country comparison to the world: 60
Urbanization:
urban population: 63% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.45 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 213
male: 3.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.13 years
country comparison to the world: 39
male: 75.64 years
female: 82.76 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.73 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
2,400 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish
Ethnic groups:
Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy)
0.1%, Sami 0.1% (2006)
Religions:
Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other
Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)
Languages:
Finnish 91.2% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3.3% (small
Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2007)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2008)
Education expenditures:
5.4% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 51
Government ::Finland
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
local short form: Suomi/Finland
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Helsinki
geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
20 regions (maakunnat, singular - maakunta (Finnish); landskapen,
singular - landskapet (Swedish)); Aland (Swedish), Ahvenanmaa
(Finnish); Etela-Karjala (Finnish), Sodra Karelen (Swedish) [South
Karelia]; Etela-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Sodra Osterbotten (Swedish)
[South Ostrobothnia]; Etela-Savo (Finnish), Sodra Savolax (Swedish)
[South Savo]; Kanta-Hame (Finnish), Egentliga Tavastland (Swedish);
Ita-Uusimaa (Finnish), Ostra Nyland (Swedish) [East Newland]; Kainuu
(Finnish), Kajanaland (Swedish); Keski-Pohjanmaa (Finnish),
Mellersta Osterbotten (Swedish) [Central Ostrobothnia]; Keski-Suomi
(Finnish), Mellersta Finland (Swedish) [Central Finland];
Kymenlaakso (Finnish), Kymmenedalen (Swedish); Lappi (Finnish),
Lappland (Swedish); Paijat-Hame (Finnish), Paijanne-Tavastland
(Swedish); Pirkanmaa (Finnish), Birkaland (Swedish) [Tampere];
Osterbotten (Swedish), Pohjanmaa (Finnish) [Ostrobothnia];
Pohjois-Karjala (Finnish), Norra Karelen (Swedish) [North Karelia];
Pohjois-Pohjanmaa (Finnish), Norra Osterbotten (Swedish) [North
Ostrobothnia]; Pohjois-Savo (Finnish), Norra Savolax (Swedish)
[North Savo]; Satakunta (Finnish and Swedish); Uusimaa (Finnish),
Nyland (Swedish) [Newland]; Varsinais-Suomi (Finnish), Egentliga
Finland (Swedish) [Southwest Finland]
Independence:
6 December 1917 (from Russia)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 6 December (1917)
Constitution:
1 March 2000
Legal system:
civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the
Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Mari KIVINIEMI (since 22 June
2010); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to parliament
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 15 January 2006
(next to be held in January 2012); the president appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the
majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament
must approve the appointment; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected on
17 April 2007
election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli
NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA
(VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held
29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN
reelected prime minister; election results 121-71
note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP
Legislative branch:
unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members elected by
popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 18 March 2007 (next to be held in April 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 23.1%, Kok 22.3%,
SDP 21.4%, VAS 8.8%, VIHR 8.5%, KD 4.9%, SFP 4.5%, True Finns 4.1%,
other 3.4%; seats by party - Kesk 51, Kok 50, SDP 45, VAS 17, VIHR
15, SFP 9, KD 7, True Finns 5, other 1 (the constituency of Aland)
Judicial branch:
general courts - deal with criminal and civil cases (include
district courts, Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court or Korkein
Oikeus, whose judges are appointed by the president); administrative
courts
Political parties and leaders:
Center Party or Kesk [Mari KIVINIEMI]; Christian Democrats or KD
[Paivi RASANEN]; Green Party or VIHR [Anni SINNEMAKI]; Left Alliance
or VAS [Paavo ARHINMAKI]; National Coalition Party or Kok [Jyrki
KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Jutta URPILAINEN];
Swedish People's Party or SFP [Stefan WALLIN]; True Finns [Timo
SOINI]
International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council,
Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, FATF, G-9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pekka LINTU
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Bruce J. ORECK
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800
Flag description:
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style
of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the blue represents the thousands of
lakes scattered across the country, while the white is for the snow
that covers the land in winter
National anthem:
name: "Maamme" (Our Land)
lyrics/music: Johan Ludvig RUNEBERG/Fredrik PACIUS
note: in use since 1848; although never officially adopted by law,
the anthem has been popular since it was first sung by a student
group in 1848; Estonia's anthem uses the same melody as that of
Finland
Economy ::Finland
Economy - overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy
with per capita output roughly that of Austria, Belgium, the
Netherlands, and Sweden. Trade is important with exports accounting
for over one third of GDP in recent years. Finland is strongly
competitive in manufacturing - principally the wood, metals,
engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Finland
excels in high-tech exports such as mobile phones. Except for timber
and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials,
energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the
climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining
self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export
earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population.
Finland had been one of the best performing economies within the EU
in recent years and its banks and financial markets avoided the
worst of global financial crisis. However, the world slowdown hit
exports and domestic demand hard in 2009, with Finland experiencing
one of the deepest contractions in the euro zone. A recovery of
exports stimulated economic growth in 2010, and led to a lowering of
unemployment. The recession left a deep mark on general government
finances and the debt ratio, turning previously strong budget
surpluses into deficits. In the next few years, the great challenge
of economic policy will be to implement a post-recession exit
strategy in which measures supporting growth will be combined with
general government adjustment measures. Longer-term, Finland must
address a rapidly aging population and decreasing productivity that
threaten competitiveness, fiscal sustainability, and economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$185.4 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$181.6 billion (2009 est.)
$197.6 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$232 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
-8.1% (2009 est.)
1% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
$34,600 (2009 est.)
$37,700 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 29.1%
services: 68.2% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
2.68 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture and forestry: 4.5%
industry: 18.2%
construction: 7.3%
commerce: 15.9%
finance, insurance, and business services: 14.5%
transport and communications: 6.9%
public services: 32.7% (2008)
Unemployment rate:
7.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
8.2% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 24.7% (2007)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
29.5 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 115
25.6 (1991)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
Public debt:
45.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
40.3% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
0% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal
lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro
area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
3.51% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
5.79% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$108 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 29
$110.4 billion (31 December 2009 est)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro
area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for
the 16 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual
members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating
within their own borders
Stock of broad money:
$160.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
$168.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$259.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
$241.6 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$91.02 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 27
$154.4 billion (31 December 2008)
$369.2 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish
Industries:
metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific
instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, clothing
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Electricity - production:
77.44 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Electricity - consumption:
87.25 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
Electricity - exports:
3.335 billion kWh (2008)
Electricity - imports:
16.11 billion kWh (2008)
Oil - production:
8,718 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Oil - consumption:
206,200 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Oil - exports:
130,500 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Oil - imports:
337,900 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Oil - proved reserves:
NA bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
NA (2008 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
4.289 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 63
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - imports:
4.289 billion cu m (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Current account balance:
$4.696 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
$3.444 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$73.53 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
$62.69 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
electrical and optical equipment, machinery, transport equipment,
paper and pulp, chemicals, basic metals; timber
Exports - partners:
Germany 10.32%, Sweden 9.79%, Russia 9%, US 7.85%, Netherlands 5.9%,
UK 5.24%, China 4.1% (2009)
Imports:
$69.11 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
$57.68 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport
equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,
grains
Imports - partners:
Russia 16.28%, Germany 15.76%, Sweden 14.65%, Netherlands 6.99%,
China 5.29%, France 4.22% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$9.128 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
$11.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$370.8 billion (30 June 2010)
country comparison to the world: 23
$339.5 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$87.99 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
$85.71 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$122.2 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$118.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7715 (2010), 0.7179 (2009), 0.6827
(2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006)
Communications ::Finland
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.43 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 65
Telephones - mobile cellular:
7.7 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 76
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive
mobile-cellular network provide domestic needs
international: country code - 358; submarine cables provide links to
Estonia and Sweden; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat
transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares
the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Broadcast media:
a mix of publicly-operated TV stations and privately-owned TV
stations; the 2 publicly-owned TV stations recently expanded
services and the largest private TV station has introduced several
special-interest pay-TV channels; cable and satellite multi-channel
subscription services are available; all TV signals have been
broadcast digitally since September 2007; analog broadcasts via
cable networks were terminated in February 2008; public broadcasting
maintains a network of 13 national and 25 regional radio stations; a
large number of private radio broadcasters (2008)
Internet country code:
.fi; note - Aland Islands assigned .ax
Internet hosts:
4.394 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 21
Internet users:
4.393 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 55
Transportation ::Finland
Airports:
148 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 37
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 75
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 70 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 694 km (2009)
Railways:
total: 5,794 km
country comparison to the world: 31
broad gauge: 5,794 km 1.524-m gauge (3,047 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways:
total: 78,141 km
country comparison to the world: 62
paved: 50,914 km (includes 739 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,227 km (2009)
Waterways:
7,842 km (includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part
leased from Russia; water transport is used frequently in the summer
and is widely replaced with sledges on the ice in winter; there are
187,888 lakes in Finland that cover 31,500 km) (2010)
country comparison to the world: 18
Merchant marine:
total: 93
country comparison to the world: 53
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 26, carrier 1, chemical tanker 6,
container 3, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 16, petroleum tanker 5,
roll on/roll off 28, vehicle carrier 3
foreign-owned: 6 (Cyprus 1, Estonia 2, Iceland 1, Norway 2)
registered in other countries: 52 (Bahamas 8, Germany 5, Gibraltar
2, Liberia 2, Malta 2, Netherlands 14, Norway 1, Panama 2, Sweden
16) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma
Military ::Finland
Military branches:
Finnish Defense Forces (FDF): Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense
Forces), Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for male voluntary and compulsory - and female
voluntary - national military and nonmilitary service; service
obligation 6-12 months; mandatory retirement at age 60 (2010)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,160,812
females age 16-49: 1,111,743 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 958,949
females age 16-49: 916,818 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 33,297
female: 32,233 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
Transnational Issues ::Finland
Disputes - international:
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other
areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts
no territorial demands
page last updated on January 20, 2011
======================================================================
@France (Europe)
Introduction ::France
Background:
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered
extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a
dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most
modern countries in the world and is a leader among European
nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid
presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the
instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary
administrations. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation
with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of
Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency,
the euro, in January 1999.
Geography ::France
Location:
metropolitan France: Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and
English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK;
bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain
French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar
Geographic coordinates:
metropolitan France: 46 00 N, 2 00 E
French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E
Map references:
metropolitan France: Europe
French Guiana: South America
Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean
Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean
Reunion: World
Area:
total: 643,427 sq km; 551,500 sq km (metropolitan France)
country comparison to the world: 42
land: 640,053 sq km; 549,970 sq km (metropolitan France)
water: 3,374 sq km; 1,530 sq km (metropolitan France)
note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French
Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion
Area - comparative:
slightly less than the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
metropolitan France - total: 2,889 km
border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km,
Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km,
Switzerland 573 km
French Guiana - total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km
Coastline:
total: 4,668 km
metropolitan France: 3,427 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
metropolitan France: generally cool winters and mild summers, but
mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional
strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral
French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation
Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds;
moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable
to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average
Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool
and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)
Terrain:
metropolitan France: mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in
north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in
south, Alps in east
French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains
Guadeloupe: Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior
mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the
seven other islands are volcanic in origin
Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m
note: in order to assess the possible effects of climate change on
the ice and snow cap of Mont Blanc, its surface and peak have been
extensively and periodically measured in recent years; these new
peak measurements have exceeded the traditional height of 4,807 m
and have varied between 4,808 m and 4,811 m; the actual rock summit
is 4,792 m and is 40 m away from the ice-covered summit
Natural resources: