Geography
Area: 337,113 sq. km. (130,160 sq. mi.); about the size of New
England, New Jersey, and New York combined.
Cities: Capital--Helsinki (pop. 560,500). Other cities--Espoo
(213,000), Tampere (195,500), Vantaa (178,500), Turku (173,000).
Terrain: Low but hilly, more than 70% forested, with more than 60,000
lakes.
Climate: Northern temperate.
People
Nationality: Noun--Finn(s). Adjective--Finnish.
Population: 5.2 million.
Population growth rate: 0.3%.
Ethnic groups: Finns, Swedes, Lapps, Sami, Roma, Tatars.
Christian singles note-Religions: Lutheran 89%, Orthodox 1%.
Languages: Finnish 93%, Swedish 6% (both official); small Lapp- and
Russian-speaking minorities.
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--almost 100%.
Literacy--almost 100%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--3.8/1,000. Life expectancy--males
74 yrs., females 81 yrs.
Work force (2.6 million; of which 2.3 million are employed): Public
services--32%; industry--21%; commerce--15%; finance,
insurance, and business services--13%; agriculture and forestry--6%;
transport and communications--7%; construction--6%.
Government
Type: Constitutional republic.
Constitution: July 17, 1919.
Independence: December 6, 1917.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state), prime minister
(head of government), Council of State (cabinet). Legislative--unicameral
parliament. Judicial--Supreme Court, regional appellate courts,
local courts.
Subdivisions: Six provinces, provincial self-rule for the Aland
Islands.
Political parties: Social Democratic Party, Center Party, National
Coalition (Conservative) Party, Leftist Alliance, Swedish People's
Party, Green Party.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
