Country Profile: Finland

Finland, located in Northern Europe, is bordered by the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, with extensive land borders with Sweden and Russia. The country has a population of about 5.5 million people and boasts one of the highest per-capita incomes in Western Europe, driven by a diversified economy that includes strong timber, metal, and high-tech sectors. Finland is a parliamentary republic, having transformed from its historical roots as a grand duchy under Sweden and Russia to an independent nation in 1917, and it became a member of NATO in April 2023.

Geography

Finland features a cold temperate climate with more than 60,000 lakes, set between Sweden to the west and Russia to the east. The terrain consists mainly of low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills, covering a total area of 338,145 square kilometers.

1,250 km of coastline along the Baltic Sea.
74.2% of land is covered by forests (2023).
The highest point is Halti at 1,328 m.

People and Society

The population of Finland is approximately 5.5 million, with a majority of Finnish heritage, alongside significant Swedish and Russian minorities. Finnish is the predominant language, and the nation has a high level of urbanization, with about 85.8% of the population residing in urban areas.

16.2% of the population is aged 0-14 years; 23.5% are 65 years and older (2024 est.).
0.97 male-to-female ratio in the total population (2024 est.).
82.2 years is the life expectancy at birth (2024 est.).

Economy

Finland has a high-income, export-driven economy, characterized by strong manufacturing sectors, including technology and engineering. The nation is currently navigating economic challenges related to inflation and reduced consumer spending.

$314.075 billion in real GDP (2023 est.).
8.3% unemployment rate projected for 2024.
62.9% of GDP is generated from the service sector (2024 est.).

Government

Finland operates as a parliamentary republic, with a government structure that includes a President and a Prime Minister. The legal system follows a civil law model based on the Swedish system, with a unicameral parliament consisting of 200 members.

The current president is Alexander STUBB (since March 2024).
18 years is the voting age for full suffrage.
There are 19 regions in Finland.

Military and Security

The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) comprise the Army, Navy, and Air Force, focusing primarily on territorial defense. Following recent geopolitical tensions, Finland has increased its military expenditure.

2.8% of GDP allocated to military spending in 2025.
Approximately 31,000 active-duty military personnel, including conscripts (2025).
Finland became a NATO member in April 2023.

Energy

Finland's energy system is characterized by a heavy reliance on nuclear and renewable sources. The country has achieved full electrification and is working on reducing fossil fuel consumption.

100% of the population has electricity access (2022 est.).
41.8% of the installed capacity comes from nuclear energy (2023 est.).
183.54 million Btu/person is the energy consumption per capita (2023 est.).

Environment

Finland enjoys a relatively low level of air pollution, but faces challenges related to water pollution and habitat loss. The country is committed to several international environmental agreements.

74.2% forest coverage, contributing to biodiversity (2023 est.).
35.4% of municipal solid waste is recycled (2022 est.).
Total renewable water resources amount to 110 billion cubic meters (2022 est.).

Transportation

Finland has a well-developed transportation network that includes extensive railways and a sizable merchant marine fleet. The country's airports support both civilian and freight operations.

5,918 km of railways, with significant electrification.
98 airports by 2025.
282 vessels in the merchant marine fleet (2023).

Communications

The country has a high level of telecommunications infrastructure, with a majority of the population having access to the internet and mobile technology.

94% of the population are internet users (2023 est.).
7.07 million mobile cellular subscriptions (2024 est.).
158,000 fixed line subscriptions (2024 est.).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	5,550,449 (2025 est.)
Area	338,145 sq km
GDP	$314.075 billion (2023 est.)
Unemployment Rate	8.3% (2024 est.)
Energy Consumption per Capita	183.54 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Birth Rate	7.75 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Life Expectancy	82.2 years (2024 est.)
Military Expenditure	2.8% of GDP (2025 est.)