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Want to Learn More About Finland?Basic InformationLand area - 337,030 square kilometers (about the size of Montana) Population - 5,236,000 (about the size of Arizona); 67% live in cities and towns, 33% live in rural areas. There are approximately 1,400,000 million families (average 1.8 children per family). The work force is 2,500,000 of which women make up 52%. Principal cities - Helsinki (555,000), Espoo (215,000) and Vantaa (178,000) constitute Helsinki metropolitan area (16% of total population); other major cities are Tampere (195,000), Turku (173,000) and Oulu (120,000). Life expectancy - for women is 81 and men is 74. Immigration policies - European Union membership entitles citizens of EU Countries to immigrate to Finland, but otherwise, Finland discourages immigration because of the social services required to be provided. Foreigners number only approximately 108,000, most of whom are Russians, Estonians and Swedes. Terrain - Mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills. Area is 76% forests and woodlands, 8% arable, 10% lakes and 6% cities and towns. There are over 187,000 lakes and 180,000 islands. Climate - Warm summers and very cold winters. In Helsinki, the average summer high is 68° F and the average winter low is 15° F, whereas in northern Finland (above the Arctic Circle), the average lows often reach -8° F. In mid-summer Helsinki has 20 daylight hours and in midwinter only 6 daylight hours, as compared to the north where there are approximately 50 days in the summer where there is perpetual daylight (white nights) and 50 days in the winter that are totally dark (polar nights). Religion - Evangelical Lutheran (claimed by 89% of population); Orthodox (1%), Catholic (1%), Anglican (1%), and other (8%). St. Birgitta (born 1303), a gifted writer, politician, church reformer and one of the most influential women of her time, is Finland (and Sweden's) patron saint. Symbols - Finnish flag is white for snow and blue crossfor lakes. Finnish court of arms (lion with sword over Russian sabre, roses) was adopted by first Grand Duke of Finland in the 16th century and perpetuated during Swedish and Russian ownership and into independence. National anthem “Maamme” (“Our Land”), was written by poet Johan Runeberg and musician Fredrik Pacius, and was first performed in 1848. |
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