At a Glance

Official Name: Republic of Finland

Continent: Europe

Area: 117,942 square miles (305,470 sq km)

Population: 5,175,783

Capital City: Helsinki

Largest City: Helsinki (525,031)

Unit of Money: Markka

Major Languages: Finnish and Swedish (both official)

Literacy: 99%

Land Use: 8% arable, 76% forest, 16% other

Natural Resources: copper, zinc, iron ore

Government: Republic

Defense: 2.1 billion

The Place

Finland is in northern Europe. It has 700 miles (1,126 km) of coastline on the Gulf of Bothnia to the west. The Baltic Sea lies to the southwest and the Gulf of Finland to the south.

The are four different physical areas in Finland. The Coastal Lowlands on the Gulf of Finland and the Gulf of Bothnia have some of the most fertile soil in the country. Farming is quite common. There are also many small lakes in this region.

The Lake District lies to the north and east of the lowlands. Thousands of lakes cover half of this area. The land is also heavily forested. The most common tree species include birch, pine, and spruce.

The Upland District, in the north, covers about 40% of Finland. The terrain in this region is hilly, and there are many swamps and marshes. The soil is poor, and the vegetation is sparse. Tundra (flat treeless plain) covers the northern border.

Thousands of offshore islands make up the Coastal Islands region. Most of these small islands have rocky terrain and poor soil.

The People

Most Finns live in the south, where the terrain and the climate are more hospitable. About 30% of the labor force is employed by public services, 21% work in industry, and 15% work in commerce. Another 12% of the work force is unemployed.

More than 60% of the Finnish population lives in urban areas, and about 20% lives in the capital, Helsinki. In cities, many Finns rent or own apartments. Rural dwellers usually own single-family homes, either in villages or on farms. The Finnish government provides its citizens with excellent social and welfare services. A health insurance program is provided for every Finn, pensions for the retired, and allowances for families. Finland has one of the highest-ranked school systems in the world. Life expectancy is 77 years.