Finland is one of the countries in Northern Europe with the administrative status of the Republic of Finland. Consequently, the country is governed by a president and a parliamentary government. The official language used is Finnish, which is a Uralic language; however, the other official language is Swedish.
The country’s area is 338,455 km2, placing it 8th in size among European countries. And since the Finnish population numbers 5.5 million, Finland is the least populated country in Europe. The capital city is called Helsinki, and one-third of the population lives in this metropolitan city. There are also two other major cities, Tampere and Turku.
Which countries border Finland?
The neighboring countries of Finland are Sweden, Russia, and Norway, located respectively to the West, East, and North. The borders measure 736 kilometers, 614 kilometers, and 340 kilometers respectively for Finland-Norway, Finland-Sweden, and Finland-Russia. Geographically, Russia is the only non-Schengen country connected to Finland.
Population of Finland
Currently, the Finnish population numbers 5,545,121 inhabitants according to the latest United Nations estimates. This figure represents about 0.07% of the global population. Moreover, Finland ranks 116th on the list of countries by population dependency. The land area is 303,890 km2, consequently, the density is 47 inhabitants per km2. Most Finns live in large cities at a rate of 86.1%.
Flag of Finland
The Finnish flag is called Siniristilippu, which means “flag with a blue cross.” This is indeed what the Finnish flag represents. It consists of a white field with a blue Nordic cross. The cross shape recalls Christianity, and the blue color represents the sky and inland waters (lakes, streams, rivers, and waterways).
As for the white color, it represents snow. The Finnish flag is the same as the state flag; however, the latter features an image representing the national coat of arms in red and yellow.
What are the best cities to visit in Finland
Helsinki
The capital city is a very beautiful place for tourists who want to visit a seaside city overlooking the Baltic Sea. It is especially famous for architectures representative of Finnish heritage. You will see in the city old wooden buildings as well as shopping arcades and furniture stores.
It is a wonderful and rather natural city with several forests and fine sandy beaches. Don’t forget to visit the best restaurants in the city to taste the country’s specialties.
Rovaniemi
It is a city in northern Finland very close to the Arctic Circle. The city is the capital of Lapland which, according to some myths, is the land of Santa Claus. Consequently, tourists go there to view the very old buildings. You can also visit the Arktikum museum which houses various objects marking the country’s history and the Sami culture, an ancient people.
Tampere
It is an artistic city faithful to Finnish culture; visitors can observe several buildings related to the country’s old town. Several rivers cross the city, which makes nature more vibrant; consequently, several parks have been established there. You will also see old buildings transformed into museums and art galleries where ancient artifacts are constantly exhibited.
Sometimes, cultural programs and festivals are even organized. There are also several bars and restaurants that tourists can visit; moreover, these places are lively even at night.
Turku
Turku was the former capital and the second largest city. You will see an ancient castle and a cathedral, both dating from the 13th century. You will surely enjoy it because this city has a very sociable youthful population. The city of Turku also has several restaurants, bars, and clubs that are ideal for having a good time. Don’t forget to explore the banks of the Aurajoki River which will allow you to explore the Turku archipelago.
Jyvaskyla
Jyvaskyla is a Finnish city bordered by two lakes. As a result, events are constantly held there. Moreover, unique architectures are erected near the lakes, giving the city a charming aspect.
It is a city with a young population that you will obviously see on the streets. Enthusiasts will be delighted at the idea of seeing car racing championships, which are by far the most popular attractions in the city. Finally, the beaches of Jyvaskyla are very pleasant with fine sands and very enjoyable swimming spots.
Where the cities are located on the Finland map
Helsinki
On the Finland map, the capital is located in the northern section of the country. It is a city situated among several islands and peninsulas. Geographic coordinates: 60° 10′ 32″ north, 24° 56′ 03″ east.
Rovaniemi
On the Finland map, the city of Rovaniemi is located in the center of Lapland. It is 100 km from the Gulf of Bothnia. Geographic coordinates: 66° 30′ 08″ north, 25° 43′ 57″ east.
Tampere
The city of Tampere is located in the southwest section of the country. It is bordered by two lakes, Näsi and Pyhä. Geographic coordinates: 61° 29′ 53″ north, 23° 45′ 36″ east.
Turku
On the Finland map, the city of Turku is located in the southwestern part of the country. Geographic coordinates: 60° 27′ 06″ north, 22° 16′ 12″ east.
Jyvaskyla
On the Finland map, the city of Jyväskylä is located in the southern section of the country. It is 235 km from the capital in the northern direction. Geographic coordinates: 62° 14′ 24″ north, 25° 44′ 35″ east.
Finland climate map
Winter in Finland is a fairly long season with quite low temperatures. It is one of the coldest Scandinavian countries because the cold winds from Russia greatly influence the temperatures.
Summer, on the other hand, is quite mild and the rains during this season are abundant. Precipitation varies depending on the regions: rainfall ranges from 400 mm to 700 mm per year. These rains occur throughout the year. However, rains are more abundant in the summer and autumn seasons. In the southern part of the country, the rainiest months are August and July. The driest months are April and March. Finland has a flat topography which allows its climate to be similar over a large part of its area.
As a result, winter is similar throughout the country.
- Helsinki During winter, temperatures are lower in the capital. The climate is therefore harsher as the city is located in the southern section of the country.
- The other regions such as the northern and eastern sections show even lower temperatures in winter. Lakes and the sea can freeze. Moreover, the Russian winds coming from the eastern part intensify the cold until winter temperatures drop to -20°C.
- The extreme northern regions display extremely cold temperatures reaching up to -50°C in Lapland.
Lapland:
Throughout the year, Lapland has a fairly cold climate. Summer, however, is quite short but very warm. The winter period begins in October. During this time, sunshine is quite low and clouds alternate with the sun. On the other hand, summer is warm although quite brief. Temperatures hover around 20°C to even 30°C. Night temperatures are around 10°C.
Rovaniemi
Its geographical position near the polar circle makes it subject to more cold than other cities. Indeed, it is a moderately rainy region as the annual rainfall is 580 mm. Heavy rainfall mainly occurs in summer. The winter period, on the other hand, shows frequent but temporary snow cover, between 55 and 60 cm of snow between February and April. During winter, sunshine is so low that the days are shorter than the night.
Helsinki
The capital of Finland is located in the southern part of the country. As a result, winter temperatures drop noticeably to -10 or -15°C for 30 to 90 days. The average annual rainfall amounts to 650 mm and it is during summer that rains occur most often. In autumn, sunshine is moderate but temperatures are still quite cold, around 17°C.
Economic Map of Finland
The Finnish economy is almost entirely based on the tertiary sector. Furthermore, the result of this economy is a production rate per capita slightly higher than those of other European Union countries. In percentage terms, the most performing sector is the service sector, the oil industry, and finally the primary sector. The figures are respectively 72.7%, 31.4%, and 2.9%.
Trade relations are also growing within the Finnish economy as exports mainly include: electronics, industrial tools, automotive industries, and mechanical industry. And given Finland’s wealth in forest resources, exports of forest products and by-products are increasingly large.
Here are some data concerning the Finnish economy:
- Official currency: Euro (€)
- Nominal GDP: 268 billion dollars
- GDP in PPP: 273 billion dollars
- Nominal GDP per capita: 48,461 dollars
- GDP per capita in PPP: 49,334
- Unemployment rate: 8.4% of the active population
- Public debt 142.507 billion €
Administrative subdivisions and demolinguistic data
Administrative subdivisions
The Finnish territory is divided into 3 nested hierarchies. The first subdivision is the region (numbering 19), then the sub-region (numbering 70) and finally, the municipalities (numbering 311). Here are the 19 Finnish regions:
- Lapland
- North Ostrobothnia
- Kainuu
- North Karelia
- Pohjois-Savo
- Etelä-Savo
- South Ostrobothnia
- Ostrobothnia
- Pirkanmaa
- Satakunta
- Central Ostrobothnia
- Central Finland
- Southwest Finland
- South Karelia
- Päijät-Häme
- Kanta-Häme
- Uusimaa
- Kymenlaakso
- Åland
Demolinguistic data
The official Finnish language is Finnish, followed by Swedish. Other languages are also spoken but in small percentages, namely Sami and Romani. In terms of percentage, 87% of the Finnish population speaks Finnish and Swedish speakers represent 5.2%. Most Swedish speakers inhabit the Åland province.
- Sami: language spoken in Lapland and very different from Finnish. The variants are Northern Sami, Inari Sami, and Skolt Sami.
- Karelian: language spoken in the Karelian region
- Russian: this language is spoken by many speakers in Finland; however, no figures have yet been defined.
