Helsinki
Finland
Key facts and a structured country profile. π§Ύ Change log π True Size
5,550,449 (2025 est.)
338,145 sq km
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
π§ Background
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union, albeit with some loss of territory. During the next half-century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per-capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high-quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system, although the system is currently facing the challenges of an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.
πΊοΈ Geography
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia
64 00 N, 26 00 E
Europe
338,145 sq km
303,815 sq km
34,330 sq km
Slightly more than two times the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Montana
2,563 km
Norway 709 km; Sweden 545 km; Russia 1,309 km
1,250 km
12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
24 nm
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia
Cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
Mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m
Baltic Sea 0 m
164 m
Timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone
7.4% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.)
74.2% (2023 est.)
18.4% (2023 est.)
80 sq km (2016)
Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km
The vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated
Severe winters in the north
Long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain
π₯ People and Societyβ¬οΈ Top
5,550,449 (2025 est.)
2,750,057
2,800,392
Finn(s)
Finnish
Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami
Finnish (official) 85.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.7%, other 7.2% (2022 est.)
World Factbook, korvaamaton perustietolΓ€hde. (Finnish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2022 est.)
16.2% (male 464,939/female 444,585)
60.3% (male 1,725,072/female 1,668,604)
23.5% (2024 est.) (male 583,645/female 739,569)
62.3 (2025 est.)
23.3 (2025 est.)
39 (2025 est.)
2.6 (2025 est.)
44 years (2025 est.)
41.8 years
44.9 years
0.02% (2025 est.)
7.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
11.01 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
3.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
The vast majority of people are found in the south; the northern interior areas remain sparsely populated
85.8% of total population (2023)
0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
1.338 million HELSINKI (capital) (2023)
1.05 male(s)/female
1.05 male(s)/female
1.03 male(s)/female
0.79 male(s)/female
0.97 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
29.5 years (2020 est.)
8 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
1.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
2.3 deaths/1,000 live births
1.9 deaths/1,000 live births
82.2 years (2024 est.)
79.3 years
85.2 years
1.28 children born/woman (2025 est.)
0.63 (2025 est.)
Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
10.2% of GDP (2021)
14.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
3.61 physicians/1,000 population (2021)
2.8 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
22.2% (2016)
8.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
3.76 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
1.96 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
0.91 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
18% (2025 est.)
21.7% (2025 est.)
14.3% (2025 est.)
57.1% (2023 est.)
0.1% (2017)
6.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
12.1% national budget (2022 est.)
20 years (2023 est.)
18 years (2023 est.)
21 years (2023 est.)
πΏ Environmentβ¬οΈ Top
Limited air pollution in urban centers; some water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
None of the selected agreements
Cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes
7.4% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.)
74.2% (2023 est.)
18.4% (2023 est.)
85.8% of total population (2023)
0.42% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
33.594 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
7.536 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
23.069 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
2.989 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
3.124 million tons (2024 est.)
35.4% (2022 est.)
500 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
1.299 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
1 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
110 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
4 (2024)
Impact Crater Lake - Lappajarvi; Rokua; Lauhanvuori-Haemeenkangas; Saimaa; Salpausselka (2024)
ποΈ Governmentβ¬οΈ Top
Republic of Finland
Finland
Suomen tasavalta (Finnish)/ Republiken Finland (Swedish)
Suomi (Finnish)/ Finland (Swedish)
Name derives from the Finns, an ethnic group in northeastern Europe; their name comes from the Germanic word finna, meaning "fish scale;" the local name, Suomi, may come from two local words: suo, meaning "marsh," and maa, meaning "land"
Parliamentary republic
Helsinki
60 10 N, 24 56 E
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
The modern name is a Finnish derivation; King Gustav VASA of Sweden founded the city in 1550 as Helsingfors; the name came from Helsing, the Old Norwegian name for a local people, and the word fors, or "waterfall," referring to a waterfall at the city's original location on the Vantaa River
19 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen, singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa (Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish) [South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish) [South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish); Kainuu (Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi (Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland]; Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish), Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland (Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere]; Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Osterbotten (Swedish) [Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia]; Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish) [North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish), Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]
Civil law system based on the Swedish model
Previous 1906, 1919; latest drafted 17 June 1997, approved by Parliament 11 June 1999, entered into force 1 March 2000
Proposed by Parliament; passage normally requires simple majority vote in two readings in the first parliamentary session and at least two-thirds majority vote in a single reading by the newly elected Parliament; proposals declared "urgent" by five-sixths of Parliament members can be passed by at least two-thirds majority vote in the first parliamentary session only
Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
No
At least one parent must be a citizen of Finland
Yes
6 years
18 years of age; universal
President Alexander STUBB (since 1 March 2024)
Prime Minister Petteri ORPO (since 20 June 2023)
Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
President directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister appointed by Parliament
28 January 2024, with a runoff on 11 February 2024
2024: Alexander STUBB elected in the second round; percent of vote in the first round - Alexander STUBB (KoK) 27.2%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 25.8%, Jussi HALLA-AHO (PS) 19.0%, Olli REHN (Kesk) 15.3%; percent of vote in second round - STUBB 51.6%, HAAVISTO 48.4% 2018: Sauli NIINISTO reelected president; percent of vote - Sauli NIINISTO (independent) 62.7%, Pekka HAAVISTO (Vihr) 12.4%, Laura HUHTASAARI (PS) 6.9%, Paavo VAYRYNEN (independent) 6.2%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 4.1%, other 7.7%
By 28 January 2030
Parliament (Eduskunta - Riksdagen)
Unicameral
200 (all directly elected)
Proportional representation
Full renewal
4 years
4/2/2023
National Coalition Party (KOK) (48); The Finns Party (PS) (46); Social Democratic Party (SDP) (43); Center Party (KESK) (23); The Greens (13); Left Alliance (Vas) (11); Other (16)
45.5%
April 2027
Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (consists of the court president and 18 judges); Supreme Administrative Court (consists of 21 judges, including the court president; organized into 3 chambers)
Supreme Court and Supreme Administrative Court judges appointed by the president of the republic; judges serve until mandatory retirement at age 68
6 Courts of Appeal; 8 regional administrative courts; 27 district courts; special courts for issues relating to markets, labor, insurance, impeachment, land, tenancy, and water rights
Aland Coalition (a coalition of several political parties on the Aland Islands) Center Party or Kesk Christian Democrats or KD Finns Party or PS Green League or Vihr Left Alliance or Vas Movement Now or Liike Nyt National Coalition Party or Kok Social Democratic Party or SDP Swedish People's Party or RKP or SFP
Ambassador Leena-Kaisa MIKKOLA (since 18 September 2024)
3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
[1] (202) 298-5800
[1] (202) 298-6030
Sanomat.WAS@gov.fi https://finlandabroad.fi/web/usa/mission
Los Angeles, New York
Ambassador Howard W. BRODIE (since 13 November 2025)
Itainen Puistotie 14 B, 00140 Helsinki
5310 Helsinki Place, Washington DC 20521-5310
[358] (9) 616-250
[358] (9) 174-681
HelsinkiACS@state.gov https://fi.usembassy.gov/
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNSOM, UNTSO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
6 December 1917 (from Russia)
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Description: white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted to the left in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the blue stands for the country's thousands of lakes, and the white for snow
Lion
Blue, white
"Maamme" (Our Land)
Paavo Eemil KAJANDER, Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS
In use since 1848; although never officially adopted, the anthem has been popular since a student group first sang it in 1848
7 (6 cultural, 1 natural)
Fortress of Suomenlinna (c); Old Rauma (c); PetΓ€jΓ€vesi Old Church (c); Verla Groundwood and Board Mill (c); Bronze Age Burial Site of SammallahdenmΓ€ki (c); High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago (n); Struve Geodetic Arc (c)
πΉ Economyβ¬οΈ Top
High-income, export-based EU and eurozone economy; major timber, metals, engineering, telecom, and electronics industries; emerging from recession triggered by inflation, weak consumer and export demand, and lower private investment; labor market reform plan to address structural rigidities
$313.591 billion (2024 est.)
$314.075 billion (2023 est.)
$317.078 billion (2022 est.)
-0.2% (2024 est.)
-0.9% (2023 est.)
0.8% (2022 est.)
$55,600 (2024 est.)
$56,200 (2023 est.)
$57,100 (2022 est.)
$299.836 billion (2024 est.)
1.6% (2024 est.)
6.3% (2023 est.)
7.1% (2022 est.)
2.5% (2024 est.)
22.1% (2024 est.)
62.9% (2024 est.)
53.4% (2023 est.)
25.6% (2023 est.)
23.4% (2023 est.)
-0.4% (2023 est.)
43.1% (2023 est.)
-42.8% (2023 est.)
Milk, barley, oats, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, pork, chicken, peas, rye (2023)
Metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
-2.2% (2024 est.)
2.898 million (2024 est.)
8.3% (2024 est.)
7.2% (2023 est.)
6.8% (2022 est.)
19.2% (2024 est.)
20% (2024 est.)
18.3% (2024 est.)
12.2% (2022 est.)
27.9 (2022 est.)
12.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
4.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
3.8% (2022 est.)
23.1% (2022 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
$126.337 billion (2023 est.)
$131.978 billion (2023 est.)
61.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
25.4% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
$930.393 million (2024 est.)
-$1.58 billion (2023 est.)
-$7.026 billion (2022 est.)
$124.531 billion (2024 est.)
$127.098 billion (2023 est.)
$129.389 billion (2022 est.)
USA 11%, Germany 11%, Sweden 10%, Netherlands 7%, China 5% (2023)
Paper, refined petroleum, steel, wood pulp, ships (2023)
$122.644 billion (2024 est.)
$126.175 billion (2023 est.)
$135.119 billion (2022 est.)
Germany 14%, Sweden 12%, China 9%, Norway 8%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Crude petroleum, cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, broadcasting equipment (2023)
$17.993 billion (2024 est.)
$16.929 billion (2023 est.)
$16.036 billion (2022 est.)
Euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.924 (2024 est.)
0.925 (2023 est.)
0.95 (2022 est.)
0.845 (2021 est.)
0.876 (2020 est.)
β‘ Energyβ¬οΈ Top
100% (2022 est.)
26.782 million kW (2023 est.)
77.419 billion kWh (2023 est.)
7.883 billion kWh (2023 est.)
9.644 billion kWh (2023 est.)
2.721 billion kWh (2023 est.)
5.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
41.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
0.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
18.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
19.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
13.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
5 (2025)
4.37GW (2025 est.)
42% (2025 est.)
811,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
3.933 million metric tons (2023 est.)
113,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
2.624 million metric tons (2023 est.)
8,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
172,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)
1.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
479.457 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
2.112 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
183.54 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
π‘ Communicationsβ¬οΈ Top
158,000 (2024 est.)
3 (2024 est.)
7.07 million (2024 est.)
126 (2024 est.)
3 publicly operated TV stations and numerous privately owned TV stations; several free and special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel subscription services are available; all TV signals are digital; 13 national and 25 regional public radio stations; a large number of private radio broadcasters
.fi
94% (2023 est.)
1.98 million (2023 est.)
35 (2023 est.)
π Transportationβ¬οΈ Top
OH
98 (2025)
17 (2025)
5,918 km (2020) 3,349 km electrified
282 (2023)
Bulk carrier 9, general cargo 75, oil tanker 4, other 194
37 (2024)
5
7
11
14
21
Helsinki, Kaskinen, Kokkola, Kotka, Kristinestad, Mantyluoto, Oulu, Pietarsaari, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Vaasa
π‘οΈ Military and Securityβ¬οΈ Top
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF; Puolustusvoimat): Army (Maavoimat), Navy (Merivoimat), Air Force (Ilmavoimat) (2025)
2.8% of GDP (2025 est.)
2.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Approximately 31,000 active-duty military personnel (2025)
The military's inventory consists of a mix of modern European, Israeli, South Korean, US, and domestically produced weapons systems; the Finnish defense industry produces a variety of military equipment, including wheeled armored vehicles and naval vessels; Finland also cooperates with other European countries and the US in the joint production of armaments (2025)
All Finnish men are obligated to serve 5.5-12 months of service within a branch of the military or the Border Guard upon reaching the age of 18 (length of service depends on the type of duty); women 18-29 may volunteer for service; there is also an option to perform non-military service which lasts for 8.5 or 11.5 months; after completing their initial conscript obligation, individuals enter the reserves and remain eligible for mobilization until the age of 50 for rank-and-file and 60 for non-commissioned and commissioned officers (2025)
165 Lebanon (UNIFIL); Finland also contributes to several ongoing EU and NATO missions (2025)
The Finnish Defense Forces (FDF) are focused primarily on territorial defense, which is based on having a large, trained reserve force created by general conscription; other FDF responsibilities include support to international peacekeeping operations and some domestic security duties, such as assisting the National Police in maintaining law and order in crises the FDF is also focused on fulfilling its commitment to NATO; following Russiaβs full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland applied for NATO membership, gaining entry in April 2023; Finland had been part of NATOβs Partnership for Peace program since 1994 and participated in NATO-led military missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq; in 2024, it joined NATO's Air Policing mission in Eastern Europe Finland is a signatory of the EUβs Common Security and Defense Policy and actively participates in EU crisis management missions and operations; the FDF also cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation structure (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden and involves cooperation in such areas as armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; Sweden, the UK, and the US are close bi-lateral defense partners; in 2022, Finland signed a mutual security agreement with the UK, and since 2014 has been part of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the North Atlantic, Baltic Sea, and High North regions (2025)
π¨ Terrorismβ¬οΈ Top
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)
π Transnational Issuesβ¬οΈ Top
97,568 (2024 est.)
1,326 (2024 est.)
Source: Factbook JSON archive.