Finland

National name:
Suomen Tasavalta—Republiken Finland

Government
Republic.

Geography
Finland is heavily forested and contains thousands of lakes, numerous rivers, and extensive areas of marshland. Except for a small highland region in the extreme northwest, the country is a lowland less than 180 m above sea level. Off the southwest coast are the Swedish-populated Åland Islands (1,505 sq km), which have had an autonomous status since 1921.

Historical Background
Finland was a province under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Facts & Figures

Name

Finland

Capital

Helsinki

Government

Parliamentary republic

Language

Finnish, Swedish

Religion

Literacy Rate: 

Area

338,424 km2, & 130,596 sq mi

Population

5,374,781

Currency

Euro

National Day

6 December