city                = capital
| official_languages                = [[Finnish language|Finnish]] • [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| national_languages      = [[Finnish Sign Language|Viittomakieli]] • [[Sami languages|Sámi]] • [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language|Teckenspråk]] • [[Karelian language|Karelian]] • [[Finnish Kalo language]]
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list
|91.33% [[Finnish people|Finnish]]
|4.90% Other [[Europe]]an
|2.50% [[Asia]]n
|0.90% [[Africa]]n
|0.37% [[Demographics of Africa|Other]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_year      = 2017
| ethnic_groups_ref      = <ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_032.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 |title=032 -- Syntyperä ja taustamaa sukupuolen mukaan maakunnittain ja kunnittain 1990 - 2017| work = Tilastokeskuksen PX-Web-tietokannat | publisher = Statistics Finland|language=fi |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212214837/http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_032.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="un">{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates17.shtml|title=United Nations Population Division &#124; Department of Economic and Social Affairs|website=un.org|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>
| religion                = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
  |70.7% [[Christianity]]
  |—68.7% [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Lutheranism]]
  |—1.1% [[Finnish Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]]
  |—0.9% Other [[Christians|Christian]]
  |28.5% [[Irreligion|No religion]]
  | 0.8% [[Religion in Finland|Other]]}}
| religion_year          = 2019
| religion_ref              = <ref name="stnin">{{cite web |title=Belonging to a religious community by age and sex, 2000-2019 |url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11rx.px/ |website=Tilastokeskuksen PX-Web tietokannat |publisher=Government |access-date=28 March 2020}} Note these are state religious registration numbers, people may be registered yet not practicing/believing and they may be believing/practicing but not registered.</ref>
| demonym                = {{hlist|[[Demographics of Finland|Finnish]]|[[Finns|Finn]]}}
| government_type                = [[Unitary parliamentary republic]]<ref name="Parliamentary"/>
| leader_title1                = [[President of Finland|President]]
| leader_name1                = [[Sauli Niinistö]]
| leader_title2                = [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2                = [[Sanna Marin]]
| legislature                = [[Parliament of Finland|Eduskunta/Riksdagen]]
| sovereignty_type                = [[History of Finland|Independence]]
| sovereignty_note                = from [[Russian Republic|Russia]]
| established_event1                = [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Autonomy]]
| established_date1                = 29 March 1809
| established_event2                = [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Declared]]
| established_date2                = 6 December 1917
| established_event3                = [[Finnish Civil War|Civil War]]
| established_date3                = January – May 1918
| established_event4                = [[Constitution of Finland|Constitution]]
| established_date4                = 17 July 1919
| established_event5                = [[Winter War]]
| established_date5                = 30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940
| established_event6                = [[Continuation War]]
| established_date6                = 25 June 1941 – 19 September 1944
| established_event7                = [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|Joined]] the [[European Union|EU]]
| established_date7                = 1 January 1995
| area_km2                = 338,455
| area_rank                = 65th <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi                = 130,596 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| percent_water                = 9.71 (as of 2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER#}}</ref>
| population_estimate                = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 5,536,146<ref>{{cite web|title=Birth rate showed a slight growth in 2020|url=https://www.stat.fi/til/vamuu/2020/12/vamuu_2020_12_2021-01-21_tie_001_en.html|publisher=Statistics Finland|access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year                = December 2020
| population_estimate_rank                = 116th
| population_label2              =
| population_data2                =
| population_density_km2                = 16
| population_density_sq_mi                = 41 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank                = 213th
| GDP_PPP                = $257 billion<ref name=imf3>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=59&pr1.y=9&c=172&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |date=17 October 2018|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|publisher=IMF}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year                = 2020
| GDP_PPP_rank                = 60th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita                = $49,334<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank                = 19th
| GDP_nominal                = $277 billion<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_nominal_year                = 2020
| GDP_nominal_rank                = 43rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita                = $48,461<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank                = 14th
| Gini                = 26.2 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year                = 2019
| Gini_change                = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref                = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tessi190&plugin=1 |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income - EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref>
| Gini_rank                = 6th
| HDI                = 0.938<!--number only-->
| HDI_year                = 2019<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change                = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2020|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=15 December 2020|access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank                = 11th
| currency                = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| currency_code                = EUR
| time_zone                = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset                = +2
| utc_offset_DST                = +3
| time_zone_DST                = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| date_format                = d.m.yyyy<ref>[http://www.kielikello.fi/index.php?mid=2&pid=11&aid=1709 Ajanilmaukset] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020033758/http://www.kielikello.fi/index.php?mid=2&pid=11&aid=1709 |date=20 October 2017 }} Kielikello 2/2006. Institute for the Languages of Finland. Retrieved 20 October 2017</ref>
| drives_on                = right
| calling_code                = [[Telephone numbers in Finland|+358]]
| cctld                = [[.fi]]<sup>a</sup>
| footnote_a                = The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
| today                =
}}
'''Finland''' ({{lang-fi|Suomi}} {{IPA-fi|ˈsuo̯mi||fi-suomi.ogg}}; {{lang-sv|Finland}} {{IPA-sv|ˈfɪ̌nland||sv-Finland.ogg}}, {{IPA-sv|ˈfinlɑnd|langfi}}), officially the '''Republic of Finland''' ({{Lang-fi|Suomen tasavalta}}, {{Lang-sv|Republiken Finland}} {{small|({{audio|Suomi Finland.ogg|listen to all|help=no}})}}),{{refn|group=note|"Republic of Finland", or {{lang|fi|Suomen tasavalta}} in Finnish, {{lang|sv|Republiken Finland}} in Swedish, and {{lang|se|Suoma dásseváldi}} in Sami, is the long protocol name, which is however not defined by law. Legislation recognises only the short name.}} is a [[Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]]. It shares land borders with [[Sweden]] to the west, [[Russia]] to the east, [[Norway]] to the north, and is defined by the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the west, and the [[Gulf of Finland]] of the [[Baltic Sea]] across [[Estonia]] to the south. Finland covers an area of {{convert|338455|km2|mi2}}, with a population of 5.5 million. [[Helsinki]] is the country's capital and largest city, but together with the neighboring cities of [[Espoo]], [[Kauniainen]] and [[Vantaa]], it forms a larger [[metropolitan area]]. [[Finnish language|Finnish]], the [[native language]] of the [[Finns]], is among the few [[Finnic languages]] in the world. The climate varies relative to latitude, from the southern [[humid continental climate]] to the northern [[boreal climate]]. The land cover is primarily a [[boreal forest]] [[biome]], with more than 180,000 recorded [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes]].<ref name="thousand">{{cite web|last=Li|first=Leslie|date=16 April 1989|title=A Land of a Thousand Lakes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/16/travel/a-land-of-a-thousand-lakes.html|access-date=20 September 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Finland was inhabited around 9000&nbsp;BC after [[Last glacial period|the Last Glacial Period]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|isbn=978-952-495-363-4|location=Helsinki|page=23}}</ref> The [[Stone Age]] introduced several different ceramic styles and cultures. The [[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] were characterised by extensive contacts with other cultures in [[Fennoscandia]] and the [[Baltic region]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|isbn=978-952-495-363-4|location=Helsinki|page=339}}</ref> From the late 13th century, Finland gradually became an integral part of Sweden as a consequence of the [[Northern Crusades]]. In 1809, as a result of the [[Finnish War]], Finland was annexed by [[Russian Empire|Russia]] as the autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland]], during which [[Golden Age of Finnish Art|Finnish art flourished]] and the idea of [[Independence of Finland|independence]] began to take hold. In 1906, Finland became the first European state to grant [[Universal suffrage#Dates by country|universal suffrage]], and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office.<ref name="eduskunta">{{cite web |url=http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/aboutparliament/presentation/history.htx |work=eduskunta.fi |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2015 |author=Parliament of Finland |title=History of the Finnish Parliament |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151206184816/http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/aboutparliament/presentation/history.htx }}</ref><ref name="full suffrage">Finland was the first nation in the world to give all (adult) citizens full suffrage, in other words the right to vote and to run for office, in 1906. New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant all (adult) citizens the right to vote, in 1893. But women did not get the right to run for the New Zealand legislature, until 1919.</ref> [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], the last [[Tsar]] of Russia, tried to [[Russification of Finland|russify Finland]] and terminate its political autonomy, but after the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], Finland [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|declared independence from Russia]]. In 1918, the fledgling state was divided by the [[Finnish Civil War]]. During [[World War II]], Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] and the [[Continuation War]], and [[Nazi Germany]] in the [[Lapland War]]. After the wars, Finland lost parts of its territory, but maintained its independence.
Finland largely remained an [[Agriculture|agrarian]] country until the 1950s. After World War II, the country rapidly industrialised and developed an advanced economy, while building an extensive [[welfare state]] based on the [[Nordic model]], resulting in widespread prosperity and a high [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|per capita income]].<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=65&pr.y=7&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=172&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a= |title=Finland |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> Finland joined the [[United Nations]] in 1955 and adopted an official policy of neutrality. Finland joined the [[OECD]] in 1969, the [[Partnership for Peace|NATO Partnership for Peace]] in 1994,<ref name="nato.int">[http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49594.htm Relations with Finland]. NATO (13 January 2016)</ref> the European Union in 1995, the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]] in 1997,<ref name="nato.int" /> and the [[Eurozone]] at its inception in 1999. Finland is a top performer in numerous [[International rankings of Finland|metrics of national performance]], including education, economic competitiveness, civil liberties, quality of life and human development.<ref name="World Audit">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/finland.htm |title=Finland: World Audit Democracy Profile |work=WorldAudit.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030113921/http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/finland.htm |archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite document|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/tertiary-education-graduation-rates_20755120-table1 |title=Tertiary education graduation rates—Education: Key Tables from OECD |doi=10.1787/20755120-table1 |publisher=OECD iLibrary |date=14 June 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430055650/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/tertiary-education-graduation-rates_20755120-table1 |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article3803493.ece |title=Her er verdens mest konkurransedyktige land—Makro og politikk |publisher=E24.no |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014010931/http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article3803493.ece |archive-date=14 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=FI |title=The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index |publisher=Prosperity.com |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029140547/http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=FI |archive-date=29 October 2009 }}</ref> In 2015, Finland was ranked first in the World Human Capital<ref>{{cite web |url=http://reports.weforum.org/human-capital-report-2015/rankings/ |title=Human Capital Report 2015 |website=[[World Economic Forum]] |access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> and the [[Press Freedom Index]] and as the most stable country in the world during 2011–2016 in the [[Fragile States Index]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/rankings-2016 |title=Fragile States Index 2016 |publisher=Fundforpeace.org |access-date=27 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204213240/http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/rankings-2016 |archive-date=4 February 2017 }}</ref> and second in the [[Global Gender Gap Report]].<ref>{{cite book |title = Gender Gap Report |url = http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2012.pdf |publisher = WEF }}</ref> It also ranked first on the [[World Happiness Report]] report for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last= Hetter|first=Katia|date=26 March 2019|title=This is the world's happiest country in 2019|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-happiest-countries-united-nations-2019/index.html|work=[[CNN]] |access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://happiness-report.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/WHR20.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2020|editor-last=Helliwell|editor-first=John F.|editor2-last=Sachs|editor2-first=Jeffrey|editor3-last=De Neve|editor3-first=Jan-Emmanuel|date=2020|publisher=Sustainable Development Solutions Network|location=New York|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref>
== Etymology ==
=== Finland ===
[[File:Hic Fabricatur Naves.jpg|310px|thumb|Finland on a medieval map, which is part of the ''[[Carta marina]]'' (1539)]]
{{See also|Finns#Etymology}}
The earliest written appearance of the name ''Finland'' is thought to be on three [[runestone]]s. Two were found in the Swedish province of [[Uppland]] and have the inscription ''finlonti'' ([[Runestone U 582|U 582]]). The third was found in [[Gotland]]. It has the inscription ''finlandi'' ([[Runestone G 319|G 319]]) and dates back to the 13th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkisto.fi/ |title=National Archives Service, Finland (in English) |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> The name can be assumed to be related to the tribe name ''[[Finnish tribes|Finns]]'', which is mentioned at first known time AD 98 (disputed meaning).
=== Suomi ===
The name ''Suomi'' ({{Langnf|fi|2=Finnish|3=Finland}}) has uncertain origins, but a common etymology with ''saame'' ([[Sami people|Sami]], a [[Finno-Ugric peoples|Finno-Ugric people]] in [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]]) and ''[[Tavastia (historical province)|Häme]]'' (a province in the inland) has been suggested ([[Proto-Finnic]] [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/hämä|''*hämä'']] from older ''*šämä'', possibly loaned into Proto-Saami as [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Samic/sāmē|''*sāmē'']]), whose source could be the Proto-Baltic word [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Balto-Slavic/źemē|''*źemē'']], meaning '(low) land'.<ref>[http://www.kotikielenseura.fi/virittaja/hakemistot/jutut/1998_613.pdf kotikielenseura.fi], SUOMI (TTAVIA ETYMOLOGIOITA).</ref> According to the hypothesis, ''*sāmē'' – or ''*šämä'' directly – was loaned back into Baltic as ''*sāma-'' (compare Latvian ''sāms'' 'Finn, [[Saaremaa|Öselian]]'), from which Northern Finnic reborrowed it (perhaps via a Germanic intermediate ''*sōma-'') as ''*sōma-'' > ''*sōme-'' 'Finland'.<ref name=deSmit>{{cite web |last1=de Smit |first1=Merlijn |title=De Vanitate Etymologiae. On the origins of Suomi, Häme, Sápmi. |url=https://www.academia.edu/36858309 |website=Academia.edu |publisher=Academia, Inc. |access-date=6 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In addition to the close relatives of Finnish (the [[Finnic languages]]), this name is also used in the [[Baltic languages]] [[Latvian language|Latvian]] (''soms'', ''Somija'') and [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] (''suomis'', ''Suomija''), although these are evidently later borrowings. An alternative hypothesis by Petri Kallio suggests the Proto-Indo-European word [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ǵʰmṓ|*''(dʰ)ǵʰm-on-'']] 'human' (cf. Gothic ''guma'', Latin ''homo''), being borrowed into Uralic as *''ćoma''.<ref name=deSmit />
It has been suggested that the Finnish word ''Suomi'' is first attested the [[Royal Frankish Annals]] annal for 811, which mentions a person called ''Suomi'' among the Danish delegation at a peace treaty with the Franks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/annalesregnifrancorum.html|title=Annesl Regni Francorum|website=thelatinlibrary.com|access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> If so, it is also the earliest evidence for the change from the proto-Finnic [[monophthong]] {{IPA|/oː/}} to the Finnish [[diphthong]] {{IPA|/uo/}}.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Keskiajan suomen kielen dokumentoitu sanasto ensiesiintymisvuosineen'' |last=Heikkilä |first=Mikko K. |publisher=Mediapinta |year=2017 |isbn=978-952-236-859-1 |page=44}}</ref><ref>Mikko Heikkilä, '[https://journal.fi/sananjalka/article/download/86749/45497/ Varhaissuomen äännehistorian kronologiasta]', ''Sananjalka'', 58 (2016), 136–158 (p. 147).</ref> However, some historical linguists view this interpretation of the name as unlikely, supposing another etymology or that the spelling originated as a scribal error (in which case the sound-change {{IPA|/oː/}} > {{IPA|/uo/}} could have happened much later).<ref>Petri Kallio, '[https://journal.fi/sananjalka/article/download/66609/27008 Äännehistoriaa suomen kielen  erilliskehityksen alkutaipaleilta]', ''Sananjalka'', 59 (2017), 7–24 (p. 12).</ref>
=== Concept ===
In the earliest historical sources, from the 12th and 13th centuries, the term Finland refers to the coastal region around [[Turku]] from [[Perniö]] to [[Uusikaupunki]]. This region later became known as [[Southwest Finland|Finland Proper]] in distinction from the country name Finland. Finland became a common name for the whole country in a centuries-long process that started when the [[Catholic Church]] established a missionary diocese in [[Nousiainen]] in the northern part of the province of Suomi possibly sometime in the 12th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Suomen museo 2003: "The Origins of Finland and Häme" |last=Salo |first=Unto |publisher=Suomen muinaismuistoyhdistys |year=2004 |isbn=978-951-9057-55-2 |location=Helsinki |page=55}}</ref>
The devastation of [[Finland during the Great Northern War]] (1714–1721) and during the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)]] caused Sweden to begin carrying out major efforts to defend its eastern half from Russia. These 18th-century experiences created a sense of a shared destiny that when put in conjunction with the unique Finnish language, led to the adoption of an expanded concept of Finland.<ref name=UppslagsFi>{{cite web |url=http://www.uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-FinlandsHistoria1700Talet |title=Finlands historia: 1700-talet |last=Lindberg |first=Johan |date=26 May 2016 |website=[[Uppslagsverket Finland]] |access-date=30 November 2017 |language=sv}}</ref>
== History ==
{{Main|History of Finland}} {{see also|Åland Islands}}
===Prehistory===
{{Main|History of Finland#Prehistory}}
[[File:Kierikki Stone Age Centre Oulu Finland 02.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of [[Stone Age]] dwelling from [[Kierikki]], Oulu]]
If the [[Archaeology|archeological]] finds from [[Wolf Cave]] are the result of [[Neanderthal|Neanderthals']] activities, the first people inhabited Finland approximately 120,000–130,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |isbn=978-952-495-363-4 |location=Helsinki |page=21}}</ref> The area that is now Finland was settled in, at the latest, around 8,500 BC during the [[Stone Age]] towards the end of the [[last glacial period]]. The [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] the first settlers left behind present characteristics that are shared with those found in [[Estonia]], Russia, and Norway.<ref name=":1">[http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514281411/isbn9514281411.pdf Herkules.oulu.fi]. People, material, culture and environment in the north. Proceedings of the 22nd Nordic Archaeological Conference, University of Oulu, 18–23 August 2004 Edited by Vesa-Pekka Herva Gummerus Kirjapaino</ref> The earliest people were [[hunter-gatherer]]s, using stone tools.<ref name="VF-Pre">Dr. Pirjo Uino of the National Board of Antiquities, ThisisFinland—"Prehistory: The ice recedes—man arrives". Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref>
The first pottery appeared in 5200&nbsp;BC, when the Comb Ceramic culture was introduced.<ref name="Hist-Fin-Geo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20071123072314/http://www.geocities.com/ojoronen/EARLYFIN.HTM History of Finland and the Finnish People from stone age to WWII]. Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> The arrival of the [[Corded Ware culture]] in Southern coastal Finland between 3000 and 2500 BC may have coincided with the start of agriculture.<ref name="Virt-Mino">Professor Frank Horn of the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law University of Lappland writing for Virtual Finland on [https://web.archive.org/web/20080611022047/http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26470 National Minorities of Finland]. Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> Even with the introduction of agriculture, hunting and fishing continued to be important parts of the subsistence economy.
In the [[Bronze Age]] permanent all-year-round cultivation and [[animal husbandry]] spread, but the cold climate phase slowed the change.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |pages=199, 210–211}}</ref> Cultures in Finland shared common features in pottery and also axes had similarities but local features existed. [[Seima-Turbino phenomenon|Seima-Turbino-phenomenon]] brought first bronze artifacts to the region and possibly also the [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric-Languages]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=171–178}}</ref> Commercial contacts that had so far mostly been to [[Estonia]] started to extend to Scandinavia. Domestic manufacture of bronze artifacts started 1300 BC with {{ill|Maaninka-type bronze axe|fi|Maaningan kirves|lt=Maaninka-type bronze axes}}. Bronze was imported from [[Volga River|Volga]] region and from Southern Scandinavia.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=189–190}}</ref>
[[File:Northern Europe in 814.jpg|thumb|left|[[Northern Europe]] in 814 AD]]
In the [[Iron Age]] population grew especially in Häme and Savo regions. Finland proper was the most densely populated area. Cultural contacts to the Baltics and Scandinavia became more frequent. Commercial contacts in the [[Baltic Sea]] region grew and extended during the 8th and 9th centuries.
Main exports from Finland were furs, slaves, [[castoreum]], and falcons to European courts. Imports included silk and other fabrics, jewelry, [[Ulfberht swords]], and, in lesser extent, glass. Production of iron started approximately in 500 BC.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |pages=332, 364–365}}</ref>
At the end of the 9th century, indigenous artifact culture, especially women's jewelry and weapons, had more common local features than ever before. This has been interpreted to be expressing common Finnish identity which was born from an image of common origin.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |page=269}}</ref>
[[File:Late Iron Age swords found from Finland.jpg|thumb|Late [[Iron Age]] swords found in Finland]]
An early form of [[Finnic languages]] spread to the Baltic Sea region approximately 1900 BC with the [[Seima-Turbino phenomenon|Seima-Turbino-phenomenon]]. Common Finnic language was spoken around [[Gulf of Finland]] 2000 years ago. The dialects from which the modern-day Finnish language was developed came into existence during the Iron Age.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=211–212}}</ref> Although distantly related, the [[Sami people|Sami]] retained the hunter-gatherer lifestyle longer than the Finns. The Sami cultural identity and the [[Sami languages|Sami language]] have survived in Lapland, the northernmost province, but the Sami have been displaced or assimilated elsewhere.
The 12th and 13th centuries were a violent time in the northern Baltic Sea. The [[Livonian Crusade]] was ongoing and the [[Finnish tribes]] such as the [[Tavastians]] and [[Karelia (historical province of Finland)|Karelians]] were in [[Early Finnish wars|frequent conflicts]] with [[Republic of Novgorod|Novgorod]] and with each other. Also, during the 12th and 13th centuries several crusades from the Catholic realms of the Baltic Sea area were made against the Finnish tribes. According to historical sources, [[Danes]] waged at least three crusades to Finland, in 1187 or slightly earlier,<ref name=":3">{{cite book| author = Kurt Villads Jensen| title = Ristiretket| publisher = Turun Historiallinen Yhdistys| year = 2019| pages = 126–127}}</ref> in 1191 and in 1202,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |page=380}}</ref> and [[Swedes]], possibly the so-called [[Second Swedish Crusade|second crusade to Finland]], in 1249 against [[Tavastians]] and the [[Third Swedish Crusade|third crusade to Finland]] in 1293 against the Karelians. The so-called [[First Swedish Crusade|first crusade to Finland]], possibly in 1155, is most likely an unreal event. Also, it is possible that Germans made violent conversion of Finnish pagans in the 13th century.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Ruotsin itämaa'' |last=Tarkiainen |first=Kari |publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |location=Helsinki |page=88}}</ref> According to a papal letter from 1241, the king of Norway was also fighting against "nearby pagans" at that time.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Suomen varhaiskeskiajan lähteitä'' |last=Compiled by Martti Linna |publisher=Historian aitta |year=1989 |page=69}}</ref>
=== Swedish era ===
{{Main|Finland under Swedish rule}}
{{See also|Swedish colonisation of Finland}}
[[File:Swedish Empire (1560-1815) en2.png|thumb|left|The [[Swedish Empire]] following the [[Treaty of Roskilde]] of 1658.<br />Dark green: [[Sweden proper]], as represented in the [[Riksdag of the Estates]]. Other greens: [[Dominions of Sweden|Swedish dominions]] and [[Possessions of Sweden|possessions]]]]
As a result of the crusades and the colonisation of some Finnish coastal areas with Christian [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish population]] during the Middle Ages,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruotsin itämaa|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |isbn=978-951-583-212-2 |location=Helsinki|pages=104–147}}</ref> including the old capital [[Turku]], Finland gradually became part of the kingdom of Sweden and the sphere of influence of the [[Catholic Church]]. Due to the Swedish conquest, the Finnish upper class lost its position and lands to the new Swedish and German nobility and to the Catholic Church.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruotsin itämaa|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |isbn=978-951-583-212-2 |location=Porvoo |pages=167–170}}</ref> In Sweden even in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was clear that Finland was a conquered country and its inhabitants could be treated arbitrarily. Swedish kings visited Finland rarely and in Swedish contemporary texts Finns were portrayed to be primitive and their language inferior.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://journal.fi/tt/article/view/57138/19187|title=Kansallinen identiteetti Ruotsissa ja Suomessa 1600-1700-luvuilla |last=Kemiläinen |first=Aira|publisher=Tieteessä tapahtuu 8/2004|year=2004|pages=25–26|language=fi}}</ref>
[[Finland Swedish|Swedish]] became the dominant language of the nobility, administration, and education; [[Finnish language|Finnish]] was chiefly a language for the [[peasant]]ry, clergy, and local [[court]]s in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas. During the [[Protestant Reformation]], the [[Finns]] gradually converted to [[Lutheranism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europe-cities.com/en/657/finland/history/chronology|title=History of Finland. Finland chronology |publisher=Europe-cities.com |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427060720/http://www.europe-cities.com/en/657/finland/history/chronology |archive-date=27 April 2011}}</ref>
In the 16th century, [[Mikael Agricola]] published the first written works in Finnish, and Finland's current capital city, [[Helsinki]], was founded by [[Gustav I of Sweden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/409531/ |title=Ruttopuisto&nbsp;– Plague Park |publisher=Tabblo.com |access-date=3 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411112934/http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/409531/ |archive-date=11 April 2008 }}</ref> The first university in Finland, the [[Royal Academy of Turku]], was established in 1640. The Finns reaped a reputation in the [[Thirty Years' War]] (1618–1648) as a well-trained [[cavalry]]men called "[[Hakkapeliitta]]", that division excelled in sudden and savage attacks, [[raid (military)|raiding]] and [[reconnaissance]], which [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|King Gustavus Adolphus]] took advantage of in his significant battles, like in the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] (1631) and the [[Battle of Rain]] (1632).<ref>{{cite book|author=Joose Olavi Hannula|year=1939|title=Hakkapeliittoja ja karoliineja – Kuvia Suomen sotahistoriasta|publisher=[[Otava (publisher)|Otava]]| location=Helsinki|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Matti J. Kankaanpää|year=2016|title=Suomalainen ratsuväki Ruotsin ajalla|publisher=T:mi Toiset aijat| location=Porvoo | page = 790 |isbn = 978-952-99106-9-4|language=fi}}</ref> Finland suffered a severe [[Great Famine of Finland (1695–1697)|famine in 1696–1697]], during which about one third of the Finnish population died,<ref name="empire"/> and a [[The plague during the Great Northern War|devastating plague a few years later]].
[[File:Suomenlinna.jpg|thumb|right|Now lying within Helsinki, [[Suomenlinna]] is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] consisting of an inhabited 18th-century sea fortress built on six islands. It is one of Finland's most popular tourist attractions.]]
In the 18th century, wars between Sweden and Russia twice led to the occupation of Finland by Russian forces, times known to the Finns as the [[Greater Wrath]] (1714–1721) and the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)|Lesser Wrath]] (1742–1743).<ref name="empire">"[http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm Finland and the Swedish Empire]". ''Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]]''.</ref> It is estimated that almost an entire generation of young men was lost during the Great Wrath, due mainly to the destruction of homes and farms, and to the burning of Helsinki.<ref name="Nordstrom, Scandinavia">{{cite book|last=Nordstrom|first=Byron J.|title=Scandinavia Since 1500|year=2000|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|location=Minneapolis, US|isbn=978-0-8166-2098-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/142 142]|url=https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/142}}</ref> By this time Finland was the predominant term for the whole area from the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the Russian border.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
Two Russo-Swedish wars in twenty-five years served as reminders to the Finnish people of the precarious position between Sweden and Russia. An increasingly vocal elite in Finland soon determined that Finnish ties with Sweden were becoming too costly, and following [[Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)|Russo-Swedish War]] (1788–1790), the Finnish elite's desire to break with Sweden only heightened.<ref name="a1">{{cite book |last=Nordstrom |first=Byron J. |title=Scandinavia Since 1500 |year=2000 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis, US |isbn=978-0-8166-2098-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/143 143] |url=https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/143 }}</ref>
Even before the war there were conspiring politicians, among them [[Georg Magnus Sprengtporten|Col G. M. Sprengtporten]], who had supported [[Gustav III of Sweden#Coup d'état|Gustav III's coup in 1772]]. Sprengporten fell out with the king and resigned his commission in 1777. In the following decade he tried to secure Russian support for an autonomous Finland, and later became an adviser to Catherine II.<ref name="a1"/> In the spirit of the notion of [[Adolf Ivar Arwidsson]] (1791–1858), "we are not Swedes, we do not want to become Russians, let us therefore be Finns", the Finnish national identity started to become established.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lefaivre|first1=Liane|last2=Tzonis|first2=Alexander|title=Architecture of Regionalism in the Age of Globalization: Peaks and Valleys in the Flat World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkYHEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT144|year=2020|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|isbn=978-1-00-022106-0|page=144}}</ref>
Notwithstanding the efforts of Finland's elite and nobility to break ties with Sweden, there was no genuine independence movement in Finland until the early 20th century. As a matter of fact, at this time the Finnish peasantry was outraged by the actions of their elite and almost exclusively supported Gustav's actions against the conspirators. (The High Court of Turku condemned Sprengtporten as a traitor c. 1793.)<ref name="a1"/> The Swedish era ended in the [[Finnish War]] in 1809.
=== Russian era ===
{{Main|Grand Duchy of Finland}}
{{See also|Diet of Porvoo|Finland's language strife|Russification of Finland}}
[[File:Pekka Halonen - Tienraivaajia Karjalassa.jpg|thumb|''Pioneers in Karelia'' (1900) by [[Pekka Halonen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/tQFrkK28QHoc9w|title=Pioneers in Karelia - Pekka Halonen|website=Google Arts & Culture}}</ref>]]
On 29 March 1809, having been taken over by the armies of [[Alexander I of Russia]] in the [[Finnish War]], Finland became an autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] in the [[Russian Empire]] with the recognition given at [[Diet of Porvoo|the Diet]] held in [[Porvoo]]. This situation lasted until the end of 1917. In 1811, Alexander I incorporated the Russian [[Vyborg Governorate|Vyborg province]] into the Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1854, Finland became involved in Russia's involvement in the [[Crimean War]], when the British and French navies bombed the Finnish coast and Åland during the so-called [[Åland War]]. During the Russian era, the Finnish language began to gain recognition. From the 1860s onwards, a strong Finnish [[Ethnic nationalism|nationalist movement]] known as the [[Fennoman movement]] grew, and one of its most prominent leading figures of the movement was the philosopher [[J. V. Snellman]], who was strictly inclined to [[Hegelianism|Hegel's idealism]], and who pushed for the stabilization of the status of the Finnish language and its own currency, the [[Finnish markka]], in the Grand Duchy of Finland.<ref>{{cite book| author = Olavi Junnila | title = Suomen historia 5 | year = 1986 | chapter = Autonomian rakentaminen ja kansallisen nousun aika | page = 151 | location = Helsinki | publisher = Weilin + Göös | isbn = 951-35-2494-9 | language = fi }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.suomenpankki.fi/fi/media-ja-julkaisut/puheet-ja-haastattelut/2006/pankinjohtaja-sinikka-salon-puhe-snellman-ja-suomen-markka--nayttelyn-avajaisissa-suomen-pankin-rahamuseossa/ | title = Pankinjohtaja Sinikka Salon puhe Snellman ja Suomen markka -näyttelyn avajaisissa Suomen Pankin rahamuseossa | publisher = [[Bank of Finland]] | date = 10 January 2006 | access-date = 7 December 2020 | language = fi }}</ref> Milestones included the publication of what would become Finland's [[national epic]] – the ''[[Kalevala]]'' – in 1835, and the Finnish language's achieving equal legal status with Swedish in 1892.
The [[Finnish famine of 1866–1868]] killed approximately 15% of the population, making it one of the worst [[famine]]s in European history. The famine led the Russian Empire to ease financial regulations, and investment rose in following decades. Economic and political development was rapid.<ref name="equity">{{cite web |url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTRANETSOCIALDEVELOPMENT/Resources/finland.pdf |title=Growth and Equity in Finland |publisher=World Bank}}</ref> The [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) per capita was still half of that of the United States and a third of that of Britain.<ref name="equity" />
In 1906, [[universal suffrage]] was adopted in the Grand Duchy of Finland. However, the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Russian Empire soured when the Russian government made moves to restrict Finnish [[Autonomous area|autonomy]]. For example, the universal suffrage was, in practice, virtually meaningless, since the tsar did not have to approve any of the laws adopted by the Finnish parliament. Desire for independence gained ground, first among radical liberals<ref>Mickelsson, Rauli (2007). ''Suomen puolueet—Historia, muutos ja nykypäivä''. Vastapaino.</ref> and socialists. The case is known as the "[[Russification of Finland]]", driven by the last tsar of Russian Empire, [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]].<ref>Alenius, Kari. "Russification in Estonia and Finland Before 1917," ''Faravid,'' 2004, Vol. 28, pp 181–194</ref>
=== Civil war and early independence ===
{{Main|Independence of Finland|Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic|Finnish Civil War}}
[[File:Firing squad in Lankipohja.jpg|thumb|[[White Guard (Finland)|White firing squad]] executing [[Red Guard (Finland)|Red soldiers]] after the [[Battle of Länkipohja]] (1918)]]
After the 1917 [[February Revolution]], the position of Finland as part of the Russian Empire was questioned, mainly by [[Russian Social Democratic Labour Party|Social Democrats]]. Since the head of state was the [[tsar]] of Russia, it was not clear who the chief executive of Finland was after the revolution. The Parliament, controlled by social democrats, passed the so-called [[Independence of Finland#Power act|Power Act]] to give the highest authority to the Parliament. This was rejected by the [[Russian Provisional Government]] which decided to dissolve the Parliament.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/finland/15.htm The Finnish Civil War, Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress]. Countrystudies.us. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
New elections were conducted, in which right-wing parties won with a slim majority. Some social democrats refused to accept the result and still claimed that the dissolution of the parliament (and thus the ensuing elections) were extralegal. The two nearly equally powerful political blocs, the right-wing parties and the social democratic party, were highly antagonized.
The [[October Revolution]] in Russia changed the geopolitical situation once more. Suddenly, the right-wing parties in Finland started to reconsider their decision to block the transfer of highest executive power from the Russian government to Finland, as the [[Bolsheviks]] took power in Russia. Rather than acknowledge the authority of the Power Act of a few months earlier, the right-wing government, led by [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] [[P. E. Svinhufvud]], presented [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] on 4 December 1917, which was officially approved two days later, on 6 December, by the [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]]. The [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic]] (RSFSR), led by [[Vladimir Lenin]], recognized independence on 4 January 1918.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=107215&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI | title = Uudenvuodenaatto Pietarin Smolnassa – Itsenäisyyden tunnustus 31.12.1917 | publisher = Ulkoministieriö | access-date = 14 September 2020 | language = fi }}</ref>
[[File:The victory parade of the White Army 1918.jpg|thumb|Finnish military leader and statesman [[C. G. E. Mannerheim]] as [[general officer]] leading the [[White Victory Parade]] at the end of the [[Finnish Civil War]] in Helsinki, 1918]]
On 27 January 1918, the official opening shots of the [[Finnish Civil War|civil war]] were fired in two simultaneous events: on the one hand the government's beginning to disarm the Russian forces in [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Pohjanmaa]], and on the other, a coup launched by the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]].{{failed verification |date=December 2010 |reason=No mention of coup in the section The Finnish Civil War, which should cover this. The actions by the reds are not characterized.}} The latter gained control of southern Finland and Helsinki, but the White government continued in exile from [[Vaasa]]. This sparked the brief but bitter civil war. The [[White Guard (Finland)|Whites]], who were supported by [[German Empire|Imperial Germany]], prevailed over the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Reds]],<ref>{{cite web |title=A Country Study: Finland—The Finnish Civil War |url=http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/fitoc.html |work=Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]] |access-date=11 December 2008}}</ref> which were guided by [[Kullervo Manner]]'s desire to make the newly independent country a [[Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic]] (also known as "Red Finland") and  part of the RSFSR.<ref>[https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/sdpn-puheenjohtaja-halusi-punadiktaattoriksi-mutta-kuoli-stalinin-vankileirilla-69089/#cd1f8043 SDP:n puheenjohtaja halusi punadiktaattoriksi, mutta kuoli Stalinin vankileirillä] (in Finnish)</ref> After the war, tens of thousands of Reds and suspected sympathizers were interned in camps, where thousands were executed or  died from malnutrition and disease. Deep social and political enmity was sown between the Reds and Whites and would last until the [[Winter War]] and beyond. Even nowadays, the civil war remains a sensitive topic.<ref>[https://www.is.fi/paakirjoitus/art-2000005492424.html Pääkirjoitus: Kansalaissota on arka muistettava] (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8831374 Punaisten ja valkoisten perintöä vaalitaan yhä – Suomalaiset lähettivät yli 400 muistoa vuoden 1918 sisällissodasta] (in Finnish)</ref> The civil war and the 1918–1920 activist expeditions called "[[Heimosodat|Kinship Wars]]" into Soviet Russia strained Eastern relations. At that time, the idea of a [[Greater Finland]] also emerged for the first time.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Manninen | first=Ohto | title=Suur-Suomen ääriviivat: Kysymys tulevaisuudesta ja turvallisuudesta Suomen Saksan-politiikassa 1941 | location=Helsinki | publisher=Kirjayhtymä | year=1980 | isbn= 951-26-1735-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | last=Nygård | first=Toivo | title=Suur-Suomi vai lähiheimolaisten auttaminen: Aatteellinen heimotyö itsenäisessä Suomessa | location=Helsinki | publisher=Otava | year=1978 | isbn=951-1-04963-1}}</ref>
[[File:Juho kusti paasikivi and Pehr Evind Svinhufvud 1918.jpg|thumb|[[Juho Kusti Paasikivi|J. K. Paasikivi]] and [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud|P. E. Svinhufvud]], both at the time future [[President of Finland|presidents of the Republic of Finland]], discuss the [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|Finnish monarchy project]] in 1918.]]
After [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|a brief experimentation with monarchy]], when an attempt to make [[Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse]]  King of Finland proved to be a poor success, Finland became a [[presidential republic]], with [[K. J. Ståhlberg]] elected as its first president in 1919. As a [[liberal nationalist]] and with a legal background, Ståhlberg anchored the state in [[liberal democracy]], guarded the fragile shoot of the [[rule of law]], and embarked on internal reforms.<ref>{{cite web | first = Juha | last = Mononen | title = War or Peace for Finland? Neoclassical Realist Case Study of Finnish Foreign Policy in the Context of the Anti-Bolshevik Intervention in Russia 1918–1920 | url = https://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/80491 | date = 2 February 2009 | publisher = [[University of Tampere]] | access-date = 25 August 2020 | archive-date = 7 June 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150607035630/http://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/80491 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Finland was also one of the first European countries to strongly aim for [[Women's rights|equality for women]], with [[Miina Sillanpää]] serving in [[Tanner Cabinet|Väinö Tanner's cabinet]] as the first female minister in Finnish history in 1926–1927.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://finland.fi/life-society/real-bridge-builder-became-finlands-first-female-government-minister/|title=Real bridge-builder became Finland's first female government minister - thisisFINLAND|date=29 September 2017|work=thisisFINLAND|access-date=7 December 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> The Finnish–Russian border was defined in 1920 by the [[Treaty of Tartu (Finland–Russia)|Treaty of Tartu]], largely following the historic border but granting [[Pechengsky District|Pechenga]] ({{lang-fi|Petsamo}}) and its [[Barents Sea]] harbour to Finland. Finnish democracy did not experience any Soviet coup attempts and likewise survived the anti-communist [[Lapua Movement]]. Nevertheless, the relationship between Finland and the Soviet Union remained tense. Army officers were trained in France, and relations with Western Europe and Sweden were strengthened.
In 1917, the population was three million. Credit-based [[land reform]] was enacted after the civil war, increasing the proportion of the capital-owning population.<ref name="equity" /> About 70% of workers were occupied in agriculture and 10% in industry.<ref>{{cite web |author=Finland 1917–2007 |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suomi90/helmikuu_en.html |title=From slash-and-burn fields to post-industrial society—90 years of change in industrial structure |publisher=Stat.fi |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The largest export markets were the United Kingdom and Germany.
===World War II and after===
{{Main|Finland during World War II|Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|Finlandization|Early 1990s depression in Finland}}
[[File:Finnish areas ceded in 1944.png|thumb|Areas ceded by Finland to the [[Soviet Union]] after [[World War II]]. The [[Porkkala]] land lease was returned to Finland in 1956.]]
Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] of 1939–1940 after the Soviet Union attacked Finland and in the [[Continuation War]] of 1941–1944, following [[Operation Barbarossa]], when Finland aligned with Germany following Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. For 872 days, the German army, aided indirectly by Finnish forces, [[Siege of Leningrad|besieged Leningrad]], the USSR's second-largest city.<ref>Michael Jones (2013). "''[https://books.google.com/books?id=uGzfnIm97vQC&pg=PA38 Leningrad: State of Siege]''". Basic Books. p. 38. {{ISBN|0-7867-2177-4}}</ref> After Finnish resistance to [[Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive|a major Soviet offensive]] in June and July 1944 led to a standstill, the two sides reached an armistice. This was followed by the [[Lapland War]] of 1944–1945, when Finland fought retreating German forces in northern Finland. Perhaps the most famous war heroes during the aforementioned wars were [[Simo Häyhä]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R948DQAAQBAJ&q=simo+hayha+219+kills&pg=PT35|title=The White Sniper|first=Tapio|last=Saarelainen|date=31 October 2016|publisher=Casemate|isbn=978-1-61200-429-7|access-date=12 March 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rdIgAQAAIAAJ|title=Journal of Information Warfare|first1=Edith Cowan University School of Management Information|last1=Systems|first2=Teamlink|last2=Australia|date=12 March 2019|publisher=Teamlink Australia Pty Limited|access-date=12 March 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> [[Aarne Juutilainen]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=Marokon Kauhu|trans-title=Terror of Morocco|last=Mäkelä|first=Jukka L.|publisher=W. Söderström|location=Porvoo|language=fi|year=1969|oclc=3935082}}</ref> and [[Lauri Törni]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cleverley|first=J. Michael|title=Born a Soldier: The Times and Life of Larry Thorne|year=2008|publisher=Booksurge|isbn=978-1-4392-1437-4|oclc=299168934}}</ref>
The treaties signed with the Soviet Union in 1947 and 1948  included Finnish obligations, restraints, and reparations, as well as further Finnish territorial concessions in addition to those in the [[Moscow Peace Treaty]] of 1940. As a result of the two wars, Finland ceded the [[Pechengsky District|Petsamo]], along with parts of [[Finnish Karelia]] and [[Salla]]. This amounted to 10% of Finland's  land area and 20% of its industrial capacity, including the ports of [[Vyborg]] (Viipuri) and the ice-free [[Liinakhamari]] (Liinahamari). Almost the whole Finnish population, some 400,000 people, [[Evacuation of Finnish Karelia|fled these areas]]. The former Finnish territory now constitutes part of Russia's [[Republic of Karelia]], [[Leningrad Oblast]], and [[Murmansk Oblast]]. Finland was never occupied by Soviet forces and it retained its independence, but at a loss of about 97,000 soldiers. The [[Finnish war reparations to the Soviet Union|war reparations demanded by the Soviet Union]] amounted to $300 million ({{Inflation|US|300|1938|fmt=c}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).
Finland rejected [[Marshall Plan|Marshall aid]], in apparent [[Finlandization|deference to Soviet desires]]. However, in the hope of preserving Finland's independence, the United States provided secret development aid and helped the Social Democratic Party.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hidden+help+from+across+the+Atlantic/1135223633788 Hidden help from across the Atlantic] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129165823/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hidden+help+from+across+the+Atlantic/1135223633788 |date=29 January 2007 }}, Helsingin Sanomat</ref> Establishing trade with the Western powers, such as the United Kingdom, and paying reparations to the Soviet Union produced a transformation of Finland from a primarily [[agrarian economy]] to an industrialised one. [[Valmet]] was founded to create materials for war reparations. After the reparations had been paid off, Finland continued to trade with the Soviet Union in the framework of [[bilateral trade]].
[[File:Urho-Kekkonen-1975.jpg|thumb|left|[[Urho Kekkonen]], the eighth president of Finland (1956–1982)]]
In 1950, 46% of Finnish workers worked in agriculture and a third lived in urban areas.<ref name="populationdevelopment">{{cite web |author=Finland 1917–2007 |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suomi90/joulukuu_en.html |title=Population development in independent Finland—greying Baby Boomers |publisher=Stat.fi |date=5 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The new jobs in manufacturing, services, and trade quickly attracted people to the towns. The average number of births per woman declined from a [[baby boom]] peak of 3.5 in 1947 to 1.5 in 1973.<ref name="populationdevelopment" /> When baby-boomers entered the workforce, the economy did not generate jobs quickly enough, and hundreds of thousands emigrated to the more industrialized Sweden, with emigration peaking in 1969 and 1970.<ref name="populationdevelopment" /> The [[1952 Summer Olympics]] brought international visitors. Finland took part in trade liberalization in the [[World Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade]].
Officially claiming to be [[Neutral country|neutral]], Finland lay in the grey zone between the [[Western world|Western countries]] and the Soviet bloc. The [[Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|YYA Treaty]] (Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance) gave the Soviet Union some leverage in Finnish domestic politics. This was extensively exploited by president [[Urho Kekkonen]] against his opponents. He maintained an effective monopoly on Soviet relations from 1956 on, which was crucial for his continued popularity. In politics, there was a tendency to avoid any policies and statements that could be interpreted as anti-Soviet. This phenomenon was given the name "[[Finlandization]]" by the West German press. During the [[Cold War]], Finland also developed into one of the centers of the [[Cold War espionage|East-West espionage]], in which both the [[KGB]] and the [[CIA]] played their parts.<ref>{{Citation|last=Ford|first=Hal|title=ESAU -LVI - ''FINLANDIZATION'' IN ACTION: HELSINKI'S EXPERIENCE WITH MOSCOW|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/esau-55.pdf|series=DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE|date=August 1972}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/eastern-approaches/2011/12/01/secret-history|title=Finland and American intelligence - Secret history|work=[[The Economist]]|date=1 December 2011|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://intelnews.org/2011/08/19/01-794/|title=Former Finnish diplomat reveals she worked for the CIA|first=Joseph|last=Fitsanakis|website=Intelnews.org|date=19 August 2011|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9692396|title=Naisia, autoja ja piilopirttejä – Norjalainen vakoili CIA:n laskuun kylmän sodan Suomessa|first=Satu|last=Helin|publisher=[[YLE]]|date=2 July 2017|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/10/14/kylman-sodan-suomalaisagentit-kasikirjoitus|title=Kylmän sodan suomalaisagentit: käsikirjoitus|first=Kai|last=Byman|work=MOT|publisher=[[YLE]]|date=14 October 2019|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005833479.html|title=Näin Neuvostoliitto vakoili Suomessa – Supo seurasi "Jakkea", joka johdatti uusille jäljille|first=Mika|last=Lehto|work=[[Ilta-Sanomat]]|date=19 September 2018|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref> The 1949 established [[Finnish Security Intelligence Service]] (''SUPO, Suojelupoliisi''), an operational [[Security agency|security]] authority and a police unit under the [[Ministry of the Interior (Finland)|Interior Ministry]], whose core areas of activity are [[counter-Intelligence]], [[counter-terrorism]] and [[national security]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supo.fi/en/frontpage?p_p_id=fi_yja_language_version_tool_web_portlet_LanguageVersionToolMissingNotificationPortlet&_fi_yja_language_version_tool_web_portlet_LanguageVersionToolMissingNotificationPortlet_missingLanguageVersion=1|title=Frontpage|website=Supo}}</ref> also participated in this activity in some places.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tuomioja.org/kirjavinkit/2009/09/matti-simola-toimittanut-ratakatu-12-suojelupoliisi-1949-2009-wsoy-319-s-hameenlinna-2009/|title=Salaisen palvelun tutkimuksen haasteet|last=Tuomioja|first=Erkki|date=8 September 2009|work=Tuomioja.org|access-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153602/https://tuomioja.org/kirjavinkit/2009/09/matti-simola-toimittanut-ratakatu-12-suojelupoliisi-1949-2009-wsoy-319-s-hameenlinna-2009/|archive-date=24 October 2017|url-status=live|language=fi-FI|trans-title=Challenges in secret service research}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10224/4054|title=The Cold War and the Politics of History|last=Rentola|first=Kimmo|publisher=Edita Publishing Ltd|year=2008|isbn=978-952-10-4637-7|editor-last=Aunesluoma|editor-first=Juhani|location=Helsinki|pages=269–289|chapter=President Urho Kekkonen of Finland and the KGB|editor-last2=Kettunen|editor-first2=Pauli|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010917/https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10224/4054|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
Despite close relations with the Soviet Union, Finland maintained a market economy. Various industries benefited from [[Bilateral trade|trade privileges]] with the Soviets, which explains the widespread support that pro-Soviet policies enjoyed among business interests in Finland. Economic growth was rapid in the postwar era, and by 1975 Finland's GDP per capita was the 15th-highest in the world. In the 1970s and 1980s, Finland built one of the most extensive [[welfare state]]s in the world. Finland negotiated with the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC, a predecessor of the European Union) a treaty that mostly abolished customs duties towards the EEC starting from 1977, although Finland did not fully join. In 1981, President Urho Kekkonen's failing health forced him to retire after holding office for 25 years.
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and signed the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in 2007.]]
Finland reacted cautiously to the collapse of the Soviet Union, but swiftly began increasing integration with the West. On 21 September 1990, Finland unilaterally declared the [[Paris Peace Treaty]] obsolete, following the German reunification decision nine days earlier.<ref>[http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=55802&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI formin.finland.fi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105213131/http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=55802&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI |date=5 January 2016 }}; ''Suurlähettiläs Jaakko Blomberg: Kylmän sodan päättyminen, Suomi ja Viro – Ulkoasiainministeriö: Ajankohtaista''. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
Miscalculated macroeconomic decisions, [[Finnish banking crisis of 1990s|a banking crisis]], the collapse of its largest trading partner (the Soviet Union), and a global economic downturn caused a deep [[Early 1990s depression in Finland|early 1990s recession in Finland]]. The depression bottomed out in 1993, and Finland saw steady economic growth for more than ten years.<ref>{{Citation|last=Uusitalo|first=Hannu|title=Economic Crisis and Social Policy in Finland in the 1990s|journal=Working Paper Series|url=https://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/SPRCFile/dp070.pdf|series=SPRC Discussion Paper No. 70|date=October 1996|issn=1037-2741}}</ref> Like other Nordic countries, Finland decentralised its economy since the late 1980s. Financial and product market regulation were loosened. Some state enterprises have been privatized and there have been some modest tax cuts.{{Citation needed |date=August 2017}} Finland joined the [[European Union]] in 1995, and the [[Eurozone]] in 1999. Much of the late 1990s economic growth was fueled by the success of the mobile phone manufacturer [[Nokia]], which held a unique position of representing 80% of the market capitalization of the [[Helsinki Stock Exchange]].
== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Finland}}
{{See also|List of cities and towns in Finland|List of lakes of Finland|List of national parks of Finland|Environmental issues in Finland}}
[[File:Map of Finland-en.svg|thumb|upright|Topographic map of Finland]]
Lying approximately between latitudes [[60th parallel north|60°]] and [[70th parallel north|70° N]], and longitudes [[20th meridian east|20°]] and [[32nd meridian east|32° E]], Finland is one of the world's northernmost countries. Of world capitals, only [[Reykjavík]] lies more to the north than Helsinki. The distance from the southernmost point – [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]] in Uusimaa – to the northernmost – [[Nuorgam]] in Lapland – is {{convert|1160|km|mi}}.
Finland has about 168,000 lakes (of area larger than {{convert|500|m2|acre|2|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and 179,000 islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_alue_en.html |title=Statistics Finland, Environment and Natural Resources|access-date=4 April 2013}}</ref> Its largest lake, [[Saimaa]], is the fourth largest in Europe. The [[Finnish Lakeland]] is the area with the most lakes in the country; many of the major cities in the area, most notably [[Tampere]], [[Jyväskylä]] and [[Kuopio]], are located in the immediate vicinity of the large lakes. The greatest concentration of islands is found in the southwest, in the [[Archipelago Sea]] between continental Finland and the main island of Åland.
Much of the geography of Finland is a result of the Ice Age. The glaciers were thicker and lasted longer in [[Fennoscandia]] compared with the rest of Europe. Their eroding effects have left the Finnish landscape mostly flat with few hills and fewer mountains. Its highest point, the [[Halti]] at {{convert|1324|m|ft|0}}, is found in the extreme north of Lapland at the border between Finland and [[Norway]]. The highest mountain whose peak is entirely in Finland is [[Ridnitšohkka]] at {{convert|1316|m|ft|abbr=on}}, directly adjacent to Halti.
[[File:Imatran kylpylä.jpg|thumb|There are some 187,888 [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes in Finland]] larger than 500 square metres and 75,818 [[List of islands of Finland|islands]] of over 0,5 km2 area, leading to the denomination "the land of a thousand lakes".<ref name="thousand"/>]]
The retreating glaciers have left the land with [[moraine|morainic]] deposits in formations of [[esker]]s. These are ridges of stratified gravel and sand, running northwest to southeast, where the ancient edge of the glacier once lay. Among the biggest of these are the three [[Salpausselkä]] ridges that run across southern Finland.
Having been compressed under the enormous weight of the glaciers, terrain in Finland is rising due to the [[post-glacial rebound]]. The effect is strongest around the Gulf of Bothnia, where land steadily rises about {{convert|1|cm|1|abbr=on}} a year. As a result, the old sea bottom turns little by little into dry land: the surface area of the country is expanding by about {{convert|7|km2|sqmi}} annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |title=Trends in sea level variability |work=Finnish Institute of Marine Research |date=24 August 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227172733/http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |archive-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref> Relatively speaking, Finland is rising from the sea.<ref name="EB">"Finland." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011.</ref>
The landscape is covered mostly by coniferous [[taiga]] forests and [[fen]]s, with little cultivated land. Of the total area 10% is lakes, rivers and ponds, and 78% forest. The forest consists of [[pine]], [[spruce]], [[birch]], and other species.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metla.fi/suomen-metsat/ |title=Euroopan metsäisin maa |date=2013 |website= Luke |language=fi |access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> Finland is the largest producer of wood in Europe and among the largest in the world. The most common type of rock is [[granite]]. It is a ubiquitous part of the scenery, visible wherever there is no soil cover. Moraine or [[till]] is the most common type of soil, covered by a thin layer of [[humus]] of biological origin. [[Podzol]] profile development is seen in most forest soils except where drainage is poor. [[Gleysol]]s and peat [[bog]]s occupy poorly drained areas.
=== Biodiversity ===
{{Main|Fauna of Finland|Wildlife of Finland}}
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Finland is shared between the Arctic, central European, and northern European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Finland can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Scandinavian and Russian taiga]], [[Sarmatic mixed forests]], and [[Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287}}</ref> Taiga covers most of Finland from northern regions of southern provinces to the north of Lapland. On the southwestern coast, south of the Helsinki-[[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] line, forests are characterized by mixed forests, that are more typical in the Baltic region. In the extreme north of Finland, near the [[tree line]] and Arctic Ocean, Montane Birch forests are common. Finland had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.08/10, ranking it 109th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057}}</ref>
[[File:Ähtärin karhut 7.jpg|thumb|The [[brown bear]] (''Ursus arctos'') is Finland's national animal. It is also the largest [[carnivora]] in Finland.]]
Similarly, Finland has a diverse and extensive range of fauna. There are at least sixty native [[mammal]]ian species, 248 breeding bird species, over 70 fish species, and 11 reptile and frog species present today, many migrating from neighboring countries thousands of years ago.
Large and widely recognized wildlife mammals found in Finland are the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[wolverine]], and [[Moose|elk]]. The brown bear, which is also nicknamed as the "king of the forest" by the Finns, is the country's official national animal,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://finland.fi/life-society/iconic-finnish-nature-symbols-stand-out/ | title=Iconic Finnish nature symbols stand out | publisher=This is Finland | access-date=24 December 2020}}</ref> which also occur on the coat of arms of the [[Satakunta]] [[Regions of Finland|region]] is a crown-headed black bear carrying a sword,<ref>Iltanen, Jussi: ''Suomen kuntavaakunat'' (2013), Karttakeskus, {{ISBN|951-593-915-1}}</ref> possibly referring to the regional capital city of [[Pori]], whose Swedish name ''Björneborg'' and the Latin name ''Arctopolis'' literally means "bear city" or "bear fortress".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Savoring Heritage: A Memphis writer explores her daughter's Finnish roots |last=Maki |first=Aisling |work=Memphis magazine |date=27 March 2020 |url= https://memphismagazine.com/travel/savoring-heritage/ }}</ref> Three of the more striking birds are the [[whooper swan]], a large European swan and the national bird of Finland; the [[Western capercaillie]], a large, black-plumaged member of the [[grouse]] family; and the [[Eurasian eagle-owl]]. The latter is considered an indicator of [[old-growth forest]] connectivity, and has been declining because of landscape fragmentation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514259904/html/x288.html |title=Nutritional and genetic adaptation of galliform birds: implications for hand-rearing and restocking |work=Oulu University Library (2000) |access-date=23 May 2008}}</ref> The most common breeding birds are the [[willow warbler]], [[common chaffinch]], and [[redwing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.fi/lintuharrastus/faq-muut.shtml#pesimalinnut |title=BirdLife Finland |work=BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. Cambridge, UK. (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12) |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> Of some seventy species of freshwater fish, the [[northern pike]], [[perch]], and others are plentiful. [[Atlantic salmon]] remains the favourite of [[Fly fishing|fly rod]] enthusiasts.
The endangered [[Saimaa ringed seal]] (''Pusa hispida saimensis''), one of only three lake seal species in the world, exists only in the [[Saimaa]] lake system of southeastern Finland, down to only 390 seals today.<ref>{{cite web |title= Saimaa Ringed Seal |url= https://wwf.fi/en/saimaaringedseal/ |access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref> Ever since the species was protected in 1955,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalparks.fi/saimaa-ringed-seal|title=Saimaa Ringed Seal|website=Nationalparks.fi}}</ref> it has become the emblem of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=SOS: Save our seals |work=this is Finland ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910195719/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=10 September 2015 }}</ref> The Saimaa ringed seal lives nowadays mainly in two Finnish national parks, [[Kolovesi National Park|Kolovesi]] and [[Linnansaari National Park|Linnansaari]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jarvisydan.com/en/Nature-Adventures/National-Parks |title=Welcome to Linnansaari and Kolovesi National Parks |date=2016 |website=Järvisydän |access-date=2016-05-01 |archive-date=26 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926180335/http://www.jarvisydan.com/en/Nature-Adventures/National-Parks |url-status=dead }}</ref>  but strays have been seen in a much larger area, including near [[Savonlinna]]'s town centre.
=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Finland}}
[[File:Finland Köppen.svg|thumb|upright|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Finland]]
The main factor influencing Finland's climate is the country's geographical position between the 60th and 70th northern parallels in the [[Eurasia]]n continent's coastal zone. In the [[Köppen climate classification]], the whole of Finland lies in the [[subarctic climate|boreal zone]], characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. Within the country, the [[temperateness]] varies considerably between the southern coastal regions and the extreme north, showing characteristics of both a [[Oceanic climate|maritime]] and a [[continental climate]]. Finland is near enough to the Atlantic Ocean to be continuously warmed by the [[Gulf Stream]]. The Gulf Stream combines with the moderating effects of the Baltic Sea and numerous inland lakes to explain the unusually warm climate compared with other regions that share the same [[latitude]], such as [[Alaska]], [[Siberia]], and southern [[Greenland]].<ref name="Finland's climate">{{cite web |title=Finland's climate |url=http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |publisher=Finnish Meteorological Institute |access-date=3 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721105549/http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Winters in southern Finland (when mean daily temperature remains below {{convert|0|°C|disp=or}}) are usually about 100 days long, and in the inland the snow typically covers the land from about late November to April, and on the coastal areas such as Helsinki, snow often covers the land from late December to late March.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://ilmasto-opas.fi/fi/ilmastonmuutos/suomen-muuttuva-ilmasto/-/artikkeli/08848977-fd1a-4e85-8389-7ecf3ca7de7d/uusimaa-merellisen-ilmaston-maakunta.html|title = The climate in Finland (finnish)|access-date = 3 January 2015}}</ref> Even in the south, the harshest winter nights can see the temperatures fall to {{convert|-30|°C}} although on coastal areas like Helsinki, temperatures below {{convert|-30|°C|0}} are rare. Climatic summers (when mean daily temperature remains above {{convert|10|°C|disp=or}}) in southern Finland last from about late May to mid-September, and in the inland, the warmest days of July can reach over {{convert|35|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> Although most of Finland lies on the [[taiga]] belt, the southernmost coastal regions are sometimes classified as [[hemiboreal]].<ref name="Havas">{{cite web|url=http://www.oulu.fi/northnature/finnish/Suomi/luma1.html|title=Pohjoiset alueet / yleiskuvaus|last=Havas|first=Paavo|language=fi|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref>
In northern Finland, particularly in Lapland, the winters are long and cold, while the summers are relatively warm but short. The most severe winter days in Lapland can see the temperature fall down to {{convert|-45|°C}}. The winter of the north lasts for about 200 days with permanent snow cover from about mid-October to early May. Summers in the north are quite short, only two to three months, but can still see maximum daily temperatures above {{convert|25|°C}} during heat waves.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> No part of Finland has [[Arctic tundra]], but [[Alpine tundra]] can be found at the [[fell]]s Lapland.<ref name="Havas" />
The Finnish climate is suitable for cereal farming only in the southernmost regions, while the northern regions are suitable for [[animal husbandry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|title=Finland's Northern Conditions: Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture|publisher=Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland|pages=1–4|access-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407022547/http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|archive-date=7 April 2012 }}</ref>
A quarter of Finland's territory lies within the [[Arctic Circle]] and the [[midnight sun]] can be experienced for more days the farther north one travels. At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during summer, and does not rise at all for 51 days during winter.<ref name="Finland's climate" />
=== Regions ===
{{Main|Regions of Finland}}
Finland consists of 19 [[Regions of Finland|regions]], called {{lang|fi|maakunta}} in Finnish and {{lang|sv|landskap}} in Swedish. The regions are governed by regional councils which serve as forums of cooperation for the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] of a region. The main tasks of the regions are regional planning and development of enterprise and education. In addition, the public health services are usually organized on the basis of regions. Currently, the only region where a popular election is held for the council is Kainuu. Other regional councils are elected by municipal councils, each municipality sending representatives in proportion to its population.
In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, which is the responsibility of regional councils, each region has a state Employment and Economic Development Centre which is responsible for the local administration of labour, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and entrepreneurial affairs. The [[Finnish Defence Forces]] regional offices are responsible for the regional defence preparations and for the administration of conscription within the region.
Regions represent dialectal, cultural, and economic variations better than the former [[Provinces of Finland|provinces]], which were purely administrative divisions of the central government. Historically, regions are divisions of [[historical provinces of Finland]], areas which represent dialects and culture more accurately.
Six [[Regional State Administrative Agencies of Finland|Regional State Administrative Agencies]] were created by the state of Finland in 2010, each of them responsible for one of the regions called {{lang|fi|alue}} in Finnish and {{lang|sv|region}} in Swedish; in addition, Åland was designated a seventh region. These take over some of the tasks of the earlier [[Provinces of Finland]] (''lääni''/''län''), which were abolished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |title=Tervetuloa aluehallintoviraston verkkosivuille! |publisher=State Provincial Office |language=fi |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315151138/http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |archive-date=15 March 2012 }}</ref>
{| style="with:90%"
| style="width:50%" |{{Finnish Regions|options=float:top}}
| style="width:50%" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Official English name<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/3457861/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyviä+termejä+sekä+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29/974f7fc5-1466-c667-9787-381c5bd57603/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyviä+termejä+sekä+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29.pdf|title=Suomen hallintorakenteeseen ja maakuntauudistukseen liittyviä termejä sekä maakuntien ja kuntien nimet fi-sv-en-(ru)|website=vnk.fi|pages=8–9|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>
! Finnish name
! Swedish name
! Capital
! Regional state administrative agency
|-
| [[Lapland, Finland|Lapland]]
| '''Lapland'''
| {{lang|fi|Lappi}}
| {{lang|sv|Lappland}}
| [[Rovaniemi]]
| [[Municipalities of Lapland|Lapland]]
|-
| [[North Ostrobothnia]]
| '''North Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Österbotten}}
| [[Oulu]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kainuu]]
|'''Kainuu'''
| {{lang|fi|Kainuu}}
| {{lang|sv|Kajanaland}}
| [[Kajaani]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[North Karelia]]
| '''North Karelia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Karelen}}
| [[Joensuu]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[Northern Savonia]]
| '''North Savo'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Savo}}
| |{{lang|sv|Norra Savolax}}
| [[Kuopio]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[Southern Savonia]]
| '''South Savo'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Savo}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Savolax}}
| [[Mikkeli]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[South Ostrobothnia]]
| '''South Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Österbotten}}
| [[Seinäjoki]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Ostrobothnia]]
| '''Central Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Österbotten}}
| [[Kokkola]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Ostrobothnia (region)|Ostrobothnia]]
| '''Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Österbotten}}
| [[Vaasa]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Pirkanmaa]]
| '''Pirkanmaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Pirkanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Birkaland}}
| [[Tampere]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Finland]]
| '''Central Finland'''
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Finland}}
| [[Jyväskylä]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Satakunta (region)|Satakunta]]
| '''Satakunta'''
| {{lang|fi|Satakunta}}
| {{lang|sv|Satakunta}}
| [[Pori]]
| [[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|South-Western Finland]]
|-
| [[Southwest Finland]]
| '''Southwest Finland'''
| {{lang|fi|Varsinais-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Finland}}
| [[Turku]]
| [[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|South-Western Finland]]
|-
| [[South Karelia]]
| '''South Karelia'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Karelen}}
| [[Lappeenranta]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Päijänne Tavastia]]
| '''Päijät-Häme'''
| {{lang|fi|Päijät-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Päijänne-Tavastland}}
| [[Lahti]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Tavastia Proper]]
| '''Kanta-Häme'''
| {{lang|fi|Kanta-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Tavastland}}
| [[Hämeenlinna]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Uusimaa (region)|Uusimaa]]
| '''Uusimaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Uusimaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Nyland}}
| [[Helsinki]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kymenlaakso]]
| '''Kymenlaakso'''
| {{lang|fi|Kymenlaakso}}
| {{lang|sv|Kymmenedalen}}
| [[Kotka]] and [[Kouvola]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Åland Islands]]<ref name="åland_note">The role that the regional councils serve on [[Mainland Finland]] are on the Åland Islands handled by the autonomous [[Government of Åland]].</ref>
| '''Åland'''
| {{lang|fi|Ahvenanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Åland}}
| [[Mariehamn]]
| [[Municipalities of Åland|Åland]]
|}
|}
The region of [[Eastern Uusimaa|Eastern Uusimaa (Itä-Uusimaa)]] was consolidated with Uusimaa on 1 January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |title=''Valtioneuvosto päätti Uudenmaan ja Itä-Uudenmaan maakuntien yhdistämisestä'' |date=22 October 2009 |publisher=Ministry of Finance |language=fi |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084712/http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref>
=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Finland|Regions of Finland|Sub-regions of Finland|Municipalities of Finland|Historical provinces of Finland}}
The fundamental administrative divisions of the country are the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]], which may also call themselves towns or cities. They account for half of public spending. Spending is financed by municipal income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. {{As of|2021}}, there are 309 municipalities,<ref name="Suomen Kuntaliitto">{{cite web|title=Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot|url=https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot|access-date=7 March 2021|publisher=Suomen Kuntaliitto – Association of Finnish Municipalities|language=fi}}</ref> and most have fewer than 6,000 residents.
In addition to municipalities, two intermediate levels are defined. Municipalities co-operate in seventy [[Sub-regions of Finland|sub-regions]] and nineteen [[Regions of Finland|regions]]. These are governed by the member municipalities and have only limited powers. The autonomous province of Åland has a permanent democratically elected regional council. Sami people have a semi-autonomous [[Sami native region (Finland)|Sami native region]] in Lapland for issues on language and culture.
In the following chart, the number of inhabitants includes those living in the entire municipality (''kunta/kommun''), not just in the built-up area. The land area is given in km<sup>2</sup>, and the density in inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup> (land area). The figures are as of {{#time:d F Y |{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}}}}. The [[capital region]] – comprising Helsinki, [[Vantaa]], [[Espoo]] and [[Kauniainen]] – forms a continuous [[conurbation]] of over 1.1 million people. However, common administration is limited to voluntary cooperation of all municipalities, e.g. in [[Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council]].
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
! City !! Population{{Data Finland municipality/population count}} !! Land area{{Data Finland municipality/total area}} !! Density !! Regional map !! Population density map
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Helsinki.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Helsinki]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Helsinki }} }}|| {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Helsinki }} round 2}} }}
| rowspan ="15" |
[[File:Finland administrative divisions 2.svg|thumb|x410px|center|[[Municipalities of Finland|Municipalities]] (thin borders) and [[Regions of Finland|regions]] (thick borders) of Finland (2021)]]
| rowspan ="15" |
[[File:Population map of Finland.svg|thumb|center|x410px|The population densities of Finnish municipalities (2010)]]
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Espoo.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Espoo]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Espoo }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Espoo }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Tampere.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Tampere]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tampere }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Tampere }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Tampere }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Vantaa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Vantaa]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vantaa }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vantaa }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Oulu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Oulu]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulu }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Oulu }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Oulu }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Turku.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Turku]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Turku }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Turku }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Turku }} round 2}}
}}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Jyväskylä.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Jyväskylä]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Jyväskylä }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Jyväskylä }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Jyväskylä }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Kuopio.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Kuopio]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kuopio }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kuopio }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kuopio }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Lahti.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Lahti]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lahti }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lahti }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Lahti }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Porin vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Pori]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Pori }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Pori }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Pori }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Kouvola.vaakuna.2009.svg|20px]] '''[[Kouvola]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kouvola }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kouvola }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kouvola }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Joensuu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Joensuu]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Joensuu }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Joensuu }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Joensuu }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Lappeenranta.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Lappeenranta]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lappeenranta }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lappeenranta }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Lappeenranta }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Hämeenlinna.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Hämeenlinna]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hämeenlinna }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Hämeenlinna }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Hämeenlinna }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Vaasa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Vaasa]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vaasa }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vaasa }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vaasa}} round 2}} }}
|}
== Politics ==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| caption_align = center
| image1 = President Trump Meets with the President of the Republic of Finland (48834234637) (cropped).jpg
| width1 = 115
| caption1 = [[Sauli Niinistö]]<br /><small>12th [[President of Finland|President]]<br />since 1 March 2012</small>
| image2 = Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin 2019 (cropped).jpg
| width2 = 113
| caption2 = [[Sanna Marin]]<br /><small>46th [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]]<br />since 10 December 2019</small>
}}
{{Main|Politics of Finland}}
{{See also|List of political parties in Finland|Human rights in Finland}}
[[File:BlueEurozone.svg|thumb|Finland is a member of:<br/>
{{legend2|#039|the [[Eurozone]]}}
{{legend2|#039}}{{legend2|#36C|the [[European Union]]}}]]
=== Constitution ===
The [[Constitution of Finland]] defines the political system; Finland is a [[parliamentary republic]] within the framework of a [[representative democracy]]. The [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] is the country's most powerful person. The current version of the constitution was enacted on 1 March 2000, and was amended on 1 March 2012. Citizens can run and vote in parliamentary, municipal, presidential and [[Elections in the European Union|European Union elections]].
=== President ===
{{Main|President of Finland}}
The [[head of state]] of Finland is [[President of Finland|President of the Republic of Finland]] (in Finnish: ''Suomen tasavallan presidentti''; in Swedish: ''Republiken Finlands president''). Finland has had for most of its independence a [[semi-presidential system]], but in the last few decades the powers of the President have been diminished. Constitutional amendments, which came into effect in 1991 and 1992, as well as a new drafted constitution of 2000 (amended in 2012), have made the presidency a primarily ceremonial office. However, the President still leads the nation's foreign politics together with the Council of State and is the commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces.<ref name="Parliamentary">Formerly a semi-presidential republic, it is now a parliamentary republic according to David Arter, First Chair of Politics at Aberdeen University. In his "Scandinavian Politics Today" (Manchester University Press, revised 2008 {{ISBN|978-0-7190-7853-8}}), he quotes {{Cite journal |last=Nousiainen |first=Jaakko |date=June 2001 |title=From semi-presidentialism to parliamentary government: political and constitutional developments in Finland |journal=[[Scandinavian Political Studies]] |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=95–109 |doi=10.1111/1467-9477.00048 }} as follows: "There are hardly any grounds for the epithet 'semi-presidential'." Arter's own conclusions are only slightly more nuanced: "The adoption of a new constitution on 1 March 2000 meant that Finland was no longer a case of semi-presidential government other than in the minimalist sense of a situation where a popularly elected fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament (Elgie 2004: 317)". According to the Finnish Constitution, the president has no possibility to rule the government without the ministerial approval, and does not have the power to dissolve the parliament under his or her own desire. Finland is actually represented by its prime minister, and not by its president, in the Council of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union. The 2012 constitutional amendments reduced the powers of the president even further.</ref> The position still does entail some powers, including responsibility for [[Foreign relations of Finland|foreign policy]] (excluding affairs related to the [[European Union]]) in cooperation with [[Cabinet of Finland|the cabinet]], being [[Commander-in-Chief|the head of the armed forces]], some decree and pardoning powers, and some appointive powers. Direct, one- or two-stage elections are used to elect the president for a term of six years and for a maximum of two consecutive 6-year terms. The current president is [[Sauli Niinistö]]; he took office on 1 March 2012. Former presidents were [[Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg|K. J. Ståhlberg]] (1919–1925), [[Lauri Kristian Relander|L. K. Relander]] (1925–1931), [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud|P. E. Svinhufvud]] (1931–1937), [[Kyösti Kallio]] (1937–1940), [[Risto Ryti]] (1940–1944), [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|C. G. E. Mannerheim]] (1944–1946), [[Juho Kusti Paasikivi|J. K. Paasikivi]] (1946–1956), [[Urho Kekkonen]] (1956–1982), [[Mauno Koivisto]] (1982–1994), [[Martti Ahtisaari]] (1994–2000), and [[Tarja Halonen]] (2000–2012)<!-- don't add Sauli Niinistö here, because he is not a former president -->.
The current president was elected from the ranks of the [[National Coalition Party]] for the first time since 1946. The presidency between 1946 and the present was instead held by a member of the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]] or the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]].
=== Parliament ===
{{Main|Parliament of Finland}}
[[File:Eduskuntatalo Helsinki.jpg|thumb|The [[Parliament of Finland]]'s main building along [[Mannerheimintie]] in [[Töölö]], [[Helsinki]]]]
[[File:Eduskunta istuntosali.jpg|thumb|The Session Hall of the Parliament of Finland]]
The 200-member [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[Parliament of Finland]] ({{Lang-fi|Eduskunta}}, {{Lang-sv|Riksdag}}) exercises supreme legislative authority in the country. It may alter the constitution and ordinary laws, dismiss the cabinet, and override presidential vetoes. Its acts are not subject to judicial review; the constitutionality of new laws is assessed by the parliament's [[Parliament of Finland#Committees|constitutional law committee]]. The parliament is elected for a term of four years using the proportional [[D'Hondt method]] within a number of multi-seat constituencies through the [[Open list#Most open|most open list]] multi-member districts. Various parliament committees listen to experts and prepare legislation.
Since [[universal suffrage]] was introduced in 1906, the parliament has been dominated by the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]] (former Agrarian Union), the [[National Coalition Party]], and the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democrats]]. These parties have enjoyed approximately equal support, and their combined vote has totalled about 65–80% of all votes. Their lowest common total of MPs, 121, was reached in the 2011 elections. For a few decades after 1944, the [[Communist Party of Finland|Communists]] were a strong fourth party. Due to the electoral system of proportional representation, and the relative reluctance of voters to switch their support between parties, the relative strengths of the parties have commonly varied only slightly from one election to another. However, there have been some long-term trends, such as the rise and fall of the Communists during the Cold War; the steady decline into insignificance of the [[Liberals (Finland)|Liberals]] and their predecessors from 1906 to 1980; and the rise of the [[Green League]] since 1983.
The [[Marin Cabinet]] is the incumbent 76th [[government of Finland]]. It was formed following the collapse of the [[Rinne Cabinet]] and officially took office on 10 December 2019.<ref name=NYT1>{{Cite news| last1 = Lemola | first1 = Johanna | last2 = Specia | first2 = Megan | date=10 December 2019| title=Who Is Sanna Marin, Finland's 34-Year-Old Prime Minister? | work=[[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/world/europe/finland-sanna-marin.html | access-date=4 February 2020 | language = en | issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=NYT2>{{Cite news| last=Specia |first=Megan | date=10 December 2019| title=Sanna Marin of Finland to Become World's Youngest Prime Minister|work=[[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/world/europe/finland-prime-minister-sanna-marin.html | access-date=4 February 2020 | language = en | issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The cabinet consists of a coalition formed by the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]], the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]], the [[Green League]], the [[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]], and the [[Swedish People's Party of Finland|Swedish People's Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaatuneen hallituksen kaikki puolueet halukkaita jatkoon samalla hallitusohjelmalla – vanhan opposition puolueet eivät hyväksy ohjelmaa |url=https://www.savonsanomat.fi/kotimaa/Kaatuneen-hallituksen-kaikki-puolueet-halukkaita-jatkoon-samalla-hallitusohjelmalla-%E2%80%93-vanhan-opposition-puolueet-eiv%C3%A4t-hyv%C3%A4ksy-ohjelmaa/1479764 |work=Savon Sanomat |language= fi |access-date=10 December 2019 |date=7 December 2019}}</ref>
=== Cabinet ===
{{See also|List of female cabinet ministers of Finland}}
After parliamentary elections, the parties negotiate among themselves on forming a new cabinet (the [[Finnish Government]]), which then has to be approved by a simple majority vote in the parliament. The cabinet can be dismissed by a parliamentary vote of no confidence, although this rarely happens (the last time in 1957), as the parties represented in the cabinet usually make up a majority in the parliament.<ref>[[:fi:Epäluottamuslause|The Finnish Wikipedia's article on Motion of no confidence]]</ref>{{circular reference|date=December 2020}}
The cabinet exercises most executive powers, and originates most of the bills that the parliament then debates and votes on. It is headed by the [[Prime Minister of Finland]], and consists of him or her, of other ministers, and of the [[Chancellor of Justice (Finland)|Chancellor of Justice]]. The current prime minister is [[Sanna Marin]] (Social Democratic Party). Each minister heads his or her ministry, or, in some cases, has responsibility for a subset of a ministry's policy. After the prime minister, the most powerful minister is the [[Minister of Finance (Finland)|minister of finance]]. The incumbent Minister of Finance is [[Matti Vanhanen]].
As no one party ever dominates the parliament, Finnish cabinets are multi-party coalitions. As a rule, the post of prime minister goes to the leader of the biggest party and that of the minister of finance to the leader of the second biggest.
=== Law ===
{{Main|Law of Finland|Judicial system of Finland}}
[[File:Supreme Court of Finland.jpg|thumb|right|The Court House of the [[Supreme Court of Finland|Supreme Court]]]]
The judicial system of Finland is a [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] system divided between [[court]]s with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and [[administrative court]]s with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and the public administration. Finnish law is codified and based on [[Judiciary of Sweden|Swedish law]] and in a wider sense, civil law or [[Roman law]]. The court system for civil and criminal jurisdiction consists of local courts (''käräjäoikeus'', ''tingsrätt''), [[Hovrätt|regional appellate courts]] (''hovioikeus'', ''hovrätt''), and the [[Supreme Court of Finland|Supreme Court]] (''korkein oikeus'', ''högsta domstolen''). The administrative branch of justice consists of administrative courts (''hallinto-oikeus'', ''förvaltningsdomstol'') and the [[Supreme Administrative Court of Finland|Supreme Administrative Court]] (''korkein hallinto-oikeus'', ''högsta förvaltningsdomstolen''). In addition to the regular courts, there are a few special courts in certain branches of administration. There is also a [[Judicial system of Finland#High Court of Impeachment|High Court of Impeachment]] for criminal charges against certain high-ranking officeholders.
Around 92% of residents have confidence in Finland's security institutions.<ref name="corruptionpolicing">Policing corruption, International Perspectives.</ref> The overall [[Crime in Finland|crime rate of Finland]] is not high in the EU context. Some crime types are above average, notably the high [[homicide]] rate for Western Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/3/3e/Intentional_homicides%2C_2016_%28police-recorded_offences_per_100_000_inhabitants%29.png |title=File:Intentional homicides, 2016 (police-recorded offences per 100 000 inhabitants).png |access-date=10 December 2010}}</ref> A [[day fine]] system is in effect and also applied to offenses such as [[speeding]].
Finland has successfully fought against government corruption, which was more common in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="corruption">The History of Corruption in Central Government By Seppo Tiihonen, International Institute of Administrative Sciences</ref>{{verify source|date=March 2011|reason=Surprising, not clear what part of the work is used.}} For instance, economic reforms and EU membership introduced stricter requirements for open bidding and many public monopolies were abolished.<ref name="corruption" /> Today, Finland has a very low number of corruption charges; [[Transparency International]] ranks Finland as one of the least corrupt countries in Europe.
In 2008, Transparency International criticized the lack of transparency of the system of Finnish political finance.<ref>[http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/oikea/id90735.html Vaalijohtaja: Vaalirahoituslain rikkominen melko yleistä] YLE 15 May 2008</ref> According to [[GRECO]] in 2007, corruption should be taken into account in the Finnish system of election funds better.<ref>Evaluation Report on Finland on Incriminations, Theme I, s. 21, GRECO 3–7.12.2007</ref> [[2007 Finnish campaign finance scandal|A scandal revolving around campaign finance of the 2007 parliamentary elections]] broke out in spring 2008. Nine cabinet ministers submitted incomplete funding reports and even more of the members of parliament. The law includes no punishment of false funds reports of the elected politicians.
=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Finland}}
[[File:Nobel Peace Prize 2008 Ole Danbolt Mjøs & Martti Ahtisaari 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Martti Ahtisaari]] receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008]]
According to the 2012 constitution, the president (currently [[Sauli Niinistö]]) leads foreign policy in cooperation with the government, except that the president has no role in EU affairs.<ref name="Finnish constitution.">[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf Finnish constitution], Section 93.</ref>
In 2008, president [[Martti Ahtisaari]] was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]].<ref name="Nobelprize">{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2008/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2008|work=The Nobel Foundation|publisher=Nobelprize.org|access-date=10 May 2009}}</ref> Finland was considered a cooperative model state, and Finland did not oppose proposals for a common EU defence policy.<ref name="foreignpolicyidea" /> This was reversed in the 2000s, when Tarja Halonen and [[Erkki Tuomioja]] made Finland's official policy to resist other EU members' plans for common defence.<ref name="foreignpolicyidea">"Finland's foreign policy idea" ("Suomen ulkopolitiikan idea"), [[Risto E. J. Penttilä]], 2008.</ref>
=== Military ===
{{Main|Finnish Defence Forces|Military history of Finland}}
{{See also|List of wars involving Finland}}
[[File:Taistelunäytös Leopard 2A4 Kokonaisturvallisuus 2015 05.JPG|thumb|left|Finnish [[Leopard 2A4]] tank Ps 273–106 in a combat demonstration at Comprehensive security exhibition 2015 in [[Tampere]].]]
The Finnish Defence Forces consist of a [[Cadre (military)|cadre]] of professional soldiers (mainly officers and technical personnel), currently serving conscripts, and a large reserve. The standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform, of which 25% are professional soldiers. A universal male [[Conscription in Finland|conscription]] is in place, under which all male Finnish nationals above 18 years of age serve for 6 to 12 months of armed service or 12 months of [[Siviilipalvelus|civilian]] (non-armed) service.
Voluntary post-conscription overseas peacekeeping service is popular, and troops serve around the world in UN, NATO, and EU missions. Approximately 500 women choose voluntary military service every year.<ref>[http://www.mil.fi/varusmies/naisten_vapaaehtoinen_asepalvelus.dsp Women's voluntary service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409182820/http://www.mil.fi/varusmies/naisten_vapaaehtoinen_asepalvelus.dsp |date=9 April 2008 }} (in Finnish)</ref> Women are allowed to serve in all combat arms including front-line infantry and special forces.
The army consists of a highly mobile field army backed up by local defence units. The army defends the national territory and its military strategy employs the use of the heavily forested terrain and numerous lakes to wear down an aggressor, instead of attempting to hold the attacking army on the frontier.
[[File:Tracked transport vehicle Sisu NA 110.JPG|thumb|right|[[Sisu Nasu]] NA-110 tracked transport vehicle of the Finnish Army. Most conscripts receive training for warfare in winter, and transport vehicles such as this give mobility in heavy snow.]]
Finnish defence expenditure per capita is one of the highest in the European Union.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/artikkelit/2007/art_2007-06-01_005.html Työvoimakustannukset puuttuvat puolustusmenoista], Statistics Finland (in Finnish): Eurostat ranking is sixth, but the third when conscription is accounted.</ref> The Finnish military doctrine is based on the concept of total defence. The term total means that all sectors of the government and economy are involved in the defence planning. The armed forces are under the command of the [[Chief of Defence (Finland)|Chief of Defence]] (currently General [[Jarmo Lindberg]]), who is directly subordinate to the president in matters related to military command. The branches of the military are [[Finnish Army|the army]], [[Finnish Navy|the navy]], and [[Finnish Air Force|the air force]]. The [[Finnish Border Guard|border guard]] is under the Ministry of the Interior but can be incorporated into the Defence Forces when required for defence readiness.
Even while Finland hasn't joined the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], the country has joined the [[NATO Response Force]], the [[EU Battlegroup]],<ref>{{cite web|title=European Union battlegroups|url=http://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/international-crisis-management/eu-battle-group|publisher=Finnish Defence Forces|access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> the NATO [[Partnership for Peace]] and in 2014 signed a NATO [[memorandum of understanding]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://natowatch.org/sites/default/files/briefing_paper_no.51_finland_and_nato.pdf |title=Is Finland taking a step closer to NATO membership |first=Nigel |last=Chamberlain |publisher=NATO Watch |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=27 May 2018}}</erf></ref><ref name="eduskunta.fi">[https://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/lakiensaataminen/valiokunnat/ulkoasiainvaliokunta/Documents/HNS_MOU_FINLAND.pdf MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND AND HEADQUARTERS, SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER TRANSFORMATION]. NATO</ref> thus forming a practical coalition.<ref name="nato.int" /> In 2015, the Finland-NATO ties were strengthened with a host nation support agreement allowing assistance from NATO troops in emergency situations.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweden-and-finland-forge-closer-ties-with-nato-1409237354 |title = Sweden and Finland Forge Closer Ties With NATO |newspaper = Wall Street Journal }}</ref> Finland has been an active participant in the Afghanistan and Kosovo.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/finnish_soldiers_involved_in_20-minute_gunfight_in_afghanistan/7702492 Finnish soldiers involved in 20-minute gunfight in Afghanistan |Yle Uutiset]. yle.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160105231045/http://formin.finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=115832&nodeid=49302&contentlan=2&culture=en-US Finland's participation in NATO-led crisis management operations]. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland</ref>
=== Social security ===
{{Main|Social security in Finland}}
Finland has one of the world's most extensive welfare systems, one that guarantees decent living conditions for all residents: Finns, and non-citizens. Since the 1980s the social security has been cut back, but still the system is one of the most comprehensive in the world. Created almost entirely during the first three decades after World War II, the social security system was an outgrowth of the traditional Nordic belief that the state was not inherently hostile to the well-being of its citizens, but could intervene benevolently on their behalf. According to some social historians, the basis of this belief was a relatively benign history that had allowed the gradual emergence of a free and independent peasantry in the Nordic countries and had curtailed the dominance of the nobility and the subsequent formation of a powerful right wing. Finland's history has been harsher than the histories of the other Nordic countries, but not harsh enough to bar the country from following their path of social development.<ref name="LOC">Text from PD source: US Library of Congress: ''[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/fitoc.html A Country Study: Finland]'', Library of Congress Call Number DL1012 .A74 1990.</ref>
=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Finland|Women's suffrage in Finland|LGBT rights in Finland}}
[[File:Helsinki Pride Parade I (5897488480).jpg|thumb|People gathering at the [[Senate Square, Helsinki|Senate Square]], [[Helsinki]], right before the [[Helsinki Pride|2011 Helsinki Pride parade]] started.]]
§ 6 in two sentences of the [[Finnish Constitution]] states: ''"No one shall be placed in a different position on situation of sex, age, origin, language, religion, belief, opinion, state of health, disability or any other personal reason without an acceptable reason."''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1999/19990731 | title = Perustuslaki: 2. luku Perusoikeudet, 6 § Yhdenvertaisuus 2 momentti | date = 1999 | publisher = Finlex | access-date = 27 August 2020 | language = fi }}</ref>
Finland has been ranked above average among the world's countries in [[democracy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.democracyranking.org/downloads/2012/Scores_of_the_Democracy-Ranking-2012.htm |title=Scores of the Democracy Ranking 2012 |publisher= Global Democracy Ranking |year=2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> [[press freedom]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/finland |title=Freedom of the Press: Finland |publisher= [[Freedom House]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> and [[human development (economics)|human development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/FIN.html |title=Statistics of the Human Development Report |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128081803/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/FIN.html |archive-date=28 November 2013 }}</ref>
[[Amnesty International]] has expressed concern regarding some issues in Finland, such as alleged permitting of stopovers of [[CIA]] [[Extraordinary rendition|rendition flights]], the imprisonment of [[conscientious objector]]s, and societal discrimination against [[Romani people]] and members of other ethnic and linguistic minorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/finland/report-2013 |title=Annual Report 2013: Finland |publisher= [[Amnesty International]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012: Finland |publisher= U.S. State of Department [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]] |year=2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Finland}}
{{See also|List of companies of Finland|List of largest companies in Finland|Helsinki Stock Exchange}}
[[File:Angry Birds Land Särkänniemi 11.jpg|thumb|Angry Birds Land, a [[theme park]] in the [[Särkänniemi]] amusement park, in [[Tampere]], [[Pirkanmaa]]; the mobile phone game ''[[Angry Birds]]'', developed in Finland, has become a commercial hit both domestically and internationally.]]
The economy of Finland has a per capita output equal to that of other European economies such as those of France, Germany, [[Belgium]], or the UK. The largest sector of the economy is the [[service sector]] at 66% of GDP, followed by manufacturing and refining at 31%. [[Primary sector of the economy|Primary production]] represents 2.9%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_kansantalous_en.html |title=Finland in Figures—National Accounts |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> With respect to [[International trade|foreign trade]], the key economic sector is manufacturing. The largest industries in 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_teollisuus_en.html |title=Finland in Figures—Manufacturing |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> were [[electronics]] (22%); machinery, vehicles, and other engineered metal products (21.1%); forest industry (13%); and chemicals (11%). The gross domestic product peaked in 2008. {{As of|2015}}, the country's economy is at the 2006 level.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/finlands_lost_decade_continueseconomy_same_size_as_in_2006/8044629 |title = Finland's 'lost decade' continues—economy same size as in 2006 |work = yle.fi |date = 4 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/35c8560c-c62f-11e4-add0-00144feab7de.html |title = Finland's economy: In search of the sunny side |work=Financial Times |location=London |date = 11 March 2015 }}</ref>
Finland has significant timber, mineral ([[iron]], [[chromium]], [[copper]], [[nickel]], and [[gold]]), and freshwater resources. [[Forestry]], paper factories, and the agricultural sector (on which taxpayers spend{{clarify|subsidize?|date=June 2017}} around €3 billion annually) are important for rural residents so any policy changes affecting these sectors are politically sensitive for politicians dependent on rural votes. The [[Greater Helsinki]] area generates around one third of Finland's GDP. In a 2004 OECD comparison, high-technology manufacturing in Finland ranked second largest after Ireland. Knowledge-intensive services have also resulted in the smallest and slow-growth sectors – especially agriculture and low-technology manufacturing – being ranked the second largest after Ireland.<ref name="oecd2004">Finland Economy 2004, OECD</ref>
Finland's climate and soils make growing crops a particular challenge. The country lies between the latitudes 60°N and 70°N, and it has severe winters and relatively short growing seasons that are sometimes interrupted by frost. However, because the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift Current moderate the climate, Finland contains half of the world's arable land north of 60° north latitude. Annual precipitation is usually sufficient, but it occurs almost exclusively during the winter months, making summer droughts a constant threat. In response to the climate, farmers have relied on quick-ripening and frost-resistant varieties of crops, and they have cultivated south-facing slopes as well as richer bottomlands to ensure production even in years with summer frosts. Most farmland was originally either forest or swamp, and the soil has usually required treatment with lime and years of cultivation to neutralize excess acid and to improve fertility. Irrigation has generally not been necessary, but drainage systems are often needed to remove excess water. Finland's agriculture has been efficient and productive—at least when compared with farming in other European countries.<ref name="LOC" />
[[File:Finland Exports Treemap 2017.svg|thumb|upright=1.45|A treemap representing the exports of Finland in 2017]]
Forests play a key role in the country's economy, making it one of the world's leading wood producers and providing raw materials at competitive prices for the crucial wood-processing industries. As in agriculture, the government has long played a leading role in forestry, regulating tree cutting, sponsoring technical improvements, and establishing long-term plans to ensure that the country's forests continue to supply the wood-processing industries. To maintain the country's comparative advantage in forest products, Finnish authorities moved to raise lumber output toward the country's ecological limits. In 1984, the government published the Forest 2000 plan, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The plan aimed at increasing forest harvests by about 3% per year, while conserving forestland for recreation and other uses.<ref name="LOC" />
Private sector employees amount to 1.8 million, out of which around a third with tertiary education. The average cost of a private sector employee per hour was €25.10 in 2004.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/til/tvtutk/2004/tvtutk_2004_2006-09-15_tie_001.html Tehdyn työtunnin hinta 23–27 euroa], Statistics Finland</ref> {{As of|2008}}, average purchasing power-adjusted income levels are similar to those of Italy, Sweden, Germany, and France.<ref name="incomecomparison">{{cite web |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2008/art_2008-06-09_001.html |title=Suomalaisten tulot Euroopan keskitasoa. Hyvinvointipalvelut eivät paranna sijoitusta |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=9 June 2008 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> In 2006, 62% of the workforce worked for enterprises with less than 250 employees and they accounted for 49% of total business turnover and had the strongest rate of growth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=895:small-enterprises-grow-faster-than-the-big-ones&catid=33:general&Itemid=201 |title=Small enterprises grow faster than the big ones |publisher=Helsinkitimes.fi |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The female employment rate is high. Gender segregation between male-dominated professions and female-dominated professions is higher than in the US.<ref name="niels">The Nordic Model of Welfare: A Historical Reappraisal, by Niels Finn Christiansen</ref> The proportion of part-time workers was one of the lowest in OECD in 1999.<ref name="niels" /> In 2013, the 10 largest private sector employers in Finland were [[Itella]], [[Nokia]], [[OP Financial Group|OP-Pohjola]], [[ISS A/S|ISS]], [[VR (company)|VR]], [[Kesko]], [[UPM-Kymmene]], [[YIT]], [[Metso]], and [[Nordea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/sata-suurinta-tyonantajaa-nokia-jai-kakkoseksi/72619deb-427d-3852-8a82-edfa4a7e818e|title=Sata suurinta työnantajaa: Nokia jäi kakkoseksi|first=Antti|last=Mikkonen|website=Talouselämä}}</ref>
The unemployment rate was 9.4% in 2015, having risen from 8.7% in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author=Finland in Figures |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_tyoelama_en.html |title=Statistics Finland: Labour Market |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Youth unemployment rate rose from 16.5% in 2007 to 20.5% in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towards employment |work=SixDegrees |date=2016-01-16 |access-date=2016-07-21 |url= https://www.6d.fi/index.php/society/945-towards-employment |language=en }}</ref> A fifth of residents are outside the job market at the age of 50 and less than a third are working at the age of 61.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_2649_34747_28023113_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=OECD recommends Finland to do more to help older people stay in work |publisher=Oecd.org |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> In 2014, nearly one million people were living with minimal wages or unemployed not enough to cover their costs of living.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/suomessa_on_liki_miljoona_koyhaa_heikoimmassa_asemassa_olevista_on_tullut_muukalaisia/7436047 yle.fi]; ''Suomessa on liki miljoona köyhää –"Heikoimmassa asemassa olevista on tullut muukalaisia"'' |Yle Uutiset. (28 August 2014). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
[[File:Mall of Tripla sisäkuvia 2.jpg|thumb|[[Mall of Tripla]] (in [[Pasila]], Helsinki), the largest [[shopping mall]] in Northern Europe in terms of total leasable units<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yitgroup.com/siteassets/investors/reports-and-presentations/presentations_2016_eng/analyst-lunch_commercial-concept-of-the-mall-of-tripla_pirjo-aalto_web.pdf|last=Aalto|first=Pirjo|title=Mall of Tripla: The best shopping centre in Finland|publisher=[[YIT]]|access-date=11 January 2021|date=12 December 2016}}</ref><ref name = pasilanasema>{{cite web|title=Pasilan asema|url=http://www.pasilanasema.fi/en/pasila-station |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/artikkeli/759018-pasilan-kauppakeskus-triplan-avajaispaiva-julki-samaan-aikaan-avautuu-myos-pasilan|title=Pasilan kauppakeskus Triplan avajaispäivä julki – samaan aikaan avautuu myös Pasilan uusi asema|last=Hämäläinen|first=Jukka|website=Helsingin Uutiset|language=fi|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>]]
{{As of|2006}}, 2.4 million households reside in Finland. The average size is 2.1 persons; 40% of households consist of a single person, 32% two persons and 28% three or more persons. Residential buildings total 1.2 million, and the average residential space is {{convert|38|m2}} per person. The average residential property without land costs €1,187 per sq metre and residential land €8.60 per sq metre. 74% of households had a car. There are 2.5 million cars and 0.4 million other vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|author=Finland in Figures |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_liikenne_en.html |title=Statistics Finland: Transport and Tourism|publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
Around 92% have a mobile phone and 83.5% (2009) [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet connection at home]]. The average total household consumption was €20,000, out of which housing consisted of about €5,500, transport about €3,000, food and beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages) at around €2,500, and recreation and culture at around €2,000.<ref>{{cite web |author=Households' consumption |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/til/ktutk/2006/ktutk_2006_2007-12-19_tie_001_en.html |title=Own-account worker households' consumption has grown most in 2001–2006 |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=19 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> According to Invest in Finland, private consumption grew by 3% in 2006 and consumer trends included durables, high-quality products, and spending on well-being.<ref>"Retail growth best in Finland for five years". For updates, see the [http://www.investinfinland.fi/ Invest in Finland] website.</ref>
In 2017, Finland's GDP reached €224 billion. However, second quarter of 2018 saw a slow economic growth. Unemployment rate fell to a near one-decade low in June, marking private consumption growth much higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.focus-economics.com/countries/finland|title=Finland Economic Outlook|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>
Finland has the highest concentration of [[cooperative]]s relative to its population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maine.coop/Finland.php |title=Finland: Globalization Insurance: Finland's Leap of Caution |website=Cooperatives Build a Better Maine|publisher=Cooperative Maine Business Alliance & Cooperative Development Institute |access-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042001/http://maine.coop/Finland.php |archive-date=2 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The largest retailer, which is also the largest private employer, [[S Group|S-Group]], and the largest bank, OP-Group, in the country are both cooperatives.
=== Energy ===
{{See also|Nordic energy market|Peat energy in Finland|Nuclear power in Finland}}
[[File:EPR OLK3 TVO fotomont 2 Vogelperspektive.jpg|thumb|The two existing units of the [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]]. On the far left is a visualization of a third unit, which, when completed, will become Finland's fifth commercial nuclear reactor.<ref name="olkiluoto_delayed">{{cite web |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/olkiluoto3_delayed_till_2016/6489784 |title=Olkiluoto3 delayed till 2016 |publisher=YLE |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref>]]
The free and largely privately owned financial and physical [[Nordic energy market]]s traded in [[NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe]] and [[Nord Pool Spot]] exchanges, have provided competitive prices compared with other EU countries. {{As of|2007}}, Finland has roughly the lowest industrial electricity prices in the [[EU-15]] (equal to France).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080204033032/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996%2C39140985&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=detailref&language=en&product=STRIND_ECOREF&root=STRIND_ECOREF%2Fecoref%2Fer02b1 Electricity prices—industrial users]. Web.archive.org. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In 2006, the energy market was around 90 terawatt hours and the peak demand around 15 [[gigawatt]]s in winter. This means that the [[List of countries by energy consumption per capita|energy consumption per capita]] is around 7.2 tons of oil equivalent per year. Industry and construction consumed 51% of total consumption, a relatively high figure reflecting Finland's industries.<ref>{{cite web |author=Energy consumption |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/ekul/2006/ekul_2006_2007-12-12_kuv_009_en.html |title=Statistics Finland |publisher=Stat.fi |date= 12 December 2007|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Energy consumption |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/ekul/2006/ekul_2006_2007-12-12_tie_001_en.html |title=Total energy consumption |publisher=Stat.fi |date=12 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Finland's [[hydrocarbon]] resources are limited to [[peat]] and wood. About 10–15% of the electricity is produced by [[hydropower]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metsavastaa.net/vattenkraft |title=Metsävastaa: Vattenkraft |language=sv |publisher=Metsavastaa.net |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303204918/http://www.metsavastaa.net/vattenkraft |archive-date=3 March 2009 }}</ref> which is low compared with more mountainous Sweden or Norway. In 2008, [[renewable energy]] (mainly hydropower and various forms of wood energy) was high at 31% compared with the EU average of 10.3% in final energy consumption.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energy.eu/#renewable |title=Europe's Energy Portal |publisher=energy.eu |access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> [[Russia in the European energy sector|Russia]] supplies more than 75% of Finland's [[List of countries by oil exports|oil imports]] and 100% of total [[List of countries by natural gas exports|gas imports]].<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/46126.pdf|title=EU imports of energy products - recent developments|date=4 July 2018|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|pages=3–4}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Europe helps fund non-Russia gas line for Finland |url=https://www.upi.com/Energy-News/2016/08/10/Europe-helps-fund-non-Russia-gas-line-for-Finland/6271470828765/ |work=[[United Press International]] |date=10 August 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Statistics of the energy supply in Finland.jpg|thumb|Supply and total consumption of electricity in Finland<ref name="Statistics Finland, Energy">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_energia_en.html |title=Finland Energy supply |publisher=Statistics Finland|date=20 April 2015 |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>]]
Finland has four privately owned nuclear reactors producing 18% of the country's energy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tilastokeskus.fi/tk/yr/yeenergiakuviot_en.pdf |title=Energy Consumption in 2001 |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108043546/http://tilastokeskus.fi/tk/yr/yeenergiakuviot_en.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2006 }}</ref> and one research reactor (decommissioned 2018 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vtt.fi/palvelut/v%C3%A4h%C3%A4hiilinen-energia/ydinvoima/tutkimusreaktorin-purku |title = FiR 1 -ydinreaktorin käytöstä poisto}}</ref>) at the [[Otaniemi]] campus. The fifth [[AREVA]]-[[Siemens AG|Siemens]]-built reactor – the world's largest at 1600 [[MWe]] and a focal point of Europe's nuclear industry – has faced many delays and is currently scheduled to be operational by 2018–2020, a decade after the original planned opening.<ref name="kauppalehti-02-2014">{{cite news |title = Areva ajaa Olkiluodon työmaata alas |author = Paula Nikula |url = http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/areva+ajaa+olkiluodon+tyomaata+alas/201402652139 |language = fi |publisher = Kauppalehti |date = 28 February 2014 |access-date = 28 February 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140304095114/http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/areva+ajaa+olkiluodon+tyomaata+alas/201402652139 |archive-date = 4 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A varying amount (5–17%) of electricity has been imported from Russia (at around 3 gigawatt power line capacity), Sweden and Norway.
The [[Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository]] is currently under construction at the [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]] in the municipality of [[Eurajoki]], on the west coast of Finland, by the company [[Posiva]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Journey deep into the Finnish caverns where nuclear waste will be buried for millenia |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/olkiluoto-island-finland-nuclear-waste-onkalo |work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=24 April 2017}}</ref> Energy companies are about to increase nuclear power production, as in July 2010 the Finnish parliament granted permits for additional two new reactors.
=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Finland}}
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| alignment = left
| width = 180
| footer = The state-owned [[VR (company)|VR]] operates a railway network serving all major cities in Finland.
| image3 = VR Sr1 3089.jpg
| caption3 = Soviet-made electric locomotive [[VR Class Sr1]] model from 1981
| image2 = Vr sr3 3304 3307 3306.jpg
| caption2 = Three [[VR Class Sr3]] locomotives
| image1 = VR Sr2 3202 Tampere 2012-06-22.JPG
| caption1 = A [[VR Class Sr2]] locomotive
}}
Finland's road system is utilized by most internal cargo and passenger traffic. The annual state operated road network expenditure of around €1 billion is paid for with vehicle and fuel taxes which amount to around €1.5 billion and €1 billion, respectively. Among the [[Highways in Finland|Finnish highways]], the most significant and busiest main roads include the [[Turku Highway]] ([[European route E18|E18]]), the [[Tampere Highway]] ([[European route E12|E12]]), the [[Lahti Highway]] ([[European route E75|E75]]), and the ring roads ([[Ring I]] and [[Ring III]]) of the Helsinki metropolitan area and the [[Tampere Ring Road]] of the [[Tampere urban area]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsnowfinland.fi/domestic/top-gear-finlands-busiest-roads-revealed|title=Top Gear: Finland's Busiest Roads Revealed &#124; News Now Finland|first=News Now|last=Staff|date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
The main international passenger gateway is [[Helsinki Airport]], which handled about 17 million passengers in 2016. [[Oulu Airport]] is the second largest, whilst another [[List of airports in Finland|25 airports]] have scheduled passenger services.<ref name="finavia_pass_stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.finavia.fi/files/finavia/vuosikertomukset_pdf/Finavia_vsk_2008_GB_LR.pdf |title=Airport operations |work=Annual report 2008 |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=28 July 2009 |location=Vantaa |publisher=Finavia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807205454/http://www.finavia.fi/files/finavia/vuosikertomukset_pdf/Finavia_vsk_2008_GB_LR.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref> The Helsinki Airport-based [[Finnair]], [[Blue1]], and [[Nordic Regional Airlines]], [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]] sell air services both domestically and internationally. Helsinki has an optimal location for [[great circle]] (i.e. the shortest and most efficient) routes between Western Europe and the Far East.
Despite having a low population density, the Government annually spends around €350 million to maintain the {{convert|5865|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} network of railway tracks. Rail transport is handled by the state owned [[VR Group]], which has a 5% passenger market share (out of which 80% are from urban trips in Greater Helsinki) and 25% cargo market share.<ref name="ljvr">Transport and communications ministry—Rail. For year 2009 update: [http://rhk-fi-bin.directo.fi/@Bin/a7268406c6d22495230bb875bdf04c78/1299812171/application/pdf/4036970/Finnish%20Railway%20Statistics%202010.pdf Finnish Railway Statistics 2010]. For subsequent years when available: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110712060937/http://portal.liikennevirasto.fi/sivu/www/e/fta/statistics Finnish Railway Statistics.] liikennevirasto.fi</ref> Since 12 December 2010, [[Karelian Trains]], a joint venture between [[Russian Railways]] and VR Group, has been running [[Karelian Trains Class Sm6|Alstom Pendolino]] operated high-speed services between Saint Petersburg's [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal|Finlyandsky]] and Helsinki's [[Helsinki Central railway station|Central]] railway stations. These services are branded as "Allegro" trains. The journey from Helsinki to [[Saint Petersburg]] takes only three and a half hours. A [[high-speed rail]] line is planned between [[ELSA-rata|Helsinki and Turku]], with a line from the capital to Tampere also proposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/16167-finland-earmarks-funds-for-new-rail-links-between-helsinki-turku-and-tampere.html|title=Finland earmarks funds for new rail links between Helsinki, Turku and Tampere|website=Helsinki Times|date=4 February 2019}}</ref> Helsinki opened the world's northernmost [[Helsinki Metro|metro system]] in 1982, which also serves the neighbouring city of Espoo since 2017.
The majority of international cargo shipments are handled at ports. [[Vuosaari Harbour]] in Helsinki is the largest container port in Finland; others include [[Kotka]], [[Hamina]], [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]], [[Pori]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]], and [[Oulu]]. There is passenger traffic from Helsinki and Turku, which have ferry connections to [[Tallinn]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Stockholm]] and [[Travemünde]]. The Helsinki-Tallinn route – one of the busiest passenger sea routes in the world – has also been served by a helicopter line, and the [[Helsinki-Tallinn Tunnel]] has been proposed to provide railway services between the two cities.<ref name="busiest">{{Cite web |title=The Busiest Crossing |work=Discover the Baltic |date=2009-04-24 |url= http://discoverthebaltic.com/travel/bblog.htm#280409 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326210756/http://www.discoverthebaltic.com/travel/bblog.htm |archive-date=2010-03-26 |language=en }}</ref> Largely following the example of the [[Øresund Bridge]] between [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]], the [[Kvarken Bridge]] connecting [[Umeå]] in Sweden and [[Vaasa]] in Finland to cross the Gulf of Bothnia has also been planned for decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2020-07-19-politicians-disagree-on-bridge-over-kvarken.rkOCYVt-ew.html|title=Politicians disagree on bridge over Kvarken &#124; tellerreport.com|website=www.tellerreport.com}}</ref>
=== Industry ===
{{Main|Economy of Finland}}
[[File:Oasis of the Seas.jpg|thumb|The [[Oasis of the Seas]] was built at the [[Perno shipyard]] in [[Turku]].]]
Finland rapidly industrialized after World War II, achieving GDP per capita levels comparable to that of Japan or the UK in the beginning of the 1970s. Initially, most of the economic development was based on two broad groups of export-led industries, the "metal industry" (''metalliteollisuus'') and "forest industry" (''metsäteollisuus''). The "metal industry" includes shipbuilding, metalworking, the [[automotive industry]], engineered products such as motors and [[Electronics industry|electronics]], and production of metals and alloys including [[steel]], [[copper]] and [[chromium]]. Many of the world's biggest [[cruise ship]]s, including [[MS Freedom of the Seas]] and the [[Oasis of the Seas]] have been built in Finnish shipyards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |title=Oasis of the Seas: Fast Facts |work=OasisoftheSeas.com |date=10 September 2009 |access-date=24 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220080037/http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Freedom of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center|url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/5/freedom-of-the-seas/|access-date=16 June 2020|website=royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com}}</ref> The "forest industry" includes forestry, timber, pulp and paper, and is often considered a logical development based on Finland's extensive forest resources, as 73% of the area is covered by forest. In the [[pulp and paper industry]], many major companies are based in Finland; [[Ahlstrom-Munksjö]], [[Metsä Board]], and [[UPM (company)|UPM]] are all Finnish forest-based companies with revenues exceeding €1 billion. However, in recent decades, the Finnish economy has diversified, with companies expanding into fields such as electronics ([[Nokia]]), metrology ([[Vaisala]]), petroleum ([[Neste]]), and video games ([[Rovio Entertainment]]), and is no longer dominated by the two sectors of metal and forest industry. Likewise, the structure has changed, with the service sector growing, with manufacturing declining in importance; agriculture remains a minor part. Despite this, production for export is still more prominent than in Western Europe, thus making Finland possibly more vulnerable to global economic trends.
In 2017, the Finnish economy was estimated to consist of approximately 2.7% agriculture, 28.2% manufacturing and 69.1% services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Europe :: Finland — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/|access-date=16 June 2020|website=cia.gov}}</ref> In 2019, the per-capita income of Finland was estimated to be $48,869. In 2020, Finland was ranked 20th on the [[ease of doing business index]], among 190 jurisdictions.
=== Public policy ===
{{See also|Nordic model}}
[[File:Nordiske-flag.jpg|thumb|Flags of the [[Nordic countries]] from left to right: Finland, [[Iceland]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]]]]
Finnish politicians have often emulated the Nordic model.<ref name="nordicmodel">[http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf The Nordic Model] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905212132/http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf |date=5 September 2012 }} by Torben M. Andersen, Bengt Holmström, Seppo Honkapohja, Sixten Korkman, Hans Tson Söderström, Juhana Vartiainen</ref> Nordics have been free-trading and relatively welcoming to skilled migrants for over a century, though in Finland [[immigration]] is relatively new. The level of protection in commodity trade has been low, except for agricultural products.<ref name="nordicmodel" />
Finland has top levels of economic freedom in many areas.{{clarify|date=April 2011|I have the impression that the Finnish labour market is quite flexible compared with other European countries—is this meant to be in relation to USA?}} Finland is ranked 16th in the 2008 global [[Index of Economic Freedom]] and 9th in Europe.<ref name="freedom" /> While the manufacturing sector is thriving, the OECD points out that the service sector would benefit substantially from policy improvements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kilpailuvirasto.fi/cgi-bin/suomi.cgi?sivu=uut/u-2005-3-1 |title=Kilpailuvirasto.fi |publisher=Kilpailuvirasto.fi |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
The 2007 [[International Institute for Management Development|IMD]] World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Finland 17th most [[Competitiveness|competitive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/announcing.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612031526/http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/announcing.cfm |archive-date=12 June 2007 |title=World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 |publisher=Imd.ch |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[World Economic Forum]] 2008 index ranked Finland the 6th most competitive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2007–2008 |publisher=[[World Economic Forum]] |access-date=8 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619083349/http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%2BCompetitiveness%2BReport/index.htm |archive-date=19 June 2008 }}</ref> In both indicators, Finland's performance was next to Germany, and significantly higher than most European countries. In the Business competitiveness index 2007–2008 Finland ranked third in the world.
Economists attribute much growth to reforms in the product markets. According to the OECD, only four [[EU-15]] countries have less regulated [[product market]]s (UK, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden) and only one has less regulated [[financial market]]s (Denmark). Nordic countries were pioneers in liberalizing energy, postal, and other markets in Europe.<ref name="nordicmodel" /> The legal system is clear and business bureaucracy less than most countries.<ref name="freedom">{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Finland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041208/http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Finland |archive-date=29 June 2011 |title=Finland economy |publisher=The Heritage Foundation |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Property rights are well protected and contractual agreements are strictly honoured.<ref name="freedom" /> Finland is rated the least corrupt country in the world in the [[Corruption Perceptions Index]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 – Results |publisher=Transparency.org |access-date=12 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129013918/http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ |archive-date=29 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 13th in the [[Ease of doing business index]]. This indicates exceptional ease in cross-border trading (5th), contract enforcement (7th), business closure (5th), tax payment (83rd), and low worker hardship (127th).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/economyrankings/|title=Ranking of economies – Doing Business – World Bank Group|work=doingbusiness.org}}</ref>
Finnish law [[Universal validity of collective labour agreements|forces all workers to obey the national contracts]] that are drafted every few years for each profession and seniority level. The agreement becomes universally enforceable provided that more than 50% of the employees support it, in practice by being a member of a relevant trade union. The unionization rate is high (70%), especially in the middle class ([[AKAVA]]—80%). A lack of a national agreement in an industry is considered an exception.<ref name="oecd2004" /><ref name="nordicmodel" />
=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Finland}}
[[File:Porvoon tuomiokirkko Näsinmäeltä.JPG|thumb|[[Medieval]] old town in [[Porvoo]] is one of the most popular tourist destinations in summers for those who are fascinated by the old look.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitfinland.com/article/summertown-porvoo/|title=Summertown Porvoo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://independenttravelcats.com/porvoo-finland-easy-day-trip-from-helsinki/|title=Porvoo Finland: An Easy Day Trip From Helsinki|date=5 November 2015|website=Independent Travel Cats}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelofinland.com/activities/porvoo-city-tour/|title=Porvoo City Tour &#124; Best To Do Activities in Finland - Finland Tour|website=www.travelofinland.com/}}</ref>]]
[[File:Hameenlinna.JPG|thumb|The historical [[Tavastia Castle]] (or Häme Castle) in [[Hämeenlinna]], [[Tavastia Proper]] is located close to the [[Lake Vanajavesi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visithame.fi/en/companies/|title=company|website=Visit Häme}}</ref>]]
In 2017, tourism in Finland grossed approximately €15.0 billion with a 7% increase from the previous year. Of this, €4.6 billion (30%) came from foreign tourism.<ref name="Matkailutilinpito">{{cite report|author=[[Business Finland]]|year=2019|title=Matkailutilinpito: Matkailun talous- ja työllisyysvaikutukset 2016–2017|url= https://www.businessfinland.fi/499c03/contentassets/4b07e15186484a69b62e991ed85a6c45/matkailutilinpito_2016-2017.pdf|publisher=[[Business Finland]], Visit Finland|access-date=2 April 2020|language = fi}}</ref> In 2017, there were 15.2 million overnight stays of domestic tourists and 6.7 million overnight stays of foreign tourists.<ref name="TEM"/> Much of the sudden growth can be attributed to the [[globalisation]] of the country as well as a rise in positive publicity and awareness. While Russia remains the largest market for foreign tourists, the biggest growth came from Chinese markets (35%).<ref name="TEM">{{cite web|url=https://tem.fi/en/finnish-tourism-in-numbers|title=Finnish tourism in numbers|author=[[Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Finland)]]|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Tourism contributes roughly 2.7% to Finland's GDP, making it comparable to agriculture and forestry.<ref name="Tourism_infographic"/>
[[Baltic Sea cruiseferries|Commercial cruises]] between major coastal and port cities in the Baltic region, including Helsinki, [[Turku]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Tallinn]], [[Stockholm]], and [[Travemünde]], play a significant role in the local tourism industry. There are also separate ferry connections dedicated to tourism in the vicinity of Helsinki and its region, such as the connection to the fortress island of [[Suomenlinna]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/maps-and-transport/transport/ferry/|title=Ferries|website=Helsingin kaupunki}}</ref> or the connection to the old town of [[Porvoo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msjlruneberg.fi/cruises/helsinki-porvoo/|title=Helsinki - Porvoo|website=m/s J.L. Runeberg}}</ref> By passenger counts, the [[Port of Helsinki]] is the [[World's busiest ports|busiest port in the world]] after the [[Port of Dover]] in the United Kingdom and the [[Port of Tallinn]] in Estonia.<ref name="POH">{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/6652.pdf|title=Maritime ports freight and passenger statistics|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> The [[Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport]] is the fourth busiest airport in the [[Nordic countries]] in terms of passenger numbers,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinki-airport.com/|title=Helsinki Airport (HEL)|publisher=[[Helsinki Airport]]|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> and about 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through the airport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helsinki Airport is designed for smooth travelling|url=https://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/in-brief/|publisher=Finavia|access-date=25 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004015600/http://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/in-brief/|archive-date=4 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] has the highest tourism consumption of any Finnish region.<ref name="Tourism_infographic">{{cite report|author=[[Business Finland]]|year=2019|title=Tourism as Export Infographic 2019|url=https://www.businessfinland.fi/494339/globalassets/julkaisut/visit-finland/tutkimukset/2020/2019-tourism-as-export-infographic.pdf|publisher=[[Business Finland]], Visit Finland|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Above the [[Arctic Circle]], in midwinter, there is a [[polar night]], a period when the sun does not rise for days or weeks, or even months, and correspondingly, [[midnight sun]] in the summer, with no sunset even at midnight (for up to 73 consecutive days, at the northernmost point). Lapland is so far north that the [[aurora borealis]], [[fluorescence]] in the high atmosphere due to [[solar wind]], is seen regularly in the fall, winter, and spring. Finnish Lapland is also locally regarded as the home of Saint Nicholas or [[Santa Claus]], with several theme parks, such as [[Santa Claus Village]] and [[Santa Park]] in [[Rovaniemi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Real Home of Santa Claus in Finland |url=http://www.lifeinlapland.com/articles/lapland-travel-tips/real-home-santa-korvatunturi.html|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> Other significant tourist destinations in Lapland also include [[ski resort]]s (such as [[Ylläs]], [[Levi, Finland|Levi]] and [[Ruka, Finland|Ruka]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/top-12-ski-resorts-in-finland/|title=The Top 12 Ski Resorts in Finland|first=Jessica|last=Wood|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> and [[sleigh]] rides led by either [[reindeer]] or [[Husky|huskies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://santaclausvillage.info/services/activity-services/santa-claus-reindeer-rides-safaris-rovaniemi/|title=Santa Claus Reindeer rides & excursions in Rovaniemi Lapland Finland|website=Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Finland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yllas.fi/en/activities/husky-safaris-and-reindeers.html|title=Discover the winter magic with Huskies and Reindeers|website=www.yllas.fi}}</ref>
Tourist attractions in Finland include the natural landscape found throughout the country as well as urban attractions. Finland is covered with thick [[pine]] forests, rolling hills, and lakes. Finland contains 40 [[List of national parks of Finland|national parks]] (such as the [[Koli National Park]] in [[North Karelia]]), from the Southern shores of the [[Gulf of Finland]] to the high [[fell]]s of Lapland. Outdoor activities range from [[Nordic skiing]], golf, fishing, [[yachting]], lake cruises, hiking, and [[kayaking]], among many others. [[Bird-watching]] is popular for those fond of avifauna, however hunting is also popular. [[Moose|Elk]] and [[hare]] are common game in Finland.
Finland also has urbanised regions with many cultural events and activities. The most famous [[List of tourist attractions in Helsinki|tourist attractions in Helsinki]] include the [[Helsinki Cathedral]] and the [[Suomenlinna]] sea fortress. The most well-known Finnish amusement parks include [[Linnanmäki]] in Helsinki, [[Särkänniemi]] in [[Tampere]], [[PowerPark]] in [[Kauhava]], [[Tykkimäki]] in [[Kouvola]] and [[Nokkakivi]] in [[Laukaa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trip101.com/article/theme-parks-in-finland|title=Top 6 Theme Parks And Amusement Parks In Finland|date=30 December 2019|website=Trip101}}</ref> [[St. Olaf's Castle]] (''Olavinlinna'') in [[Savonlinna]] hosts the annual [[Savonlinna Opera Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://operafestival.fi/en/|title=Home - Savonlinna Opera Festival|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> and the [[medieval]] milieus of the cities of [[Turku]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] and [[Porvoo]] also attract curious spectators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foreigner.fi/articulo/tourism/five-finnish-cities-worth-touristic-visit/20190623190002002246.html|title=5 Finnish cities that deserve a tourist visit|website=Foreigner.fi|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref>
== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Finland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Population by ethnic background in 2017<ref name="auto"/><ref name="un"/>
|label1 = Finnish
|value1 = 91.33
|color1 = #003399
|label2 = Other European
|value2 = 4.90
|color2 = #4080bf
|label3 = Asian
|value3 = 2.50
|color3 = #ff471a
|label4 = African
|value4 = 0.90
|color4 = #ffff00
|label5 = Other
|value5 = 0.37
}}
The population of Finland is currently about 5.5 million. The current [[birth rate]] is 10.42 per 1,000 residents, for a [[Total fertility rate|fertility rate]] of 1.49 children born per woman,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__kuol/?tablelist=true|title=PxWeb - Select table|website=pxnet2.stat.fi}}</ref> one of the lowest in the world, significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1. In 1887 Finland recorded its highest rate, 5.17 children born per woman.<ref>{{citation|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=FIN|title=Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries|author=Max Roser|date=2014|work=[[Our World In Data]], [[Gapminder Foundation]]|access-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205121631/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=FIN|archive-date=5 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Finland has one of the oldest populations in the world, with a median age of 42.6 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : FINLAND|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018}}</ref> Approximately half of voters are estimated to be over 50 years old.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html Tilastokeskus – Population]. Stat.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref name="populationdevelopment" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=81 |title=Median Age (Years) |publisher=GlobalHealthFacts.org |access-date=22 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403123202/http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=81 |archive-date=3 April 2013 }}</ref><ref name="pop_stat">{{cite web|date=4 June 2020|title=Finland in Figures > Population|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html|access-date=12 August 2020|website=stat.fi|publisher=Statistics Finland}}</ref> Finland has an average population density of 18 inhabitants per square kilometre. This is the third-lowest population density of any European country, behind those of Norway and [[Iceland]], and the lowest population density of any European Union member country. Finland's population has always been concentrated in the southern parts of the country, a phenomenon that became even more pronounced during 20th-century urbanisation. Two of the three largest cities in Finland are situated in the [[Greater Helsinki]] [[metropolitan area]]—Helsinki and [[Espoo]],  and some municipalities in the metropolitan area have also shown clear growth of population year after year, the most notable being [[Järvenpää]], [[Nurmijärvi]], [[Kirkkonummi]], [[Kerava]] and [[Sipoo]].<ref>[http://www.kirkkonummensanomat.fi/neo/?app=NeoDirect&com=6/159/55218/ab3d2d5ebf Kirkkonummen Sanomat: Nurmijärvi - ilmiö voimistui heinäkuussa - Kirkkonummella väkiluvun kasvu 1,2 %] (in Finnish)</ref> In the largest cities of Finland, [[Tampere]] holds the third place after Helsinki and Espoo while also Helsinki-neighbouring [[Vantaa]] is the fourth. Other cities with population over 100,000 are [[Turku]], [[Oulu]], [[Jyväskylä]], [[Kuopio]], and [[Lahti]]. On the other hand, [[Sottunga]] of the [[Åland Islands]] is the smallest municipality in Finland in terms of population ([[Luhanka]] in [[mainland Finland]]),<ref>[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tietotuotteet-ja-palvelut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)</ref> and [[Savukoski]] of [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] is sparsely populated in terms of [[population density]].<ref>[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot/kuntien-pinta-alat-ja-asukastiheydet Kuntien pinta-alat ja asukastiheydet – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)</ref>
{{As of|2019}}, there were 423,494 people with a foreign background living in Finland (7.7% of the population), most of whom are from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Somalia, Iraq and former Yugoslavia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ulkomaalaistaustaiset |publisher=Tilastokeskus |access-date= 2021-04-25 |url= https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset.html |language=fi  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Population |publisher=Statistics Finland |date=2021-04-23 |access-date=2021-04-25 |url= https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html |language=en }}</ref> The children of foreigners are not automatically given Finnish citizenship, as Finnish nationality law practices and maintain ''[[jus sanguinis]]'' policy where only children born to at least one Finnish parent are granted citizenship. If they are born in Finland and cannot get citizenship of any other country, they become citizens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Child born in Finland |publisher=Finnish Immigration Service |access-date=2021-04-25 |url= https://migri.fi/en/child-born-in-finland |language=en }}</ref> Additionally, certain persons of Finnish descent who reside in countries that were once part of [[Soviet Union]], retain the [[Right of return#Finland|right of return]], a right to establish permanent residency in the country, which would eventually entitle them to qualify for citizenship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475 |title=Finnish Directorate of Immigration |date=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110122502/http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475 |archive-date=10 November 2011 }}</ref> 387,215 people in Finland in 2018 were born in another country, representing 7% of the population. The 10 largest foreign born groups are (in order) from [[Russia]], [[Estonia]], [[Sweden]], [[Iraq]], [[Somalia]], [[China]], [[Thailand]], [[Serbia]], [[Vietnam]] and [[Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/?tablelist|title=PxWeb - Select table|website=pxnet2.stat.fi}}</ref>
Finland's immigrant population is growing. By 2035, the three largest cites in Finland are projected to have over a quarter of residents of a foreign-speaking background: in Helsinki, they are projected to form 26% of the population; in [[Espoo]], 30%; and in [[Vantaa]], 34%. The Helsinki region is projected to have 437,000 people of a foreign linguistic background, compared to 201,000 in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/uutiset/fi/kaupunginkanslia/helsingin-seudun-vieraskielinen-vaesto-yli-kaksinkertaistuu-vuoteen-2035-mennessa|title=Helsingin seudun vieraskielinen väestö yli kaksinkertaistuu vuoteen 2035 mennessä|website=Helsingin kaupunki}}</ref>
=== Language ===
{{Main|Finnish language|Finland Swedish|Languages of Finland}}
{{See also|List of municipalities of Finland in which Finnish is not the sole official language}}
[[File:Languages of Finnish municipalities (2016).svg|thumb|Municipalities of Finland: {{legend|#EEEEC1|unilingually Finnish}}{{legend|#37ABC8|bilingual with Finnish as majority language, Swedish as minority language}}{{legend|#0055D4|bilingual with Swedish as majority language, Finnish as minority language}}{{legend|#000080|unilingually Swedish}}{{legend|#800033|bilingual with Finnish as majority language, Sami as minority language}}]]
Finnish and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] are the official languages of Finland. Finnish predominates nationwide while Swedish is spoken in some coastal areas in the west and south (such as [[Raseborg]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/the-10-most-beautiful-towns-in-finland/|title=The 10 Most Beautiful Towns In Finland|first=Lani|last=Seelinger|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> [[Pargas]],<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/18417-twice-a-minority-foreign-immigration-to-swedish-speaking-communities-in-finland.html|title=Twice a minority: foreign immigration to Swedish-speaking communities in Finland|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> [[Närpes]],<ref name="auto1"/> [[Kristinestad]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/12675-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-kristinestad.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Kristinestad|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> [[Jakobstad]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/13124-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-jakobstad.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Jakobstad|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> and [[Nykarleby]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/12953-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-nykarleby.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Nykarleby|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref>) and in the autonomous region of [[Åland]], which is the only monolingual Swedish-speaking region in Finland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/info-norden/swedish-language-courses-foreigners-aland|title=Swedish language courses for foreigners in Åland &#124; Nordic cooperation|website=www.norden.org}}</ref> The [[native language]] of 87.3% of the population is Finnish,<ref name="Population according to language">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2015/vaerak_2015_2016-04-01_tau_002_en.html |title=Appendix table 2. Population according to language 1980–2015 |work=Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Population structure |access-date=27 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201900_2019_21461_net.pdf |title=Finland in Figures 2019 |work=Statistics Finland |date=June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711184650/https://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201900_2019_21461_net.pdf |archive-date=11 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> which is part of the Finnic subgroup of the Uralic languages. The language is one of only four official [[Languages of the European Union|EU languages]] not of [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin, and has no relation to the other [[North Germanic languages|national languages]] of the [[Nordic countries|Nordics]]. Conversely, Finnish is closely related to [[Estonian language|Estonian]] and [[Karelian language|Karelian]], and more distantly to [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] and the Sami languages.
Swedish is the native language of 5.2% of the population ([[Swedish-speaking Finns]]).<ref name="population-2016">[http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html Statistics Finland, Population] Retrieved on 18 October 2017.</ref> Finnish is dominant in all the country's larger cities; though Helsinki, [[Turku]] and [[Vaasa]] were once predominantly Swedish-speaking, they have undergone a language shift since the 19th century to become largely Finnish-speaking.
Swedish is a compulsory school subject and general knowledge of the language is good among non-native speakers. In 2005, a total of 47% of Finnish citizens reported the ability to speak Swedish, either as primary or a secondary language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf|title=Europeans and their languages, situation in 2005|publisher=[[European Commission]]|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> Likewise, a majority of mainland Sweden Finns are able to speak Finnish. However, most Sweden Finnish youth reported seldom using Finnish: 71% reported always or mostly speaking Swedish in social settings outside of their households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/finlandssvenska-ungdomar-talar-sallan-finska-sarskilt-pa-natet-ar-finskan-ovanlig/| title=Finlandssvenska ungdomar talar sällan finska - särskilt på nätet är finskan ovanlig|publisher=Hufvudstadsbladet|last=Piippo|first=Mikael|date=12 December 2018|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> The Finnish side of the land border with Sweden is unilingually Finnish-speaking, with a stark language divide over the [[Torne River]]: on the Swedish side, a Northern Swedish accent can be heard that is distinct from the Swedish spoken in other parts of Finland. There is a sizeable pronunciation difference between the varieties of Swedish spoken in the two countries, although their [[mutual intelligibility]] is nearly universal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infofinland.fi/sv/livet-i-finland/finska-och-svenska-spraket/det-svenska-spraket-i-finland|title=Det svenska språket i Finland|publisher=InfoFinland|language=sv|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref>
The [[Nordic countries#Languages|Nordic]] languages and [[Karelian language|Karelian]] are also specially recognized in parts of Finland.
[[Finnish Kalo language|Finnish Romani]] is spoken by some 5,000–6,000 people; Romani and [[Finnish Sign Language]] are also recognized in the constitution. There are two sign languages: Finnish Sign Language, spoken natively by 4,000–5,000 people,<ref>{{cite web |title=''Forskningscentralen för de inhemska språken—Teckenspråken i Finland'' |language=sv |url=http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=sv&s=206 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318084839/http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=sv&s=206 |archive-date=18 March 2015 }}</ref> and [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language]], spoken natively by about 150 people. [[Mishar Tatar dialect|Tatar]] is spoken by a [[Finnish Tatars|Finnish Tatar]] minority of about 800 people whose ancestors moved to Finland mainly during Russian rule from the 1870s to the 1920s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forum.hunturk.net/national-minorities-of-finland-the-tatars-2491.html |title=National Minorities of Finland, The Tatars |publisher=Forum.hunturk.net |access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>
The [[Sami languages|Sami language]] has an official status in Lapland where the Sami people predominate, numbering around 7,000<ref>According to the Finnish Population Registry Centre and the Finnish Sami parliament, the Sami population living in Finland was 7,371 in 2003. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20080306223521/http://www.samediggi.fi/vanha/suomi/toimieli/vaali/lukumaara_vuoden_2003_vaaleissa.pdf Regional division of Sami people in Finland by age in 2003] (in Finnish).</ref> and recognized as an [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous people]]. About a quarter of them speak a Sami language as their mother tongue.<ref name="Population 2006-12-31">{{cite web |url=http://tilastokeskus.fi/til/vaerak/2006/vaerak_2006_2007-03-23_tie_001_en.html |title=The population of Finland in 2006 |work=Statistics Finland |date=31 December 2006 |access-date=4 September 2007}}</ref> The Sami languages that are spoken in Finland are [[Northern Sami]], [[Inari Sami language|Inari Sami]], and [[Skolt Sami language|Skolt Sami]].{{refn|group=note|The names for Finland in its Sami languages are: {{lang|se|Suopma}} ([[Northern Sami]]), {{lang|smn|Suomâ}} ([[Inari Sami language|Inari Sami]]) and {{lang|sms|Lää'ddjânnam}} ([[Skolt Sami language|Skolt Sami]]). See [http://www.geonames.de/coufi.html Geonames.de].}}
The rights of minority groups (in particular [[Sami people#Finland|Sami]], [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish speakers]], and [[Finnish Kale|Romani people]]) are protected by the constitution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf |title=The Constitution of Finland, 17 § and 121 § |work=FINLEX Data Bank |access-date=4 September 2007}}</ref>
The largest immigrant languages are [[Russian language|Russian]] (1.5%), [[Estonian language|Estonian]] (0.9%), [[Arabic]] (0.6%), [[Somali language|Somali]] (0.4%) and [[English language|English]] (0.4%).<ref name="population-2016" /> English is studied by most pupils as a compulsory subject from the first grade (at seven years of age) in the comprehensive school (in some schools other languages can be chosen instead),<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15462-finland-s-first-graders-to-start-learning-foreign-language-in-spring-2020.html|title=Finland's first-graders to start learning foreign language in spring 2020|last=Teivainen|first=Aleksi|date=13 April 2019|work=[[Helsinki Times]]|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Yang|first=Junyi|title=Teachers' Role in Developing Healthy Self-esteem in Young Learners: A study of English language teachers in Finland|date=Spring 2018|degree=Master’s Degree Program in Early Language Education for Intercultural Communication|publisher=University of Eastern Finland|url=http://epublications.uef.fi/pub/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20180513/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20180513.pdf}}</ref> as a result of which [[Finns]]' English language skills have been significantly strengthened over several decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finlandtoday.fi/finland-places-among-the-top-four-english-speaking-countries-in-the-world/|title=Finland Places Among the Top Four English-Speaking Countries in the World|first=Tony|last=Öhberg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_ranks_sixth_in_english_skills_early_instruction_crucial/10071036|title=Finland ranks sixth in English skills, early instruction crucial|website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> German, French, Spanish and Russian can be studied as second foreign languages from the fourth grade (at 10 years of age; some schools may offer other options).<ref>{{Cite conference|last=Nuolijärvi|first=Pirkko|date=Fall 2011|title=Language education policy and practice in Finland|url=http://www.efnil.org/documents/conference-publications/london-2011/the-role-of-language-education-in-creating-a/15-Pirkko-Nuolijarvi.pdf|conference=European Federation of National Institutions for Language}}</ref>
About 93% of Finns can speak a second language.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/more_than_90_percent_of_finnish_residents_are_at_least_bilingual/10550664 |title=More than 90 percent of Finnish residents are at least bilingual |publisher=YLE |access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref> The figures in this section should be treated with caution, as they come from the official Finnish population register. People can only register one language and so bilingual or multilingual language users' language competencies are not properly included. A citizen of Finland that speaks bilingually Finnish and Swedish will often be registered as a Finnish only speaker in this system. Similarly "old domestic language" is a category applied to some languages and not others for political not linguistic reasons, for example Russian.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ling.helsinki.fi/~fkarlsso/Languages%20of%20Finland_1917-2017.pdf |title=THE LANGUAGES OF FINLAND 1917–2017 |work=Lingsoft Language Library publications |access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>
=== Largest cities ===
{{Largest cities of Finland}}
=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Finland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religions in Finland (2019)<ref name="stnin"/>
|label1 = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
|value1 = 68.72
|color1 = DodgerBlue
|label2 = Orthodox Church
|value2 = 1.10
|color2 = Orchid
|label3 = Other Christian
|value3 = 0.93
|color3 = DarkOrchid
|label4 = Other religions
|value4 = 0.76
|color4 = Chartreuse
|label5 = Unaffiliated
|value5 = 28.49
|color5 = Honeydew
}}
With 3.9 million members,<ref>[https://www.kirkontilastot.fi/viz?id=54 Seurakuntien jäsentilasto 2018] Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</ref> the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]] is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world and is also by far Finland's largest religious body; at the end of 2019, 68.7% of Finns were members of the church.<ref name="relig_stat">[http://tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html#structure Population structure] Statistics Finland</ref> The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has seen its share of the country's population declining by roughly one percent annually in recent years.<ref name="relig_stat" /> The decline has been due to both church membership resignations and falling baptism rates.<ref>[http://eroakirkosta.fi/media/none/tiedote_13_2015.html?year=2015 Eroakirkosta.fi – Kirkosta eronnut tänä vuonna 40 000 ihmistä] (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[http://www.karjalainen.fi/uutiset/uutis-alueet/kotimaa/item/108142-kastettujen-maara-romahtanut-kirkollisista-ristiaisista-luopuu-yha-useampi ''Karjalainen – Kastettujen määrä romahtanut – kirkollisista ristiäisistä luopuu yhä useampi''] 13 June 2016 (in Finnish)</ref> The second largest group, accounting for 26.3% of the population<ref name="relig_stat" /> in 2017, has no religious affiliation. The irreligious group rose quickly from just below 13% in the year 2000. A small minority belongs to the [[Finnish Orthodox Church]] (1.1%). Other [[Protestant]] denominations and the [[Catholic Church in Finland|Roman Catholic Church]] are significantly smaller, as are the [[Jewish]] and other non-Christian communities (totalling 1.6%); for example, in the Protestant trend, there are about 1,500 [[Baptists]] concentrated in the region of [[Central Finland]],<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=26| title= Baptismi| work= Uskonnot Suomessa | access-date=6 January 2021 | language=fi}}</ref> and there are only about 2,000 [[Methodism|Methodists]] who are scattered around the country.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=24| title= Metodismi| work= Uskonnot Suomessa| access-date= 6 January 2021| language= fi| archive-date= 8 January 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210108084048/http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=24| url-status= dead}}</ref> The [[Pew Research Center]] estimated the Muslim population at 2.7% in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Muslim Population Growth in Europe|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2017/11/29/europes-growing-muslim-population/|website=pewforum.org}}</ref> The main Lutheran and Orthodox churches are [[national church]]es of Finland with special roles such as in state ceremonies and schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=160099&nodeid=41800&culture=en-US |title=The Church in Finland today |author=Salla Korpela |date=May 2005 |access-date=11 January 2011 |publisher=Finland Promotion Board; Produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Communications and Culture}}</ref>
In 1869, Finland was the first Nordic country to [[disestablishment|disestablish]] its Evangelical Lutheran church by introducing the Church Act, followed by the [[Church of Sweden]] in 2000. Although the church still maintains a special relationship with the state, it is not described as a [[state religion]] in the [[Constitution of Finland|Finnish Constitution]] or other laws passed by the [[Finnish Parliament]].<ref name=FinlandConstitution>{{cite web|url=https://servat.unibe.ch/icl/fi00000_.html |title=Finland > Constitution: Chapter 1 Fundamental provisions (Section 76 The Church Act) |last=Tschentscher |first=Axel |date=27 June 2020}}</ref> Finland's state church was the Church of Sweden until 1809. As an autonomous Grand Duchy under Russia 1809–1917, Finland retained the Lutheran State Church system, and a state church separate from Sweden, later named the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, was established. It was detached from the state as a separate judicial entity when the new church law came to force in 1869. After Finland had gained independence in 1917, religious freedom was declared in the constitution of 1919 and a separate law on religious freedom in 1922. Through this arrangement, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland lost its position as a state church but gained a constitutional status as a national church alongside the Finnish Orthodox Church, whose position however is not codified in the constitution.
[[File:Catedral Luterana de Helsinki, Finlandia, 2012-08-14, DD 01.JPG|thumb|The Evangelical Lutheran [[Helsinki Cathedral]]]]
In 2016, 69.3% of Finnish children were [[Baptism|baptized]]<ref>[http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/FFEDB75916EB394AC22576CC003D875E/$FILE/Vaestonmuutokset_koko%20kirkko_2016.xlsx Lutheran church member statistics (2016)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122035/http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/FFEDB75916EB394AC22576CC003D875E/$FILE/Vaestonmuutokset_koko%20kirkko_2016.xlsx |date=15 December 2018 }} evl.fi</ref> and 82.3% were [[Confirmation (Lutheran Church)|confirmed]] in 2012 at the age of 15,<ref>[http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/8A75CE045AD09FE4C22577AE00256611/$FILE/KKH_Tilastollinen_vuosikirja2012_toiminta_lopullinen%20versio.pdf Church statistical yesrbook 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320170001/http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/8A75CE045AD09FE4C22577AE00256611/$FILE/KKH_Tilastollinen_vuosikirja2012_toiminta_lopullinen%20versio.pdf |date=20 March 2014 }} The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</ref> and over 90% of the funerals are Christian. However, the majority of Lutherans attend church only for special occasions like Christmas ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 1.8% of its members attend church services weekly.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/church_attendance_falls_religion_seen_as_private/5539349 Church Attendance Falls; Religion Seen as Private] 3 June 2012 YLE</ref> The average number of church visits per year by church members is approximately two.<ref name="state2004">{{cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35453.htm |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2004 |work=[[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] |date=15 September 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref>
According to a 2010 [[Eurobarometer]] poll, 33% of Finnish citizens responded that they "believe there is a God"; 42% answered that they "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"; and 22% that they "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".<ref name="EUROBAROMETER">{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |title=Special Eurobarometer Biotechnology |page=204 |edition=Fieldwork: January–February 2010 |date=October 2010 |access-date=16 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}</ref> According to ISSP survey data (2008), 8% consider themselves "highly religious", and 31% "moderately religious". In the same survey, 28% reported themselves as "agnostic" and 29% as "non-religious".<ref>Kimmo, Ketola et al. (2011). [http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65683/uskonto_suomalaisten_elamassa_2011.pdf?sequence=1 Uskonto suomalaisten elämässä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916015652/http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65683/uskonto_suomalaisten_elamassa_2011.pdf?sequence=1 |date=16 September 2018 }}. Tampereen yliopistopaino Oy . {{ISBN|978-951-44-8483-4}}</ref>
=== Health ===
{{Main|Healthcare in Finland}}
[[File:Meilahdensairaala2.jpg|thumb|The [[Meilahti Tower Hospital]], part of the [[Helsinki University Central Hospital]] (HUCH) in [[Töölö]], Helsinki]]
[[Life expectancy]] has increased from 71 years for men and 79 years for women in 1990 to 79 years for men and 84 years for women in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201800_2018_19693_net.pdf |title=Finland in Figures 2018 |publisher=Finnish Population Centre|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The under-five mortality rate has decreased from 51 per 1,000 live births in 1950 to 2.3 per 1,000 live births in 2017, ranking Finland's rate among the lowest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.unicef.org/country/fin/|title=Trends in Under five Mortality Rate |publisher=UNICEF|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The [[fertility rate]] in 2014 stood at 1.71 children born/per woman and has been below [[Sub-replacement fertility|the replacement rate]] of 2.1 since 1969.<ref name="stat.fi">[http://www.stat.fi/til/synt/2014/synt_2014_2015-04-14_tie_001_en.html Statistics Finland – Births 2014]. Stat.fi (14 April 2015). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> With a low birth rate women also become mothers at a later age, the mean age at first live birth being 28.6 in 2014.<ref name="stat.fi" /> A 2011 study published in ''[[The Lancet]]'' medical journal found that Finland had the lowest [[stillbirth]] rate out of 193 countries, including the UK, France and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62187-3/fulltext#article_upsell |title=Stillbirths: Where? When? Why? How to make the data count? |journal=[[The Lancet]] |access-date=6 December 2011 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62187-3 |pmid=21496911 |volume=377 |issue=9775 |pages=1448–1463|year=2011 |last1=Lawn |first1=Joy E. |last2=Blencowe |first2=Hannah |last3=Pattinson |first3=Robert |last4=Cousens |first4=Simon |last5=Kumar |first5=Rajesh |last6=Ibiebele |first6=Ibinabo |last7=Gardosi |first7=Jason |last8=Day |first8=Louise T. |last9=Stanton |first9=Cynthia |hdl=2263/16343 |s2cid=14278260 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
There has been a slight increase or no change in welfare and health inequalities between population groups in the 21st century. Lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise. More than half a million Finns suffer from [[diabetes]], [[type 1 diabetes]] being globally the most common in Finland. Many children are diagnosed with [[type 2 diabetes]]. The number of [[musculoskeletal disease]]s and [[cancer]]s are increasing, although the cancer prognosis has improved. Allergies and dementia are also growing health problems in Finland. One of the most common reasons for work disability are due to mental disorders, in particular [[Major depressive disorder|depression]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=6511570&name=DLFE-26813.pdf |title=Health care in Finland |publisher=STM |access-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317183526/http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=6511570&name=DLFE-26813.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2015 }}</ref> Treatment for depression has improved and as a result the historically high suicide rates have declined to 13 per 100 000 in 2017, closer to the North European average.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/eurostat_falling_suicide_rate_in_finland_nears_european_average/10324113|title=Eurostat: Falling suicide rate in Finland nears European average |publisher=YLE|access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> Suicide rates are still among the highest among developed countries in the OECD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.MHSUICIDEASDR?lang=en|title=GHO {{!}} By category {{!}} Suicide rate estimates, age-standardized - Estimates by country|website=WHO|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref>
There are 307 residents for each doctor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_terveys_en.html |title=Health (2004) |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> About 19% of health care is funded directly by households and 77% by taxation.
In April 2012, Finland was ranked 2nd in Gross National Happiness in a report published by The Earth Institute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakblog.net/2012/04/pakistan-ranked-85th-happiest-nation-in.html |title=World Happiness report |year=2012 |access-date=7 April 2012}}</ref> Since 2012, Finland has every time ranked at least in the top 5 of world's happiest countries in the annual [[World Happiness Report]] by the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/|title=World Happiness Report 2017|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2016/HR-V1_web.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2016 {{pipe}} Volume I (page 22)|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2012/World_Happiness_Report_2012.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2012 (page 30) |access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> as well as ranking as the happiest country in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2018/|title=World Happiness Report 2018|access-date=21 May 2018|date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
=== Education and science ===
{{Main|Education in Finland}}
{{See also|List of universities in Finland|List of schools in Finland}}
[[File:Oodi July 2019 2.jpg|thumb|[[Helsinki Central Library Oodi]] was chosen as the best new [[public library]] in the world in 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2019/5654132/helsinki-central-library-oodi-finland/|title=World's Greatest Places: Helsinki Central Library Oodi|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref>]]
[[File:Helsinki University of Technology auditorium.jpg|thumb|Auditorium in [[Aalto University]]'s main building, designed by [[Alvar Aalto]]]]
[[File:Itä-Suomen yliopiston kirjasto - Kuopion kampuskirjasto - Snellmania - Yliopistonranta 1 E - Savilahti - Kuopio - 2.jpg|thumb|The library of the [[University of Eastern Finland]] in Snellmania, the [[Kuopio]] campus of the university]]
[[File:Torvisen kansakoulu 1924-26.jpg|thumb|Pupils at the school of Torvinen in [[Sodankylä]], Finland, in the 1920s]]
Most pre-tertiary education is arranged at municipal level. Even though many or most schools were started as private schools, today only around 3 percent of students are enrolled in private schools (mostly specialist language and international schools), much less than in Sweden and most other developed countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/047DN/047_NL_EN.pdf |title=Summary sheets on education systems in Europe |publisher=Eurydice.org |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910005807/http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/047DN/047_NL_EN.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref> Pre-school education is rare compared with other EU countries and formal education is usually started at the age of 7. Primary school takes normally six years and lower secondary school three years. Most schools are managed by municipal officials.
The flexible curriculum is set by the [[Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland)|Ministry of Education and Culture]] and the Education Board. Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16. After lower secondary school, graduates may either enter the workforce directly, or apply to trade schools or [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasiums]] (upper secondary schools). Trade schools offer a [[vocational education]]: approximately 40% of an age group choose this path after the lower secondary school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/worldtvetdatabase1.php?ct=FIN |title=Vocational Education in Finland |date=18 November 2013 |access-date=9 May 2014 |author=UNESCO-UNEVOC}}</ref> Academically oriented gymnasiums have higher entrance requirements and specifically prepare for [[Abitur]] and tertiary education. Graduation from either formally qualifies for tertiary education.
In tertiary education, two mostly separate and non-interoperating sectors are found: the profession-oriented polytechnics and the research-oriented universities. Education is free and living expenses are to a large extent financed by the government through [[student benefit]]s. There are 15 universities and 24 Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scholarshipsineurope.com/list-of-university-in-finland/ |title=List of University in Finland |website=scholarshipsineurope.com |access-date=4 August 2018|date=July 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studyinfinland.fi/where_to_study/universities_of_applied_sciences |title=Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland |website=studyinfinland.fi |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808092603/http://studyinfinland.fi/where_to_study/universities_of_applied_sciences |archive-date=8 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[University of Helsinki]] is ranked 75th in the Top University Ranking of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university/258/university-of-helsinki |title=Top University Ranking of 2010: University of Helsinki |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102111112/http://topuniversities.com/university/258/university-of-helsinki |archive-date=2 January 2010 }}</ref> The [[World Economic Forum]] ranks Finland's tertiary education No. 1 in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2013-14.pdf |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014 |access-date=9 May 2014 |author=World Economic Forum |page=36|author-link=World Economic Forum }}</ref> Around 33% of residents have a tertiary degree, similar to Nordics and more than in most other OECD countries except Canada (44%), United States (38%) and Japan (37%).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2006/art_2006-07-06_001.html |title=Tilastokeskus.fi |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> The proportion of foreign students is 3% of all tertiary enrollments, one of the lowest in OECD, while in advanced programs it is 7.3%, still below OECD average 16.5%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/24/52/39315711.pdf|title=Education at Glance 2007: Finland|publisher=OECD}}</ref> Other reputable universities of Finland include [[Aalto University]] in [[Espoo]], both [[University of Turku]] and [[Åbo Akademi University]] in [[Turku]], [[University of Jyväskylä]], [[University of Oulu]], [[LUT University]] in [[Lappeenranta]] and [[Lahti]], [[University of Eastern Finland]] in [[Kuopio]] and [[Joensuu]], and [[Tampere University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.study.eu/best-universities/finland|title=The top 9 best universities in Finland: 2021 rankings|website=www.study.eu}}</ref>
More than 30% of tertiary graduates are in science-related fields. Forest improvement, materials research, environmental sciences, neural networks, low-temperature physics, brain research, biotechnology, genetic technology, and communications showcase fields of study where Finnish researchers have had a significant impact.<ref name="innovation">{{cite web|author=Kari Sipilä |title=A country that innovates |url=http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=99637 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707031053/http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=99637 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |work=Virtual Finland |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs / Department for Communication and Culture / Unit for Promotion and Publications / Embassy and Consulates General of Finland in China |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Finland has a long tradition of adult education, and by the 1980s nearly one million Finns were receiving some kind of instruction each year. Forty percent of them did so for professional reasons. Adult education appeared in a number of forms, such as secondary evening schools, civic and workers' institutes, study centres, vocational course centres, and folk high schools. Study centres allowed groups to follow study plans of their own making, with educational and financial assistance provided by the state. [[Folk high school]]s are a distinctly Nordic institution. Originating in Denmark in the 19th century, folk high schools became common throughout the region. Adults of all ages could stay at them for several weeks and take courses in subjects that ranged from handicrafts to economics.<ref name="LOC" />
Finland is highly productive in scientific research. In 2005, Finland had the fourth most scientific publications per capita of the OECD countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.research.fi/en/performance/scientific_publication.html |title=Scientific publication—Finnish science and technology Information Service |language=fi |publisher=Research.fi |date=15 November 2007 |access-date=3 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113085004/http://www.research.fi/en/performance/scientific_publication.html |archive-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> In 2007, 1,801 patents were filed in Finland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.research.fi/en/performance/patents/patents_with%20numbers |title=Patents with numbers—Finnish science and technology Information Service |language=fi |publisher=Research.fi |date=8 December 2009 |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011194752/http://www.research.fi/en/performance/patents/patents_with%20numbers |archive-date=11 October 2009 }}</ref>
In addition, 38 percent of Finland's population has a university or [[college degree]], which is among the highest percentages in the world.<ref>Sauter, Michael B. (24 September 2012) [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world.html;_ylt=AlaWy8IcyeBaviKi7_.WJyhE6odG;_ylu=X3oDMTJrY2d2NGZyBG1pdANDeFMgRmluYW5jaWFsbHkgRml0IEFydGljbGUgQXJ0aWNsZSBCb2R5IFByb2QEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNjdGVoaXJqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDY2IyOTRhMGEtYmY2OS0zYTdlLThlYTUtZWFlNTU3YWI1ZTc3BHBzdGNhdANleGNsdXNpdmVzfGZpbmFuY2lhbGx5Zml0BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3?page=1 The Most Educated Countries in the World] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820025707/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world.html;_ylt=AlaWy8IcyeBaviKi7_.WJyhE6odG;_ylu=X3oDMTJrY2d2NGZyBG1pdANDeFMgRmluYW5jaWFsbHkgRml0IEFydGljbGUgQXJ0aWNsZSBCb2R5IFByb2QEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNjdGVoaXJqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDY2IyOTRhMGEtYmY2OS0zYTdlLThlYTUtZWFlNTU3YWI1ZTc3BHBzdGNhdANleGNsdXNpdmVzfGZpbmFuY2lhbGx5Zml0BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3?page=1 |date=20 August 2016 }}. Finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>[http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/27/and-the-worlds-most-educated-country-is/ And the World's Most Educated Country Is...]. Newsfeed.time.com (27 September 2012). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In 2010 a new law was enacted considering the universities, which defined that there are 16 of them as they were excluded from the public sector to be autonomous legal and financial entities, however enjoying special status in the legislation.<ref>[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2009/20090558 . finlex.fi]; ''Yliopistolaki 558/2009 – Säädökset alkuperäisinä – FINLEX''. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> As result many former state institutions were driven to collect funding from private sector contributions and partnerships. The change caused deep rooted discussions among the academic circles.<ref>[http://teivo.net/2013/08/08/edu-schizo/ Educational Schizophrenia in Finland |Teivo Teivainen]. Teivo.net (8 August 2013). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
English language is important in Finnish education. There are a number of degree programs that are taught in English, which attracts thousands of degree and exchange students every year.
In December 2017 the [[OECD]] reported that Finnish fathers spend an average of eight minutes a day more with their school-aged children than mothers do.<ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Bremner |title=Finland is the first country where fathers do most of the childcare |work=[[The Times]] |date=9 December 2017 |page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/04/finland-only-country-world-dad-more-time-kids-moms |title=Finland: the only country where fathers spend more time with kids than mothers |access-date=23 December 2017 |date=4 October 2017 |newspaper= The Guardian}}</ref>
== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Finland}}
=== Sauna ===
{{Main|Finnish sauna}}
[[File:Smoke Sauna (395139052).jpg|thumb|A [[smoke sauna]] in [[Ruka, Finland|Ruka]], [[Kuusamo]]]]
The Finns' love for [[Finnish sauna|sauna]]s is generally associated with Finnish cultural tradition in the world. Sauna is a type of dry steam bath practiced widely in Finland, which is especially evident in the strong tradition around [[Midsummer]] and [[Christmas]]. In Finland, the sauna has been a traditional cure or part of the treatment for many different diseases, thanks to the heat, which why the sauna has been a very [[Hygiene|hygienic]] place. There is an old Finnish saying: ''"Jos sauna, terva ja viina ei auta, on tauti kuolemaksi."'' ("If sauna, [[tar]] and [[Liquor|booze]] doesn't help you, then a disease is deadly").<ref>[https://www.potilaanlaakarilehti.fi/uutiset/sauna-viina-ja-terva/ Sauna, viina ja terva – Potilaan Lääkärilehti] (in Finnish)</ref> The word is of Proto-Finnish origin (found in Finnic and Sámi languages) dating back 7,000 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sauna – A Finnish national institution |last1=Helamaa |first1=Erkki |last2=Pentikäinen |first2=Juha |work=Virtual Finland |date=November 2001 |url= http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26074 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209130410/http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26074 |archive-date=2008-02-09 |language=en }}</ref> Steam baths have been part of European tradition elsewhere as well, but the sauna has survived best in Finland, in addition to Sweden, the [[Baltic states|Baltic States]], Russia, Norway, and parts of the United States and Canada. Moreover, nearly all Finnish houses have either their own sauna or in multistory apartment houses, a timeshare sauna. Public saunas were previously common, but the tradition has declined when saunas have been built nearly everywhere (private homes, municipal swimming halls, hotels, corporate headquarters, gyms, etc.). At one time, the [[World Sauna Championships]] were held in [[Heinola]], Finland, but the death of a Russian competitor in 2010 finally stopped organizing the competitions as too dangerous.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/08/sauna-championship-russian-dead Sauna contest leaves Russian dead and champion Finn in hospital] - ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref>
The [[Finnish sauna culture]] was inscribed on the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists]] at the 17 December 2020 meeting of the [[UNESCO]] Intergovernmental Committee [[Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage|for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage]]. As authorized by the state, the [[Finnish Heritage Agency]] commits, together with Finnish sauna communities and promoters of the sauna culture, to safeguard the vitality of the sauna tradition and to highlight its importance as part of customs and wellbeing.<ref>{{cite web| title= Sauna culture in Finland |url= https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/sauna-culture-in-finland-01596 |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title= Finnish sauna culture steams up UNESCO Heritage List |url= https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_sauna_culture_steams_up_unesco_heritage_list/11703917 |publisher=[[YLE]] |date=17 December 2020|access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>
=== Literature ===
{{Main|Finnish literature}}
[[File:Mikael Agricola by Albert Edelfelt.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|[[Mikael Agricola]] (1510–1557), [[List of bishops of Turku|Bishop of Turku]], a prominent Lutheran Protestant reformer and the father of the Finnish written language]]
Written Finnish could be said to have existed since [[Mikael Agricola]] translated the [[New Testament]] into Finnish during the [[Protestant Reformation]], but few notable works of literature were written until the 19th century and the beginning of a Finnish national [[Romanticism|Romantic Movement]]. This prompted [[Elias Lönnrot]] to collect Finnish and Karelian folk poetry and arrange and publish them as the ''[[Kalevala]]'', the Finnish [[national epic]]. The era saw a rise of poets and novelists who wrote in Finnish, notably [[Aleksis Kivi]] (''[[The Seven Brothers]]''), [[Minna Canth]] (''[[Anna Liisa]]''), [[Eino Leino]] (''{{ill|Helkavirsiä|fi}}''), [[Johannes Linnankoski]] (''[[The Song of the Blood-Red Flower]]'') and [[Juhani Aho]] (''[[The Railroad (novel)|The Railroad]]'' and ''[[Juha (novel)|Juha]]''). Many writers of the national awakening wrote in Swedish, such as the national poet [[J. L. Runeberg]] (''[[The Tales of Ensign Stål]]'') and [[Zachris Topelius]] (''[[The Tomten in Åbo Castle]]'').
After Finland became independent, there was a rise of [[Modernist literature|modernist writers]], most famously the Finnish-speaking [[Mika Waltari]] and Swedish-speaking [[Edith Södergran]]. [[Frans Eemil Sillanpää]] was awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] in 1939. World War II prompted a return to more national interests in comparison to a more international line of thought, characterized by [[Väinö Linna]] with his ''[[The Unknown Soldier (novel)|The Unknown Soldier]]'' and [[Under the North Star trilogy|''Under the North'' Star trilogy]]. Besides Lönnrot's ''Kalevala'' and Waltari, the Swedish-speaking [[Tove Jansson]], best known as the creator of ''[[The Moomins]]'', is the most translated Finnish writer;<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_post_honours_moomin_creator_jansson/7061316 Finnish post honours Moomin creator Jansson] - YLE News</ref> her books have been translated into more than 40 languages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/tove-jansson-and-the-moomin-story/|title=Finland's Tove Jansson and the Moomin story|date=11 March 2014|website=thisisFINLAND}}</ref> <!--Pure opinion?: Literature in modern Finland is in a healthy state.--> Popular modern writers include [[Arto Paasilinna]], [[Veikko Huovinen]], [[Antti Tuuri]], [[Ilkka Remes]], [[Kari Hotakainen]], [[Sofi Oksanen]], [[Tuomas Kyrö]], and [[Jari Tervo]], while the best novel is annually awarded the prestigious [[Finlandia Prize]].
=== Visual arts, design, and architecture ===
{{See also|Architecture of Finland|Finnish art}}
[[File:Sammon puolustus.jpg|thumb|right|[[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]], ''[[The Defense of the Sampo]]'', 1896, [[Turku Art Museum]]]]
The visual arts in Finland started to form their individual characteristics in the 19th century, when Romantic nationalism was rising in autonomic Finland. The best known of Finnish painters, [[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]], started painting in a naturalist style, but moved to national romanticism. Other notable world-famous Finnish painters include [[Magnus Enckell]], [[Pekka Halonen]], [[Eero Järnefelt]], [[Helene Schjerfbeck]] and [[Hugo Simberg]]. Finland's best-known sculptor of the 20th century was [[Wäinö Aaltonen]], remembered for his monumental [[Bust (sculpture)|busts]] and sculptures. Finns have made major contributions to [[handicraft]]s and [[industrial design]]: among the internationally renowned figures are [[Timo Sarpaneva]], [[Tapio Wirkkala]] and [[Ilmari Tapiovaara]]. Finnish architecture is famous around the world, and has contributed significantly to several styles internationally, such as [[Jugendstil]] (or [[Art Nouveau]]), [[Nordic Classicism]] and [[Functionalism (architecture)|Functionalism]]. Among the top 20th-century Finnish architects to gain international recognition are [[Eliel Saarinen]] and his son [[Eero Saarinen]]. Architect [[Alvar Aalto]] is regarded as among the most important 20th-century designers in the world;<ref>James Stevens Curl, ''Dictionary of Architecture'', Grange Books, Rochester, 2005, p. 1.</ref> he helped bring [[Functionalism (architecture)|functionalist architecture]] to Finland, but soon was a pioneer in its development towards an organic style.<ref>Sigfried Giedion, ''Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition'', Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2nd edition, 1949.</ref> Aalto is also famous for his work in furniture, lamps, textiles and [[glassware]], which were usually incorporated into his buildings.
=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Finland|Rock music in Finland|Sami music}}
[[File:Jean Sibelius, 1913.jpg|thumb|upright|The Finnish composer [[Jean Sibelius]] (1865–1957) was a significant figure in the history of [[European classical music|classical music]].]]
;Classical
Much of Finland's classical music is influenced by traditional Karelian melodies and lyrics, as comprised in the ''[[Kalevala]]''. Karelian culture is perceived as the purest expression of the [[Baltic Finns|Finnic]] myths and beliefs, less influenced by [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] influence than the [[Nordic folk dance music]] that largely replaced the kalevaic tradition. Finnish [[folk music]] has undergone a [[roots revival]] in recent decades, and has become a part of [[popular music]].
The people of northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway, the [[Sami people|Sami]], are known primarily for highly spiritual songs called [[joik]]. The same word sometimes refers to [[lavlu]] or vuelie songs, though this is technically incorrect.
The first Finnish opera was written by the German-born composer [[Fredrik Pacius]] in 1852. Pacius also wrote the music to the poem [[Maamme|''Maamme/Vårt land'' (Our Country)]], Finland's [[national anthem]]. In the 1890s Finnish nationalism based on the ''Kalevala'' spread, and [[Jean Sibelius]] became famous for his vocal symphony ''[[Kullervo (Sibelius)|Kullervo]]''. He soon received a grant to study ''runo singers'' in Karelia and continued his rise as the first prominent Finnish musician. In 1899 he composed ''[[Finlandia]]'', which played its important role in Finland gaining independence. He remains one of Finland's most popular national figures and is a symbol of the nation. Another one of the most significant and internationally best-known Finnish-born classical composers long before Sibelius was [[Bernhard Crusell]].<ref>See {{cite web|url=http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Crusell_Contemp.htm|title=Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838)|last=Asiado|first=Tel|work=Mozart Forum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708192751/http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Crusell_Contemp.htm |archive-date=8 July 2009|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref>
;Modern
[[File:Apocalyptica1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Perttu Kivilaakso]] of [[Apocalyptica]]]]
''Iskelmä'' (coined directly from the German word ''[[Schlager]]'', meaning "hit") is a traditional Finnish word for a light popular song.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suomalainen iskelmä |last=Kaivanto |first=Petri |work=Pomus.net |access-date=18 July 2020 |url= http://pomus.net/kehityslinjat/suomalaineniskelma |language=fi }}</ref> Finnish popular music also includes various kinds of [[dance music]]; [[Tango music|tango]], a style of [[Music of Argentina|Argentine music]], is also popular.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explaining the Finnish love of tango |author=C.G. |work=The Economist |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=18 July 2020 |url= https://www.economist.com/prospero/2017/10/11/explaining-the-finnish-love-of-tango }}</ref> The light music in Swedish-speaking areas has more influences from Sweden. Modern Finnish popular music includes a number of prominent rock bands, [[jazz]] musicians, [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] performers, dance music acts, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2014|title=Don't mess with Finnish jazz|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/dont-mess-with-finnish-jazz/|access-date=1 September 2020|website=thisisFINLAND|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=September 2020}} Also, at least a couple of Finnish [[polka]]s are known worldwide, such as ''[[Säkkijärven polkka]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/how-the-finns-stopped-the-soviets-with-this-polka-song/|title=How the Finns stopped the Soviets with this polka song|date=6 August 2020}}</ref> and ''[[Ievan polkka]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musicfinland.com/en/news/finnish-jenkka-song-took-over-japans-department-stores|title=Finnish jenkka song took over Japan's department stores|website=Music Finland}}</ref>
During the early 1960s, the first significant wave of Finnish rock groups emerged, playing [[instrumental rock]] inspired by groups such as [[The Shadows]]. Around 1964, [[Beatlemania]] arrived in Finland, resulting in further development of the local rock scene. During the late 1960s and '70s, Finnish rock musicians increasingly wrote their own music instead of translating international hits into Finnish. During the decade, some [[progressive rock]] groups such as [[Tasavallan Presidentti]] and [[Wigwam (Finnish band)|Wigwam]] gained respect abroad but failed to make a commercial breakthrough outside Finland. This was also the fate of the [[rock and roll]] group [[Hurriganes]]. The Finnish punk scene produced some internationally acknowledged names including [[Terveet Kädet]] in the 1980s. [[Hanoi Rocks]] was a pioneering 1980s [[glam rock]] act that inspired the American [[hard rock]] group [[Guns N' Roses]], among others.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304587704577333813382925678|title=Guns N' Roses Can Agree on at Least One Thing: This Finnish Saxophonist Rocks |last=Shah|first=Neil|date=15 April 2012|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref>
Many Finnish metal bands have gained international recognition; Finland has been often called the "Promised Land of Heavy Metal", because there are more than 50 metal Bands for every 100,000 inhabitants – more than any other nation in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/finnish-metropolises-vie-to-win-capital-of-metal/|title=Finnish metropolises vie to win Capital of Metal|date=8 May 2018|website=thisisFINLAND}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famouscampaigns.com/2019/07/finlands-stage-worlds-first-heavy-metal-knitting-championship/|title=Finland stage world's first heavy metal knitting championship|first=Famous|last=Campaigns}}</ref>
=== Cinema and television ===
{{Main|Cinema of Finland|Television in Finland}}
{{See also|Lists of Finnish films}}
[[File:Edvin-Laine-Matti-Kassila-1955.jpg|thumb|upright|The Finnish filmmakers [[Edvin Laine]] and [[Matti Kassila]] in 1955]]
In the film industry, notable directors include brothers [[Mika Kaurismäki|Mika]] and [[Aki Kaurismäki]], [[Dome Karukoski]], [[Antti Jokinen]], [[Jalmari Helander]], [[Mauritz Stiller]], [[Edvin Laine]], [[Teuvo Tulio]], [[Spede Pasanen]], and Hollywood film director and producer [[Renny Harlin]]. Internationally well-known Finnish actors and actresses include [[Jasper Pääkkönen]], [[Peter Franzén]], [[Laura Birn]], [[Irina Björklund]], [[Samuli Edelmann]], [[Krista Kosonen]], [[Ville Virtanen (actor)|Ville Virtanen]] and [[Joonas Suotamo]]. Around twelve feature films are made each year.<ref name="Media moves">{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162833&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=Media moves |work=ThisisFINLAND ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501141049/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162833&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=1 May 2011 }}</ref>
One of the most internationally successful Finnish films are ''[[The White Reindeer]]'', directed by [[Erik Blomberg]] in 1952, which won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film]] in 1956, five years after its limited release in the [[United States]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/best-foreign-film-506.html |title=List of Winners – Golden Globes Best Foreign Film |access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sundholm|first1=John|last2=Thorsen|first2=Isak|last3=Andersson|first3=Lars Gustaf|last4=Hedling|first4=Olof|last5=Iversen|first5=Gunnar|last6=Møller|first6=Birgir Thor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QktG6a4YnQYC&q=1957+golden+globe+best+foreign+film+white+reindeer&pg=PA390 |title= Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Cinema (Google eBook) |access-date=12 December 2013|date = 20 September 2012| page=389 et seq|isbn = 978-0-8108-7899-0}}</ref> ''[[The Man Without a Past]]'', directed by [[Aki Kaurismäki]] in 2002, which was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] in 2002 and won the [[Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)|Grand Prix]] at the [[2002 Cannes Film Festival]];<ref>{{cite web|last=Fauth|first=Jurgen|url=http://worldfilm.about.com/od/scandinavianfilm/fr/manwithoutpast.htm|title=The Man Without a Past|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906125603/http://worldfilm.about.com/od/scandinavianfilm/fr/manwithoutpast.htm |archive-date=6 September 2015|work=[[About.com]]|access-date=5 February 2008}}</ref> and ''[[The Fencer]]'', directed by [[Klaus Härö]] in 2015, which was nominated for the [[73rd Golden Globe Awards#Film|73rd Golden Globe Awards]] in the Best Foreign Language Film category as a Finnish/German/Estonian co-production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/fencer|title=The Fencer|website=www.goldenglobes.com}}</ref>
In Finland, the most significant films include ''[[The Unknown Soldier (1955 film)|The Unknown Soldier]]'', directed by [[Edvin Laine]] in 1955, which is shown on television every [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_independence_day_galas_protests_and_war_memories/7671639|title=Finnish Independence Day: Galas, protests and war memories|website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> ''[[Here, Beneath the North Star]]'' from 1968, also directed by Laine, which includes the Finnish Civil War from the perspective of the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red Guards]], is also one of the most significant works in Finnish history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lfq.salisbury.edu/_issues/48_1/agreeing_on_history_adaptation_as_restorative_truth_in_finnish_reconciliation.html|title=Agreeing on History Adaptation as Restorative Truth in Finnish Reconciliation, Mads Larsen, Literature Film Quarterly|website=lfq.salisbury.edu}}</ref> A 1960 [[Crime film|crime]] [[comedy film]] ''[[Inspector Palmu's Mistake (film)|Inspector Palmu's Mistake]]'', directed by [[Matti Kassila]], was voted in 2012 the best Finnish film of all time by Finnish film critics and journalists in a poll organized by [[Yle Uutiset]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kriitikot_valitsivat_kaikkien_aikojen_parhaan_kotimaisen_elokuvan/6372726 | title=Kriitikot valitsivat kaikkien aikojen parhaan kotimaisen elokuvan | publisher=Yle Uutiset | date=12 November 2012 | access-date=9 May 2014 | author=Sundqvist, Janne | language=fi}}</ref> but the 1984 comedy film ''[[Uuno Turhapuro in the Army]]'', the ninth film in the [[Uuno Turhapuro|''Uuno Turhapuro'' film series]], remains Finland's most seen domestic film made since 1968 by Finnish audience.<ref>[https://sketsi.net/uuno-turhapuro-armeijan-leivissa-elokuvat/ Uuno armeijan leivissä ja muut Turhapuro elokuvat] (in Finnish)</ref>
Although Finland's television offerings are largely known for their domestic [[Drama (film and television)|dramas]], such as the long-running [[soap opera]] series ''[[Salatut elämät]]'',<ref>Juha Suoranta & Hanna Lehtimäki: Children in the Information Society: The Case of Finland (New Literacies and Digital Epistemologies). Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers, 2004. {{ISBN|978-0-8204-6829-7}}.</ref><ref>Elisabeth Eide & Kaarina Nikunen: Media in Motion: Cultural Complexity and Migration in the Nordic Region (Research in Migration and Ethnic Relations). Routledge, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-4094-0446-0}}.</ref> there are also internationally known drama series, such as ''{{ill|Syke (TV series)|fi|Syke (televisiosarja)|lt=Syke}}'' and ''[[Bordertown (Finnish TV series)|Bordertown]]''.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9433336 YLE: Syke, Sorjonen ja Suomi Love myyvät maailmalla, mutta Presidentti ei maistunut kriitikoille] (in Finnish)</ref> One of Finland's most internationally successful TV shows are the backpacking travel documentary series ''[[Madventures (Finnish TV program)|Madventures]]'' and the reality TV show ''[[The Dudesons]]''.
=== Media and communications ===
{{See also|Telecommunications in Finland|List of newspapers in Finland}}
[[File:Linus Torvalds.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Linus Torvalds]], the Finnish [[Software engineering|software engineer]] best known for creating the popular [[Open-source software|open-source]] [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] [[Linux]]]]
<!--Press freedom does not necessarily require wealth: Due to Finland's being one of the world's wealthiest countries and-->Thanks to its emphasis on transparency and equal rights, Finland's press has been rated the freest in the world.<ref>[http://www.newseum.org/news/2011/05/world-press-freedom.html 2010 Freedom of the Press Survey] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105114819/http://newseum.org/news/2011/05/world-press-freedom.html |date=5 November 2011}} (retrieved 4 May 2011).</ref>
Today, there are around 200 newspapers, 320 popular magazines, 2,100 professional magazines, 67 commercial radio stations, three [[digital radio]] channels and one nationwide and five national [[Public broadcasting|public service radio channels]].
Each year, around 12,000 book titles are published and 12 million records are sold.<ref name="Media moves" />
[[Sanoma]] publishes the newspapers ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' (its circulation of 412,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Circulation Statistics |url=http://www.levikintarkastus.fi/english/statistics.php |publisher=The Finnish Audit Bureau of Circulations (Levikintarkastus Oy) |access-date=25 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601160935/http://www.levikintarkastus.fi/english/statistics.php |archive-date=1 June 2009 }}</ref> making it the largest) and ''[[Aamulehti]]'', the [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'', the commerce-oriented ''[[Taloussanomat]]'' and the television channel [[Nelonen]]. The other major publisher [[Alma Media]] publishes over thirty magazines, including the tabloid ''[[Iltalehti]]'' and commerce-oriented ''[[Kauppalehti]]''. Worldwide, Finns, along with other Nordic peoples and the Japanese, spend the most time reading newspapers.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Press Trends: Newspapers Still Reach More Than Internet |url=http://www.wan-ifra.org/press-releases/2011/10/12/world-press-trends-newspapers-still-reach-more-than-internet |publisher=World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-date=23 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123093454/http://www.wan-ifra.org/press-releases/2011/10/12/world-press-trends-newspapers-still-reach-more-than-internet |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Yle]], the Finnish Broadcasting Company, operates five television channels and thirteen radio channels in both national languages. Yle is funded through a mandatory television license and fees for private broadcasters. All TV channels are broadcast [[Digital television|digitally]], both terrestrially and on cable. The commercial television channel [[MTV3]] and commercial radio channel [[Radio Nova (Finland)|Radio Nova]] are owned by [[Nordic Broadcasting]] ([[Bonnier Group|Bonnier]] and [[Proventus]]).
In regards to telecommunication infrastructure, Finland is the highest ranked country in the World Economic Forum's [[Network Readiness Index]] (NRI) – an indicator for determining the development level of a country's information and communication technologies. Finland ranked 1st overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, unchanged from the year before.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GITR/2014/GITR_OverallRanking_2014.pdf |title=NRI Overall Ranking 2014 |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=28 June 2014}}</ref> This is shown in its penetration throughout the country's population. Around 79% of the population use the Internet (2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/til/sutivi/2007/sutivi_2007_2007-09-28_tie_001_en.html |title=Internet used by 79 per cent of the population at the beginning of 2007|work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 December 2007}}</ref> Finland had around 1.52 million broadband Internet connections by the end of June 2007 or around 287 per 1,000 inhabitants.<ref name="FICORA">{{cite web |url=http://www.ficora.fi/attachments/englanti/5ruZDB5VP/Files/CurrentFile/Market_review_2_2007.pdf |title=Market Review 2/2007 |work=Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) |date=31 August 2007 |access-date=4 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925220234/http://www.ficora.fi/attachments/englanti/5ruZDB5VP/Files/CurrentFile/Market_review_2_2007.pdf |archive-date=25 September 2007 }}</ref> All Finnish schools and public libraries have Internet connections and computers and most residents have a mobile phone.<ref>[http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/ajk/tiedotteet/v2006/tiedote_017_2006-09-05_en.html Information technology has become part of Finns' everyday life] (Statistics Finland).</ref>
=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Finnish cuisine}}
[[File:Karjalanpiirakka-20060227.jpg|thumb|[[Karjalanpiirakat|Karelian pasty]] (''karjalanpiirakka'') is a traditional Finnish dish made from a thin rye crust with a filling of rice. Butter, often mixed with boiled egg (eggbutter or munavoi), is spread over the hot pastries before eating.]]
Finnish cuisine is notable for generally combining traditional country fare and ''[[haute cuisine]]'' with contemporary style cooking. [[Fish (food)|Fish]] and meat play a prominent role in traditional Finnish dishes from the western part of the country, while the dishes from the eastern part have traditionally included various vegetables and [[Edible mushroom|mushrooms]]. Refugees from Karelia contributed to foods in eastern Finland. Many regions have strongly branded traditional delicacies, such as [[Tampere]] has ''[[mustamakkara]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/eat-and-drink/4311-the-black-sausage-is-the-pride-of-tampere|title=The black sausage is the pride of Tampere|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> and [[Kuopio]] has ''[[kalakukko]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/top-10-finnish-pastries-try/|title=Top 10 Finnish Pastries You Have to Try|first=Jessica|last=Wood|website=Culture Trip}}</ref>
Finnish foods often use [[wholemeal]] products ([[rye]], [[barley]], [[oat]]s) and berries (such as [[bilberry|bilberries]], [[lingonberry|lingonberries]], [[cloudberry|cloudberries]], and [[sea buckthorn]]). Milk and its derivatives like [[buttermilk]] are commonly used as food, drink, or in various recipes. Various [[turnip]]s were common in traditional cooking, but were replaced with the potato after its introduction in the 18th century.
According to the statistics, red meat consumption has risen, but still Finns eat less beef than many other nations, and more fish and poultry. This is mainly because of the high cost of meat in Finland.
Finland has the world's highest per capita consumption of [[coffee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fusiontables.google.com/DataSource?docid=1C-fn6nSe21acP0xJIO1T1x0wohqfMYCQyJjbqdk#rows:id=1|title=Google Fusion Tables|website=fusiontables.google.com}}</ref> Milk consumption is also high, at an average of about {{convert|112|litre}}, per person, per year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luke.fi/en/news/what-was-eaten-in-finland-in-2017|title=What was eaten in Finland in 2017|website=Luonnonvarakeskus}}</ref> even though 17% of the Finns are [[lactose intolerant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/5-odd-facts-finland/|title=Odd Facts about Finland|website=edunation.co|date=19 September 2017|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-date=17 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117153004/https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/5-odd-facts-finland/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Public holidays ===
{{Main|Public holidays in Finland|Flag flying days in Finland}}
There are several holidays in Finland, of which perhaps the most characteristic of Finnish culture include Christmas (''joulu''), Midsummer (''juhannus''), [[Vappu|May Day]] (''vappu'') and [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]] (''itsenäisyyspäivä''). Of these, Christmas and Midsummer are special in Finland because the actual festivities take place on eves, such as [[Christmas Eve]] (''jouluaatto'')<ref>''Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2010 to Mabon 2011'' p.64. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2010</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5JF_kT43LjcC&pg=PA202&dq=Jultomten&hl=en&ei=X5ITTePQONO2hAezpOy3Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Jultomten&f=false Festivals of Western Europe] p.202. Forgotten Books, 1973</ref> and [[Juhannus|Midsummer's Eve]] (''juhannusaatto''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/kokko.htm |title=Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura: Juhannuskokko |publisher=Finlit.fi |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031052/http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/kokko.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/koriste.htm |title=Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura: Koivunoksia ja maitoruokia |publisher=Finlit.fi |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031056/http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/koriste.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref> while Christmas Day (''joulupäivä'') and Midsummer's Day (''juhannuspäivä'') are more consecrated to rest. Other public holidays in Finland are [[New Year's Day]] (''uudenvuodenpäivä''), [[Epiphany (holiday)#Finland|Epiphany]] (''loppiainen''), [[Good Friday]] (''pitkäperjantai''), [[Easter Sunday]] (''pääsiäissunnuntai'') and [[Easter Monday]] (''pääsiäismaanantai''), [[Ascension Day]] (''helatorstai''), [[All Saints' Day]] (''pyhäinpäivä'') and [[Saint Stephen's Day#Finland|Saint Stephen's Day]] (''tapaninpäivä''). All official holidays in Finland are established by Acts of Parliament. On the other hand, ''[[laskiainen]]'' that is strongly part of the Finnish tradition is not defined as a public holiday in relation to the above-mentioned holidays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/a5ada22b-379b-4b8b-83ca-51bf6f97213c|title=Tänään on vietetty laskiaista – mutta tiedätkö, mistä päivässä on oikein kyse?|first=Samppa|last=Rautio|work=Iltalehti|date=5 March 2019|access-date=26 November 2020|language=fi}}</ref>
=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Finland}}
[[File:Finlandhockeybronze2010WinterOlympics.jpg|thumb|Finland's [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|men's national ice hockey team]] is [[IIHF World Ranking|ranked]] as one of the best in the world. The team has won three world championship titles (in 1995, 2011 and 2019) and six Olympic medals.]]
[[File:Rally Finland 2010 - EK 1 - Juha Kankkunen.jpg|thumb|right|[[Juha Kankkunen|Kankkunen]] on the Laajavuori stage of the [[2010 Rally Finland]]]]
Various sporting events are popular in Finland. [[Pesäpallo]], resembling baseball, is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular sport in terms of spectators is [[ice hockey]]. The [[2016 IIHF World Championship|Ice Hockey World Championships 2016]] final, Finland-Canada, was watched by 69% of Finnish people on TV.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://mtv.fi/sport/mm2016/uutiset/artikkeli/leijonien-mm-finaalista-kaikkien-aikojen-katsotuin-jaakiekko-ottelu-suomessa/5908282 |title = Leijonien MM-finaalista historian katsotuin jääkiekko-ottelu Suomessa!| work = mtv.fi| date = 23 May 2016| access-date = 23 May 2016}}</ref> Other popular sports include [[Track and field|athletics]], [[cross-country skiing]], [[ski jumping]], [[association football|football]], [[volleyball]] and [[basketball]].<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/a1393470059062 Valta vaihtui urheilussa: Suomalaiset arvostavat nyt enemmän futista kuin jääkiekkoa |Jalkapallo |HS]. Hs.fi (27 February 2014). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> While ice hockey is the most popular sport when it comes to attendance at games, [[association football]] is the most played team sport in terms of the number of players in the country and is also the most appreciated sport in Finland.<ref>[http://yle.fi/urheilu/jalkapallo_nousi_arvostetuimmaksi_urheilulajiksi/7113110 Jalkapallo nousi arvostetuimmaksi urheilulajiksi |Yle Urheilu]. yle.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>{{in lang|fi}} [http://www.lansivayla.fi/artikkeli/369185-jalkapallolla-eniten-harrastajia-se-lyo-latkan-hiihto-on-alamaessa Jalkapallolla eniten harrastajia – se lyö lätkän, hiihto on alamäessä |Länsiväylä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826183108/https://www.lansivayla.fi/artikkeli/369185-jalkapallolla-eniten-harrastajia-se-lyo-latkan-hiihto-on-alamaessa |date=26 August 2018 }}. Lansivayla.fi (28 February 2016). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In terms of medals and gold medals won per capita, Finland is the best performing country in Olympic history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medalspercapita.com/#medals-per-capita:all-time|title=Olympic Medals per Capita|website=medalspercapita.com}}</ref> Finland first participated as a nation in its own right at the [[Olympic Games]] in 1908, while still an autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] within the [[Russian Empire]]. At the [[1912 Summer Olympics]], great pride was taken in the three gold medals won by the original "[[Flying Finn]]" [[Hannes Kolehmainen]].
Finland was one of the most successful countries at the Olympic Games before [[World War II]]. At the [[1924 Summer Olympics]], Finland, a nation then of only 3.2 million people, came second in the medal count. In the 1920s and '30s, Finnish long-distance runners dominated the Olympics, with [[Paavo Nurmi]] winning a total of nine Olympic gold medals between 1920 and 1928 and setting 22 official world records between 1921 and 1931. Nurmi is often considered the greatest Finnish sportsman and one of the greatest athletes of all time.
For over 100 years, Finnish male and female athletes have consistently excelled at the [[javelin throw]]. The event has brought Finland nine Olympic gold medals, five world championships, five European championships, and 24 world records.
The [[1952 Summer Olympics]] were held in Helsinki. Other notable sporting events held in Finland include the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983]] and [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]].
Finland also has a notable history in [[figure skating]]. Finnish skaters have won 8 world championships and 13 junior world cups in synchronized skating, and Finland is considered one of the best countries at the sport.
Some of the most popular recreational sports and activities include [[floorball]], [[Nordic walking]], running, cycling, and skiing ([[alpine skiing]], [[cross-country skiing]], and [[ski jumping]]).
Floorball, in terms of registered players, occupies third place after football and ice hockey. According to the Finnish Floorball Federation, floorball is the most popular school, youth, club and workplace sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expat-finland.com/events/finnish_sports.html|title=Finnish Sports: Try the sports Finns love!|first=Stuart Allt Web Design, Turku|last=Finland|website=expat-finland.com}}</ref> {{as of|2016}}, the total number of licensed players reaches 57,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floorball.org/pages/EN/Finland|title=IFF|last=IFF|website=floorball.org}}</ref>
Especially since the [[2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup]], [[Finland national basketball team|Finland's national basketball team]] has received widespread public attention. More than 8,000 Finns travelled to Spain to support their team. Overall, they chartered more than 40 airplanes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014/news/Fan-power-Finn-power-The-tournament--begins--on-win |title= Fan power! Finn power! The tournament "begins" on a winning note for Dettman's team |author=FIBA |date=31 August 2014 |publisher=FIBA.com |access-date=2 November 2014}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal |Finland|Arctic}}
<!--{{Wikipedia books|Finland}}-->
* [[Bibliography of Finland]]
* [[List of Finland-related topics]]
* [[Outline of Finland]]
{{Clear}}
== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Chew, Allen F. ''The White Death: The Epic of the Soviet-Finnish Winter War'' ({{ISBN|0-87013-167-2}}).
* Engle, Eloise and Paananen, Pauri. ''The Winter War: The Soviet Attack on Finland 1939–1940'' ({{ISBN|0-8117-2433-6}}).
* ''Insight Guide: Finland'' ({{ISBN|981-4120-39-1}}).
* [[Max Jakobson|Jakobson, Max]]. ''Finland in the New Europe'' ({{ISBN|0-275-96372-1}}).
* Jutikkala, Eino; Pirinen, Kauko. ''A History of Finland'' ({{ISBN|0-88029-260-1}}).
* [[Matti Klinge|Klinge, Matti]]. ''Let Us Be Finns: Essays on History'' ({{ISBN|951-1-11180-9}}).
* Lavery, Jason. ''The History of Finland'', Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations, Greenwood Press, 2006 ({{ISBN|0-313-32837-4}}, {{ISSN|1096-2905}}).
* Lewis, Richard D. ''Finland: Cultural Lone Wolf'' ({{ISBN|1-931930-18-X}}).
* ''[[Lonely Planet]]: Finland'' ({{ISBN|1-74059-791-5}})
* Mann, Chris. ''Hitler's Arctic War: The German Campaigns in Norway, Finland, and the USSR 1940–1945'' ({{ISBN|0-312-31100-1}}).
* Rusama, Jaakko. ''Ecumenical Growth in Finland'' ({{ISBN|951-693-239-8}}).
* Singleton, Fred. ''A Short History of Finland'' ({{ISBN|0-521-64701-0}}).
* [[Jean-Jacques Subrenat|Subrenat, Jean-Jacques]]. ''Listen, there's music from the forest; a brief presentation of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival'' ({{ISBN|952-92-0564-3}}).
* Swallow, Deborah. ''Culture Shock! Finland: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette'' ({{ISBN|1-55868-592-8}}).
* [[William R. Trotter|Trotter, William R.]] ''A Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939–1940'' ({{ISBN|1-56512-249-6}}).
{{refend}}
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Finland|voy=Finland}}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/ Finland]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* {{curlie|Regional/Europe/Finland}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17288360 Finland profile] from the [[BBC News]]
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=FI Key Development Forecasts for Finland] from [[International Futures]]
* [http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2010/vaerak_2010_2011-03-18_kuv_001_en.html Population in Finland 1750–2010]
* [http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2011/vaerak_2011_2012-03-16_kuv_002_en.html Appendix figure 2. The largest groups by native language 2001 and 2011] (Statistics Finland)
* [http://findikaattori.fi/en Official statistical information about Finland] from [[Findicator]].
'''Government'''
* [http://finland.fi/ This is Finland], the official English-language online portal (administered by the Finnish [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080703233731/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/finland.htm Finland] ([[University of Colorado Boulder]] Libraries Government Publications)
'''Maps'''
* {{osmrelation-inline|54224}}
* {{wikiatlas|Finland}}
'''Travel'''
* [http://www.visitfinland.com/ Official Travel Site of Finland]
{{Finland topics}}
{{Navboxes
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{{Authority control}}
{{coord|64|N|26|E|region:FI_type:country|display=title}}
[[Category:Finland| ]]
[[Category:Northern European countries]]
[[Category:Members of the Nordic Council]]
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{{about|the Republic of Finland}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{pp-pc1|small=yes}}
{{pp-move-indef}}
{{short description|Country in Northern Europe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name    = Republic of Finland
| common_name                = Finland
| native_name                = {{ubl|{{native name|fi|Suomen tasavalta}}|{{native name|sv|Republiken Finland}}}}
| image_flag                = Flag of Finland.svg
| image_coat                = Coat of arms of Finland.svg
| national_anthem                = <br />{{native name|fi|[[Maamme]]|nolink=yes}}<br />{{native name|sv|[[Maamme|Vårt land]]|nolink=yes}}<br />({{Lang-en|"Our Land"}})<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:United States Navy Band - Maamme.ogg|center]]</div>
| image_map                = {{Switcher|[[File:EU-Finland (orthographic projection).svg|frameless]]|Show globe|[[File:EU-Finland.svg|upright=1.15|frameless]]|Show map of Europe|default=2}}
| map_caption                = {{map caption|location_color=dark green |region=Europe |region_color=dark grey |subregion=the [[European Union]] |subregion_color=green |legend=EU-Finland.svg}}
| capital                = [[Helsinki]]
| coordinates                = {{Coord|60|10|N|24|56|E|type:city}}
| largest_city                = capital
| official_languages                = [[Finnish language|Finnish]] • [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
| national_languages      = [[Finnish Sign Language|Viittomakieli]] • [[Sami languages|Sámi]] • [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language|Teckenspråk]] • [[Karelian language|Karelian]] • [[Finnish Kalo language]]
| ethnic_groups          = {{unbulleted list
|91.33% [[Finnish people|Finnish]]
|4.90% Other [[Europe]]an
|2.50% [[Asia]]n
|0.90% [[Africa]]n
|0.37% [[Demographics of Africa|Other]]
}}
| ethnic_groups_year      = 2017
| ethnic_groups_ref      = <ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_032.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 |title=032 -- Syntyperä ja taustamaa sukupuolen mukaan maakunnittain ja kunnittain 1990 - 2017| work = Tilastokeskuksen PX-Web-tietokannat | publisher = Statistics Finland|language=fi |access-date=28 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212214837/http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_032.px/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="un">{{cite web|url=http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates17.shtml|title=United Nations Population Division &#124; Department of Economic and Social Affairs|website=un.org|access-date=29 June 2018}}</ref>
| religion                = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
  |70.7% [[Christianity]]
  |—68.7% [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Lutheranism]]
  |—1.1% [[Finnish Orthodox Church|Orthodoxy]]
  |—0.9% Other [[Christians|Christian]]
  |28.5% [[Irreligion|No religion]]
  | 0.8% [[Religion in Finland|Other]]}}
| religion_year          = 2019
| religion_ref              = <ref name="stnin">{{cite web |title=Belonging to a religious community by age and sex, 2000-2019 |url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11rx.px/ |website=Tilastokeskuksen PX-Web tietokannat |publisher=Government |access-date=28 March 2020}} Note these are state religious registration numbers, people may be registered yet not practicing/believing and they may be believing/practicing but not registered.</ref>
| demonym                = {{hlist|[[Demographics of Finland|Finnish]]|[[Finns|Finn]]}}
| government_type                = [[Unitary parliamentary republic]]<ref name="Parliamentary"/>
| leader_title1                = [[President of Finland|President]]
| leader_name1                = [[Sauli Niinistö]]
| leader_title2                = [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2                = [[Sanna Marin]]
| legislature                = [[Parliament of Finland|Eduskunta/Riksdagen]]
| sovereignty_type                = [[History of Finland|Independence]]
| sovereignty_note                = from [[Russian Republic|Russia]]
| established_event1                = [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Autonomy]]
| established_date1                = 29 March 1809
| established_event2                = [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Declared]]
| established_date2                = 6 December 1917
| established_event3                = [[Finnish Civil War|Civil War]]
| established_date3                = January – May 1918
| established_event4                = [[Constitution of Finland|Constitution]]
| established_date4                = 17 July 1919
| established_event5                = [[Winter War]]
| established_date5                = 30 November 1939 – 13 March 1940
| established_event6                = [[Continuation War]]
| established_date6                = 25 June 1941 – 19 September 1944
| established_event7                = [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|Joined]] the [[European Union|EU]]
| established_date7                = 1 January 1995
| area_km2                = 338,455
| area_rank                = 65th <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi                = 130,596 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| percent_water                = 9.71 (as of 2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Surface water and surface water change|access-date=11 October 2020|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development]] (OECD)|url=https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=SURFACE_WATER#}}</ref>
| population_estimate                = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 5,536,146<ref>{{cite web|title=Birth rate showed a slight growth in 2020|url=https://www.stat.fi/til/vamuu/2020/12/vamuu_2020_12_2021-01-21_tie_001_en.html|publisher=Statistics Finland|access-date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
| population_estimate_year                = December 2020
| population_estimate_rank                = 116th
| population_label2              =
| population_data2                =
| population_density_km2                = 16
| population_density_sq_mi                = 41 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank                = 213th
| GDP_PPP                = $257 billion<ref name=imf3>{{cite web|url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2018/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=59&pr1.y=9&c=172&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a= |date=17 October 2018|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects|publisher=IMF}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year                = 2020
| GDP_PPP_rank                = 60th
| GDP_PPP_per_capita                = $49,334<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank                = 19th
| GDP_nominal                = $277 billion<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_nominal_year                = 2020
| GDP_nominal_rank                = 43rd
| GDP_nominal_per_capita                = $48,461<ref name=imf3 />
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank                = 14th
| Gini                = 26.2 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year                = 2019
| Gini_change                = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref                = <ref name=eurogini>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tessi190&plugin=1 |title=Gini coefficient of equivalised disposable income - EU-SILC survey |publisher=[[Eurostat]] |website=ec.europa.eu |access-date=27 March 2020}}</ref>
| Gini_rank                = 6th
| HDI                = 0.938<!--number only-->
| HDI_year                = 2019<!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year-->
| HDI_change                = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref name="UNHDR">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|title=Human Development Report 2020|language=en|publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]]|date=15 December 2020|access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank                = 11th
| currency                = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| currency_code                = EUR
| time_zone                = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset                = +2
| utc_offset_DST                = +3
| time_zone_DST                = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| date_format                = d.m.yyyy<ref>[http://www.kielikello.fi/index.php?mid=2&pid=11&aid=1709 Ajanilmaukset] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020033758/http://www.kielikello.fi/index.php?mid=2&pid=11&aid=1709 |date=20 October 2017 }} Kielikello 2/2006. Institute for the Languages of Finland. Retrieved 20 October 2017</ref>
| drives_on                = right
| calling_code                = [[Telephone numbers in Finland|+358]]
| cctld                = [[.fi]]<sup>a</sup>
| footnote_a                = The [[.eu]] domain is also used, as it is shared with other [[European Union]] member states.
| today                =
}}
'''Finland''' ({{lang-fi|Suomi}} {{IPA-fi|ˈsuo̯mi||fi-suomi.ogg}}; {{lang-sv|Finland}} {{IPA-sv|ˈfɪ̌nland||sv-Finland.ogg}}, {{IPA-sv|ˈfinlɑnd|langfi}}), officially the '''Republic of Finland''' ({{Lang-fi|Suomen tasavalta}}, {{Lang-sv|Republiken Finland}} {{small|({{audio|Suomi Finland.ogg|listen to all|help=no}})}}),{{refn|group=note|"Republic of Finland", or {{lang|fi|Suomen tasavalta}} in Finnish, {{lang|sv|Republiken Finland}} in Swedish, and {{lang|se|Suoma dásseváldi}} in Sami, is the long protocol name, which is however not defined by law. Legislation recognises only the short name.}} is a [[Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]]. It shares land borders with [[Sweden]] to the west, [[Russia]] to the east, [[Norway]] to the north, and is defined by the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the west, and the [[Gulf of Finland]] of the [[Baltic Sea]] across [[Estonia]] to the south. Finland covers an area of {{convert|338455|km2|mi2}}, with a population of 5.5 million. [[Helsinki]] is the country's capital and largest city, but together with the neighboring cities of [[Espoo]], [[Kauniainen]] and [[Vantaa]], it forms a larger [[metropolitan area]]. [[Finnish language|Finnish]], the [[native language]] of the [[Finns]], is among the few [[Finnic languages]] in the world. The climate varies relative to latitude, from the southern [[humid continental climate]] to the northern [[boreal climate]]. The land cover is primarily a [[boreal forest]] [[biome]], with more than 180,000 recorded [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes]].<ref name="thousand">{{cite web|last=Li|first=Leslie|date=16 April 1989|title=A Land of a Thousand Lakes|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/16/travel/a-land-of-a-thousand-lakes.html|access-date=20 September 2020|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Finland was inhabited around 9000&nbsp;BC after [[Last glacial period|the Last Glacial Period]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|isbn=978-952-495-363-4|location=Helsinki|page=23}}</ref> The [[Stone Age]] introduced several different ceramic styles and cultures. The [[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] were characterised by extensive contacts with other cultures in [[Fennoscandia]] and the [[Baltic region]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|isbn=978-952-495-363-4|location=Helsinki|page=339}}</ref> From the late 13th century, Finland gradually became an integral part of Sweden as a consequence of the [[Northern Crusades]]. In 1809, as a result of the [[Finnish War]], Finland was annexed by [[Russian Empire|Russia]] as the autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland]], during which [[Golden Age of Finnish Art|Finnish art flourished]] and the idea of [[Independence of Finland|independence]] began to take hold. In 1906, Finland became the first European state to grant [[Universal suffrage#Dates by country|universal suffrage]], and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office.<ref name="eduskunta">{{cite web |url=http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/aboutparliament/presentation/history.htx |work=eduskunta.fi |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 December 2015 |author=Parliament of Finland |title=History of the Finnish Parliament |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151206184816/http://web.eduskunta.fi/Resource.phx/parliament/aboutparliament/presentation/history.htx }}</ref><ref name="full suffrage">Finland was the first nation in the world to give all (adult) citizens full suffrage, in other words the right to vote and to run for office, in 1906. New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant all (adult) citizens the right to vote, in 1893. But women did not get the right to run for the New Zealand legislature, until 1919.</ref> [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]], the last [[Tsar]] of Russia, tried to [[Russification of Finland|russify Finland]] and terminate its political autonomy, but after the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]], Finland [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|declared independence from Russia]]. In 1918, the fledgling state was divided by the [[Finnish Civil War]]. During [[World War II]], Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] and the [[Continuation War]], and [[Nazi Germany]] in the [[Lapland War]]. After the wars, Finland lost parts of its territory, but maintained its independence.
Finland largely remained an [[Agriculture|agrarian]] country until the 1950s. After World War II, the country rapidly industrialised and developed an advanced economy, while building an extensive [[welfare state]] based on the [[Nordic model]], resulting in widespread prosperity and a high [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|per capita income]].<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2013/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=65&pr.y=7&sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=172&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a= |title=Finland |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=17 April 2013}}</ref> Finland joined the [[United Nations]] in 1955 and adopted an official policy of neutrality. Finland joined the [[OECD]] in 1969, the [[Partnership for Peace|NATO Partnership for Peace]] in 1994,<ref name="nato.int">[http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49594.htm Relations with Finland]. NATO (13 January 2016)</ref> the European Union in 1995, the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]] in 1997,<ref name="nato.int" /> and the [[Eurozone]] at its inception in 1999. Finland is a top performer in numerous [[International rankings of Finland|metrics of national performance]], including education, economic competitiveness, civil liberties, quality of life and human development.<ref name="World Audit">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/finland.htm |title=Finland: World Audit Democracy Profile |work=WorldAudit.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030113921/http://www.worldaudit.org/countries/finland.htm |archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite document|url=http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/tertiary-education-graduation-rates_20755120-table1 |title=Tertiary education graduation rates—Education: Key Tables from OECD |doi=10.1787/20755120-table1 |publisher=OECD iLibrary |date=14 June 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430055650/http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/tertiary-education-graduation-rates_20755120-table1 |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article3803493.ece |title=Her er verdens mest konkurransedyktige land—Makro og politikk |publisher=E24.no |date=9 September 2010 |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101014010931/http://e24.no/makro-og-politikk/article3803493.ece |archive-date=14 October 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=FI |title=The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index |publisher=Prosperity.com |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029140547/http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=FI |archive-date=29 October 2009 }}</ref> In 2015, Finland was ranked first in the World Human Capital<ref>{{cite web |url=http://reports.weforum.org/human-capital-report-2015/rankings/ |title=Human Capital Report 2015 |website=[[World Economic Forum]] |access-date=15 May 2015}}</ref> and the [[Press Freedom Index]] and as the most stable country in the world during 2011–2016 in the [[Fragile States Index]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/rankings-2016 |title=Fragile States Index 2016 |publisher=Fundforpeace.org |access-date=27 November 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204213240/http://fsi.fundforpeace.org/rankings-2016 |archive-date=4 February 2017 }}</ref> and second in the [[Global Gender Gap Report]].<ref>{{cite book |title = Gender Gap Report |url = http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2012.pdf |publisher = WEF }}</ref> It also ranked first on the [[World Happiness Report]] report for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last= Hetter|first=Katia|date=26 March 2019|title=This is the world's happiest country in 2019|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-happiest-countries-united-nations-2019/index.html|work=[[CNN]] |access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://happiness-report.s3.amazonaws.com/2020/WHR20.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2020|editor-last=Helliwell|editor-first=John F.|editor2-last=Sachs|editor2-first=Jeffrey|editor3-last=De Neve|editor3-first=Jan-Emmanuel|date=2020|publisher=Sustainable Development Solutions Network|location=New York|access-date=30 April 2020}}</ref>
== Etymology ==
=== Finland ===
[[File:Hic Fabricatur Naves.jpg|310px|thumb|Finland on a medieval map, which is part of the ''[[Carta marina]]'' (1539)]]
{{See also|Finns#Etymology}}
The earliest written appearance of the name ''Finland'' is thought to be on three [[runestone]]s. Two were found in the Swedish province of [[Uppland]] and have the inscription ''finlonti'' ([[Runestone U 582|U 582]]). The third was found in [[Gotland]]. It has the inscription ''finlandi'' ([[Runestone G 319|G 319]]) and dates back to the 13th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arkisto.fi/ |title=National Archives Service, Finland (in English) |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> The name can be assumed to be related to the tribe name ''[[Finnish tribes|Finns]]'', which is mentioned at first known time AD 98 (disputed meaning).
=== Suomi ===
The name ''Suomi'' ({{Langnf|fi|2=Finnish|3=Finland}}) has uncertain origins, but a common etymology with ''saame'' ([[Sami people|Sami]], a [[Finno-Ugric peoples|Finno-Ugric people]] in [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]]) and ''[[Tavastia (historical province)|Häme]]'' (a province in the inland) has been suggested ([[Proto-Finnic]] [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Finnic/hämä|''*hämä'']] from older ''*šämä'', possibly loaned into Proto-Saami as [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Samic/sāmē|''*sāmē'']]), whose source could be the Proto-Baltic word [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Balto-Slavic/źemē|''*źemē'']], meaning '(low) land'.<ref>[http://www.kotikielenseura.fi/virittaja/hakemistot/jutut/1998_613.pdf kotikielenseura.fi], SUOMI (TTAVIA ETYMOLOGIOITA).</ref> According to the hypothesis, ''*sāmē'' – or ''*šämä'' directly – was loaned back into Baltic as ''*sāma-'' (compare Latvian ''sāms'' 'Finn, [[Saaremaa|Öselian]]'), from which Northern Finnic reborrowed it (perhaps via a Germanic intermediate ''*sōma-'') as ''*sōma-'' > ''*sōme-'' 'Finland'.<ref name=deSmit>{{cite web |last1=de Smit |first1=Merlijn |title=De Vanitate Etymologiae. On the origins of Suomi, Häme, Sápmi. |url=https://www.academia.edu/36858309 |website=Academia.edu |publisher=Academia, Inc. |access-date=6 September 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In addition to the close relatives of Finnish (the [[Finnic languages]]), this name is also used in the [[Baltic languages]] [[Latvian language|Latvian]] (''soms'', ''Somija'') and [[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] (''suomis'', ''Suomija''), although these are evidently later borrowings. An alternative hypothesis by Petri Kallio suggests the Proto-Indo-European word [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ǵʰmṓ|*''(dʰ)ǵʰm-on-'']] 'human' (cf. Gothic ''guma'', Latin ''homo''), being borrowed into Uralic as *''ćoma''.<ref name=deSmit />
It has been suggested that the Finnish word ''Suomi'' is first attested the [[Royal Frankish Annals]] annal for 811, which mentions a person called ''Suomi'' among the Danish delegation at a peace treaty with the Franks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/annalesregnifrancorum.html|title=Annesl Regni Francorum|website=thelatinlibrary.com|access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> If so, it is also the earliest evidence for the change from the proto-Finnic [[monophthong]] {{IPA|/oː/}} to the Finnish [[diphthong]] {{IPA|/uo/}}.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Keskiajan suomen kielen dokumentoitu sanasto ensiesiintymisvuosineen'' |last=Heikkilä |first=Mikko K. |publisher=Mediapinta |year=2017 |isbn=978-952-236-859-1 |page=44}}</ref><ref>Mikko Heikkilä, '[https://journal.fi/sananjalka/article/download/86749/45497/ Varhaissuomen äännehistorian kronologiasta]', ''Sananjalka'', 58 (2016), 136–158 (p. 147).</ref> However, some historical linguists view this interpretation of the name as unlikely, supposing another etymology or that the spelling originated as a scribal error (in which case the sound-change {{IPA|/oː/}} > {{IPA|/uo/}} could have happened much later).<ref>Petri Kallio, '[https://journal.fi/sananjalka/article/download/66609/27008 Äännehistoriaa suomen kielen  erilliskehityksen alkutaipaleilta]', ''Sananjalka'', 59 (2017), 7–24 (p. 12).</ref>
=== Concept ===
In the earliest historical sources, from the 12th and 13th centuries, the term Finland refers to the coastal region around [[Turku]] from [[Perniö]] to [[Uusikaupunki]]. This region later became known as [[Southwest Finland|Finland Proper]] in distinction from the country name Finland. Finland became a common name for the whole country in a centuries-long process that started when the [[Catholic Church]] established a missionary diocese in [[Nousiainen]] in the northern part of the province of Suomi possibly sometime in the 12th century.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Suomen museo 2003: "The Origins of Finland and Häme" |last=Salo |first=Unto |publisher=Suomen muinaismuistoyhdistys |year=2004 |isbn=978-951-9057-55-2 |location=Helsinki |page=55}}</ref>
The devastation of [[Finland during the Great Northern War]] (1714–1721) and during the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)]] caused Sweden to begin carrying out major efforts to defend its eastern half from Russia. These 18th-century experiences created a sense of a shared destiny that when put in conjunction with the unique Finnish language, led to the adoption of an expanded concept of Finland.<ref name=UppslagsFi>{{cite web |url=http://www.uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-FinlandsHistoria1700Talet |title=Finlands historia: 1700-talet |last=Lindberg |first=Johan |date=26 May 2016 |website=[[Uppslagsverket Finland]] |access-date=30 November 2017 |language=sv}}</ref>
== History ==
{{Main|History of Finland}} {{see also|Åland Islands}}
===Prehistory===
{{Main|History of Finland#Prehistory}}
[[File:Kierikki Stone Age Centre Oulu Finland 02.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of [[Stone Age]] dwelling from [[Kierikki]], Oulu]]
If the [[Archaeology|archeological]] finds from [[Wolf Cave]] are the result of [[Neanderthal|Neanderthals']] activities, the first people inhabited Finland approximately 120,000–130,000 years ago.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |isbn=978-952-495-363-4 |location=Helsinki |page=21}}</ref> The area that is now Finland was settled in, at the latest, around 8,500 BC during the [[Stone Age]] towards the end of the [[last glacial period]]. The [[Artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]] the first settlers left behind present characteristics that are shared with those found in [[Estonia]], Russia, and Norway.<ref name=":1">[http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514281411/isbn9514281411.pdf Herkules.oulu.fi]. People, material, culture and environment in the north. Proceedings of the 22nd Nordic Archaeological Conference, University of Oulu, 18–23 August 2004 Edited by Vesa-Pekka Herva Gummerus Kirjapaino</ref> The earliest people were [[hunter-gatherer]]s, using stone tools.<ref name="VF-Pre">Dr. Pirjo Uino of the National Board of Antiquities, ThisisFinland—"Prehistory: The ice recedes—man arrives". Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref>
The first pottery appeared in 5200&nbsp;BC, when the Comb Ceramic culture was introduced.<ref name="Hist-Fin-Geo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20071123072314/http://www.geocities.com/ojoronen/EARLYFIN.HTM History of Finland and the Finnish People from stone age to WWII]. Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> The arrival of the [[Corded Ware culture]] in Southern coastal Finland between 3000 and 2500 BC may have coincided with the start of agriculture.<ref name="Virt-Mino">Professor Frank Horn of the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law University of Lappland writing for Virtual Finland on [https://web.archive.org/web/20080611022047/http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26470 National Minorities of Finland]. Retrieved 24 June 2008.</ref> Even with the introduction of agriculture, hunting and fishing continued to be important parts of the subsistence economy.
In the [[Bronze Age]] permanent all-year-round cultivation and [[animal husbandry]] spread, but the cold climate phase slowed the change.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |pages=199, 210–211}}</ref> Cultures in Finland shared common features in pottery and also axes had similarities but local features existed. [[Seima-Turbino phenomenon|Seima-Turbino-phenomenon]] brought first bronze artifacts to the region and possibly also the [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric-Languages]].<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=171–178}}</ref> Commercial contacts that had so far mostly been to [[Estonia]] started to extend to Scandinavia. Domestic manufacture of bronze artifacts started 1300 BC with {{ill|Maaninka-type bronze axe|fi|Maaningan kirves|lt=Maaninka-type bronze axes}}. Bronze was imported from [[Volga River|Volga]] region and from Southern Scandinavia.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=189–190}}</ref>
[[File:Northern Europe in 814.jpg|thumb|left|[[Northern Europe]] in 814 AD]]
In the [[Iron Age]] population grew especially in Häme and Savo regions. Finland proper was the most densely populated area. Cultural contacts to the Baltics and Scandinavia became more frequent. Commercial contacts in the [[Baltic Sea]] region grew and extended during the 8th and 9th centuries.
Main exports from Finland were furs, slaves, [[castoreum]], and falcons to European courts. Imports included silk and other fabrics, jewelry, [[Ulfberht swords]], and, in lesser extent, glass. Production of iron started approximately in 500 BC.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |pages=332, 364–365}}</ref>
At the end of the 9th century, indigenous artifact culture, especially women's jewelry and weapons, had more common local features than ever before. This has been interpreted to be expressing common Finnish identity which was born from an image of common origin.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |page=269}}</ref>
[[File:Late Iron Age swords found from Finland.jpg|thumb|Late [[Iron Age]] swords found in Finland]]
An early form of [[Finnic languages]] spread to the Baltic Sea region approximately 1900 BC with the [[Seima-Turbino phenomenon|Seima-Turbino-phenomenon]]. Common Finnic language was spoken around [[Gulf of Finland]] 2000 years ago. The dialects from which the modern-day Finnish language was developed came into existence during the Iron Age.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus|year=2015|location=Helsinki|pages=211–212}}</ref> Although distantly related, the [[Sami people|Sami]] retained the hunter-gatherer lifestyle longer than the Finns. The Sami cultural identity and the [[Sami languages|Sami language]] have survived in Lapland, the northernmost province, but the Sami have been displaced or assimilated elsewhere.
The 12th and 13th centuries were a violent time in the northern Baltic Sea. The [[Livonian Crusade]] was ongoing and the [[Finnish tribes]] such as the [[Tavastians]] and [[Karelia (historical province of Finland)|Karelians]] were in [[Early Finnish wars|frequent conflicts]] with [[Republic of Novgorod|Novgorod]] and with each other. Also, during the 12th and 13th centuries several crusades from the Catholic realms of the Baltic Sea area were made against the Finnish tribes. According to historical sources, [[Danes]] waged at least three crusades to Finland, in 1187 or slightly earlier,<ref name=":3">{{cite book| author = Kurt Villads Jensen| title = Ristiretket| publisher = Turun Historiallinen Yhdistys| year = 2019| pages = 126–127}}</ref> in 1191 and in 1202,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Muinaisuutemme jäljet|author1=Georg Haggren|author2=Petri Halinen|author3=Mika Lavento|author4=Sami Raninen|author5=Anna Wessman|publisher=Gaudeamus |year=2015 |location=Helsinki |page=380}}</ref> and [[Swedes]], possibly the so-called [[Second Swedish Crusade|second crusade to Finland]], in 1249 against [[Tavastians]] and the [[Third Swedish Crusade|third crusade to Finland]] in 1293 against the Karelians. The so-called [[First Swedish Crusade|first crusade to Finland]], possibly in 1155, is most likely an unreal event. Also, it is possible that Germans made violent conversion of Finnish pagans in the 13th century.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Ruotsin itämaa'' |last=Tarkiainen |first=Kari |publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |location=Helsinki |page=88}}</ref> According to a papal letter from 1241, the king of Norway was also fighting against "nearby pagans" at that time.<ref>{{Cite book |title=''Suomen varhaiskeskiajan lähteitä'' |last=Compiled by Martti Linna |publisher=Historian aitta |year=1989 |page=69}}</ref>
=== Swedish era ===
{{Main|Finland under Swedish rule}}
{{See also|Swedish colonisation of Finland}}
[[File:Swedish Empire (1560-1815) en2.png|thumb|left|The [[Swedish Empire]] following the [[Treaty of Roskilde]] of 1658.<br />Dark green: [[Sweden proper]], as represented in the [[Riksdag of the Estates]]. Other greens: [[Dominions of Sweden|Swedish dominions]] and [[Possessions of Sweden|possessions]]]]
As a result of the crusades and the colonisation of some Finnish coastal areas with Christian [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish population]] during the Middle Ages,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruotsin itämaa|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |isbn=978-951-583-212-2 |location=Helsinki|pages=104–147}}</ref> including the old capital [[Turku]], Finland gradually became part of the kingdom of Sweden and the sphere of influence of the [[Catholic Church]]. Due to the Swedish conquest, the Finnish upper class lost its position and lands to the new Swedish and German nobility and to the Catholic Church.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ruotsin itämaa|last=Tarkiainen|first=Kari|publisher=Svenska litteratursällskapet i Finland |year=2010 |isbn=978-951-583-212-2 |location=Porvoo |pages=167–170}}</ref> In Sweden even in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was clear that Finland was a conquered country and its inhabitants could be treated arbitrarily. Swedish kings visited Finland rarely and in Swedish contemporary texts Finns were portrayed to be primitive and their language inferior.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://journal.fi/tt/article/view/57138/19187|title=Kansallinen identiteetti Ruotsissa ja Suomessa 1600-1700-luvuilla |last=Kemiläinen |first=Aira|publisher=Tieteessä tapahtuu 8/2004|year=2004|pages=25–26|language=fi}}</ref>
[[Finland Swedish|Swedish]] became the dominant language of the nobility, administration, and education; [[Finnish language|Finnish]] was chiefly a language for the [[peasant]]ry, clergy, and local [[court]]s in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas. During the [[Protestant Reformation]], the [[Finns]] gradually converted to [[Lutheranism]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europe-cities.com/en/657/finland/history/chronology|title=History of Finland. Finland chronology |publisher=Europe-cities.com |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427060720/http://www.europe-cities.com/en/657/finland/history/chronology |archive-date=27 April 2011}}</ref>
In the 16th century, [[Mikael Agricola]] published the first written works in Finnish, and Finland's current capital city, [[Helsinki]], was founded by [[Gustav I of Sweden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/409531/ |title=Ruttopuisto&nbsp;– Plague Park |publisher=Tabblo.com |access-date=3 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411112934/http://www.tabblo.com/studio/stories/view/409531/ |archive-date=11 April 2008 }}</ref> The first university in Finland, the [[Royal Academy of Turku]], was established in 1640. The Finns reaped a reputation in the [[Thirty Years' War]] (1618–1648) as a well-trained [[cavalry]]men called "[[Hakkapeliitta]]", that division excelled in sudden and savage attacks, [[raid (military)|raiding]] and [[reconnaissance]], which [[Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden|King Gustavus Adolphus]] took advantage of in his significant battles, like in the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] (1631) and the [[Battle of Rain]] (1632).<ref>{{cite book|author=Joose Olavi Hannula|year=1939|title=Hakkapeliittoja ja karoliineja – Kuvia Suomen sotahistoriasta|publisher=[[Otava (publisher)|Otava]]| location=Helsinki|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Matti J. Kankaanpää|year=2016|title=Suomalainen ratsuväki Ruotsin ajalla|publisher=T:mi Toiset aijat| location=Porvoo | page = 790 |isbn = 978-952-99106-9-4|language=fi}}</ref> Finland suffered a severe [[Great Famine of Finland (1695–1697)|famine in 1696–1697]], during which about one third of the Finnish population died,<ref name="empire"/> and a [[The plague during the Great Northern War|devastating plague a few years later]].
[[File:Suomenlinna.jpg|thumb|right|Now lying within Helsinki, [[Suomenlinna]] is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] consisting of an inhabited 18th-century sea fortress built on six islands. It is one of Finland's most popular tourist attractions.]]
In the 18th century, wars between Sweden and Russia twice led to the occupation of Finland by Russian forces, times known to the Finns as the [[Greater Wrath]] (1714–1721) and the [[Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743)|Lesser Wrath]] (1742–1743).<ref name="empire">"[http://countrystudies.us/finland/9.htm Finland and the Swedish Empire]". ''Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]]''.</ref> It is estimated that almost an entire generation of young men was lost during the Great Wrath, due mainly to the destruction of homes and farms, and to the burning of Helsinki.<ref name="Nordstrom, Scandinavia">{{cite book|last=Nordstrom|first=Byron J.|title=Scandinavia Since 1500|year=2000|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|location=Minneapolis, US|isbn=978-0-8166-2098-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/142 142]|url=https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/142}}</ref> By this time Finland was the predominant term for the whole area from the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the Russian border.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}
Two Russo-Swedish wars in twenty-five years served as reminders to the Finnish people of the precarious position between Sweden and Russia. An increasingly vocal elite in Finland soon determined that Finnish ties with Sweden were becoming too costly, and following [[Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)|Russo-Swedish War]] (1788–1790), the Finnish elite's desire to break with Sweden only heightened.<ref name="a1">{{cite book |last=Nordstrom |first=Byron J. |title=Scandinavia Since 1500 |year=2000 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis, US |isbn=978-0-8166-2098-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/143 143] |url=https://archive.org/details/scandinaviasince0000nord/page/143 }}</ref>
Even before the war there were conspiring politicians, among them [[Georg Magnus Sprengtporten|Col G. M. Sprengtporten]], who had supported [[Gustav III of Sweden#Coup d'état|Gustav III's coup in 1772]]. Sprengporten fell out with the king and resigned his commission in 1777. In the following decade he tried to secure Russian support for an autonomous Finland, and later became an adviser to Catherine II.<ref name="a1"/> In the spirit of the notion of [[Adolf Ivar Arwidsson]] (1791–1858), "we are not Swedes, we do not want to become Russians, let us therefore be Finns", the Finnish national identity started to become established.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lefaivre|first1=Liane|last2=Tzonis|first2=Alexander|title=Architecture of Regionalism in the Age of Globalization: Peaks and Valleys in the Flat World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FkYHEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT144|year=2020|publisher=Routledge|location=New York|isbn=978-1-00-022106-0|page=144}}</ref>
Notwithstanding the efforts of Finland's elite and nobility to break ties with Sweden, there was no genuine independence movement in Finland until the early 20th century. As a matter of fact, at this time the Finnish peasantry was outraged by the actions of their elite and almost exclusively supported Gustav's actions against the conspirators. (The High Court of Turku condemned Sprengtporten as a traitor c. 1793.)<ref name="a1"/> The Swedish era ended in the [[Finnish War]] in 1809.
=== Russian era ===
{{Main|Grand Duchy of Finland}}
{{See also|Diet of Porvoo|Finland's language strife|Russification of Finland}}
[[File:Pekka Halonen - Tienraivaajia Karjalassa.jpg|thumb|''Pioneers in Karelia'' (1900) by [[Pekka Halonen]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/tQFrkK28QHoc9w|title=Pioneers in Karelia - Pekka Halonen|website=Google Arts & Culture}}</ref>]]
On 29 March 1809, having been taken over by the armies of [[Alexander I of Russia]] in the [[Finnish War]], Finland became an autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] in the [[Russian Empire]] with the recognition given at [[Diet of Porvoo|the Diet]] held in [[Porvoo]]. This situation lasted until the end of 1917. In 1811, Alexander I incorporated the Russian [[Vyborg Governorate|Vyborg province]] into the Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1854, Finland became involved in Russia's involvement in the [[Crimean War]], when the British and French navies bombed the Finnish coast and Åland during the so-called [[Åland War]]. During the Russian era, the Finnish language began to gain recognition. From the 1860s onwards, a strong Finnish [[Ethnic nationalism|nationalist movement]] known as the [[Fennoman movement]] grew, and one of its most prominent leading figures of the movement was the philosopher [[J. V. Snellman]], who was strictly inclined to [[Hegelianism|Hegel's idealism]], and who pushed for the stabilization of the status of the Finnish language and its own currency, the [[Finnish markka]], in the Grand Duchy of Finland.<ref>{{cite book| author = Olavi Junnila | title = Suomen historia 5 | year = 1986 | chapter = Autonomian rakentaminen ja kansallisen nousun aika | page = 151 | location = Helsinki | publisher = Weilin + Göös | isbn = 951-35-2494-9 | language = fi }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.suomenpankki.fi/fi/media-ja-julkaisut/puheet-ja-haastattelut/2006/pankinjohtaja-sinikka-salon-puhe-snellman-ja-suomen-markka--nayttelyn-avajaisissa-suomen-pankin-rahamuseossa/ | title = Pankinjohtaja Sinikka Salon puhe Snellman ja Suomen markka -näyttelyn avajaisissa Suomen Pankin rahamuseossa | publisher = [[Bank of Finland]] | date = 10 January 2006 | access-date = 7 December 2020 | language = fi }}</ref> Milestones included the publication of what would become Finland's [[national epic]] – the ''[[Kalevala]]'' – in 1835, and the Finnish language's achieving equal legal status with Swedish in 1892.
The [[Finnish famine of 1866–1868]] killed approximately 15% of the population, making it one of the worst [[famine]]s in European history. The famine led the Russian Empire to ease financial regulations, and investment rose in following decades. Economic and political development was rapid.<ref name="equity">{{cite web |url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTRANETSOCIALDEVELOPMENT/Resources/finland.pdf |title=Growth and Equity in Finland |publisher=World Bank}}</ref> The [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) per capita was still half of that of the United States and a third of that of Britain.<ref name="equity" />
In 1906, [[universal suffrage]] was adopted in the Grand Duchy of Finland. However, the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Russian Empire soured when the Russian government made moves to restrict Finnish [[Autonomous area|autonomy]]. For example, the universal suffrage was, in practice, virtually meaningless, since the tsar did not have to approve any of the laws adopted by the Finnish parliament. Desire for independence gained ground, first among radical liberals<ref>Mickelsson, Rauli (2007). ''Suomen puolueet—Historia, muutos ja nykypäivä''. Vastapaino.</ref> and socialists. The case is known as the "[[Russification of Finland]]", driven by the last tsar of Russian Empire, [[Nicholas II of Russia|Nicholas II]].<ref>Alenius, Kari. "Russification in Estonia and Finland Before 1917," ''Faravid,'' 2004, Vol. 28, pp 181–194</ref>
=== Civil war and early independence ===
{{Main|Independence of Finland|Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic|Finnish Civil War}}
[[File:Firing squad in Lankipohja.jpg|thumb|[[White Guard (Finland)|White firing squad]] executing [[Red Guard (Finland)|Red soldiers]] after the [[Battle of Länkipohja]] (1918)]]
After the 1917 [[February Revolution]], the position of Finland as part of the Russian Empire was questioned, mainly by [[Russian Social Democratic Labour Party|Social Democrats]]. Since the head of state was the [[tsar]] of Russia, it was not clear who the chief executive of Finland was after the revolution. The Parliament, controlled by social democrats, passed the so-called [[Independence of Finland#Power act|Power Act]] to give the highest authority to the Parliament. This was rejected by the [[Russian Provisional Government]] which decided to dissolve the Parliament.<ref>[http://countrystudies.us/finland/15.htm The Finnish Civil War, Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress]. Countrystudies.us. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
New elections were conducted, in which right-wing parties won with a slim majority. Some social democrats refused to accept the result and still claimed that the dissolution of the parliament (and thus the ensuing elections) were extralegal. The two nearly equally powerful political blocs, the right-wing parties and the social democratic party, were highly antagonized.
The [[October Revolution]] in Russia changed the geopolitical situation once more. Suddenly, the right-wing parties in Finland started to reconsider their decision to block the transfer of highest executive power from the Russian government to Finland, as the [[Bolsheviks]] took power in Russia. Rather than acknowledge the authority of the Power Act of a few months earlier, the right-wing government, led by [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] [[P. E. Svinhufvud]], presented [[Finnish Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] on 4 December 1917, which was officially approved two days later, on 6 December, by the [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]]. The [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic]] (RSFSR), led by [[Vladimir Lenin]], recognized independence on 4 January 1918.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=107215&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI | title = Uudenvuodenaatto Pietarin Smolnassa – Itsenäisyyden tunnustus 31.12.1917 | publisher = Ulkoministieriö | access-date = 14 September 2020 | language = fi }}</ref>
[[File:The victory parade of the White Army 1918.jpg|thumb|Finnish military leader and statesman [[C. G. E. Mannerheim]] as [[general officer]] leading the [[White Victory Parade]] at the end of the [[Finnish Civil War]] in Helsinki, 1918]]
On 27 January 1918, the official opening shots of the [[Finnish Civil War|civil war]] were fired in two simultaneous events: on the one hand the government's beginning to disarm the Russian forces in [[Ostrobothnia (historical province)|Pohjanmaa]], and on the other, a coup launched by the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]].{{failed verification |date=December 2010 |reason=No mention of coup in the section The Finnish Civil War, which should cover this. The actions by the reds are not characterized.}} The latter gained control of southern Finland and Helsinki, but the White government continued in exile from [[Vaasa]]. This sparked the brief but bitter civil war. The [[White Guard (Finland)|Whites]], who were supported by [[German Empire|Imperial Germany]], prevailed over the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Reds]],<ref>{{cite web |title=A Country Study: Finland—The Finnish Civil War |url=http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/fitoc.html |work=Federal Research Division, [[Library of Congress]] |access-date=11 December 2008}}</ref> which were guided by [[Kullervo Manner]]'s desire to make the newly independent country a [[Finnish Socialist Workers' Republic]] (also known as "Red Finland") and  part of the RSFSR.<ref>[https://www.verkkouutiset.fi/sdpn-puheenjohtaja-halusi-punadiktaattoriksi-mutta-kuoli-stalinin-vankileirilla-69089/#cd1f8043 SDP:n puheenjohtaja halusi punadiktaattoriksi, mutta kuoli Stalinin vankileirillä] (in Finnish)</ref> After the war, tens of thousands of Reds and suspected sympathizers were interned in camps, where thousands were executed or  died from malnutrition and disease. Deep social and political enmity was sown between the Reds and Whites and would last until the [[Winter War]] and beyond. Even nowadays, the civil war remains a sensitive topic.<ref>[https://www.is.fi/paakirjoitus/art-2000005492424.html Pääkirjoitus: Kansalaissota on arka muistettava] (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-8831374 Punaisten ja valkoisten perintöä vaalitaan yhä – Suomalaiset lähettivät yli 400 muistoa vuoden 1918 sisällissodasta] (in Finnish)</ref> The civil war and the 1918–1920 activist expeditions called "[[Heimosodat|Kinship Wars]]" into Soviet Russia strained Eastern relations. At that time, the idea of a [[Greater Finland]] also emerged for the first time.<ref>{{Cite book | last=Manninen | first=Ohto | title=Suur-Suomen ääriviivat: Kysymys tulevaisuudesta ja turvallisuudesta Suomen Saksan-politiikassa 1941 | location=Helsinki | publisher=Kirjayhtymä | year=1980 | isbn= 951-26-1735-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | last=Nygård | first=Toivo | title=Suur-Suomi vai lähiheimolaisten auttaminen: Aatteellinen heimotyö itsenäisessä Suomessa | location=Helsinki | publisher=Otava | year=1978 | isbn=951-1-04963-1}}</ref>
[[File:Juho kusti paasikivi and Pehr Evind Svinhufvud 1918.jpg|thumb|[[Juho Kusti Paasikivi|J. K. Paasikivi]] and [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud|P. E. Svinhufvud]], both at the time future [[President of Finland|presidents of the Republic of Finland]], discuss the [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|Finnish monarchy project]] in 1918.]]
After [[Kingdom of Finland (1918)|a brief experimentation with monarchy]], when an attempt to make [[Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse]]  King of Finland proved to be a poor success, Finland became a [[presidential republic]], with [[K. J. Ståhlberg]] elected as its first president in 1919. As a [[liberal nationalist]] and with a legal background, Ståhlberg anchored the state in [[liberal democracy]], guarded the fragile shoot of the [[rule of law]], and embarked on internal reforms.<ref>{{cite web | first = Juha | last = Mononen | title = War or Peace for Finland? Neoclassical Realist Case Study of Finnish Foreign Policy in the Context of the Anti-Bolshevik Intervention in Russia 1918–1920 | url = https://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/80491 | date = 2 February 2009 | publisher = [[University of Tampere]] | access-date = 25 August 2020 | archive-date = 7 June 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150607035630/http://tampub.uta.fi/handle/10024/80491 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Finland was also one of the first European countries to strongly aim for [[Women's rights|equality for women]], with [[Miina Sillanpää]] serving in [[Tanner Cabinet|Väinö Tanner's cabinet]] as the first female minister in Finnish history in 1926–1927.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://finland.fi/life-society/real-bridge-builder-became-finlands-first-female-government-minister/|title=Real bridge-builder became Finland's first female government minister - thisisFINLAND|date=29 September 2017|work=thisisFINLAND|access-date=7 December 2020|language=en-US}}</ref> The Finnish–Russian border was defined in 1920 by the [[Treaty of Tartu (Finland–Russia)|Treaty of Tartu]], largely following the historic border but granting [[Pechengsky District|Pechenga]] ({{lang-fi|Petsamo}}) and its [[Barents Sea]] harbour to Finland. Finnish democracy did not experience any Soviet coup attempts and likewise survived the anti-communist [[Lapua Movement]]. Nevertheless, the relationship between Finland and the Soviet Union remained tense. Army officers were trained in France, and relations with Western Europe and Sweden were strengthened.
In 1917, the population was three million. Credit-based [[land reform]] was enacted after the civil war, increasing the proportion of the capital-owning population.<ref name="equity" /> About 70% of workers were occupied in agriculture and 10% in industry.<ref>{{cite web |author=Finland 1917–2007 |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suomi90/helmikuu_en.html |title=From slash-and-burn fields to post-industrial society—90 years of change in industrial structure |publisher=Stat.fi |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The largest export markets were the United Kingdom and Germany.
===World War II and after===
{{Main|Finland during World War II|Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|Finlandization|Early 1990s depression in Finland}}
[[File:Finnish areas ceded in 1944.png|thumb|Areas ceded by Finland to the [[Soviet Union]] after [[World War II]]. The [[Porkkala]] land lease was returned to Finland in 1956.]]
Finland fought the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[Winter War]] of 1939–1940 after the Soviet Union attacked Finland and in the [[Continuation War]] of 1941–1944, following [[Operation Barbarossa]], when Finland aligned with Germany following Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union. For 872 days, the German army, aided indirectly by Finnish forces, [[Siege of Leningrad|besieged Leningrad]], the USSR's second-largest city.<ref>Michael Jones (2013). "''[https://books.google.com/books?id=uGzfnIm97vQC&pg=PA38 Leningrad: State of Siege]''". Basic Books. p. 38. {{ISBN|0-7867-2177-4}}</ref> After Finnish resistance to [[Vyborg–Petrozavodsk offensive|a major Soviet offensive]] in June and July 1944 led to a standstill, the two sides reached an armistice. This was followed by the [[Lapland War]] of 1944–1945, when Finland fought retreating German forces in northern Finland. Perhaps the most famous war heroes during the aforementioned wars were [[Simo Häyhä]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R948DQAAQBAJ&q=simo+hayha+219+kills&pg=PT35|title=The White Sniper|first=Tapio|last=Saarelainen|date=31 October 2016|publisher=Casemate|isbn=978-1-61200-429-7|access-date=12 March 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rdIgAQAAIAAJ|title=Journal of Information Warfare|first1=Edith Cowan University School of Management Information|last1=Systems|first2=Teamlink|last2=Australia|date=12 March 2019|publisher=Teamlink Australia Pty Limited|access-date=12 March 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> [[Aarne Juutilainen]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=Marokon Kauhu|trans-title=Terror of Morocco|last=Mäkelä|first=Jukka L.|publisher=W. Söderström|location=Porvoo|language=fi|year=1969|oclc=3935082}}</ref> and [[Lauri Törni]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Cleverley|first=J. Michael|title=Born a Soldier: The Times and Life of Larry Thorne|year=2008|publisher=Booksurge|isbn=978-1-4392-1437-4|oclc=299168934}}</ref>
The treaties signed with the Soviet Union in 1947 and 1948  included Finnish obligations, restraints, and reparations, as well as further Finnish territorial concessions in addition to those in the [[Moscow Peace Treaty]] of 1940. As a result of the two wars, Finland ceded the [[Pechengsky District|Petsamo]], along with parts of [[Finnish Karelia]] and [[Salla]]. This amounted to 10% of Finland's  land area and 20% of its industrial capacity, including the ports of [[Vyborg]] (Viipuri) and the ice-free [[Liinakhamari]] (Liinahamari). Almost the whole Finnish population, some 400,000 people, [[Evacuation of Finnish Karelia|fled these areas]]. The former Finnish territory now constitutes part of Russia's [[Republic of Karelia]], [[Leningrad Oblast]], and [[Murmansk Oblast]]. Finland was never occupied by Soviet forces and it retained its independence, but at a loss of about 97,000 soldiers. The [[Finnish war reparations to the Soviet Union|war reparations demanded by the Soviet Union]] amounted to $300 million ({{Inflation|US|300|1938|fmt=c}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).
Finland rejected [[Marshall Plan|Marshall aid]], in apparent [[Finlandization|deference to Soviet desires]]. However, in the hope of preserving Finland's independence, the United States provided secret development aid and helped the Social Democratic Party.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hidden+help+from+across+the+Atlantic/1135223633788 Hidden help from across the Atlantic] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129165823/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Hidden+help+from+across+the+Atlantic/1135223633788 |date=29 January 2007 }}, Helsingin Sanomat</ref> Establishing trade with the Western powers, such as the United Kingdom, and paying reparations to the Soviet Union produced a transformation of Finland from a primarily [[agrarian economy]] to an industrialised one. [[Valmet]] was founded to create materials for war reparations. After the reparations had been paid off, Finland continued to trade with the Soviet Union in the framework of [[bilateral trade]].
[[File:Urho-Kekkonen-1975.jpg|thumb|left|[[Urho Kekkonen]], the eighth president of Finland (1956–1982)]]
In 1950, 46% of Finnish workers worked in agriculture and a third lived in urban areas.<ref name="populationdevelopment">{{cite web |author=Finland 1917–2007 |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suomi90/joulukuu_en.html |title=Population development in independent Finland—greying Baby Boomers |publisher=Stat.fi |date=5 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The new jobs in manufacturing, services, and trade quickly attracted people to the towns. The average number of births per woman declined from a [[baby boom]] peak of 3.5 in 1947 to 1.5 in 1973.<ref name="populationdevelopment" /> When baby-boomers entered the workforce, the economy did not generate jobs quickly enough, and hundreds of thousands emigrated to the more industrialized Sweden, with emigration peaking in 1969 and 1970.<ref name="populationdevelopment" /> The [[1952 Summer Olympics]] brought international visitors. Finland took part in trade liberalization in the [[World Bank]], the [[International Monetary Fund]] and the [[General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade]].
Officially claiming to be [[Neutral country|neutral]], Finland lay in the grey zone between the [[Western world|Western countries]] and the Soviet bloc. The [[Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948|YYA Treaty]] (Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance) gave the Soviet Union some leverage in Finnish domestic politics. This was extensively exploited by president [[Urho Kekkonen]] against his opponents. He maintained an effective monopoly on Soviet relations from 1956 on, which was crucial for his continued popularity. In politics, there was a tendency to avoid any policies and statements that could be interpreted as anti-Soviet. This phenomenon was given the name "[[Finlandization]]" by the West German press. During the [[Cold War]], Finland also developed into one of the centers of the [[Cold War espionage|East-West espionage]], in which both the [[KGB]] and the [[CIA]] played their parts.<ref>{{Citation|last=Ford|first=Hal|title=ESAU -LVI - ''FINLANDIZATION'' IN ACTION: HELSINKI'S EXPERIENCE WITH MOSCOW|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/esau-55.pdf|series=DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE|date=August 1972}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/eastern-approaches/2011/12/01/secret-history|title=Finland and American intelligence - Secret history|work=[[The Economist]]|date=1 December 2011|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://intelnews.org/2011/08/19/01-794/|title=Former Finnish diplomat reveals she worked for the CIA|first=Joseph|last=Fitsanakis|website=Intelnews.org|date=19 August 2011|access-date=16 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9692396|title=Naisia, autoja ja piilopirttejä – Norjalainen vakoili CIA:n laskuun kylmän sodan Suomessa|first=Satu|last=Helin|publisher=[[YLE]]|date=2 July 2017|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2019/10/14/kylman-sodan-suomalaisagentit-kasikirjoitus|title=Kylmän sodan suomalaisagentit: käsikirjoitus|first=Kai|last=Byman|work=MOT|publisher=[[YLE]]|date=14 October 2019|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005833479.html|title=Näin Neuvostoliitto vakoili Suomessa – Supo seurasi "Jakkea", joka johdatti uusille jäljille|first=Mika|last=Lehto|work=[[Ilta-Sanomat]]|date=19 September 2018|access-date=16 August 2020|language=fi}}</ref> The 1949 established [[Finnish Security Intelligence Service]] (''SUPO, Suojelupoliisi''), an operational [[Security agency|security]] authority and a police unit under the [[Ministry of the Interior (Finland)|Interior Ministry]], whose core areas of activity are [[counter-Intelligence]], [[counter-terrorism]] and [[national security]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supo.fi/en/frontpage?p_p_id=fi_yja_language_version_tool_web_portlet_LanguageVersionToolMissingNotificationPortlet&_fi_yja_language_version_tool_web_portlet_LanguageVersionToolMissingNotificationPortlet_missingLanguageVersion=1|title=Frontpage|website=Supo}}</ref> also participated in this activity in some places.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://tuomioja.org/kirjavinkit/2009/09/matti-simola-toimittanut-ratakatu-12-suojelupoliisi-1949-2009-wsoy-319-s-hameenlinna-2009/|title=Salaisen palvelun tutkimuksen haasteet|last=Tuomioja|first=Erkki|date=8 September 2009|work=Tuomioja.org|access-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024153602/https://tuomioja.org/kirjavinkit/2009/09/matti-simola-toimittanut-ratakatu-12-suojelupoliisi-1949-2009-wsoy-319-s-hameenlinna-2009/|archive-date=24 October 2017|url-status=live|language=fi-FI|trans-title=Challenges in secret service research}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10224/4054|title=The Cold War and the Politics of History|last=Rentola|first=Kimmo|publisher=Edita Publishing Ltd|year=2008|isbn=978-952-10-4637-7|editor-last=Aunesluoma|editor-first=Juhani|location=Helsinki|pages=269–289|chapter=President Urho Kekkonen of Finland and the KGB|editor-last2=Kettunen|editor-first2=Pauli|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010917/https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10224/4054|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref>
Despite close relations with the Soviet Union, Finland maintained a market economy. Various industries benefited from [[Bilateral trade|trade privileges]] with the Soviets, which explains the widespread support that pro-Soviet policies enjoyed among business interests in Finland. Economic growth was rapid in the postwar era, and by 1975 Finland's GDP per capita was the 15th-highest in the world. In the 1970s and 1980s, Finland built one of the most extensive [[welfare state]]s in the world. Finland negotiated with the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC, a predecessor of the European Union) a treaty that mostly abolished customs duties towards the EEC starting from 1977, although Finland did not fully join. In 1981, President Urho Kekkonen's failing health forced him to retire after holding office for 25 years.
[[File:Tratado de Lisboa 13 12 2007 (081).jpg|thumb|Finland joined the European Union in 1995 and signed the [[Lisbon Treaty]] in 2007.]]
Finland reacted cautiously to the collapse of the Soviet Union, but swiftly began increasing integration with the West. On 21 September 1990, Finland unilaterally declared the [[Paris Peace Treaty]] obsolete, following the German reunification decision nine days earlier.<ref>[http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=55802&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI formin.finland.fi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105213131/http://formin.finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=55802&contentlan=1&culture=fi-FI |date=5 January 2016 }}; ''Suurlähettiläs Jaakko Blomberg: Kylmän sodan päättyminen, Suomi ja Viro – Ulkoasiainministeriö: Ajankohtaista''. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
Miscalculated macroeconomic decisions, [[Finnish banking crisis of 1990s|a banking crisis]], the collapse of its largest trading partner (the Soviet Union), and a global economic downturn caused a deep [[Early 1990s depression in Finland|early 1990s recession in Finland]]. The depression bottomed out in 1993, and Finland saw steady economic growth for more than ten years.<ref>{{Citation|last=Uusitalo|first=Hannu|title=Economic Crisis and Social Policy in Finland in the 1990s|journal=Working Paper Series|url=https://www.sprc.unsw.edu.au/media/SPRCFile/dp070.pdf|series=SPRC Discussion Paper No. 70|date=October 1996|issn=1037-2741}}</ref> Like other Nordic countries, Finland decentralised its economy since the late 1980s. Financial and product market regulation were loosened. Some state enterprises have been privatized and there have been some modest tax cuts.{{Citation needed |date=August 2017}} Finland joined the [[European Union]] in 1995, and the [[Eurozone]] in 1999. Much of the late 1990s economic growth was fueled by the success of the mobile phone manufacturer [[Nokia]], which held a unique position of representing 80% of the market capitalization of the [[Helsinki Stock Exchange]].
== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Finland}}
{{See also|List of cities and towns in Finland|List of lakes of Finland|List of national parks of Finland|Environmental issues in Finland}}
[[File:Map of Finland-en.svg|thumb|upright|Topographic map of Finland]]
Lying approximately between latitudes [[60th parallel north|60°]] and [[70th parallel north|70° N]], and longitudes [[20th meridian east|20°]] and [[32nd meridian east|32° E]], Finland is one of the world's northernmost countries. Of world capitals, only [[Reykjavík]] lies more to the north than Helsinki. The distance from the southernmost point – [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]] in Uusimaa – to the northernmost – [[Nuorgam]] in Lapland – is {{convert|1160|km|mi}}.
Finland has about 168,000 lakes (of area larger than {{convert|500|m2|acre|2|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and 179,000 islands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_alue_en.html |title=Statistics Finland, Environment and Natural Resources|access-date=4 April 2013}}</ref> Its largest lake, [[Saimaa]], is the fourth largest in Europe. The [[Finnish Lakeland]] is the area with the most lakes in the country; many of the major cities in the area, most notably [[Tampere]], [[Jyväskylä]] and [[Kuopio]], are located in the immediate vicinity of the large lakes. The greatest concentration of islands is found in the southwest, in the [[Archipelago Sea]] between continental Finland and the main island of Åland.
Much of the geography of Finland is a result of the Ice Age. The glaciers were thicker and lasted longer in [[Fennoscandia]] compared with the rest of Europe. Their eroding effects have left the Finnish landscape mostly flat with few hills and fewer mountains. Its highest point, the [[Halti]] at {{convert|1324|m|ft|0}}, is found in the extreme north of Lapland at the border between Finland and [[Norway]]. The highest mountain whose peak is entirely in Finland is [[Ridnitšohkka]] at {{convert|1316|m|ft|abbr=on}}, directly adjacent to Halti.
[[File:Imatran kylpylä.jpg|thumb|There are some 187,888 [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes in Finland]] larger than 500 square metres and 75,818 [[List of islands of Finland|islands]] of over 0,5 km2 area, leading to the denomination "the land of a thousand lakes".<ref name="thousand"/>]]
The retreating glaciers have left the land with [[moraine|morainic]] deposits in formations of [[esker]]s. These are ridges of stratified gravel and sand, running northwest to southeast, where the ancient edge of the glacier once lay. Among the biggest of these are the three [[Salpausselkä]] ridges that run across southern Finland.
Having been compressed under the enormous weight of the glaciers, terrain in Finland is rising due to the [[post-glacial rebound]]. The effect is strongest around the Gulf of Bothnia, where land steadily rises about {{convert|1|cm|1|abbr=on}} a year. As a result, the old sea bottom turns little by little into dry land: the surface area of the country is expanding by about {{convert|7|km2|sqmi}} annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |title=Trends in sea level variability |work=Finnish Institute of Marine Research |date=24 August 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227172733/http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |archive-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref> Relatively speaking, Finland is rising from the sea.<ref name="EB">"Finland." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011.</ref>
The landscape is covered mostly by coniferous [[taiga]] forests and [[fen]]s, with little cultivated land. Of the total area 10% is lakes, rivers and ponds, and 78% forest. The forest consists of [[pine]], [[spruce]], [[birch]], and other species.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metla.fi/suomen-metsat/ |title=Euroopan metsäisin maa |date=2013 |website= Luke |language=fi |access-date=30 April 2016}}</ref> Finland is the largest producer of wood in Europe and among the largest in the world. The most common type of rock is [[granite]]. It is a ubiquitous part of the scenery, visible wherever there is no soil cover. Moraine or [[till]] is the most common type of soil, covered by a thin layer of [[humus]] of biological origin. [[Podzol]] profile development is seen in most forest soils except where drainage is poor. [[Gleysol]]s and peat [[bog]]s occupy poorly drained areas.
=== Biodiversity ===
{{Main|Fauna of Finland|Wildlife of Finland}}
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Finland is shared between the Arctic, central European, and northern European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Finland can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Scandinavian and Russian taiga]], [[Sarmatic mixed forests]], and [[Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287}}</ref> Taiga covers most of Finland from northern regions of southern provinces to the north of Lapland. On the southwestern coast, south of the Helsinki-[[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] line, forests are characterized by mixed forests, that are more typical in the Baltic region. In the extreme north of Finland, near the [[tree line]] and Arctic Ocean, Montane Birch forests are common. Finland had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.08/10, ranking it 109th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057}}</ref>
[[File:Ähtärin karhut 7.jpg|thumb|The [[brown bear]] (''Ursus arctos'') is Finland's national animal. It is also the largest [[carnivora]] in Finland.]]
Similarly, Finland has a diverse and extensive range of fauna. There are at least sixty native [[mammal]]ian species, 248 breeding bird species, over 70 fish species, and 11 reptile and frog species present today, many migrating from neighboring countries thousands of years ago.
Large and widely recognized wildlife mammals found in Finland are the [[brown bear]], [[gray wolf]], [[wolverine]], and [[Moose|elk]]. The brown bear, which is also nicknamed as the "king of the forest" by the Finns, is the country's official national animal,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://finland.fi/life-society/iconic-finnish-nature-symbols-stand-out/ | title=Iconic Finnish nature symbols stand out | publisher=This is Finland | access-date=24 December 2020}}</ref> which also occur on the coat of arms of the [[Satakunta]] [[Regions of Finland|region]] is a crown-headed black bear carrying a sword,<ref>Iltanen, Jussi: ''Suomen kuntavaakunat'' (2013), Karttakeskus, {{ISBN|951-593-915-1}}</ref> possibly referring to the regional capital city of [[Pori]], whose Swedish name ''Björneborg'' and the Latin name ''Arctopolis'' literally means "bear city" or "bear fortress".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Savoring Heritage: A Memphis writer explores her daughter's Finnish roots |last=Maki |first=Aisling |work=Memphis magazine |date=27 March 2020 |url= https://memphismagazine.com/travel/savoring-heritage/ }}</ref> Three of the more striking birds are the [[whooper swan]], a large European swan and the national bird of Finland; the [[Western capercaillie]], a large, black-plumaged member of the [[grouse]] family; and the [[Eurasian eagle-owl]]. The latter is considered an indicator of [[old-growth forest]] connectivity, and has been declining because of landscape fragmentation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514259904/html/x288.html |title=Nutritional and genetic adaptation of galliform birds: implications for hand-rearing and restocking |work=Oulu University Library (2000) |access-date=23 May 2008}}</ref> The most common breeding birds are the [[willow warbler]], [[common chaffinch]], and [[redwing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.fi/lintuharrastus/faq-muut.shtml#pesimalinnut |title=BirdLife Finland |work=BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. Cambridge, UK. (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12) |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> Of some seventy species of freshwater fish, the [[northern pike]], [[perch]], and others are plentiful. [[Atlantic salmon]] remains the favourite of [[Fly fishing|fly rod]] enthusiasts.
The endangered [[Saimaa ringed seal]] (''Pusa hispida saimensis''), one of only three lake seal species in the world, exists only in the [[Saimaa]] lake system of southeastern Finland, down to only 390 seals today.<ref>{{cite web |title= Saimaa Ringed Seal |url= https://wwf.fi/en/saimaaringedseal/ |access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref> Ever since the species was protected in 1955,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalparks.fi/saimaa-ringed-seal|title=Saimaa Ringed Seal|website=Nationalparks.fi}}</ref> it has become the emblem of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=SOS: Save our seals |work=this is Finland ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910195719/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=10 September 2015 }}</ref> The Saimaa ringed seal lives nowadays mainly in two Finnish national parks, [[Kolovesi National Park|Kolovesi]] and [[Linnansaari National Park|Linnansaari]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jarvisydan.com/en/Nature-Adventures/National-Parks |title=Welcome to Linnansaari and Kolovesi National Parks |date=2016 |website=Järvisydän |access-date=2016-05-01 |archive-date=26 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160926180335/http://www.jarvisydan.com/en/Nature-Adventures/National-Parks |url-status=dead }}</ref>  but strays have been seen in a much larger area, including near [[Savonlinna]]'s town centre.
=== Climate ===
{{Main|Climate of Finland}}
[[File:Finland Köppen.svg|thumb|upright|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Finland]]
The main factor influencing Finland's climate is the country's geographical position between the 60th and 70th northern parallels in the [[Eurasia]]n continent's coastal zone. In the [[Köppen climate classification]], the whole of Finland lies in the [[subarctic climate|boreal zone]], characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. Within the country, the [[temperateness]] varies considerably between the southern coastal regions and the extreme north, showing characteristics of both a [[Oceanic climate|maritime]] and a [[continental climate]]. Finland is near enough to the Atlantic Ocean to be continuously warmed by the [[Gulf Stream]]. The Gulf Stream combines with the moderating effects of the Baltic Sea and numerous inland lakes to explain the unusually warm climate compared with other regions that share the same [[latitude]], such as [[Alaska]], [[Siberia]], and southern [[Greenland]].<ref name="Finland's climate">{{cite web |title=Finland's climate |url=http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |publisher=Finnish Meteorological Institute |access-date=3 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721105549/http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Winters in southern Finland (when mean daily temperature remains below {{convert|0|°C|disp=or}}) are usually about 100 days long, and in the inland the snow typically covers the land from about late November to April, and on the coastal areas such as Helsinki, snow often covers the land from late December to late March.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://ilmasto-opas.fi/fi/ilmastonmuutos/suomen-muuttuva-ilmasto/-/artikkeli/08848977-fd1a-4e85-8389-7ecf3ca7de7d/uusimaa-merellisen-ilmaston-maakunta.html|title = The climate in Finland (finnish)|access-date = 3 January 2015}}</ref> Even in the south, the harshest winter nights can see the temperatures fall to {{convert|-30|°C}} although on coastal areas like Helsinki, temperatures below {{convert|-30|°C|0}} are rare. Climatic summers (when mean daily temperature remains above {{convert|10|°C|disp=or}}) in southern Finland last from about late May to mid-September, and in the inland, the warmest days of July can reach over {{convert|35|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> Although most of Finland lies on the [[taiga]] belt, the southernmost coastal regions are sometimes classified as [[hemiboreal]].<ref name="Havas">{{cite web|url=http://www.oulu.fi/northnature/finnish/Suomi/luma1.html|title=Pohjoiset alueet / yleiskuvaus|last=Havas|first=Paavo|language=fi|access-date=3 December 2012}}</ref>
In northern Finland, particularly in Lapland, the winters are long and cold, while the summers are relatively warm but short. The most severe winter days in Lapland can see the temperature fall down to {{convert|-45|°C}}. The winter of the north lasts for about 200 days with permanent snow cover from about mid-October to early May. Summers in the north are quite short, only two to three months, but can still see maximum daily temperatures above {{convert|25|°C}} during heat waves.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> No part of Finland has [[Arctic tundra]], but [[Alpine tundra]] can be found at the [[fell]]s Lapland.<ref name="Havas" />
The Finnish climate is suitable for cereal farming only in the southernmost regions, while the northern regions are suitable for [[animal husbandry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|title=Finland's Northern Conditions: Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture|publisher=Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland|pages=1–4|access-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407022547/http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|archive-date=7 April 2012 }}</ref>
A quarter of Finland's territory lies within the [[Arctic Circle]] and the [[midnight sun]] can be experienced for more days the farther north one travels. At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during summer, and does not rise at all for 51 days during winter.<ref name="Finland's climate" />
=== Regions ===
{{Main|Regions of Finland}}
Finland consists of 19 [[Regions of Finland|regions]], called {{lang|fi|maakunta}} in Finnish and {{lang|sv|landskap}} in Swedish. The regions are governed by regional councils which serve as forums of cooperation for the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] of a region. The main tasks of the regions are regional planning and development of enterprise and education. In addition, the public health services are usually organized on the basis of regions. Currently, the only region where a popular election is held for the council is Kainuu. Other regional councils are elected by municipal councils, each municipality sending representatives in proportion to its population.
In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, which is the responsibility of regional councils, each region has a state Employment and Economic Development Centre which is responsible for the local administration of labour, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and entrepreneurial affairs. The [[Finnish Defence Forces]] regional offices are responsible for the regional defence preparations and for the administration of conscription within the region.
Regions represent dialectal, cultural, and economic variations better than the former [[Provinces of Finland|provinces]], which were purely administrative divisions of the central government. Historically, regions are divisions of [[historical provinces of Finland]], areas which represent dialects and culture more accurately.
Six [[Regional State Administrative Agencies of Finland|Regional State Administrative Agencies]] were created by the state of Finland in 2010, each of them responsible for one of the regions called {{lang|fi|alue}} in Finnish and {{lang|sv|region}} in Swedish; in addition, Åland was designated a seventh region. These take over some of the tasks of the earlier [[Provinces of Finland]] (''lääni''/''län''), which were abolished.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |title=Tervetuloa aluehallintoviraston verkkosivuille! |publisher=State Provincial Office |language=fi |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315151138/http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |archive-date=15 March 2012 }}</ref>
{| style="with:90%"
| style="width:50%" |{{Finnish Regions|options=float:top}}
| style="width:50%" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Official English name<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/3457861/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyviä+termejä+sekä+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29/974f7fc5-1466-c667-9787-381c5bd57603/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyviä+termejä+sekä+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29.pdf|title=Suomen hallintorakenteeseen ja maakuntauudistukseen liittyviä termejä sekä maakuntien ja kuntien nimet fi-sv-en-(ru)|website=vnk.fi|pages=8–9|access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>
! Finnish name
! Swedish name
! Capital
! Regional state administrative agency
|-
| [[Lapland, Finland|Lapland]]
| '''Lapland'''
| {{lang|fi|Lappi}}
| {{lang|sv|Lappland}}
| [[Rovaniemi]]
| [[Municipalities of Lapland|Lapland]]
|-
| [[North Ostrobothnia]]
| '''North Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Österbotten}}
| [[Oulu]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kainuu]]
|'''Kainuu'''
| {{lang|fi|Kainuu}}
| {{lang|sv|Kajanaland}}
| [[Kajaani]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[North Karelia]]
| '''North Karelia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Karelen}}
| [[Joensuu]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[Northern Savonia]]
| '''North Savo'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Savo}}
| |{{lang|sv|Norra Savolax}}
| [[Kuopio]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[Southern Savonia]]
| '''South Savo'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Savo}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Savolax}}
| [[Mikkeli]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[South Ostrobothnia]]
| '''South Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Österbotten}}
| [[Seinäjoki]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Ostrobothnia]]
| '''Central Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Österbotten}}
| [[Kokkola]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Ostrobothnia (region)|Ostrobothnia]]
| '''Ostrobothnia'''
| {{lang|fi|Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Österbotten}}
| [[Vaasa]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Pirkanmaa]]
| '''Pirkanmaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Pirkanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Birkaland}}
| [[Tampere]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Finland]]
| '''Central Finland'''
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Finland}}
| [[Jyväskylä]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Satakunta (region)|Satakunta]]
| '''Satakunta'''
| {{lang|fi|Satakunta}}
| {{lang|sv|Satakunta}}
| [[Pori]]
| [[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|South-Western Finland]]
|-
| [[Southwest Finland]]
| '''Southwest Finland'''
| {{lang|fi|Varsinais-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Finland}}
| [[Turku]]
| [[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|South-Western Finland]]
|-
| [[South Karelia]]
| '''South Karelia'''
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Karelen}}
| [[Lappeenranta]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Päijänne Tavastia]]
| '''Päijät-Häme'''
| {{lang|fi|Päijät-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Päijänne-Tavastland}}
| [[Lahti]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Tavastia Proper]]
| '''Kanta-Häme'''
| {{lang|fi|Kanta-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Tavastland}}
| [[Hämeenlinna]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Uusimaa (region)|Uusimaa]]
| '''Uusimaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Uusimaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Nyland}}
| [[Helsinki]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kymenlaakso]]
| '''Kymenlaakso'''
| {{lang|fi|Kymenlaakso}}
| {{lang|sv|Kymmenedalen}}
| [[Kotka]] and [[Kouvola]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Åland Islands]]<ref name="åland_note">The role that the regional councils serve on [[Mainland Finland]] are on the Åland Islands handled by the autonomous [[Government of Åland]].</ref>
| '''Åland'''
| {{lang|fi|Ahvenanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Åland}}
| [[Mariehamn]]
| [[Municipalities of Åland|Åland]]
|}
|}
The region of [[Eastern Uusimaa|Eastern Uusimaa (Itä-Uusimaa)]] was consolidated with Uusimaa on 1 January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |title=''Valtioneuvosto päätti Uudenmaan ja Itä-Uudenmaan maakuntien yhdistämisestä'' |date=22 October 2009 |publisher=Ministry of Finance |language=fi |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084712/http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref>
=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Finland|Regions of Finland|Sub-regions of Finland|Municipalities of Finland|Historical provinces of Finland}}
The fundamental administrative divisions of the country are the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]], which may also call themselves towns or cities. They account for half of public spending. Spending is financed by municipal income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. {{As of|2021}}, there are 309 municipalities,<ref name="Suomen Kuntaliitto">{{cite web|title=Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot|url=https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot|access-date=7 March 2021|publisher=Suomen Kuntaliitto – Association of Finnish Municipalities|language=fi}}</ref> and most have fewer than 6,000 residents.
In addition to municipalities, two intermediate levels are defined. Municipalities co-operate in seventy [[Sub-regions of Finland|sub-regions]] and nineteen [[Regions of Finland|regions]]. These are governed by the member municipalities and have only limited powers. The autonomous province of Åland has a permanent democratically elected regional council. Sami people have a semi-autonomous [[Sami native region (Finland)|Sami native region]] in Lapland for issues on language and culture.
In the following chart, the number of inhabitants includes those living in the entire municipality (''kunta/kommun''), not just in the built-up area. The land area is given in km<sup>2</sup>, and the density in inhabitants per km<sup>2</sup> (land area). The figures are as of {{#time:d F Y |{{Data Finland municipality/population count|sourcedate}}}}. The [[capital region]] – comprising Helsinki, [[Vantaa]], [[Espoo]] and [[Kauniainen]] – forms a continuous [[conurbation]] of over 1.1 million people. However, common administration is limited to voluntary cooperation of all municipalities, e.g. in [[Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council]].
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto;"
! City !! Population{{Data Finland municipality/population count}} !! Land area{{Data Finland municipality/total area}} !! Density !! Regional map !! Population density map
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Helsinki.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Helsinki]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Helsinki }} }}|| {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Helsinki }} round 2}} }}
| rowspan ="15" |
[[File:Finland administrative divisions 2.svg|thumb|x410px|center|[[Municipalities of Finland|Municipalities]] (thin borders) and [[Regions of Finland|regions]] (thick borders) of Finland (2021)]]
| rowspan ="15" |
[[File:Population map of Finland.svg|thumb|center|x410px|The population densities of Finnish municipalities (2010)]]
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Espoo.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Espoo]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Espoo }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Espoo }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Tampere.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Tampere]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Tampere }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Tampere }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Tampere }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Vantaa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Vantaa]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vantaa }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vantaa }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Oulu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Oulu]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Oulu }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Oulu }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Oulu }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Turku.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Turku]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Turku }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Turku }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Turku }} round 2}}
}}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Jyväskylä.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Jyväskylä]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Jyväskylä }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Jyväskylä }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Jyväskylä }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Kuopio.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Kuopio]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kuopio }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kuopio }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kuopio }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Lahti.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Lahti]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lahti }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lahti }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Lahti }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Porin vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Pori]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Pori }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Pori }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Pori }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Kouvola.vaakuna.2009.svg|20px]] '''[[Kouvola]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kouvola }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Kouvola }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Kouvola }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Joensuu.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Joensuu]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Joensuu }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Joensuu }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Joensuu }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Lappeenranta.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Lappeenranta]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Lappeenranta }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Lappeenranta }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Lappeenranta }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Hämeenlinna.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Hämeenlinna]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hämeenlinna }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Hämeenlinna }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Hämeenlinna }} round 2}} }}
|- style="text-align:left;"
| [[File:Vaasa.vaakuna.svg|20px]] '''[[Vaasa]]''' || '''{{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vaasa }} }}''' || {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/land area|Vaasa }} }} || {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population density|Vaasa}} round 2}} }}
|}
== Politics ==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| caption_align = center
| image1 = President Trump Meets with the President of the Republic of Finland (48834234637) (cropped).jpg
| width1 = 115
| caption1 = [[Sauli Niinistö]]<br /><small>12th [[President of Finland|President]]<br />since 1 March 2012</small>
| image2 = Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin 2019 (cropped).jpg
| width2 = 113
| caption2 = [[Sanna Marin]]<br /><small>46th [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]]<br />since 10 December 2019</small>
}}
{{Main|Politics of Finland}}
{{See also|List of political parties in Finland|Human rights in Finland}}
[[File:BlueEurozone.svg|thumb|Finland is a member of:<br/>
{{legend2|#039|the [[Eurozone]]}}
{{legend2|#039}}{{legend2|#36C|the [[European Union]]}}]]
=== Constitution ===
The [[Constitution of Finland]] defines the political system; Finland is a [[parliamentary republic]] within the framework of a [[representative democracy]]. The [[Prime Minister of Finland|Prime Minister]] is the country's most powerful person. The current version of the constitution was enacted on 1 March 2000, and was amended on 1 March 2012. Citizens can run and vote in parliamentary, municipal, presidential and [[Elections in the European Union|European Union elections]].
=== President ===
{{Main|President of Finland}}
The [[head of state]] of Finland is [[President of Finland|President of the Republic of Finland]] (in Finnish: ''Suomen tasavallan presidentti''; in Swedish: ''Republiken Finlands president''). Finland has had for most of its independence a [[semi-presidential system]], but in the last few decades the powers of the President have been diminished. Constitutional amendments, which came into effect in 1991 and 1992, as well as a new drafted constitution of 2000 (amended in 2012), have made the presidency a primarily ceremonial office. However, the President still leads the nation's foreign politics together with the Council of State and is the commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces.<ref name="Parliamentary">Formerly a semi-presidential republic, it is now a parliamentary republic according to David Arter, First Chair of Politics at Aberdeen University. In his "Scandinavian Politics Today" (Manchester University Press, revised 2008 {{ISBN|978-0-7190-7853-8}}), he quotes {{Cite journal |last=Nousiainen |first=Jaakko |date=June 2001 |title=From semi-presidentialism to parliamentary government: political and constitutional developments in Finland |journal=[[Scandinavian Political Studies]] |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=95–109 |doi=10.1111/1467-9477.00048 }} as follows: "There are hardly any grounds for the epithet 'semi-presidential'." Arter's own conclusions are only slightly more nuanced: "The adoption of a new constitution on 1 March 2000 meant that Finland was no longer a case of semi-presidential government other than in the minimalist sense of a situation where a popularly elected fixed-term president exists alongside a prime minister and cabinet who are responsible to parliament (Elgie 2004: 317)". According to the Finnish Constitution, the president has no possibility to rule the government without the ministerial approval, and does not have the power to dissolve the parliament under his or her own desire. Finland is actually represented by its prime minister, and not by its president, in the Council of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union. The 2012 constitutional amendments reduced the powers of the president even further.</ref> The position still does entail some powers, including responsibility for [[Foreign relations of Finland|foreign policy]] (excluding affairs related to the [[European Union]]) in cooperation with [[Cabinet of Finland|the cabinet]], being [[Commander-in-Chief|the head of the armed forces]], some decree and pardoning powers, and some appointive powers. Direct, one- or two-stage elections are used to elect the president for a term of six years and for a maximum of two consecutive 6-year terms. The current president is [[Sauli Niinistö]]; he took office on 1 March 2012. Former presidents were [[Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg|K. J. Ståhlberg]] (1919–1925), [[Lauri Kristian Relander|L. K. Relander]] (1925–1931), [[Pehr Evind Svinhufvud|P. E. Svinhufvud]] (1931–1937), [[Kyösti Kallio]] (1937–1940), [[Risto Ryti]] (1940–1944), [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|C. G. E. Mannerheim]] (1944–1946), [[Juho Kusti Paasikivi|J. K. Paasikivi]] (1946–1956), [[Urho Kekkonen]] (1956–1982), [[Mauno Koivisto]] (1982–1994), [[Martti Ahtisaari]] (1994–2000), and [[Tarja Halonen]] (2000–2012)<!-- don't add Sauli Niinistö here, because he is not a former president -->.
The current president was elected from the ranks of the [[National Coalition Party]] for the first time since 1946. The presidency between 1946 and the present was instead held by a member of the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]] or the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]].
=== Parliament ===
{{Main|Parliament of Finland}}
[[File:Eduskuntatalo Helsinki.jpg|thumb|The [[Parliament of Finland]]'s main building along [[Mannerheimintie]] in [[Töölö]], [[Helsinki]]]]
[[File:Eduskunta istuntosali.jpg|thumb|The Session Hall of the Parliament of Finland]]
The 200-member [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[Parliament of Finland]] ({{Lang-fi|Eduskunta}}, {{Lang-sv|Riksdag}}) exercises supreme legislative authority in the country. It may alter the constitution and ordinary laws, dismiss the cabinet, and override presidential vetoes. Its acts are not subject to judicial review; the constitutionality of new laws is assessed by the parliament's [[Parliament of Finland#Committees|constitutional law committee]]. The parliament is elected for a term of four years using the proportional [[D'Hondt method]] within a number of multi-seat constituencies through the [[Open list#Most open|most open list]] multi-member districts. Various parliament committees listen to experts and prepare legislation.
Since [[universal suffrage]] was introduced in 1906, the parliament has been dominated by the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]] (former Agrarian Union), the [[National Coalition Party]], and the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democrats]]. These parties have enjoyed approximately equal support, and their combined vote has totalled about 65–80% of all votes. Their lowest common total of MPs, 121, was reached in the 2011 elections. For a few decades after 1944, the [[Communist Party of Finland|Communists]] were a strong fourth party. Due to the electoral system of proportional representation, and the relative reluctance of voters to switch their support between parties, the relative strengths of the parties have commonly varied only slightly from one election to another. However, there have been some long-term trends, such as the rise and fall of the Communists during the Cold War; the steady decline into insignificance of the [[Liberals (Finland)|Liberals]] and their predecessors from 1906 to 1980; and the rise of the [[Green League]] since 1983.
The [[Marin Cabinet]] is the incumbent 76th [[government of Finland]]. It was formed following the collapse of the [[Rinne Cabinet]] and officially took office on 10 December 2019.<ref name=NYT1>{{Cite news| last1 = Lemola | first1 = Johanna | last2 = Specia | first2 = Megan | date=10 December 2019| title=Who Is Sanna Marin, Finland's 34-Year-Old Prime Minister? | work=[[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/world/europe/finland-sanna-marin.html | access-date=4 February 2020 | language = en | issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=NYT2>{{Cite news| last=Specia |first=Megan | date=10 December 2019| title=Sanna Marin of Finland to Become World's Youngest Prime Minister|work=[[The New York Times]]|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/world/europe/finland-prime-minister-sanna-marin.html | access-date=4 February 2020 | language = en | issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The cabinet consists of a coalition formed by the [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic Party]], the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]], the [[Green League]], the [[Left Alliance (Finland)|Left Alliance]], and the [[Swedish People's Party of Finland|Swedish People's Party]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kaatuneen hallituksen kaikki puolueet halukkaita jatkoon samalla hallitusohjelmalla – vanhan opposition puolueet eivät hyväksy ohjelmaa |url=https://www.savonsanomat.fi/kotimaa/Kaatuneen-hallituksen-kaikki-puolueet-halukkaita-jatkoon-samalla-hallitusohjelmalla-%E2%80%93-vanhan-opposition-puolueet-eiv%C3%A4t-hyv%C3%A4ksy-ohjelmaa/1479764 |work=Savon Sanomat |language= fi |access-date=10 December 2019 |date=7 December 2019}}</ref>
=== Cabinet ===
{{See also|List of female cabinet ministers of Finland}}
After parliamentary elections, the parties negotiate among themselves on forming a new cabinet (the [[Finnish Government]]), which then has to be approved by a simple majority vote in the parliament. The cabinet can be dismissed by a parliamentary vote of no confidence, although this rarely happens (the last time in 1957), as the parties represented in the cabinet usually make up a majority in the parliament.<ref>[[:fi:Epäluottamuslause|The Finnish Wikipedia's article on Motion of no confidence]]</ref>{{circular reference|date=December 2020}}
The cabinet exercises most executive powers, and originates most of the bills that the parliament then debates and votes on. It is headed by the [[Prime Minister of Finland]], and consists of him or her, of other ministers, and of the [[Chancellor of Justice (Finland)|Chancellor of Justice]]. The current prime minister is [[Sanna Marin]] (Social Democratic Party). Each minister heads his or her ministry, or, in some cases, has responsibility for a subset of a ministry's policy. After the prime minister, the most powerful minister is the [[Minister of Finance (Finland)|minister of finance]]. The incumbent Minister of Finance is [[Matti Vanhanen]].
As no one party ever dominates the parliament, Finnish cabinets are multi-party coalitions. As a rule, the post of prime minister goes to the leader of the biggest party and that of the minister of finance to the leader of the second biggest.
=== Law ===
{{Main|Law of Finland|Judicial system of Finland}}
[[File:Supreme Court of Finland.jpg|thumb|right|The Court House of the [[Supreme Court of Finland|Supreme Court]]]]
The judicial system of Finland is a [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] system divided between [[court]]s with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and [[administrative court]]s with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and the public administration. Finnish law is codified and based on [[Judiciary of Sweden|Swedish law]] and in a wider sense, civil law or [[Roman law]]. The court system for civil and criminal jurisdiction consists of local courts (''käräjäoikeus'', ''tingsrätt''), [[Hovrätt|regional appellate courts]] (''hovioikeus'', ''hovrätt''), and the [[Supreme Court of Finland|Supreme Court]] (''korkein oikeus'', ''högsta domstolen''). The administrative branch of justice consists of administrative courts (''hallinto-oikeus'', ''förvaltningsdomstol'') and the [[Supreme Administrative Court of Finland|Supreme Administrative Court]] (''korkein hallinto-oikeus'', ''högsta förvaltningsdomstolen''). In addition to the regular courts, there are a few special courts in certain branches of administration. There is also a [[Judicial system of Finland#High Court of Impeachment|High Court of Impeachment]] for criminal charges against certain high-ranking officeholders.
Around 92% of residents have confidence in Finland's security institutions.<ref name="corruptionpolicing">Policing corruption, International Perspectives.</ref> The overall [[Crime in Finland|crime rate of Finland]] is not high in the EU context. Some crime types are above average, notably the high [[homicide]] rate for Western Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/3/3e/Intentional_homicides%2C_2016_%28police-recorded_offences_per_100_000_inhabitants%29.png |title=File:Intentional homicides, 2016 (police-recorded offences per 100 000 inhabitants).png |access-date=10 December 2010}}</ref> A [[day fine]] system is in effect and also applied to offenses such as [[speeding]].
Finland has successfully fought against government corruption, which was more common in the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="corruption">The History of Corruption in Central Government By Seppo Tiihonen, International Institute of Administrative Sciences</ref>{{verify source|date=March 2011|reason=Surprising, not clear what part of the work is used.}} For instance, economic reforms and EU membership introduced stricter requirements for open bidding and many public monopolies were abolished.<ref name="corruption" /> Today, Finland has a very low number of corruption charges; [[Transparency International]] ranks Finland as one of the least corrupt countries in Europe.
In 2008, Transparency International criticized the lack of transparency of the system of Finnish political finance.<ref>[http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/oikea/id90735.html Vaalijohtaja: Vaalirahoituslain rikkominen melko yleistä] YLE 15 May 2008</ref> According to [[GRECO]] in 2007, corruption should be taken into account in the Finnish system of election funds better.<ref>Evaluation Report on Finland on Incriminations, Theme I, s. 21, GRECO 3–7.12.2007</ref> [[2007 Finnish campaign finance scandal|A scandal revolving around campaign finance of the 2007 parliamentary elections]] broke out in spring 2008. Nine cabinet ministers submitted incomplete funding reports and even more of the members of parliament. The law includes no punishment of false funds reports of the elected politicians.
=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Finland}}
[[File:Nobel Peace Prize 2008 Ole Danbolt Mjøs & Martti Ahtisaari 1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Martti Ahtisaari]] receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008]]
According to the 2012 constitution, the president (currently [[Sauli Niinistö]]) leads foreign policy in cooperation with the government, except that the president has no role in EU affairs.<ref name="Finnish constitution.">[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf Finnish constitution], Section 93.</ref>
In 2008, president [[Martti Ahtisaari]] was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]].<ref name="Nobelprize">{{cite web |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2008/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2008|work=The Nobel Foundation|publisher=Nobelprize.org|access-date=10 May 2009}}</ref> Finland was considered a cooperative model state, and Finland did not oppose proposals for a common EU defence policy.<ref name="foreignpolicyidea" /> This was reversed in the 2000s, when Tarja Halonen and [[Erkki Tuomioja]] made Finland's official policy to resist other EU members' plans for common defence.<ref name="foreignpolicyidea">"Finland's foreign policy idea" ("Suomen ulkopolitiikan idea"), [[Risto E. J. Penttilä]], 2008.</ref>
=== Military ===
{{Main|Finnish Defence Forces|Military history of Finland}}
{{See also|List of wars involving Finland}}
[[File:Taistelunäytös Leopard 2A4 Kokonaisturvallisuus 2015 05.JPG|thumb|left|Finnish [[Leopard 2A4]] tank Ps 273–106 in a combat demonstration at Comprehensive security exhibition 2015 in [[Tampere]].]]
The Finnish Defence Forces consist of a [[Cadre (military)|cadre]] of professional soldiers (mainly officers and technical personnel), currently serving conscripts, and a large reserve. The standard readiness strength is 34,700 people in uniform, of which 25% are professional soldiers. A universal male [[Conscription in Finland|conscription]] is in place, under which all male Finnish nationals above 18 years of age serve for 6 to 12 months of armed service or 12 months of [[Siviilipalvelus|civilian]] (non-armed) service.
Voluntary post-conscription overseas peacekeeping service is popular, and troops serve around the world in UN, NATO, and EU missions. Approximately 500 women choose voluntary military service every year.<ref>[http://www.mil.fi/varusmies/naisten_vapaaehtoinen_asepalvelus.dsp Women's voluntary service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409182820/http://www.mil.fi/varusmies/naisten_vapaaehtoinen_asepalvelus.dsp |date=9 April 2008 }} (in Finnish)</ref> Women are allowed to serve in all combat arms including front-line infantry and special forces.
The army consists of a highly mobile field army backed up by local defence units. The army defends the national territory and its military strategy employs the use of the heavily forested terrain and numerous lakes to wear down an aggressor, instead of attempting to hold the attacking army on the frontier.
[[File:Tracked transport vehicle Sisu NA 110.JPG|thumb|right|[[Sisu Nasu]] NA-110 tracked transport vehicle of the Finnish Army. Most conscripts receive training for warfare in winter, and transport vehicles such as this give mobility in heavy snow.]]
Finnish defence expenditure per capita is one of the highest in the European Union.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/artikkelit/2007/art_2007-06-01_005.html Työvoimakustannukset puuttuvat puolustusmenoista], Statistics Finland (in Finnish): Eurostat ranking is sixth, but the third when conscription is accounted.</ref> The Finnish military doctrine is based on the concept of total defence. The term total means that all sectors of the government and economy are involved in the defence planning. The armed forces are under the command of the [[Chief of Defence (Finland)|Chief of Defence]] (currently General [[Jarmo Lindberg]]), who is directly subordinate to the president in matters related to military command. The branches of the military are [[Finnish Army|the army]], [[Finnish Navy|the navy]], and [[Finnish Air Force|the air force]]. The [[Finnish Border Guard|border guard]] is under the Ministry of the Interior but can be incorporated into the Defence Forces when required for defence readiness.
Even while Finland hasn't joined the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], the country has joined the [[NATO Response Force]], the [[EU Battlegroup]],<ref>{{cite web|title=European Union battlegroups|url=http://puolustusvoimat.fi/en/international-crisis-management/eu-battle-group|publisher=Finnish Defence Forces|access-date=27 May 2018}}</ref> the NATO [[Partnership for Peace]] and in 2014 signed a NATO [[memorandum of understanding]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://natowatch.org/sites/default/files/briefing_paper_no.51_finland_and_nato.pdf |title=Is Finland taking a step closer to NATO membership |first=Nigel |last=Chamberlain |publisher=NATO Watch |date=19 May 2014 |access-date=27 May 2018}}</erf></ref><ref name="eduskunta.fi">[https://www.eduskunta.fi/FI/lakiensaataminen/valiokunnat/ulkoasiainvaliokunta/Documents/HNS_MOU_FINLAND.pdf MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND AND HEADQUARTERS, SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER TRANSFORMATION]. NATO</ref> thus forming a practical coalition.<ref name="nato.int" /> In 2015, the Finland-NATO ties were strengthened with a host nation support agreement allowing assistance from NATO troops in emergency situations.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/sweden-and-finland-forge-closer-ties-with-nato-1409237354 |title = Sweden and Finland Forge Closer Ties With NATO |newspaper = Wall Street Journal }}</ref> Finland has been an active participant in the Afghanistan and Kosovo.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/finnish_soldiers_involved_in_20-minute_gunfight_in_afghanistan/7702492 Finnish soldiers involved in 20-minute gunfight in Afghanistan |Yle Uutiset]. yle.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160105231045/http://formin.finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=115832&nodeid=49302&contentlan=2&culture=en-US Finland's participation in NATO-led crisis management operations]. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland</ref>
=== Social security ===
{{Main|Social security in Finland}}
Finland has one of the world's most extensive welfare systems, one that guarantees decent living conditions for all residents: Finns, and non-citizens. Since the 1980s the social security has been cut back, but still the system is one of the most comprehensive in the world. Created almost entirely during the first three decades after World War II, the social security system was an outgrowth of the traditional Nordic belief that the state was not inherently hostile to the well-being of its citizens, but could intervene benevolently on their behalf. According to some social historians, the basis of this belief was a relatively benign history that had allowed the gradual emergence of a free and independent peasantry in the Nordic countries and had curtailed the dominance of the nobility and the subsequent formation of a powerful right wing. Finland's history has been harsher than the histories of the other Nordic countries, but not harsh enough to bar the country from following their path of social development.<ref name="LOC">Text from PD source: US Library of Congress: ''[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/fitoc.html A Country Study: Finland]'', Library of Congress Call Number DL1012 .A74 1990.</ref>
=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Finland|Women's suffrage in Finland|LGBT rights in Finland}}
[[File:Helsinki Pride Parade I (5897488480).jpg|thumb|People gathering at the [[Senate Square, Helsinki|Senate Square]], [[Helsinki]], right before the [[Helsinki Pride|2011 Helsinki Pride parade]] started.]]
§ 6 in two sentences of the [[Finnish Constitution]] states: ''"No one shall be placed in a different position on situation of sex, age, origin, language, religion, belief, opinion, state of health, disability or any other personal reason without an acceptable reason."''<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/ajantasa/1999/19990731 | title = Perustuslaki: 2. luku Perusoikeudet, 6 § Yhdenvertaisuus 2 momentti | date = 1999 | publisher = Finlex | access-date = 27 August 2020 | language = fi }}</ref>
Finland has been ranked above average among the world's countries in [[democracy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.democracyranking.org/downloads/2012/Scores_of_the_Democracy-Ranking-2012.htm |title=Scores of the Democracy Ranking 2012 |publisher= Global Democracy Ranking |year=2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> [[press freedom]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2013/finland |title=Freedom of the Press: Finland |publisher= [[Freedom House]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref> and [[human development (economics)|human development]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/FIN.html |title=Statistics of the Human Development Report |publisher=[[United Nations Development Programme]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128081803/http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/FIN.html |archive-date=28 November 2013 }}</ref>
[[Amnesty International]] has expressed concern regarding some issues in Finland, such as alleged permitting of stopovers of [[CIA]] [[Extraordinary rendition|rendition flights]], the imprisonment of [[conscientious objector]]s, and societal discrimination against [[Romani people]] and members of other ethnic and linguistic minorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/region/finland/report-2013 |title=Annual Report 2013: Finland |publisher= [[Amnesty International]] |year=2013 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm#wrapper |title=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012: Finland |publisher= U.S. State of Department [[Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor]] |year=2012 |access-date=27 September 2013}}</ref>
== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Finland}}
{{See also|List of companies of Finland|List of largest companies in Finland|Helsinki Stock Exchange}}
[[File:Angry Birds Land Särkänniemi 11.jpg|thumb|Angry Birds Land, a [[theme park]] in the [[Särkänniemi]] amusement park, in [[Tampere]], [[Pirkanmaa]]; the mobile phone game ''[[Angry Birds]]'', developed in Finland, has become a commercial hit both domestically and internationally.]]
The economy of Finland has a per capita output equal to that of other European economies such as those of France, Germany, [[Belgium]], or the UK. The largest sector of the economy is the [[service sector]] at 66% of GDP, followed by manufacturing and refining at 31%. [[Primary sector of the economy|Primary production]] represents 2.9%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_kansantalous_en.html |title=Finland in Figures—National Accounts |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> With respect to [[International trade|foreign trade]], the key economic sector is manufacturing. The largest industries in 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_teollisuus_en.html |title=Finland in Figures—Manufacturing |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> were [[electronics]] (22%); machinery, vehicles, and other engineered metal products (21.1%); forest industry (13%); and chemicals (11%). The gross domestic product peaked in 2008. {{As of|2015}}, the country's economy is at the 2006 level.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://yle.fi/uutiset/finlands_lost_decade_continueseconomy_same_size_as_in_2006/8044629 |title = Finland's 'lost decade' continues—economy same size as in 2006 |work = yle.fi |date = 4 June 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/35c8560c-c62f-11e4-add0-00144feab7de.html |title = Finland's economy: In search of the sunny side |work=Financial Times |location=London |date = 11 March 2015 }}</ref>
Finland has significant timber, mineral ([[iron]], [[chromium]], [[copper]], [[nickel]], and [[gold]]), and freshwater resources. [[Forestry]], paper factories, and the agricultural sector (on which taxpayers spend{{clarify|subsidize?|date=June 2017}} around €3 billion annually) are important for rural residents so any policy changes affecting these sectors are politically sensitive for politicians dependent on rural votes. The [[Greater Helsinki]] area generates around one third of Finland's GDP. In a 2004 OECD comparison, high-technology manufacturing in Finland ranked second largest after Ireland. Knowledge-intensive services have also resulted in the smallest and slow-growth sectors – especially agriculture and low-technology manufacturing – being ranked the second largest after Ireland.<ref name="oecd2004">Finland Economy 2004, OECD</ref>
Finland's climate and soils make growing crops a particular challenge. The country lies between the latitudes 60°N and 70°N, and it has severe winters and relatively short growing seasons that are sometimes interrupted by frost. However, because the Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift Current moderate the climate, Finland contains half of the world's arable land north of 60° north latitude. Annual precipitation is usually sufficient, but it occurs almost exclusively during the winter months, making summer droughts a constant threat. In response to the climate, farmers have relied on quick-ripening and frost-resistant varieties of crops, and they have cultivated south-facing slopes as well as richer bottomlands to ensure production even in years with summer frosts. Most farmland was originally either forest or swamp, and the soil has usually required treatment with lime and years of cultivation to neutralize excess acid and to improve fertility. Irrigation has generally not been necessary, but drainage systems are often needed to remove excess water. Finland's agriculture has been efficient and productive—at least when compared with farming in other European countries.<ref name="LOC" />
[[File:Finland Exports Treemap 2017.svg|thumb|upright=1.45|A treemap representing the exports of Finland in 2017]]
Forests play a key role in the country's economy, making it one of the world's leading wood producers and providing raw materials at competitive prices for the crucial wood-processing industries. As in agriculture, the government has long played a leading role in forestry, regulating tree cutting, sponsoring technical improvements, and establishing long-term plans to ensure that the country's forests continue to supply the wood-processing industries. To maintain the country's comparative advantage in forest products, Finnish authorities moved to raise lumber output toward the country's ecological limits. In 1984, the government published the Forest 2000 plan, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The plan aimed at increasing forest harvests by about 3% per year, while conserving forestland for recreation and other uses.<ref name="LOC" />
Private sector employees amount to 1.8 million, out of which around a third with tertiary education. The average cost of a private sector employee per hour was €25.10 in 2004.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/til/tvtutk/2004/tvtutk_2004_2006-09-15_tie_001.html Tehdyn työtunnin hinta 23–27 euroa], Statistics Finland</ref> {{As of|2008}}, average purchasing power-adjusted income levels are similar to those of Italy, Sweden, Germany, and France.<ref name="incomecomparison">{{cite web |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2008/art_2008-06-09_001.html |title=Suomalaisten tulot Euroopan keskitasoa. Hyvinvointipalvelut eivät paranna sijoitusta |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=9 June 2008 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> In 2006, 62% of the workforce worked for enterprises with less than 250 employees and they accounted for 49% of total business turnover and had the strongest rate of growth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=895:small-enterprises-grow-faster-than-the-big-ones&catid=33:general&Itemid=201 |title=Small enterprises grow faster than the big ones |publisher=Helsinkitimes.fi |date=11 April 2008 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> The female employment rate is high. Gender segregation between male-dominated professions and female-dominated professions is higher than in the US.<ref name="niels">The Nordic Model of Welfare: A Historical Reappraisal, by Niels Finn Christiansen</ref> The proportion of part-time workers was one of the lowest in OECD in 1999.<ref name="niels" /> In 2013, the 10 largest private sector employers in Finland were [[Itella]], [[Nokia]], [[OP Financial Group|OP-Pohjola]], [[ISS A/S|ISS]], [[VR (company)|VR]], [[Kesko]], [[UPM-Kymmene]], [[YIT]], [[Metso]], and [[Nordea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/sata-suurinta-tyonantajaa-nokia-jai-kakkoseksi/72619deb-427d-3852-8a82-edfa4a7e818e|title=Sata suurinta työnantajaa: Nokia jäi kakkoseksi|first=Antti|last=Mikkonen|website=Talouselämä}}</ref>
The unemployment rate was 9.4% in 2015, having risen from 8.7% in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |author=Finland in Figures |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_tyoelama_en.html |title=Statistics Finland: Labour Market |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Youth unemployment rate rose from 16.5% in 2007 to 20.5% in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Towards employment |work=SixDegrees |date=2016-01-16 |access-date=2016-07-21 |url= https://www.6d.fi/index.php/society/945-towards-employment |language=en }}</ref> A fifth of residents are outside the job market at the age of 50 and less than a third are working at the age of 61.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/document/9/0,3343,en_2649_34747_28023113_1_1_1_1,00.html |title=OECD recommends Finland to do more to help older people stay in work |publisher=Oecd.org |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> In 2014, nearly one million people were living with minimal wages or unemployed not enough to cover their costs of living.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/suomessa_on_liki_miljoona_koyhaa_heikoimmassa_asemassa_olevista_on_tullut_muukalaisia/7436047 yle.fi]; ''Suomessa on liki miljoona köyhää –"Heikoimmassa asemassa olevista on tullut muukalaisia"'' |Yle Uutiset. (28 August 2014). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
[[File:Mall of Tripla sisäkuvia 2.jpg|thumb|[[Mall of Tripla]] (in [[Pasila]], Helsinki), the largest [[shopping mall]] in Northern Europe in terms of total leasable units<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yitgroup.com/siteassets/investors/reports-and-presentations/presentations_2016_eng/analyst-lunch_commercial-concept-of-the-mall-of-tripla_pirjo-aalto_web.pdf|last=Aalto|first=Pirjo|title=Mall of Tripla: The best shopping centre in Finland|publisher=[[YIT]]|access-date=11 January 2021|date=12 December 2016}}</ref><ref name = pasilanasema>{{cite web|title=Pasilan asema|url=http://www.pasilanasema.fi/en/pasila-station |access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/artikkeli/759018-pasilan-kauppakeskus-triplan-avajaispaiva-julki-samaan-aikaan-avautuu-myos-pasilan|title=Pasilan kauppakeskus Triplan avajaispäivä julki – samaan aikaan avautuu myös Pasilan uusi asema|last=Hämäläinen|first=Jukka|website=Helsingin Uutiset|language=fi|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref>]]
{{As of|2006}}, 2.4 million households reside in Finland. The average size is 2.1 persons; 40% of households consist of a single person, 32% two persons and 28% three or more persons. Residential buildings total 1.2 million, and the average residential space is {{convert|38|m2}} per person. The average residential property without land costs €1,187 per sq metre and residential land €8.60 per sq metre. 74% of households had a car. There are 2.5 million cars and 0.4 million other vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|author=Finland in Figures |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_liikenne_en.html |title=Statistics Finland: Transport and Tourism|publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
Around 92% have a mobile phone and 83.5% (2009) [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet connection at home]]. The average total household consumption was €20,000, out of which housing consisted of about €5,500, transport about €3,000, food and beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages) at around €2,500, and recreation and culture at around €2,000.<ref>{{cite web |author=Households' consumption |url=http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/til/ktutk/2006/ktutk_2006_2007-12-19_tie_001_en.html |title=Own-account worker households' consumption has grown most in 2001–2006 |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |date=19 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> According to Invest in Finland, private consumption grew by 3% in 2006 and consumer trends included durables, high-quality products, and spending on well-being.<ref>"Retail growth best in Finland for five years". For updates, see the [http://www.investinfinland.fi/ Invest in Finland] website.</ref>
In 2017, Finland's GDP reached €224 billion. However, second quarter of 2018 saw a slow economic growth. Unemployment rate fell to a near one-decade low in June, marking private consumption growth much higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.focus-economics.com/countries/finland|title=Finland Economic Outlook|access-date=25 September 2018}}</ref>
Finland has the highest concentration of [[cooperative]]s relative to its population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://maine.coop/Finland.php |title=Finland: Globalization Insurance: Finland's Leap of Caution |website=Cooperatives Build a Better Maine|publisher=Cooperative Maine Business Alliance & Cooperative Development Institute |access-date=1 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202042001/http://maine.coop/Finland.php |archive-date=2 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The largest retailer, which is also the largest private employer, [[S Group|S-Group]], and the largest bank, OP-Group, in the country are both cooperatives.
=== Energy ===
{{See also|Nordic energy market|Peat energy in Finland|Nuclear power in Finland}}
[[File:EPR OLK3 TVO fotomont 2 Vogelperspektive.jpg|thumb|The two existing units of the [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]]. On the far left is a visualization of a third unit, which, when completed, will become Finland's fifth commercial nuclear reactor.<ref name="olkiluoto_delayed">{{cite web |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/olkiluoto3_delayed_till_2016/6489784 |title=Olkiluoto3 delayed till 2016 |publisher=YLE |date=11 February 2013 |access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref>]]
The free and largely privately owned financial and physical [[Nordic energy market]]s traded in [[NASDAQ OMX Commodities Europe]] and [[Nord Pool Spot]] exchanges, have provided competitive prices compared with other EU countries. {{As of|2007}}, Finland has roughly the lowest industrial electricity prices in the [[EU-15]] (equal to France).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080204033032/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page?_pageid=1996%2C39140985&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&screen=detailref&language=en&product=STRIND_ECOREF&root=STRIND_ECOREF%2Fecoref%2Fer02b1 Electricity prices—industrial users]. Web.archive.org. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In 2006, the energy market was around 90 terawatt hours and the peak demand around 15 [[gigawatt]]s in winter. This means that the [[List of countries by energy consumption per capita|energy consumption per capita]] is around 7.2 tons of oil equivalent per year. Industry and construction consumed 51% of total consumption, a relatively high figure reflecting Finland's industries.<ref>{{cite web |author=Energy consumption |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/ekul/2006/ekul_2006_2007-12-12_kuv_009_en.html |title=Statistics Finland |publisher=Stat.fi |date= 12 December 2007|access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Energy consumption |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/ekul/2006/ekul_2006_2007-12-12_tie_001_en.html |title=Total energy consumption |publisher=Stat.fi |date=12 December 2007 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref> Finland's [[hydrocarbon]] resources are limited to [[peat]] and wood. About 10–15% of the electricity is produced by [[hydropower]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metsavastaa.net/vattenkraft |title=Metsävastaa: Vattenkraft |language=sv |publisher=Metsavastaa.net |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303204918/http://www.metsavastaa.net/vattenkraft |archive-date=3 March 2009 }}</ref> which is low compared with more mountainous Sweden or Norway. In 2008, [[renewable energy]] (mainly hydropower and various forms of wood energy) was high at 31% compared with the EU average of 10.3% in final energy consumption.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.energy.eu/#renewable |title=Europe's Energy Portal |publisher=energy.eu |access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref> [[Russia in the European energy sector|Russia]] supplies more than 75% of Finland's [[List of countries by oil exports|oil imports]] and 100% of total [[List of countries by natural gas exports|gas imports]].<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/46126.pdf|title=EU imports of energy products - recent developments|date=4 July 2018|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|pages=3–4}}
</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Europe helps fund non-Russia gas line for Finland |url=https://www.upi.com/Energy-News/2016/08/10/Europe-helps-fund-non-Russia-gas-line-for-Finland/6271470828765/ |work=[[United Press International]] |date=10 August 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Statistics of the energy supply in Finland.jpg|thumb|Supply and total consumption of electricity in Finland<ref name="Statistics Finland, Energy">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_energia_en.html |title=Finland Energy supply |publisher=Statistics Finland|date=20 April 2015 |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>]]
Finland has four privately owned nuclear reactors producing 18% of the country's energy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tilastokeskus.fi/tk/yr/yeenergiakuviot_en.pdf |title=Energy Consumption in 2001 |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108043546/http://tilastokeskus.fi/tk/yr/yeenergiakuviot_en.pdf |archive-date=8 November 2006 }}</ref> and one research reactor (decommissioned 2018 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vtt.fi/palvelut/v%C3%A4h%C3%A4hiilinen-energia/ydinvoima/tutkimusreaktorin-purku |title = FiR 1 -ydinreaktorin käytöstä poisto}}</ref>) at the [[Otaniemi]] campus. The fifth [[AREVA]]-[[Siemens AG|Siemens]]-built reactor – the world's largest at 1600 [[MWe]] and a focal point of Europe's nuclear industry – has faced many delays and is currently scheduled to be operational by 2018–2020, a decade after the original planned opening.<ref name="kauppalehti-02-2014">{{cite news |title = Areva ajaa Olkiluodon työmaata alas |author = Paula Nikula |url = http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/areva+ajaa+olkiluodon+tyomaata+alas/201402652139 |language = fi |publisher = Kauppalehti |date = 28 February 2014 |access-date = 28 February 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140304095114/http://www.kauppalehti.fi/etusivu/areva+ajaa+olkiluodon+tyomaata+alas/201402652139 |archive-date = 4 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> A varying amount (5–17%) of electricity has been imported from Russia (at around 3 gigawatt power line capacity), Sweden and Norway.
The [[Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository]] is currently under construction at the [[Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant]] in the municipality of [[Eurajoki]], on the west coast of Finland, by the company [[Posiva]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Journey deep into the Finnish caverns where nuclear waste will be buried for millenia |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/olkiluoto-island-finland-nuclear-waste-onkalo |work=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=24 April 2017}}</ref> Energy companies are about to increase nuclear power production, as in July 2010 the Finnish parliament granted permits for additional two new reactors.
=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Finland}}
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| alignment = left
| width = 180
| footer = The state-owned [[VR (company)|VR]] operates a railway network serving all major cities in Finland.
| image3 = VR Sr1 3089.jpg
| caption3 = Soviet-made electric locomotive [[VR Class Sr1]] model from 1981
| image2 = Vr sr3 3304 3307 3306.jpg
| caption2 = Three [[VR Class Sr3]] locomotives
| image1 = VR Sr2 3202 Tampere 2012-06-22.JPG
| caption1 = A [[VR Class Sr2]] locomotive
}}
Finland's road system is utilized by most internal cargo and passenger traffic. The annual state operated road network expenditure of around €1 billion is paid for with vehicle and fuel taxes which amount to around €1.5 billion and €1 billion, respectively. Among the [[Highways in Finland|Finnish highways]], the most significant and busiest main roads include the [[Turku Highway]] ([[European route E18|E18]]), the [[Tampere Highway]] ([[European route E12|E12]]), the [[Lahti Highway]] ([[European route E75|E75]]), and the ring roads ([[Ring I]] and [[Ring III]]) of the Helsinki metropolitan area and the [[Tampere Ring Road]] of the [[Tampere urban area]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsnowfinland.fi/domestic/top-gear-finlands-busiest-roads-revealed|title=Top Gear: Finland's Busiest Roads Revealed &#124; News Now Finland|first=News Now|last=Staff|date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
The main international passenger gateway is [[Helsinki Airport]], which handled about 17 million passengers in 2016. [[Oulu Airport]] is the second largest, whilst another [[List of airports in Finland|25 airports]] have scheduled passenger services.<ref name="finavia_pass_stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.finavia.fi/files/finavia/vuosikertomukset_pdf/Finavia_vsk_2008_GB_LR.pdf |title=Airport operations |work=Annual report 2008 |date=17 March 2009 |access-date=28 July 2009 |location=Vantaa |publisher=Finavia |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807205454/http://www.finavia.fi/files/finavia/vuosikertomukset_pdf/Finavia_vsk_2008_GB_LR.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref> The Helsinki Airport-based [[Finnair]], [[Blue1]], and [[Nordic Regional Airlines]], [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]] sell air services both domestically and internationally. Helsinki has an optimal location for [[great circle]] (i.e. the shortest and most efficient) routes between Western Europe and the Far East.
Despite having a low population density, the Government annually spends around €350 million to maintain the {{convert|5865|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} network of railway tracks. Rail transport is handled by the state owned [[VR Group]], which has a 5% passenger market share (out of which 80% are from urban trips in Greater Helsinki) and 25% cargo market share.<ref name="ljvr">Transport and communications ministry—Rail. For year 2009 update: [http://rhk-fi-bin.directo.fi/@Bin/a7268406c6d22495230bb875bdf04c78/1299812171/application/pdf/4036970/Finnish%20Railway%20Statistics%202010.pdf Finnish Railway Statistics 2010]. For subsequent years when available: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110712060937/http://portal.liikennevirasto.fi/sivu/www/e/fta/statistics Finnish Railway Statistics.] liikennevirasto.fi</ref> Since 12 December 2010, [[Karelian Trains]], a joint venture between [[Russian Railways]] and VR Group, has been running [[Karelian Trains Class Sm6|Alstom Pendolino]] operated high-speed services between Saint Petersburg's [[Finlyandsky Rail Terminal|Finlyandsky]] and Helsinki's [[Helsinki Central railway station|Central]] railway stations. These services are branded as "Allegro" trains. The journey from Helsinki to [[Saint Petersburg]] takes only three and a half hours. A [[high-speed rail]] line is planned between [[ELSA-rata|Helsinki and Turku]], with a line from the capital to Tampere also proposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/16167-finland-earmarks-funds-for-new-rail-links-between-helsinki-turku-and-tampere.html|title=Finland earmarks funds for new rail links between Helsinki, Turku and Tampere|website=Helsinki Times|date=4 February 2019}}</ref> Helsinki opened the world's northernmost [[Helsinki Metro|metro system]] in 1982, which also serves the neighbouring city of Espoo since 2017.
The majority of international cargo shipments are handled at ports. [[Vuosaari Harbour]] in Helsinki is the largest container port in Finland; others include [[Kotka]], [[Hamina]], [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]], [[Pori]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]], and [[Oulu]]. There is passenger traffic from Helsinki and Turku, which have ferry connections to [[Tallinn]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Stockholm]] and [[Travemünde]]. The Helsinki-Tallinn route – one of the busiest passenger sea routes in the world – has also been served by a helicopter line, and the [[Helsinki-Tallinn Tunnel]] has been proposed to provide railway services between the two cities.<ref name="busiest">{{Cite web |title=The Busiest Crossing |work=Discover the Baltic |date=2009-04-24 |url= http://discoverthebaltic.com/travel/bblog.htm#280409 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326210756/http://www.discoverthebaltic.com/travel/bblog.htm |archive-date=2010-03-26 |language=en }}</ref> Largely following the example of the [[Øresund Bridge]] between [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]], the [[Kvarken Bridge]] connecting [[Umeå]] in Sweden and [[Vaasa]] in Finland to cross the Gulf of Bothnia has also been planned for decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2020-07-19-politicians-disagree-on-bridge-over-kvarken.rkOCYVt-ew.html|title=Politicians disagree on bridge over Kvarken &#124; tellerreport.com|website=www.tellerreport.com}}</ref>
=== Industry ===
{{Main|Economy of Finland}}
[[File:Oasis of the Seas.jpg|thumb|The [[Oasis of the Seas]] was built at the [[Perno shipyard]] in [[Turku]].]]
Finland rapidly industrialized after World War II, achieving GDP per capita levels comparable to that of Japan or the UK in the beginning of the 1970s. Initially, most of the economic development was based on two broad groups of export-led industries, the "metal industry" (''metalliteollisuus'') and "forest industry" (''metsäteollisuus''). The "metal industry" includes shipbuilding, metalworking, the [[automotive industry]], engineered products such as motors and [[Electronics industry|electronics]], and production of metals and alloys including [[steel]], [[copper]] and [[chromium]]. Many of the world's biggest [[cruise ship]]s, including [[MS Freedom of the Seas]] and the [[Oasis of the Seas]] have been built in Finnish shipyards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |title=Oasis of the Seas: Fast Facts |work=OasisoftheSeas.com |date=10 September 2009 |access-date=24 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220080037/http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/presskit/Oasis_of_the_Seas.pdf |archive-date=20 February 2012}}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Freedom of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center|url=https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/fact-sheet/5/freedom-of-the-seas/|access-date=16 June 2020|website=royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com}}</ref> The "forest industry" includes forestry, timber, pulp and paper, and is often considered a logical development based on Finland's extensive forest resources, as 73% of the area is covered by forest. In the [[pulp and paper industry]], many major companies are based in Finland; [[Ahlstrom-Munksjö]], [[Metsä Board]], and [[UPM (company)|UPM]] are all Finnish forest-based companies with revenues exceeding €1 billion. However, in recent decades, the Finnish economy has diversified, with companies expanding into fields such as electronics ([[Nokia]]), metrology ([[Vaisala]]), petroleum ([[Neste]]), and video games ([[Rovio Entertainment]]), and is no longer dominated by the two sectors of metal and forest industry. Likewise, the structure has changed, with the service sector growing, with manufacturing declining in importance; agriculture remains a minor part. Despite this, production for export is still more prominent than in Western Europe, thus making Finland possibly more vulnerable to global economic trends.
In 2017, the Finnish economy was estimated to consist of approximately 2.7% agriculture, 28.2% manufacturing and 69.1% services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Europe :: Finland — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/|access-date=16 June 2020|website=cia.gov}}</ref> In 2019, the per-capita income of Finland was estimated to be $48,869. In 2020, Finland was ranked 20th on the [[ease of doing business index]], among 190 jurisdictions.
=== Public policy ===
{{See also|Nordic model}}
[[File:Nordiske-flag.jpg|thumb|Flags of the [[Nordic countries]] from left to right: Finland, [[Iceland]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]] and [[Denmark]]]]
Finnish politicians have often emulated the Nordic model.<ref name="nordicmodel">[http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf The Nordic Model] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905212132/http://www.etla.fi/files/1892_the_nordic_model_complete.pdf |date=5 September 2012 }} by Torben M. Andersen, Bengt Holmström, Seppo Honkapohja, Sixten Korkman, Hans Tson Söderström, Juhana Vartiainen</ref> Nordics have been free-trading and relatively welcoming to skilled migrants for over a century, though in Finland [[immigration]] is relatively new. The level of protection in commodity trade has been low, except for agricultural products.<ref name="nordicmodel" />
Finland has top levels of economic freedom in many areas.{{clarify|date=April 2011|I have the impression that the Finnish labour market is quite flexible compared with other European countries—is this meant to be in relation to USA?}} Finland is ranked 16th in the 2008 global [[Index of Economic Freedom]] and 9th in Europe.<ref name="freedom" /> While the manufacturing sector is thriving, the OECD points out that the service sector would benefit substantially from policy improvements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kilpailuvirasto.fi/cgi-bin/suomi.cgi?sivu=uut/u-2005-3-1 |title=Kilpailuvirasto.fi |publisher=Kilpailuvirasto.fi |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=26 August 2010}}</ref>
The 2007 [[International Institute for Management Development|IMD]] World Competitiveness Yearbook ranked Finland 17th most [[Competitiveness|competitive]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/announcing.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612031526/http://www.imd.ch/research/publications/wcy/announcing.cfm |archive-date=12 June 2007 |title=World Competitiveness Yearbook 2007 |publisher=Imd.ch |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[World Economic Forum]] 2008 index ranked Finland the 6th most competitive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Report/index.htm |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2007–2008 |publisher=[[World Economic Forum]] |access-date=8 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619083349/http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%2BCompetitiveness%2BReport/index.htm |archive-date=19 June 2008 }}</ref> In both indicators, Finland's performance was next to Germany, and significantly higher than most European countries. In the Business competitiveness index 2007–2008 Finland ranked third in the world.
Economists attribute much growth to reforms in the product markets. According to the OECD, only four [[EU-15]] countries have less regulated [[product market]]s (UK, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden) and only one has less regulated [[financial market]]s (Denmark). Nordic countries were pioneers in liberalizing energy, postal, and other markets in Europe.<ref name="nordicmodel" /> The legal system is clear and business bureaucracy less than most countries.<ref name="freedom">{{cite web|url=http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Finland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629041208/http://www.heritage.org/index/country/Finland |archive-date=29 June 2011 |title=Finland economy |publisher=The Heritage Foundation |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Property rights are well protected and contractual agreements are strictly honoured.<ref name="freedom" /> Finland is rated the least corrupt country in the world in the [[Corruption Perceptions Index]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ |title=Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 – Results |publisher=Transparency.org |access-date=12 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131129013918/http://cpi.transparency.org/cpi2012/results/ |archive-date=29 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 13th in the [[Ease of doing business index]]. This indicates exceptional ease in cross-border trading (5th), contract enforcement (7th), business closure (5th), tax payment (83rd), and low worker hardship (127th).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doingbusiness.org/economyrankings/|title=Ranking of economies – Doing Business – World Bank Group|work=doingbusiness.org}}</ref>
Finnish law [[Universal validity of collective labour agreements|forces all workers to obey the national contracts]] that are drafted every few years for each profession and seniority level. The agreement becomes universally enforceable provided that more than 50% of the employees support it, in practice by being a member of a relevant trade union. The unionization rate is high (70%), especially in the middle class ([[AKAVA]]—80%). A lack of a national agreement in an industry is considered an exception.<ref name="oecd2004" /><ref name="nordicmodel" />
=== Tourism ===
{{Main|Tourism in Finland}}
[[File:Porvoon tuomiokirkko Näsinmäeltä.JPG|thumb|[[Medieval]] old town in [[Porvoo]] is one of the most popular tourist destinations in summers for those who are fascinated by the old look.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitfinland.com/article/summertown-porvoo/|title=Summertown Porvoo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://independenttravelcats.com/porvoo-finland-easy-day-trip-from-helsinki/|title=Porvoo Finland: An Easy Day Trip From Helsinki|date=5 November 2015|website=Independent Travel Cats}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelofinland.com/activities/porvoo-city-tour/|title=Porvoo City Tour &#124; Best To Do Activities in Finland - Finland Tour|website=www.travelofinland.com/}}</ref>]]
[[File:Hameenlinna.JPG|thumb|The historical [[Tavastia Castle]] (or Häme Castle) in [[Hämeenlinna]], [[Tavastia Proper]] is located close to the [[Lake Vanajavesi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visithame.fi/en/companies/|title=company|website=Visit Häme}}</ref>]]
In 2017, tourism in Finland grossed approximately €15.0 billion with a 7% increase from the previous year. Of this, €4.6 billion (30%) came from foreign tourism.<ref name="Matkailutilinpito">{{cite report|author=[[Business Finland]]|year=2019|title=Matkailutilinpito: Matkailun talous- ja työllisyysvaikutukset 2016–2017|url= https://www.businessfinland.fi/499c03/contentassets/4b07e15186484a69b62e991ed85a6c45/matkailutilinpito_2016-2017.pdf|publisher=[[Business Finland]], Visit Finland|access-date=2 April 2020|language = fi}}</ref> In 2017, there were 15.2 million overnight stays of domestic tourists and 6.7 million overnight stays of foreign tourists.<ref name="TEM"/> Much of the sudden growth can be attributed to the [[globalisation]] of the country as well as a rise in positive publicity and awareness. While Russia remains the largest market for foreign tourists, the biggest growth came from Chinese markets (35%).<ref name="TEM">{{cite web|url=https://tem.fi/en/finnish-tourism-in-numbers|title=Finnish tourism in numbers|author=[[Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Finland)]]|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Tourism contributes roughly 2.7% to Finland's GDP, making it comparable to agriculture and forestry.<ref name="Tourism_infographic"/>
[[Baltic Sea cruiseferries|Commercial cruises]] between major coastal and port cities in the Baltic region, including Helsinki, [[Turku]], [[Mariehamn]], [[Tallinn]], [[Stockholm]], and [[Travemünde]], play a significant role in the local tourism industry. There are also separate ferry connections dedicated to tourism in the vicinity of Helsinki and its region, such as the connection to the fortress island of [[Suomenlinna]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/maps-and-transport/transport/ferry/|title=Ferries|website=Helsingin kaupunki}}</ref> or the connection to the old town of [[Porvoo]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msjlruneberg.fi/cruises/helsinki-porvoo/|title=Helsinki - Porvoo|website=m/s J.L. Runeberg}}</ref> By passenger counts, the [[Port of Helsinki]] is the [[World's busiest ports|busiest port in the world]] after the [[Port of Dover]] in the United Kingdom and the [[Port of Tallinn]] in Estonia.<ref name="POH">{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/pdfscache/6652.pdf|title=Maritime ports freight and passenger statistics|publisher=[[Eurostat]]|access-date=2 February 2020}}</ref> The [[Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport]] is the fourth busiest airport in the [[Nordic countries]] in terms of passenger numbers,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinki-airport.com/|title=Helsinki Airport (HEL)|publisher=[[Helsinki Airport]]|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> and about 90% of Finland's international air traffic passes through the airport.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helsinki Airport is designed for smooth travelling|url=https://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/in-brief/|publisher=Finavia|access-date=25 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004015600/http://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/in-brief/|archive-date=4 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] has the highest tourism consumption of any Finnish region.<ref name="Tourism_infographic">{{cite report|author=[[Business Finland]]|year=2019|title=Tourism as Export Infographic 2019|url=https://www.businessfinland.fi/494339/globalassets/julkaisut/visit-finland/tutkimukset/2020/2019-tourism-as-export-infographic.pdf|publisher=[[Business Finland]], Visit Finland|access-date=2 April 2020}}</ref> Above the [[Arctic Circle]], in midwinter, there is a [[polar night]], a period when the sun does not rise for days or weeks, or even months, and correspondingly, [[midnight sun]] in the summer, with no sunset even at midnight (for up to 73 consecutive days, at the northernmost point). Lapland is so far north that the [[aurora borealis]], [[fluorescence]] in the high atmosphere due to [[solar wind]], is seen regularly in the fall, winter, and spring. Finnish Lapland is also locally regarded as the home of Saint Nicholas or [[Santa Claus]], with several theme parks, such as [[Santa Claus Village]] and [[Santa Park]] in [[Rovaniemi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Real Home of Santa Claus in Finland |url=http://www.lifeinlapland.com/articles/lapland-travel-tips/real-home-santa-korvatunturi.html|access-date=20 November 2017}}</ref> Other significant tourist destinations in Lapland also include [[ski resort]]s (such as [[Ylläs]], [[Levi, Finland|Levi]] and [[Ruka, Finland|Ruka]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/top-12-ski-resorts-in-finland/|title=The Top 12 Ski Resorts in Finland|first=Jessica|last=Wood|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> and [[sleigh]] rides led by either [[reindeer]] or [[Husky|huskies]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://santaclausvillage.info/services/activity-services/santa-claus-reindeer-rides-safaris-rovaniemi/|title=Santa Claus Reindeer rides & excursions in Rovaniemi Lapland Finland|website=Santa Claus Village Rovaniemi Finland}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yllas.fi/en/activities/husky-safaris-and-reindeers.html|title=Discover the winter magic with Huskies and Reindeers|website=www.yllas.fi}}</ref>
Tourist attractions in Finland include the natural landscape found throughout the country as well as urban attractions. Finland is covered with thick [[pine]] forests, rolling hills, and lakes. Finland contains 40 [[List of national parks of Finland|national parks]] (such as the [[Koli National Park]] in [[North Karelia]]), from the Southern shores of the [[Gulf of Finland]] to the high [[fell]]s of Lapland. Outdoor activities range from [[Nordic skiing]], golf, fishing, [[yachting]], lake cruises, hiking, and [[kayaking]], among many others. [[Bird-watching]] is popular for those fond of avifauna, however hunting is also popular. [[Moose|Elk]] and [[hare]] are common game in Finland.
Finland also has urbanised regions with many cultural events and activities. The most famous [[List of tourist attractions in Helsinki|tourist attractions in Helsinki]] include the [[Helsinki Cathedral]] and the [[Suomenlinna]] sea fortress. The most well-known Finnish amusement parks include [[Linnanmäki]] in Helsinki, [[Särkänniemi]] in [[Tampere]], [[PowerPark]] in [[Kauhava]], [[Tykkimäki]] in [[Kouvola]] and [[Nokkakivi]] in [[Laukaa]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://trip101.com/article/theme-parks-in-finland|title=Top 6 Theme Parks And Amusement Parks In Finland|date=30 December 2019|website=Trip101}}</ref> [[St. Olaf's Castle]] (''Olavinlinna'') in [[Savonlinna]] hosts the annual [[Savonlinna Opera Festival]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://operafestival.fi/en/|title=Home - Savonlinna Opera Festival|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> and the [[medieval]] milieus of the cities of [[Turku]], [[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] and [[Porvoo]] also attract curious spectators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foreigner.fi/articulo/tourism/five-finnish-cities-worth-touristic-visit/20190623190002002246.html|title=5 Finnish cities that deserve a tourist visit|website=Foreigner.fi|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref>
== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Finland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Population by ethnic background in 2017<ref name="auto"/><ref name="un"/>
|label1 = Finnish
|value1 = 91.33
|color1 = #003399
|label2 = Other European
|value2 = 4.90
|color2 = #4080bf
|label3 = Asian
|value3 = 2.50
|color3 = #ff471a
|label4 = African
|value4 = 0.90
|color4 = #ffff00
|label5 = Other
|value5 = 0.37
}}
The population of Finland is currently about 5.5 million. The current [[birth rate]] is 10.42 per 1,000 residents, for a [[Total fertility rate|fertility rate]] of 1.49 children born per woman,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__kuol/?tablelist=true|title=PxWeb - Select table|website=pxnet2.stat.fi}}</ref> one of the lowest in the world, significantly below the replacement rate of 2.1. In 1887 Finland recorded its highest rate, 5.17 children born per woman.<ref>{{citation|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=FIN|title=Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries|author=Max Roser|date=2014|work=[[Our World In Data]], [[Gapminder Foundation]]|access-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190205121631/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=FIN|archive-date=5 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Finland has one of the oldest populations in the world, with a median age of 42.6 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : FINLAND|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018}}</ref> Approximately half of voters are estimated to be over 50 years old.<ref>[http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html Tilastokeskus – Population]. Stat.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref name="populationdevelopment" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=81 |title=Median Age (Years) |publisher=GlobalHealthFacts.org |access-date=22 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403123202/http://www.globalhealthfacts.org/data/topic/map.aspx?ind=81 |archive-date=3 April 2013 }}</ref><ref name="pop_stat">{{cite web|date=4 June 2020|title=Finland in Figures > Population|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html|access-date=12 August 2020|website=stat.fi|publisher=Statistics Finland}}</ref> Finland has an average population density of 18 inhabitants per square kilometre. This is the third-lowest population density of any European country, behind those of Norway and [[Iceland]], and the lowest population density of any European Union member country. Finland's population has always been concentrated in the southern parts of the country, a phenomenon that became even more pronounced during 20th-century urbanisation. Two of the three largest cities in Finland are situated in the [[Greater Helsinki]] [[metropolitan area]]—Helsinki and [[Espoo]],  and some municipalities in the metropolitan area have also shown clear growth of population year after year, the most notable being [[Järvenpää]], [[Nurmijärvi]], [[Kirkkonummi]], [[Kerava]] and [[Sipoo]].<ref>[http://www.kirkkonummensanomat.fi/neo/?app=NeoDirect&com=6/159/55218/ab3d2d5ebf Kirkkonummen Sanomat: Nurmijärvi - ilmiö voimistui heinäkuussa - Kirkkonummella väkiluvun kasvu 1,2 %] (in Finnish)</ref> In the largest cities of Finland, [[Tampere]] holds the third place after Helsinki and Espoo while also Helsinki-neighbouring [[Vantaa]] is the fourth. Other cities with population over 100,000 are [[Turku]], [[Oulu]], [[Jyväskylä]], [[Kuopio]], and [[Lahti]]. On the other hand, [[Sottunga]] of the [[Åland Islands]] is the smallest municipality in Finland in terms of population ([[Luhanka]] in [[mainland Finland]]),<ref>[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tietotuotteet-ja-palvelut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)</ref> and [[Savukoski]] of [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] is sparsely populated in terms of [[population density]].<ref>[https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot/kuntien-pinta-alat-ja-asukastiheydet Kuntien pinta-alat ja asukastiheydet – Kuntaliitto] (in Finnish)</ref>
{{As of|2019}}, there were 423,494 people with a foreign background living in Finland (7.7% of the population), most of whom are from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Somalia, Iraq and former Yugoslavia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ulkomaalaistaustaiset |publisher=Tilastokeskus |access-date= 2021-04-25 |url= https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset.html |language=fi  }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Population |publisher=Statistics Finland |date=2021-04-23 |access-date=2021-04-25 |url= https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html |language=en }}</ref> The children of foreigners are not automatically given Finnish citizenship, as Finnish nationality law practices and maintain ''[[jus sanguinis]]'' policy where only children born to at least one Finnish parent are granted citizenship. If they are born in Finland and cannot get citizenship of any other country, they become citizens.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Child born in Finland |publisher=Finnish Immigration Service |access-date=2021-04-25 |url= https://migri.fi/en/child-born-in-finland |language=en }}</ref> Additionally, certain persons of Finnish descent who reside in countries that were once part of [[Soviet Union]], retain the [[Right of return#Finland|right of return]], a right to establish permanent residency in the country, which would eventually entitle them to qualify for citizenship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475 |title=Finnish Directorate of Immigration |date=10 November 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110122502/http://www.migri.fi/netcomm/content.asp?path=8,2475 |archive-date=10 November 2011 }}</ref> 387,215 people in Finland in 2018 were born in another country, representing 7% of the population. The 10 largest foreign born groups are (in order) from [[Russia]], [[Estonia]], [[Sweden]], [[Iraq]], [[Somalia]], [[China]], [[Thailand]], [[Serbia]], [[Vietnam]] and [[Turkey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/?tablelist|title=PxWeb - Select table|website=pxnet2.stat.fi}}</ref>
Finland's immigrant population is growing. By 2035, the three largest cites in Finland are projected to have over a quarter of residents of a foreign-speaking background: in Helsinki, they are projected to form 26% of the population; in [[Espoo]], 30%; and in [[Vantaa]], 34%. The Helsinki region is projected to have 437,000 people of a foreign linguistic background, compared to 201,000 in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hel.fi/uutiset/fi/kaupunginkanslia/helsingin-seudun-vieraskielinen-vaesto-yli-kaksinkertaistuu-vuoteen-2035-mennessa|title=Helsingin seudun vieraskielinen väestö yli kaksinkertaistuu vuoteen 2035 mennessä|website=Helsingin kaupunki}}</ref>
=== Language ===
{{Main|Finnish language|Finland Swedish|Languages of Finland}}
{{See also|List of municipalities of Finland in which Finnish is not the sole official language}}
[[File:Languages of Finnish municipalities (2016).svg|thumb|Municipalities of Finland: {{legend|#EEEEC1|unilingually Finnish}}{{legend|#37ABC8|bilingual with Finnish as majority language, Swedish as minority language}}{{legend|#0055D4|bilingual with Swedish as majority language, Finnish as minority language}}{{legend|#000080|unilingually Swedish}}{{legend|#800033|bilingual with Finnish as majority language, Sami as minority language}}]]
Finnish and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] are the official languages of Finland. Finnish predominates nationwide while Swedish is spoken in some coastal areas in the west and south (such as [[Raseborg]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/the-10-most-beautiful-towns-in-finland/|title=The 10 Most Beautiful Towns In Finland|first=Lani|last=Seelinger|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> [[Pargas]],<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/18417-twice-a-minority-foreign-immigration-to-swedish-speaking-communities-in-finland.html|title=Twice a minority: foreign immigration to Swedish-speaking communities in Finland|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> [[Närpes]],<ref name="auto1"/> [[Kristinestad]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/12675-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-kristinestad.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Kristinestad|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> [[Jakobstad]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/13124-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-jakobstad.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Jakobstad|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> and [[Nykarleby]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/12953-discovering-swedish-speaking-municipalities-nykarleby.html|title=Discovering Swedish-speaking municipalities: Nykarleby|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref>) and in the autonomous region of [[Åland]], which is the only monolingual Swedish-speaking region in Finland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/info-norden/swedish-language-courses-foreigners-aland|title=Swedish language courses for foreigners in Åland &#124; Nordic cooperation|website=www.norden.org}}</ref> The [[native language]] of 87.3% of the population is Finnish,<ref name="Population according to language">{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2015/vaerak_2015_2016-04-01_tau_002_en.html |title=Appendix table 2. Population according to language 1980–2015 |work=Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Population structure |access-date=27 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201900_2019_21461_net.pdf |title=Finland in Figures 2019 |work=Statistics Finland |date=June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711184650/https://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201900_2019_21461_net.pdf |archive-date=11 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> which is part of the Finnic subgroup of the Uralic languages. The language is one of only four official [[Languages of the European Union|EU languages]] not of [[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]] origin, and has no relation to the other [[North Germanic languages|national languages]] of the [[Nordic countries|Nordics]]. Conversely, Finnish is closely related to [[Estonian language|Estonian]] and [[Karelian language|Karelian]], and more distantly to [[Hungarian language|Hungarian]] and the Sami languages.
Swedish is the native language of 5.2% of the population ([[Swedish-speaking Finns]]).<ref name="population-2016">[http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html Statistics Finland, Population] Retrieved on 18 October 2017.</ref> Finnish is dominant in all the country's larger cities; though Helsinki, [[Turku]] and [[Vaasa]] were once predominantly Swedish-speaking, they have undergone a language shift since the 19th century to become largely Finnish-speaking.
Swedish is a compulsory school subject and general knowledge of the language is good among non-native speakers. In 2005, a total of 47% of Finnish citizens reported the ability to speak Swedish, either as primary or a secondary language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_243_en.pdf|title=Europeans and their languages, situation in 2005|publisher=[[European Commission]]|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> Likewise, a majority of mainland Sweden Finns are able to speak Finnish. However, most Sweden Finnish youth reported seldom using Finnish: 71% reported always or mostly speaking Swedish in social settings outside of their households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/finlandssvenska-ungdomar-talar-sallan-finska-sarskilt-pa-natet-ar-finskan-ovanlig/| title=Finlandssvenska ungdomar talar sällan finska - särskilt på nätet är finskan ovanlig|publisher=Hufvudstadsbladet|last=Piippo|first=Mikael|date=12 December 2018|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref> The Finnish side of the land border with Sweden is unilingually Finnish-speaking, with a stark language divide over the [[Torne River]]: on the Swedish side, a Northern Swedish accent can be heard that is distinct from the Swedish spoken in other parts of Finland. There is a sizeable pronunciation difference between the varieties of Swedish spoken in the two countries, although their [[mutual intelligibility]] is nearly universal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infofinland.fi/sv/livet-i-finland/finska-och-svenska-spraket/det-svenska-spraket-i-finland|title=Det svenska språket i Finland|publisher=InfoFinland|language=sv|access-date=5 January 2021}}</ref>
The [[Nordic countries#Languages|Nordic]] languages and [[Karelian language|Karelian]] are also specially recognized in parts of Finland.
[[Finnish Kalo language|Finnish Romani]] is spoken by some 5,000–6,000 people; Romani and [[Finnish Sign Language]] are also recognized in the constitution. There are two sign languages: Finnish Sign Language, spoken natively by 4,000–5,000 people,<ref>{{cite web |title=''Forskningscentralen för de inhemska språken—Teckenspråken i Finland'' |language=sv |url=http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=sv&s=206 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318084839/http://www.kotus.fi/index.phtml?l=sv&s=206 |archive-date=18 March 2015 }}</ref> and [[Finland-Swedish Sign Language]], spoken natively by about 150 people. [[Mishar Tatar dialect|Tatar]] is spoken by a [[Finnish Tatars|Finnish Tatar]] minority of about 800 people whose ancestors moved to Finland mainly during Russian rule from the 1870s to the 1920s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forum.hunturk.net/national-minorities-of-finland-the-tatars-2491.html |title=National Minorities of Finland, The Tatars |publisher=Forum.hunturk.net |access-date=6 December 2011}}</ref>
The [[Sami languages|Sami language]] has an official status in Lapland where the Sami people predominate, numbering around 7,000<ref>According to the Finnish Population Registry Centre and the Finnish Sami parliament, the Sami population living in Finland was 7,371 in 2003. See [https://web.archive.org/web/20080306223521/http://www.samediggi.fi/vanha/suomi/toimieli/vaali/lukumaara_vuoden_2003_vaaleissa.pdf Regional division of Sami people in Finland by age in 2003] (in Finnish).</ref> and recognized as an [[Indigenous peoples|indigenous people]]. About a quarter of them speak a Sami language as their mother tongue.<ref name="Population 2006-12-31">{{cite web |url=http://tilastokeskus.fi/til/vaerak/2006/vaerak_2006_2007-03-23_tie_001_en.html |title=The population of Finland in 2006 |work=Statistics Finland |date=31 December 2006 |access-date=4 September 2007}}</ref> The Sami languages that are spoken in Finland are [[Northern Sami]], [[Inari Sami language|Inari Sami]], and [[Skolt Sami language|Skolt Sami]].{{refn|group=note|The names for Finland in its Sami languages are: {{lang|se|Suopma}} ([[Northern Sami]]), {{lang|smn|Suomâ}} ([[Inari Sami language|Inari Sami]]) and {{lang|sms|Lää'ddjânnam}} ([[Skolt Sami language|Skolt Sami]]). See [http://www.geonames.de/coufi.html Geonames.de].}}
The rights of minority groups (in particular [[Sami people#Finland|Sami]], [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish speakers]], and [[Finnish Kale|Romani people]]) are protected by the constitution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/kaannokset/1999/en19990731.pdf |title=The Constitution of Finland, 17 § and 121 § |work=FINLEX Data Bank |access-date=4 September 2007}}</ref>
The largest immigrant languages are [[Russian language|Russian]] (1.5%), [[Estonian language|Estonian]] (0.9%), [[Arabic]] (0.6%), [[Somali language|Somali]] (0.4%) and [[English language|English]] (0.4%).<ref name="population-2016" /> English is studied by most pupils as a compulsory subject from the first grade (at seven years of age) in the comprehensive school (in some schools other languages can be chosen instead),<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/15462-finland-s-first-graders-to-start-learning-foreign-language-in-spring-2020.html|title=Finland's first-graders to start learning foreign language in spring 2020|last=Teivainen|first=Aleksi|date=13 April 2019|work=[[Helsinki Times]]|access-date=1 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Yang|first=Junyi|title=Teachers' Role in Developing Healthy Self-esteem in Young Learners: A study of English language teachers in Finland|date=Spring 2018|degree=Master’s Degree Program in Early Language Education for Intercultural Communication|publisher=University of Eastern Finland|url=http://epublications.uef.fi/pub/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20180513/urn_nbn_fi_uef-20180513.pdf}}</ref> as a result of which [[Finns]]' English language skills have been significantly strengthened over several decades.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finlandtoday.fi/finland-places-among-the-top-four-english-speaking-countries-in-the-world/|title=Finland Places Among the Top Four English-Speaking Countries in the World|first=Tony|last=Öhberg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_ranks_sixth_in_english_skills_early_instruction_crucial/10071036|title=Finland ranks sixth in English skills, early instruction crucial|website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> German, French, Spanish and Russian can be studied as second foreign languages from the fourth grade (at 10 years of age; some schools may offer other options).<ref>{{Cite conference|last=Nuolijärvi|first=Pirkko|date=Fall 2011|title=Language education policy and practice in Finland|url=http://www.efnil.org/documents/conference-publications/london-2011/the-role-of-language-education-in-creating-a/15-Pirkko-Nuolijarvi.pdf|conference=European Federation of National Institutions for Language}}</ref>
About 93% of Finns can speak a second language.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/more_than_90_percent_of_finnish_residents_are_at_least_bilingual/10550664 |title=More than 90 percent of Finnish residents are at least bilingual |publisher=YLE |access-date=12 December 2018}}</ref> The figures in this section should be treated with caution, as they come from the official Finnish population register. People can only register one language and so bilingual or multilingual language users' language competencies are not properly included. A citizen of Finland that speaks bilingually Finnish and Swedish will often be registered as a Finnish only speaker in this system. Similarly "old domestic language" is a category applied to some languages and not others for political not linguistic reasons, for example Russian.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ling.helsinki.fi/~fkarlsso/Languages%20of%20Finland_1917-2017.pdf |title=THE LANGUAGES OF FINLAND 1917–2017 |work=Lingsoft Language Library publications |access-date=15 December 2018}}</ref>
=== Largest cities ===
{{Largest cities of Finland}}
=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Finland}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religions in Finland (2019)<ref name="stnin"/>
|label1 = Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
|value1 = 68.72
|color1 = DodgerBlue
|label2 = Orthodox Church
|value2 = 1.10
|color2 = Orchid
|label3 = Other Christian
|value3 = 0.93
|color3 = DarkOrchid
|label4 = Other religions
|value4 = 0.76
|color4 = Chartreuse
|label5 = Unaffiliated
|value5 = 28.49
|color5 = Honeydew
}}
With 3.9 million members,<ref>[https://www.kirkontilastot.fi/viz?id=54 Seurakuntien jäsentilasto 2018] Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</ref> the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland]] is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world and is also by far Finland's largest religious body; at the end of 2019, 68.7% of Finns were members of the church.<ref name="relig_stat">[http://tilastokeskus.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_vaesto_en.html#structure Population structure] Statistics Finland</ref> The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland has seen its share of the country's population declining by roughly one percent annually in recent years.<ref name="relig_stat" /> The decline has been due to both church membership resignations and falling baptism rates.<ref>[http://eroakirkosta.fi/media/none/tiedote_13_2015.html?year=2015 Eroakirkosta.fi – Kirkosta eronnut tänä vuonna 40 000 ihmistä] (in Finnish)</ref><ref>[http://www.karjalainen.fi/uutiset/uutis-alueet/kotimaa/item/108142-kastettujen-maara-romahtanut-kirkollisista-ristiaisista-luopuu-yha-useampi ''Karjalainen – Kastettujen määrä romahtanut – kirkollisista ristiäisistä luopuu yhä useampi''] 13 June 2016 (in Finnish)</ref> The second largest group, accounting for 26.3% of the population<ref name="relig_stat" /> in 2017, has no religious affiliation. The irreligious group rose quickly from just below 13% in the year 2000. A small minority belongs to the [[Finnish Orthodox Church]] (1.1%). Other [[Protestant]] denominations and the [[Catholic Church in Finland|Roman Catholic Church]] are significantly smaller, as are the [[Jewish]] and other non-Christian communities (totalling 1.6%); for example, in the Protestant trend, there are about 1,500 [[Baptists]] concentrated in the region of [[Central Finland]],<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=26| title= Baptismi| work= Uskonnot Suomessa | access-date=6 January 2021 | language=fi}}</ref> and there are only about 2,000 [[Methodism|Methodists]] who are scattered around the country.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=24| title= Metodismi| work= Uskonnot Suomessa| access-date= 6 January 2021| language= fi| archive-date= 8 January 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210108084048/http://www.uskonnot.fi/uskonnot/view.php?religionId=24| url-status= dead}}</ref> The [[Pew Research Center]] estimated the Muslim population at 2.7% in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Muslim Population Growth in Europe|url=http://www.pewforum.org/2017/11/29/europes-growing-muslim-population/|website=pewforum.org}}</ref> The main Lutheran and Orthodox churches are [[national church]]es of Finland with special roles such as in state ceremonies and schools.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/Public/default.aspx?contentid=160099&nodeid=41800&culture=en-US |title=The Church in Finland today |author=Salla Korpela |date=May 2005 |access-date=11 January 2011 |publisher=Finland Promotion Board; Produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Department for Communications and Culture}}</ref>
In 1869, Finland was the first Nordic country to [[disestablishment|disestablish]] its Evangelical Lutheran church by introducing the Church Act, followed by the [[Church of Sweden]] in 2000. Although the church still maintains a special relationship with the state, it is not described as a [[state religion]] in the [[Constitution of Finland|Finnish Constitution]] or other laws passed by the [[Finnish Parliament]].<ref name=FinlandConstitution>{{cite web|url=https://servat.unibe.ch/icl/fi00000_.html |title=Finland > Constitution: Chapter 1 Fundamental provisions (Section 76 The Church Act) |last=Tschentscher |first=Axel |date=27 June 2020}}</ref> Finland's state church was the Church of Sweden until 1809. As an autonomous Grand Duchy under Russia 1809–1917, Finland retained the Lutheran State Church system, and a state church separate from Sweden, later named the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, was established. It was detached from the state as a separate judicial entity when the new church law came to force in 1869. After Finland had gained independence in 1917, religious freedom was declared in the constitution of 1919 and a separate law on religious freedom in 1922. Through this arrangement, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland lost its position as a state church but gained a constitutional status as a national church alongside the Finnish Orthodox Church, whose position however is not codified in the constitution.
[[File:Catedral Luterana de Helsinki, Finlandia, 2012-08-14, DD 01.JPG|thumb|The Evangelical Lutheran [[Helsinki Cathedral]]]]
In 2016, 69.3% of Finnish children were [[Baptism|baptized]]<ref>[http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/FFEDB75916EB394AC22576CC003D875E/$FILE/Vaestonmuutokset_koko%20kirkko_2016.xlsx Lutheran church member statistics (2016)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215122035/http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/FFEDB75916EB394AC22576CC003D875E/$FILE/Vaestonmuutokset_koko%20kirkko_2016.xlsx |date=15 December 2018 }} evl.fi</ref> and 82.3% were [[Confirmation (Lutheran Church)|confirmed]] in 2012 at the age of 15,<ref>[http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/8A75CE045AD09FE4C22577AE00256611/$FILE/KKH_Tilastollinen_vuosikirja2012_toiminta_lopullinen%20versio.pdf Church statistical yesrbook 2012] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320170001/http://sakasti.evl.fi/sakasti.nsf/0/8A75CE045AD09FE4C22577AE00256611/$FILE/KKH_Tilastollinen_vuosikirja2012_toiminta_lopullinen%20versio.pdf |date=20 March 2014 }} The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland</ref> and over 90% of the funerals are Christian. However, the majority of Lutherans attend church only for special occasions like Christmas ceremonies, weddings, and funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 1.8% of its members attend church services weekly.<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/church_attendance_falls_religion_seen_as_private/5539349 Church Attendance Falls; Religion Seen as Private] 3 June 2012 YLE</ref> The average number of church visits per year by church members is approximately two.<ref name="state2004">{{cite web |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2004/35453.htm |title=International Religious Freedom Report 2004 |work=[[United States Department of State|U.S. Department of State]] |date=15 September 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref>
According to a 2010 [[Eurobarometer]] poll, 33% of Finnish citizens responded that they "believe there is a God"; 42% answered that they "believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"; and 22% that they "do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".<ref name="EUROBAROMETER">{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |title=Special Eurobarometer Biotechnology |page=204 |edition=Fieldwork: January–February 2010 |date=October 2010 |access-date=16 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215001129/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf |archive-date=15 December 2010 }}</ref> According to ISSP survey data (2008), 8% consider themselves "highly religious", and 31% "moderately religious". In the same survey, 28% reported themselves as "agnostic" and 29% as "non-religious".<ref>Kimmo, Ketola et al. (2011). [http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65683/uskonto_suomalaisten_elamassa_2011.pdf?sequence=1 Uskonto suomalaisten elämässä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916015652/http://tampub.uta.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/65683/uskonto_suomalaisten_elamassa_2011.pdf?sequence=1 |date=16 September 2018 }}. Tampereen yliopistopaino Oy . {{ISBN|978-951-44-8483-4}}</ref>
=== Health ===
{{Main|Healthcare in Finland}}
[[File:Meilahdensairaala2.jpg|thumb|The [[Meilahti Tower Hospital]], part of the [[Helsinki University Central Hospital]] (HUCH) in [[Töölö]], Helsinki]]
[[Life expectancy]] has increased from 71 years for men and 79 years for women in 1990 to 79 years for men and 84 years for women in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/julkaisut/tiedostot/julkaisuluettelo/yyti_fif_201800_2018_19693_net.pdf |title=Finland in Figures 2018 |publisher=Finnish Population Centre|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The under-five mortality rate has decreased from 51 per 1,000 live births in 1950 to 2.3 per 1,000 live births in 2017, ranking Finland's rate among the lowest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.unicef.org/country/fin/|title=Trends in Under five Mortality Rate |publisher=UNICEF|access-date=10 December 2018}}</ref> The [[fertility rate]] in 2014 stood at 1.71 children born/per woman and has been below [[Sub-replacement fertility|the replacement rate]] of 2.1 since 1969.<ref name="stat.fi">[http://www.stat.fi/til/synt/2014/synt_2014_2015-04-14_tie_001_en.html Statistics Finland – Births 2014]. Stat.fi (14 April 2015). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> With a low birth rate women also become mothers at a later age, the mean age at first live birth being 28.6 in 2014.<ref name="stat.fi" /> A 2011 study published in ''[[The Lancet]]'' medical journal found that Finland had the lowest [[stillbirth]] rate out of 193 countries, including the UK, France and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62187-3/fulltext#article_upsell |title=Stillbirths: Where? When? Why? How to make the data count? |journal=[[The Lancet]] |access-date=6 December 2011 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(10)62187-3 |pmid=21496911 |volume=377 |issue=9775 |pages=1448–1463|year=2011 |last1=Lawn |first1=Joy E. |last2=Blencowe |first2=Hannah |last3=Pattinson |first3=Robert |last4=Cousens |first4=Simon |last5=Kumar |first5=Rajesh |last6=Ibiebele |first6=Ibinabo |last7=Gardosi |first7=Jason |last8=Day |first8=Louise T. |last9=Stanton |first9=Cynthia |hdl=2263/16343 |s2cid=14278260 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>
There has been a slight increase or no change in welfare and health inequalities between population groups in the 21st century. Lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise. More than half a million Finns suffer from [[diabetes]], [[type 1 diabetes]] being globally the most common in Finland. Many children are diagnosed with [[type 2 diabetes]]. The number of [[musculoskeletal disease]]s and [[cancer]]s are increasing, although the cancer prognosis has improved. Allergies and dementia are also growing health problems in Finland. One of the most common reasons for work disability are due to mental disorders, in particular [[Major depressive disorder|depression]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=6511570&name=DLFE-26813.pdf |title=Health care in Finland |publisher=STM |access-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317183526/http://www.stm.fi/c/document_library/get_file?folderId=6511570&name=DLFE-26813.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2015 }}</ref> Treatment for depression has improved and as a result the historically high suicide rates have declined to 13 per 100 000 in 2017, closer to the North European average.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/eurostat_falling_suicide_rate_in_finland_nears_european_average/10324113|title=Eurostat: Falling suicide rate in Finland nears European average |publisher=YLE|access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> Suicide rates are still among the highest among developed countries in the OECD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.MHSUICIDEASDR?lang=en|title=GHO {{!}} By category {{!}} Suicide rate estimates, age-standardized - Estimates by country|website=WHO|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref>
There are 307 residents for each doctor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_terveys_en.html |title=Health (2004) |work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 January 2007}}</ref> About 19% of health care is funded directly by households and 77% by taxation.
In April 2012, Finland was ranked 2nd in Gross National Happiness in a report published by The Earth Institute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pakblog.net/2012/04/pakistan-ranked-85th-happiest-nation-in.html |title=World Happiness report |year=2012 |access-date=7 April 2012}}</ref> Since 2012, Finland has every time ranked at least in the top 5 of world's happiest countries in the annual [[World Happiness Report]] by the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2017/|title=World Happiness Report 2017|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2016/HR-V1_web.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2016 {{pipe}} Volume I (page 22)|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/happiness-report/2012/World_Happiness_Report_2012.pdf|title=World Happiness Report 2012 (page 30) |access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> as well as ranking as the happiest country in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://worldhappiness.report/ed/2018/|title=World Happiness Report 2018|access-date=21 May 2018|date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
=== Education and science ===
{{Main|Education in Finland}}
{{See also|List of universities in Finland|List of schools in Finland}}
[[File:Oodi July 2019 2.jpg|thumb|[[Helsinki Central Library Oodi]] was chosen as the best new [[public library]] in the world in 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/collection/worlds-greatest-places-2019/5654132/helsinki-central-library-oodi-finland/|title=World's Greatest Places: Helsinki Central Library Oodi|publisher=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=11 October 2020}}</ref>]]
[[File:Helsinki University of Technology auditorium.jpg|thumb|Auditorium in [[Aalto University]]'s main building, designed by [[Alvar Aalto]]]]
[[File:Itä-Suomen yliopiston kirjasto - Kuopion kampuskirjasto - Snellmania - Yliopistonranta 1 E - Savilahti - Kuopio - 2.jpg|thumb|The library of the [[University of Eastern Finland]] in Snellmania, the [[Kuopio]] campus of the university]]
[[File:Torvisen kansakoulu 1924-26.jpg|thumb|Pupils at the school of Torvinen in [[Sodankylä]], Finland, in the 1920s]]
Most pre-tertiary education is arranged at municipal level. Even though many or most schools were started as private schools, today only around 3 percent of students are enrolled in private schools (mostly specialist language and international schools), much less than in Sweden and most other developed countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/047DN/047_NL_EN.pdf |title=Summary sheets on education systems in Europe |publisher=Eurydice.org |access-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910005807/http://www.eurydice.org/ressources/Eurydice/pdf/047DN/047_NL_EN.pdf |archive-date=10 September 2008 }}</ref> Pre-school education is rare compared with other EU countries and formal education is usually started at the age of 7. Primary school takes normally six years and lower secondary school three years. Most schools are managed by municipal officials.
The flexible curriculum is set by the [[Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland)|Ministry of Education and Culture]] and the Education Board. Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16. After lower secondary school, graduates may either enter the workforce directly, or apply to trade schools or [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasiums]] (upper secondary schools). Trade schools offer a [[vocational education]]: approximately 40% of an age group choose this path after the lower secondary school.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unevoc.unesco.org/worldtvetdatabase1.php?ct=FIN |title=Vocational Education in Finland |date=18 November 2013 |access-date=9 May 2014 |author=UNESCO-UNEVOC}}</ref> Academically oriented gymnasiums have higher entrance requirements and specifically prepare for [[Abitur]] and tertiary education. Graduation from either formally qualifies for tertiary education.
In tertiary education, two mostly separate and non-interoperating sectors are found: the profession-oriented polytechnics and the research-oriented universities. Education is free and living expenses are to a large extent financed by the government through [[student benefit]]s. There are 15 universities and 24 Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scholarshipsineurope.com/list-of-university-in-finland/ |title=List of University in Finland |website=scholarshipsineurope.com |access-date=4 August 2018|date=July 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.studyinfinland.fi/where_to_study/universities_of_applied_sciences |title=Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland |website=studyinfinland.fi |access-date=4 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808092603/http://studyinfinland.fi/where_to_study/universities_of_applied_sciences |archive-date=8 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[University of Helsinki]] is ranked 75th in the Top University Ranking of 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.topuniversities.com/university/258/university-of-helsinki |title=Top University Ranking of 2010: University of Helsinki |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102111112/http://topuniversities.com/university/258/university-of-helsinki |archive-date=2 January 2010 }}</ref> The [[World Economic Forum]] ranks Finland's tertiary education No. 1 in the world.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GlobalCompetitivenessReport_2013-14.pdf |title=The Global Competitiveness Report 2013–2014 |access-date=9 May 2014 |author=World Economic Forum |page=36|author-link=World Economic Forum }}</ref> Around 33% of residents have a tertiary degree, similar to Nordics and more than in most other OECD countries except Canada (44%), United States (38%) and Japan (37%).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tilastokeskus.fi/artikkelit/2006/art_2006-07-06_001.html |title=Tilastokeskus.fi |publisher=Tilastokeskus.fi |access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> The proportion of foreign students is 3% of all tertiary enrollments, one of the lowest in OECD, while in advanced programs it is 7.3%, still below OECD average 16.5%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/24/52/39315711.pdf|title=Education at Glance 2007: Finland|publisher=OECD}}</ref> Other reputable universities of Finland include [[Aalto University]] in [[Espoo]], both [[University of Turku]] and [[Åbo Akademi University]] in [[Turku]], [[University of Jyväskylä]], [[University of Oulu]], [[LUT University]] in [[Lappeenranta]] and [[Lahti]], [[University of Eastern Finland]] in [[Kuopio]] and [[Joensuu]], and [[Tampere University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.study.eu/best-universities/finland|title=The top 9 best universities in Finland: 2021 rankings|website=www.study.eu}}</ref>
More than 30% of tertiary graduates are in science-related fields. Forest improvement, materials research, environmental sciences, neural networks, low-temperature physics, brain research, biotechnology, genetic technology, and communications showcase fields of study where Finnish researchers have had a significant impact.<ref name="innovation">{{cite web|author=Kari Sipilä |title=A country that innovates |url=http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=99637 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707031053/http://www.finland.cn/Public/default.aspx?contentid=99637 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |work=Virtual Finland |publisher=Ministry for Foreign Affairs / Department for Communication and Culture / Unit for Promotion and Publications / Embassy and Consulates General of Finland in China |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Finland has a long tradition of adult education, and by the 1980s nearly one million Finns were receiving some kind of instruction each year. Forty percent of them did so for professional reasons. Adult education appeared in a number of forms, such as secondary evening schools, civic and workers' institutes, study centres, vocational course centres, and folk high schools. Study centres allowed groups to follow study plans of their own making, with educational and financial assistance provided by the state. [[Folk high school]]s are a distinctly Nordic institution. Originating in Denmark in the 19th century, folk high schools became common throughout the region. Adults of all ages could stay at them for several weeks and take courses in subjects that ranged from handicrafts to economics.<ref name="LOC" />
Finland is highly productive in scientific research. In 2005, Finland had the fourth most scientific publications per capita of the OECD countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.research.fi/en/performance/scientific_publication.html |title=Scientific publication—Finnish science and technology Information Service |language=fi |publisher=Research.fi |date=15 November 2007 |access-date=3 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113085004/http://www.research.fi/en/performance/scientific_publication.html |archive-date=13 November 2013 }}</ref> In 2007, 1,801 patents were filed in Finland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.research.fi/en/performance/patents/patents_with%20numbers |title=Patents with numbers—Finnish science and technology Information Service |language=fi |publisher=Research.fi |date=8 December 2009 |access-date=4 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011194752/http://www.research.fi/en/performance/patents/patents_with%20numbers |archive-date=11 October 2009 }}</ref>
In addition, 38 percent of Finland's population has a university or [[college degree]], which is among the highest percentages in the world.<ref>Sauter, Michael B. (24 September 2012) [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world.html;_ylt=AlaWy8IcyeBaviKi7_.WJyhE6odG;_ylu=X3oDMTJrY2d2NGZyBG1pdANDeFMgRmluYW5jaWFsbHkgRml0IEFydGljbGUgQXJ0aWNsZSBCb2R5IFByb2QEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNjdGVoaXJqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDY2IyOTRhMGEtYmY2OS0zYTdlLThlYTUtZWFlNTU3YWI1ZTc3BHBzdGNhdANleGNsdXNpdmVzfGZpbmFuY2lhbGx5Zml0BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3?page=1 The Most Educated Countries in the World] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820025707/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/the-most-educated-countries-in-the-world.html;_ylt=AlaWy8IcyeBaviKi7_.WJyhE6odG;_ylu=X3oDMTJrY2d2NGZyBG1pdANDeFMgRmluYW5jaWFsbHkgRml0IEFydGljbGUgQXJ0aWNsZSBCb2R5IFByb2QEcG9zAzMEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0aWNsZUJvZHlBc3NlbWJseQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTNjdGVoaXJqBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDY2IyOTRhMGEtYmY2OS0zYTdlLThlYTUtZWFlNTU3YWI1ZTc3BHBzdGNhdANleGNsdXNpdmVzfGZpbmFuY2lhbGx5Zml0BHB0A3N0b3J5cGFnZQ--;_ylv=3?page=1 |date=20 August 2016 }}. Finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>[http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/09/27/and-the-worlds-most-educated-country-is/ And the World's Most Educated Country Is...]. Newsfeed.time.com (27 September 2012). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In 2010 a new law was enacted considering the universities, which defined that there are 16 of them as they were excluded from the public sector to be autonomous legal and financial entities, however enjoying special status in the legislation.<ref>[http://www.finlex.fi/fi/laki/alkup/2009/20090558 . finlex.fi]; ''Yliopistolaki 558/2009 – Säädökset alkuperäisinä – FINLEX''. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> As result many former state institutions were driven to collect funding from private sector contributions and partnerships. The change caused deep rooted discussions among the academic circles.<ref>[http://teivo.net/2013/08/08/edu-schizo/ Educational Schizophrenia in Finland |Teivo Teivainen]. Teivo.net (8 August 2013). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
English language is important in Finnish education. There are a number of degree programs that are taught in English, which attracts thousands of degree and exchange students every year.
In December 2017 the [[OECD]] reported that Finnish fathers spend an average of eight minutes a day more with their school-aged children than mothers do.<ref>{{cite news |first=Charles |last=Bremner |title=Finland is the first country where fathers do most of the childcare |work=[[The Times]] |date=9 December 2017 |page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/dec/04/finland-only-country-world-dad-more-time-kids-moms |title=Finland: the only country where fathers spend more time with kids than mothers |access-date=23 December 2017 |date=4 October 2017 |newspaper= The Guardian}}</ref>
== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Finland}}
=== Sauna ===
{{Main|Finnish sauna}}
[[File:Smoke Sauna (395139052).jpg|thumb|A [[smoke sauna]] in [[Ruka, Finland|Ruka]], [[Kuusamo]]]]
The Finns' love for [[Finnish sauna|sauna]]s is generally associated with Finnish cultural tradition in the world. Sauna is a type of dry steam bath practiced widely in Finland, which is especially evident in the strong tradition around [[Midsummer]] and [[Christmas]]. In Finland, the sauna has been a traditional cure or part of the treatment for many different diseases, thanks to the heat, which why the sauna has been a very [[Hygiene|hygienic]] place. There is an old Finnish saying: ''"Jos sauna, terva ja viina ei auta, on tauti kuolemaksi."'' ("If sauna, [[tar]] and [[Liquor|booze]] doesn't help you, then a disease is deadly").<ref>[https://www.potilaanlaakarilehti.fi/uutiset/sauna-viina-ja-terva/ Sauna, viina ja terva – Potilaan Lääkärilehti] (in Finnish)</ref> The word is of Proto-Finnish origin (found in Finnic and Sámi languages) dating back 7,000 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sauna – A Finnish national institution |last1=Helamaa |first1=Erkki |last2=Pentikäinen |first2=Juha |work=Virtual Finland |date=November 2001 |url= http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26074 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209130410/http://virtual.finland.fi/netcomm/news/showarticle.asp?intNWSAID=26074 |archive-date=2008-02-09 |language=en }}</ref> Steam baths have been part of European tradition elsewhere as well, but the sauna has survived best in Finland, in addition to Sweden, the [[Baltic states|Baltic States]], Russia, Norway, and parts of the United States and Canada. Moreover, nearly all Finnish houses have either their own sauna or in multistory apartment houses, a timeshare sauna. Public saunas were previously common, but the tradition has declined when saunas have been built nearly everywhere (private homes, municipal swimming halls, hotels, corporate headquarters, gyms, etc.). At one time, the [[World Sauna Championships]] were held in [[Heinola]], Finland, but the death of a Russian competitor in 2010 finally stopped organizing the competitions as too dangerous.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/aug/08/sauna-championship-russian-dead Sauna contest leaves Russian dead and champion Finn in hospital] - ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref>
The [[Finnish sauna culture]] was inscribed on the [[UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists]] at the 17 December 2020 meeting of the [[UNESCO]] Intergovernmental Committee [[Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage|for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage]]. As authorized by the state, the [[Finnish Heritage Agency]] commits, together with Finnish sauna communities and promoters of the sauna culture, to safeguard the vitality of the sauna tradition and to highlight its importance as part of customs and wellbeing.<ref>{{cite web| title= Sauna culture in Finland |url= https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/sauna-culture-in-finland-01596 |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title= Finnish sauna culture steams up UNESCO Heritage List |url= https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_sauna_culture_steams_up_unesco_heritage_list/11703917 |publisher=[[YLE]] |date=17 December 2020|access-date=18 December 2020}}</ref>
=== Literature ===
{{Main|Finnish literature}}
[[File:Mikael Agricola by Albert Edelfelt.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|[[Mikael Agricola]] (1510–1557), [[List of bishops of Turku|Bishop of Turku]], a prominent Lutheran Protestant reformer and the father of the Finnish written language]]
Written Finnish could be said to have existed since [[Mikael Agricola]] translated the [[New Testament]] into Finnish during the [[Protestant Reformation]], but few notable works of literature were written until the 19th century and the beginning of a Finnish national [[Romanticism|Romantic Movement]]. This prompted [[Elias Lönnrot]] to collect Finnish and Karelian folk poetry and arrange and publish them as the ''[[Kalevala]]'', the Finnish [[national epic]]. The era saw a rise of poets and novelists who wrote in Finnish, notably [[Aleksis Kivi]] (''[[The Seven Brothers]]''), [[Minna Canth]] (''[[Anna Liisa]]''), [[Eino Leino]] (''{{ill|Helkavirsiä|fi}}''), [[Johannes Linnankoski]] (''[[The Song of the Blood-Red Flower]]'') and [[Juhani Aho]] (''[[The Railroad (novel)|The Railroad]]'' and ''[[Juha (novel)|Juha]]''). Many writers of the national awakening wrote in Swedish, such as the national poet [[J. L. Runeberg]] (''[[The Tales of Ensign Stål]]'') and [[Zachris Topelius]] (''[[The Tomten in Åbo Castle]]'').
After Finland became independent, there was a rise of [[Modernist literature|modernist writers]], most famously the Finnish-speaking [[Mika Waltari]] and Swedish-speaking [[Edith Södergran]]. [[Frans Eemil Sillanpää]] was awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] in 1939. World War II prompted a return to more national interests in comparison to a more international line of thought, characterized by [[Väinö Linna]] with his ''[[The Unknown Soldier (novel)|The Unknown Soldier]]'' and [[Under the North Star trilogy|''Under the North'' Star trilogy]]. Besides Lönnrot's ''Kalevala'' and Waltari, the Swedish-speaking [[Tove Jansson]], best known as the creator of ''[[The Moomins]]'', is the most translated Finnish writer;<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_post_honours_moomin_creator_jansson/7061316 Finnish post honours Moomin creator Jansson] - YLE News</ref> her books have been translated into more than 40 languages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/tove-jansson-and-the-moomin-story/|title=Finland's Tove Jansson and the Moomin story|date=11 March 2014|website=thisisFINLAND}}</ref> <!--Pure opinion?: Literature in modern Finland is in a healthy state.--> Popular modern writers include [[Arto Paasilinna]], [[Veikko Huovinen]], [[Antti Tuuri]], [[Ilkka Remes]], [[Kari Hotakainen]], [[Sofi Oksanen]], [[Tuomas Kyrö]], and [[Jari Tervo]], while the best novel is annually awarded the prestigious [[Finlandia Prize]].
=== Visual arts, design, and architecture ===
{{See also|Architecture of Finland|Finnish art}}
[[File:Sammon puolustus.jpg|thumb|right|[[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]], ''[[The Defense of the Sampo]]'', 1896, [[Turku Art Museum]]]]
The visual arts in Finland started to form their individual characteristics in the 19th century, when Romantic nationalism was rising in autonomic Finland. The best known of Finnish painters, [[Akseli Gallen-Kallela]], started painting in a naturalist style, but moved to national romanticism. Other notable world-famous Finnish painters include [[Magnus Enckell]], [[Pekka Halonen]], [[Eero Järnefelt]], [[Helene Schjerfbeck]] and [[Hugo Simberg]]. Finland's best-known sculptor of the 20th century was [[Wäinö Aaltonen]], remembered for his monumental [[Bust (sculpture)|busts]] and sculptures. Finns have made major contributions to [[handicraft]]s and [[industrial design]]: among the internationally renowned figures are [[Timo Sarpaneva]], [[Tapio Wirkkala]] and [[Ilmari Tapiovaara]]. Finnish architecture is famous around the world, and has contributed significantly to several styles internationally, such as [[Jugendstil]] (or [[Art Nouveau]]), [[Nordic Classicism]] and [[Functionalism (architecture)|Functionalism]]. Among the top 20th-century Finnish architects to gain international recognition are [[Eliel Saarinen]] and his son [[Eero Saarinen]]. Architect [[Alvar Aalto]] is regarded as among the most important 20th-century designers in the world;<ref>James Stevens Curl, ''Dictionary of Architecture'', Grange Books, Rochester, 2005, p. 1.</ref> he helped bring [[Functionalism (architecture)|functionalist architecture]] to Finland, but soon was a pioneer in its development towards an organic style.<ref>Sigfried Giedion, ''Space, Time and Architecture: The Growth of a New Tradition'', Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2nd edition, 1949.</ref> Aalto is also famous for his work in furniture, lamps, textiles and [[glassware]], which were usually incorporated into his buildings.
=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Finland|Rock music in Finland|Sami music}}
[[File:Jean Sibelius, 1913.jpg|thumb|upright|The Finnish composer [[Jean Sibelius]] (1865–1957) was a significant figure in the history of [[European classical music|classical music]].]]
;Classical
Much of Finland's classical music is influenced by traditional Karelian melodies and lyrics, as comprised in the ''[[Kalevala]]''. Karelian culture is perceived as the purest expression of the [[Baltic Finns|Finnic]] myths and beliefs, less influenced by [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] influence than the [[Nordic folk dance music]] that largely replaced the kalevaic tradition. Finnish [[folk music]] has undergone a [[roots revival]] in recent decades, and has become a part of [[popular music]].
The people of northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway, the [[Sami people|Sami]], are known primarily for highly spiritual songs called [[joik]]. The same word sometimes refers to [[lavlu]] or vuelie songs, though this is technically incorrect.
The first Finnish opera was written by the German-born composer [[Fredrik Pacius]] in 1852. Pacius also wrote the music to the poem [[Maamme|''Maamme/Vårt land'' (Our Country)]], Finland's [[national anthem]]. In the 1890s Finnish nationalism based on the ''Kalevala'' spread, and [[Jean Sibelius]] became famous for his vocal symphony ''[[Kullervo (Sibelius)|Kullervo]]''. He soon received a grant to study ''runo singers'' in Karelia and continued his rise as the first prominent Finnish musician. In 1899 he composed ''[[Finlandia]]'', which played its important role in Finland gaining independence. He remains one of Finland's most popular national figures and is a symbol of the nation. Another one of the most significant and internationally best-known Finnish-born classical composers long before Sibelius was [[Bernhard Crusell]].<ref>See {{cite web|url=http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Crusell_Contemp.htm|title=Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838)|last=Asiado|first=Tel|work=Mozart Forum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708192751/http://www.mozartforum.com/Contemporary%20Pages/Crusell_Contemp.htm |archive-date=8 July 2009|access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref>
;Modern
[[File:Apocalyptica1.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Perttu Kivilaakso]] of [[Apocalyptica]]]]
''Iskelmä'' (coined directly from the German word ''[[Schlager]]'', meaning "hit") is a traditional Finnish word for a light popular song.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Suomalainen iskelmä |last=Kaivanto |first=Petri |work=Pomus.net |access-date=18 July 2020 |url= http://pomus.net/kehityslinjat/suomalaineniskelma |language=fi }}</ref> Finnish popular music also includes various kinds of [[dance music]]; [[Tango music|tango]], a style of [[Music of Argentina|Argentine music]], is also popular.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explaining the Finnish love of tango |author=C.G. |work=The Economist |date=11 October 2017 |access-date=18 July 2020 |url= https://www.economist.com/prospero/2017/10/11/explaining-the-finnish-love-of-tango }}</ref> The light music in Swedish-speaking areas has more influences from Sweden. Modern Finnish popular music includes a number of prominent rock bands, [[jazz]] musicians, [[Hip hop music|hip hop]] performers, dance music acts, etc.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 September 2014|title=Don't mess with Finnish jazz|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/dont-mess-with-finnish-jazz/|access-date=1 September 2020|website=thisisFINLAND|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=September 2020}} Also, at least a couple of Finnish [[polka]]s are known worldwide, such as ''[[Säkkijärven polkka]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/how-the-finns-stopped-the-soviets-with-this-polka-song/|title=How the Finns stopped the Soviets with this polka song|date=6 August 2020}}</ref> and ''[[Ievan polkka]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://musicfinland.com/en/news/finnish-jenkka-song-took-over-japans-department-stores|title=Finnish jenkka song took over Japan's department stores|website=Music Finland}}</ref>
During the early 1960s, the first significant wave of Finnish rock groups emerged, playing [[instrumental rock]] inspired by groups such as [[The Shadows]]. Around 1964, [[Beatlemania]] arrived in Finland, resulting in further development of the local rock scene. During the late 1960s and '70s, Finnish rock musicians increasingly wrote their own music instead of translating international hits into Finnish. During the decade, some [[progressive rock]] groups such as [[Tasavallan Presidentti]] and [[Wigwam (Finnish band)|Wigwam]] gained respect abroad but failed to make a commercial breakthrough outside Finland. This was also the fate of the [[rock and roll]] group [[Hurriganes]]. The Finnish punk scene produced some internationally acknowledged names including [[Terveet Kädet]] in the 1980s. [[Hanoi Rocks]] was a pioneering 1980s [[glam rock]] act that inspired the American [[hard rock]] group [[Guns N' Roses]], among others.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304587704577333813382925678|title=Guns N' Roses Can Agree on at Least One Thing: This Finnish Saxophonist Rocks |last=Shah|first=Neil|date=15 April 2012|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref>
Many Finnish metal bands have gained international recognition; Finland has been often called the "Promised Land of Heavy Metal", because there are more than 50 metal Bands for every 100,000 inhabitants – more than any other nation in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finland.fi/arts-culture/finnish-metropolises-vie-to-win-capital-of-metal/|title=Finnish metropolises vie to win Capital of Metal|date=8 May 2018|website=thisisFINLAND}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.famouscampaigns.com/2019/07/finlands-stage-worlds-first-heavy-metal-knitting-championship/|title=Finland stage world's first heavy metal knitting championship|first=Famous|last=Campaigns}}</ref>
=== Cinema and television ===
{{Main|Cinema of Finland|Television in Finland}}
{{See also|Lists of Finnish films}}
[[File:Edvin-Laine-Matti-Kassila-1955.jpg|thumb|upright|The Finnish filmmakers [[Edvin Laine]] and [[Matti Kassila]] in 1955]]
In the film industry, notable directors include brothers [[Mika Kaurismäki|Mika]] and [[Aki Kaurismäki]], [[Dome Karukoski]], [[Antti Jokinen]], [[Jalmari Helander]], [[Mauritz Stiller]], [[Edvin Laine]], [[Teuvo Tulio]], [[Spede Pasanen]], and Hollywood film director and producer [[Renny Harlin]]. Internationally well-known Finnish actors and actresses include [[Jasper Pääkkönen]], [[Peter Franzén]], [[Laura Birn]], [[Irina Björklund]], [[Samuli Edelmann]], [[Krista Kosonen]], [[Ville Virtanen (actor)|Ville Virtanen]] and [[Joonas Suotamo]]. Around twelve feature films are made each year.<ref name="Media moves">{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162833&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=Media moves |work=ThisisFINLAND ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501141049/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=162833&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=1 May 2011 }}</ref>
One of the most internationally successful Finnish films are ''[[The White Reindeer]]'', directed by [[Erik Blomberg]] in 1952, which won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film]] in 1956, five years after its limited release in the [[United States]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awardsandshows.com/features/best-foreign-film-506.html |title=List of Winners – Golden Globes Best Foreign Film |access-date=12 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sundholm|first1=John|last2=Thorsen|first2=Isak|last3=Andersson|first3=Lars Gustaf|last4=Hedling|first4=Olof|last5=Iversen|first5=Gunnar|last6=Møller|first6=Birgir Thor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QktG6a4YnQYC&q=1957+golden+globe+best+foreign+film+white+reindeer&pg=PA390 |title= Historical Dictionary of Scandinavian Cinema (Google eBook) |access-date=12 December 2013|date = 20 September 2012| page=389 et seq|isbn = 978-0-8108-7899-0}}</ref> ''[[The Man Without a Past]]'', directed by [[Aki Kaurismäki]] in 2002, which was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] in 2002 and won the [[Grand Prix (Cannes Film Festival)|Grand Prix]] at the [[2002 Cannes Film Festival]];<ref>{{cite web|last=Fauth|first=Jurgen|url=http://worldfilm.about.com/od/scandinavianfilm/fr/manwithoutpast.htm|title=The Man Without a Past|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906125603/http://worldfilm.about.com/od/scandinavianfilm/fr/manwithoutpast.htm |archive-date=6 September 2015|work=[[About.com]]|access-date=5 February 2008}}</ref> and ''[[The Fencer]]'', directed by [[Klaus Härö]] in 2015, which was nominated for the [[73rd Golden Globe Awards#Film|73rd Golden Globe Awards]] in the Best Foreign Language Film category as a Finnish/German/Estonian co-production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/fencer|title=The Fencer|website=www.goldenglobes.com}}</ref>
In Finland, the most significant films include ''[[The Unknown Soldier (1955 film)|The Unknown Soldier]]'', directed by [[Edvin Laine]] in 1955, which is shown on television every [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finnish_independence_day_galas_protests_and_war_memories/7671639|title=Finnish Independence Day: Galas, protests and war memories|website=Yle Uutiset}}</ref> ''[[Here, Beneath the North Star]]'' from 1968, also directed by Laine, which includes the Finnish Civil War from the perspective of the [[Red Guards (Finland)|Red Guards]], is also one of the most significant works in Finnish history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lfq.salisbury.edu/_issues/48_1/agreeing_on_history_adaptation_as_restorative_truth_in_finnish_reconciliation.html|title=Agreeing on History Adaptation as Restorative Truth in Finnish Reconciliation, Mads Larsen, Literature Film Quarterly|website=lfq.salisbury.edu}}</ref> A 1960 [[Crime film|crime]] [[comedy film]] ''[[Inspector Palmu's Mistake (film)|Inspector Palmu's Mistake]]'', directed by [[Matti Kassila]], was voted in 2012 the best Finnish film of all time by Finnish film critics and journalists in a poll organized by [[Yle Uutiset]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kriitikot_valitsivat_kaikkien_aikojen_parhaan_kotimaisen_elokuvan/6372726 | title=Kriitikot valitsivat kaikkien aikojen parhaan kotimaisen elokuvan | publisher=Yle Uutiset | date=12 November 2012 | access-date=9 May 2014 | author=Sundqvist, Janne | language=fi}}</ref> but the 1984 comedy film ''[[Uuno Turhapuro in the Army]]'', the ninth film in the [[Uuno Turhapuro|''Uuno Turhapuro'' film series]], remains Finland's most seen domestic film made since 1968 by Finnish audience.<ref>[https://sketsi.net/uuno-turhapuro-armeijan-leivissa-elokuvat/ Uuno armeijan leivissä ja muut Turhapuro elokuvat] (in Finnish)</ref>
Although Finland's television offerings are largely known for their domestic [[Drama (film and television)|dramas]], such as the long-running [[soap opera]] series ''[[Salatut elämät]]'',<ref>Juha Suoranta & Hanna Lehtimäki: Children in the Information Society: The Case of Finland (New Literacies and Digital Epistemologies). Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers, 2004. {{ISBN|978-0-8204-6829-7}}.</ref><ref>Elisabeth Eide & Kaarina Nikunen: Media in Motion: Cultural Complexity and Migration in the Nordic Region (Research in Migration and Ethnic Relations). Routledge, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-4094-0446-0}}.</ref> there are also internationally known drama series, such as ''{{ill|Syke (TV series)|fi|Syke (televisiosarja)|lt=Syke}}'' and ''[[Bordertown (Finnish TV series)|Bordertown]]''.<ref>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9433336 YLE: Syke, Sorjonen ja Suomi Love myyvät maailmalla, mutta Presidentti ei maistunut kriitikoille] (in Finnish)</ref> One of Finland's most internationally successful TV shows are the backpacking travel documentary series ''[[Madventures (Finnish TV program)|Madventures]]'' and the reality TV show ''[[The Dudesons]]''.
=== Media and communications ===
{{See also|Telecommunications in Finland|List of newspapers in Finland}}
[[File:Linus Torvalds.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Linus Torvalds]], the Finnish [[Software engineering|software engineer]] best known for creating the popular [[Open-source software|open-source]] [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] [[Linux]]]]
<!--Press freedom does not necessarily require wealth: Due to Finland's being one of the world's wealthiest countries and-->Thanks to its emphasis on transparency and equal rights, Finland's press has been rated the freest in the world.<ref>[http://www.newseum.org/news/2011/05/world-press-freedom.html 2010 Freedom of the Press Survey] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105114819/http://newseum.org/news/2011/05/world-press-freedom.html |date=5 November 2011}} (retrieved 4 May 2011).</ref>
Today, there are around 200 newspapers, 320 popular magazines, 2,100 professional magazines, 67 commercial radio stations, three [[digital radio]] channels and one nationwide and five national [[Public broadcasting|public service radio channels]].
Each year, around 12,000 book titles are published and 12 million records are sold.<ref name="Media moves" />
[[Sanoma]] publishes the newspapers ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' (its circulation of 412,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Circulation Statistics |url=http://www.levikintarkastus.fi/english/statistics.php |publisher=The Finnish Audit Bureau of Circulations (Levikintarkastus Oy) |access-date=25 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601160935/http://www.levikintarkastus.fi/english/statistics.php |archive-date=1 June 2009 }}</ref> making it the largest) and ''[[Aamulehti]]'', the [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]] ''[[Ilta-Sanomat]]'', the commerce-oriented ''[[Taloussanomat]]'' and the television channel [[Nelonen]]. The other major publisher [[Alma Media]] publishes over thirty magazines, including the tabloid ''[[Iltalehti]]'' and commerce-oriented ''[[Kauppalehti]]''. Worldwide, Finns, along with other Nordic peoples and the Japanese, spend the most time reading newspapers.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Press Trends: Newspapers Still Reach More Than Internet |url=http://www.wan-ifra.org/press-releases/2011/10/12/world-press-trends-newspapers-still-reach-more-than-internet |publisher=World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-date=23 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123093454/http://www.wan-ifra.org/press-releases/2011/10/12/world-press-trends-newspapers-still-reach-more-than-internet |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Yle]], the Finnish Broadcasting Company, operates five television channels and thirteen radio channels in both national languages. Yle is funded through a mandatory television license and fees for private broadcasters. All TV channels are broadcast [[Digital television|digitally]], both terrestrially and on cable. The commercial television channel [[MTV3]] and commercial radio channel [[Radio Nova (Finland)|Radio Nova]] are owned by [[Nordic Broadcasting]] ([[Bonnier Group|Bonnier]] and [[Proventus]]).
In regards to telecommunication infrastructure, Finland is the highest ranked country in the World Economic Forum's [[Network Readiness Index]] (NRI) – an indicator for determining the development level of a country's information and communication technologies. Finland ranked 1st overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, unchanged from the year before.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/GITR/2014/GITR_OverallRanking_2014.pdf |title=NRI Overall Ranking 2014 |publisher=World Economic Forum |access-date=28 June 2014}}</ref> This is shown in its penetration throughout the country's population. Around 79% of the population use the Internet (2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/til/sutivi/2007/sutivi_2007_2007-09-28_tie_001_en.html |title=Internet used by 79 per cent of the population at the beginning of 2007|work=Statistics Finland |access-date=22 December 2007}}</ref> Finland had around 1.52 million broadband Internet connections by the end of June 2007 or around 287 per 1,000 inhabitants.<ref name="FICORA">{{cite web |url=http://www.ficora.fi/attachments/englanti/5ruZDB5VP/Files/CurrentFile/Market_review_2_2007.pdf |title=Market Review 2/2007 |work=Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority (FICORA) |date=31 August 2007 |access-date=4 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925220234/http://www.ficora.fi/attachments/englanti/5ruZDB5VP/Files/CurrentFile/Market_review_2_2007.pdf |archive-date=25 September 2007 }}</ref> All Finnish schools and public libraries have Internet connections and computers and most residents have a mobile phone.<ref>[http://www.tilastokeskus.fi/ajk/tiedotteet/v2006/tiedote_017_2006-09-05_en.html Information technology has become part of Finns' everyday life] (Statistics Finland).</ref>
=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Finnish cuisine}}
[[File:Karjalanpiirakka-20060227.jpg|thumb|[[Karjalanpiirakat|Karelian pasty]] (''karjalanpiirakka'') is a traditional Finnish dish made from a thin rye crust with a filling of rice. Butter, often mixed with boiled egg (eggbutter or munavoi), is spread over the hot pastries before eating.]]
Finnish cuisine is notable for generally combining traditional country fare and ''[[haute cuisine]]'' with contemporary style cooking. [[Fish (food)|Fish]] and meat play a prominent role in traditional Finnish dishes from the western part of the country, while the dishes from the eastern part have traditionally included various vegetables and [[Edible mushroom|mushrooms]]. Refugees from Karelia contributed to foods in eastern Finland. Many regions have strongly branded traditional delicacies, such as [[Tampere]] has ''[[mustamakkara]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/eat-and-drink/4311-the-black-sausage-is-the-pride-of-tampere|title=The black sausage is the pride of Tampere|website=www.helsinkitimes.fi}}</ref> and [[Kuopio]] has ''[[kalakukko]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/finland/articles/top-10-finnish-pastries-try/|title=Top 10 Finnish Pastries You Have to Try|first=Jessica|last=Wood|website=Culture Trip}}</ref>
Finnish foods often use [[wholemeal]] products ([[rye]], [[barley]], [[oat]]s) and berries (such as [[bilberry|bilberries]], [[lingonberry|lingonberries]], [[cloudberry|cloudberries]], and [[sea buckthorn]]). Milk and its derivatives like [[buttermilk]] are commonly used as food, drink, or in various recipes. Various [[turnip]]s were common in traditional cooking, but were replaced with the potato after its introduction in the 18th century.
According to the statistics, red meat consumption has risen, but still Finns eat less beef than many other nations, and more fish and poultry. This is mainly because of the high cost of meat in Finland.
Finland has the world's highest per capita consumption of [[coffee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fusiontables.google.com/DataSource?docid=1C-fn6nSe21acP0xJIO1T1x0wohqfMYCQyJjbqdk#rows:id=1|title=Google Fusion Tables|website=fusiontables.google.com}}</ref> Milk consumption is also high, at an average of about {{convert|112|litre}}, per person, per year,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.luke.fi/en/news/what-was-eaten-in-finland-in-2017|title=What was eaten in Finland in 2017|website=Luonnonvarakeskus}}</ref> even though 17% of the Finns are [[lactose intolerant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/5-odd-facts-finland/|title=Odd Facts about Finland|website=edunation.co|date=19 September 2017|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-date=17 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117153004/https://www.edunation.co/studyinfinland/blog/5-odd-facts-finland/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
=== Public holidays ===
{{Main|Public holidays in Finland|Flag flying days in Finland}}
There are several holidays in Finland, of which perhaps the most characteristic of Finnish culture include Christmas (''joulu''), Midsummer (''juhannus''), [[Vappu|May Day]] (''vappu'') and [[Independence Day (Finland)|Independence Day]] (''itsenäisyyspäivä''). Of these, Christmas and Midsummer are special in Finland because the actual festivities take place on eves, such as [[Christmas Eve]] (''jouluaatto'')<ref>''Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2010 to Mabon 2011'' p.64. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2010</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5JF_kT43LjcC&pg=PA202&dq=Jultomten&hl=en&ei=X5ITTePQONO2hAezpOy3Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=Jultomten&f=false Festivals of Western Europe] p.202. Forgotten Books, 1973</ref> and [[Juhannus|Midsummer's Eve]] (''juhannusaatto''),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/kokko.htm |title=Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura: Juhannuskokko |publisher=Finlit.fi |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031052/http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/kokko.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/koriste.htm |title=Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura: Koivunoksia ja maitoruokia |publisher=Finlit.fi |access-date=25 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212031056/http://www.finlit.fi/tietopalvelu/juhlat/juhannus/koriste.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 }}</ref> while Christmas Day (''joulupäivä'') and Midsummer's Day (''juhannuspäivä'') are more consecrated to rest. Other public holidays in Finland are [[New Year's Day]] (''uudenvuodenpäivä''), [[Epiphany (holiday)#Finland|Epiphany]] (''loppiainen''), [[Good Friday]] (''pitkäperjantai''), [[Easter Sunday]] (''pääsiäissunnuntai'') and [[Easter Monday]] (''pääsiäismaanantai''), [[Ascension Day]] (''helatorstai''), [[All Saints' Day]] (''pyhäinpäivä'') and [[Saint Stephen's Day#Finland|Saint Stephen's Day]] (''tapaninpäivä''). All official holidays in Finland are established by Acts of Parliament. On the other hand, ''[[laskiainen]]'' that is strongly part of the Finnish tradition is not defined as a public holiday in relation to the above-mentioned holidays.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/a5ada22b-379b-4b8b-83ca-51bf6f97213c|title=Tänään on vietetty laskiaista – mutta tiedätkö, mistä päivässä on oikein kyse?|first=Samppa|last=Rautio|work=Iltalehti|date=5 March 2019|access-date=26 November 2020|language=fi}}</ref>
=== Sports ===
{{Main|Sport in Finland}}
[[File:Finlandhockeybronze2010WinterOlympics.jpg|thumb|Finland's [[Finland men's national ice hockey team|men's national ice hockey team]] is [[IIHF World Ranking|ranked]] as one of the best in the world. The team has won three world championship titles (in 1995, 2011 and 2019) and six Olympic medals.]]
[[File:Rally Finland 2010 - EK 1 - Juha Kankkunen.jpg|thumb|right|[[Juha Kankkunen|Kankkunen]] on the Laajavuori stage of the [[2010 Rally Finland]]]]
Various sporting events are popular in Finland. [[Pesäpallo]], resembling baseball, is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular sport in terms of spectators is [[ice hockey]]. The [[2016 IIHF World Championship|Ice Hockey World Championships 2016]] final, Finland-Canada, was watched by 69% of Finnish people on TV.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://mtv.fi/sport/mm2016/uutiset/artikkeli/leijonien-mm-finaalista-kaikkien-aikojen-katsotuin-jaakiekko-ottelu-suomessa/5908282 |title = Leijonien MM-finaalista historian katsotuin jääkiekko-ottelu Suomessa!| work = mtv.fi| date = 23 May 2016| access-date = 23 May 2016}}</ref> Other popular sports include [[Track and field|athletics]], [[cross-country skiing]], [[ski jumping]], [[association football|football]], [[volleyball]] and [[basketball]].<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/urheilu/a1393470059062 Valta vaihtui urheilussa: Suomalaiset arvostavat nyt enemmän futista kuin jääkiekkoa |Jalkapallo |HS]. Hs.fi (27 February 2014). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref> While ice hockey is the most popular sport when it comes to attendance at games, [[association football]] is the most played team sport in terms of the number of players in the country and is also the most appreciated sport in Finland.<ref>[http://yle.fi/urheilu/jalkapallo_nousi_arvostetuimmaksi_urheilulajiksi/7113110 Jalkapallo nousi arvostetuimmaksi urheilulajiksi |Yle Urheilu]. yle.fi. Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref><ref>{{in lang|fi}} [http://www.lansivayla.fi/artikkeli/369185-jalkapallolla-eniten-harrastajia-se-lyo-latkan-hiihto-on-alamaessa Jalkapallolla eniten harrastajia – se lyö lätkän, hiihto on alamäessä |Länsiväylä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826183108/https://www.lansivayla.fi/artikkeli/369185-jalkapallolla-eniten-harrastajia-se-lyo-latkan-hiihto-on-alamaessa |date=26 August 2018 }}. Lansivayla.fi (28 February 2016). Retrieved on 18 May 2016.</ref>
In terms of medals and gold medals won per capita, Finland is the best performing country in Olympic history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.medalspercapita.com/#medals-per-capita:all-time|title=Olympic Medals per Capita|website=medalspercapita.com}}</ref> Finland first participated as a nation in its own right at the [[Olympic Games]] in 1908, while still an autonomous [[Grand Duchy of Finland|Grand Duchy]] within the [[Russian Empire]]. At the [[1912 Summer Olympics]], great pride was taken in the three gold medals won by the original "[[Flying Finn]]" [[Hannes Kolehmainen]].
Finland was one of the most successful countries at the Olympic Games before [[World War II]]. At the [[1924 Summer Olympics]], Finland, a nation then of only 3.2 million people, came second in the medal count. In the 1920s and '30s, Finnish long-distance runners dominated the Olympics, with [[Paavo Nurmi]] winning a total of nine Olympic gold medals between 1920 and 1928 and setting 22 official world records between 1921 and 1931. Nurmi is often considered the greatest Finnish sportsman and one of the greatest athletes of all time.
For over 100 years, Finnish male and female athletes have consistently excelled at the [[javelin throw]]. The event has brought Finland nine Olympic gold medals, five world championships, five European championships, and 24 world records.
The [[1952 Summer Olympics]] were held in Helsinki. Other notable sporting events held in Finland include the [[1983 World Championships in Athletics|1983]] and [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]].
Finland also has a notable history in [[figure skating]]. Finnish skaters have won 8 world championships and 13 junior world cups in synchronized skating, and Finland is considered one of the best countries at the sport.
Some of the most popular recreational sports and activities include [[floorball]], [[Nordic walking]], running, cycling, and skiing ([[alpine skiing]], [[cross-country skiing]], and [[ski jumping]]).
Floorball, in terms of registered players, occupies third place after football and ice hockey. According to the Finnish Floorball Federation, floorball is the most popular school, youth, club and workplace sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expat-finland.com/events/finnish_sports.html|title=Finnish Sports: Try the sports Finns love!|first=Stuart Allt Web Design, Turku|last=Finland|website=expat-finland.com}}</ref> {{as of|2016}}, the total number of licensed players reaches 57,400.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.floorball.org/pages/EN/Finland|title=IFF|last=IFF|website=floorball.org}}</ref>
Especially since the [[2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup]], [[Finland national basketball team|Finland's national basketball team]] has received widespread public attention. More than 8,000 Finns travelled to Spain to support their team. Overall, they chartered more than 40 airplanes.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2014/news/Fan-power-Finn-power-The-tournament--begins--on-win |title= Fan power! Finn power! The tournament "begins" on a winning note for Dettman's team |author=FIBA |date=31 August 2014 |publisher=FIBA.com |access-date=2 November 2014}}</ref>
== See also ==
{{Portal |Finland|Arctic}}
<!--{{Wikipedia books|Finland}}-->
* [[Bibliography of Finland]]
* [[List of Finland-related topics]]
* [[Outline of Finland]]
{{Clear}}
== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Chew, Allen F. ''The White Death: The Epic of the Soviet-Finnish Winter War'' ({{ISBN|0-87013-167-2}}).
* Engle, Eloise and Paananen, Pauri. ''The Winter War: The Soviet Attack on Finland 1939–1940'' ({{ISBN|0-8117-2433-6}}).
* ''Insight Guide: Finland'' ({{ISBN|981-4120-39-1}}).
* [[Max Jakobson|Jakobson, Max]]. ''Finland in the New Europe'' ({{ISBN|0-275-96372-1}}).
* Jutikkala, Eino; Pirinen, Kauko. ''A History of Finland'' ({{ISBN|0-88029-260-1}}).
* [[Matti Klinge|Klinge, Matti]]. ''Let Us Be Finns: Essays on History'' ({{ISBN|951-1-11180-9}}).
* Lavery, Jason. ''The History of Finland'', Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations, Greenwood Press, 2006 ({{ISBN|0-313-32837-4}}, {{ISSN|1096-2905}}).
* Lewis, Richard D. ''Finland: Cultural Lone Wolf'' ({{ISBN|1-931930-18-X}}).
* ''[[Lonely Planet]]: Finland'' ({{ISBN|1-74059-791-5}})
* Mann, Chris. ''Hitler's Arctic War: The German Campaigns in Norway, Finland, and the USSR 1940–1945'' ({{ISBN|0-312-31100-1}}).
* Rusama, Jaakko. ''Ecumenical Growth in Finland'' ({{ISBN|951-693-239-8}}).
* Singleton, Fred. ''A Short History of Finland'' ({{ISBN|0-521-64701-0}}).
* [[Jean-Jacques Subrenat|Subrenat, Jean-Jacques]]. ''Listen, there's music from the forest; a brief presentation of the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival'' ({{ISBN|952-92-0564-3}}).
* Swallow, Deborah. ''Culture Shock! Finland: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette'' ({{ISBN|1-55868-592-8}}).
* [[William R. Trotter|Trotter, William R.]] ''A Frozen Hell: The Russo-Finnish Winter War of 1939–1940'' ({{ISBN|1-56512-249-6}}).
{{refend}}
== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Finland|voy=Finland}}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/finland/ Finland]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* {{curlie|Regional/Europe/Finland}}
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17288360 Finland profile] from the [[BBC News]]
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=FI Key Development Forecasts for Finland] from [[International Futures]]
* [http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2010/vaerak_2010_2011-03-18_kuv_001_en.html Population in Finland 1750–2010]
* [http://www.stat.fi/til/vaerak/2011/vaerak_2011_2012-03-16_kuv_002_en.html Appendix figure 2. The largest groups by native language 2001 and 2011] (Statistics Finland)
* [http://findikaattori.fi/en Official statistical information about Finland] from [[Findicator]].
'''Government'''
* [http://finland.fi/ This is Finland], the official English-language online portal (administered by the Finnish [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080703233731/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/finland.htm Finland] ([[University of Colorado Boulder]] Libraries Government Publications)
'''Maps'''
* {{osmrelation-inline|54224}}
* {{wikiatlas|Finland}}
'''Travel'''
* [http://www.visitfinland.com/ Official Travel Site of Finland]
{{Finland topics}}
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[[File:Yourworldoftext.png|thumb|Your World of Text during the second soyjak.party raid.]]
[[File:Yourworldoftext.png|thumb|Your World of Text during the second soyjak.party raid.]]
'''Your World of Text''' is a website that allows anyone to type whatever they want on an infinitely large canvas. A favourite target for [[soyjak.party]] raids due to the ease of editing and lack of [[janny|jannies]] or any ban system whatsoever.
'''Your World of Text''' is a website that allows anyone to type whatever they want on an infinitely large canvas. A favourite target for [[soyjak.party]] raids due to the ease of editing and lack of [[janny|jannies]] or any ban system whatsoever.

Revision as of 01:33, 14 June 2021

Your World of Text during the second soyjak.party raid.

Your World of Text is a website that allows anyone to type whatever they want on an infinitely large canvas. A favourite target for soyjak.party raids due to the ease of editing and lack of jannies or any ban system whatsoever.

Normally you can't paste text on YWOT, type 

Permissions.can_paste = function() {return true;};

into your browser's console to enable pasting, or use Your Hacked World of Text (linked below).

Raids

The first soyjak raid on Your World of Text occured on June 7, 2021. It was fairly minor and was quickly forgotten due to the original thread being lost to the Captain Coal incident. The second raid began on June 10, 2021 and is still ongoing. Massive amounts of ASCIIjaks and Sneed spam could be found across the canvas, invoking the rage of several Brazillians using the site, however these were mostly erased in the early morning of June 13. A rebuilding effort is ongoing, with skirmishes between soyjak.party raiders, a Trollface spammer, and a Ballmerposter being documented.

Gallery

  • The second raid (June 12)

    The second raid (June 12)

  • Skirmishes during the rebuilding effort of June 13

    Skirmishes during the rebuilding effort of June 13

Related articles

External links

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