Country Guide • Finland
Finland borders the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia. It is heavily forested and contains thousands of lakes, numerous rivers, and extensive areas of marshland.
| Official Name | Republic of Finland |
|---|---|
| Area | 337,030km² (130,127mile²) |
| Population | 5,189,000 |
| Continent | Europe |
| Population per mile² | 40 |
| Capital City | Helsinki |
| Religions | 88% Lutheran Christians, 1% are Orthodox |
| Language | Finnish and Swedish. The official minority languages are three Sami languages, Romani, Finnish Sign Language and the Karelian language. |
| Government | Democratic Republic |
| Member of EU | Yes |
| Currency | Euro |
| GDP | $136.2 billion |
| GDP per Head | $26,200 |
| Natural Resources | Copper, timber,zinc, iron ore and silver |
| Land Use | Arable Land 7% |
| Agriculture | Barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish |
| Industry | Metals and engineering equipment, telecommunications, timber and paper products |
| Tourism | Its unspoilt natural environment is the perfect setting for all kinds of activity, whether you are seeking excitement or relaxation. Finland has a vibrant cultural life, with a busy calendar of festivals and events to suit every taste |
| Natural Hazards | None |
| Health Risks | None |
| Climate | Finland has a temperate climate with continental winds bringing cold spells in winter and heat waves in summer. Rainfall occurs all year round and the average annual rainfall varies from 20 inches to 28 inches. In the north most of it falls as snow. Average temperature ranges in Helsinki are from -9 to -4°C in February to 12 to 23°C in July |
| Time | GMT/UTC+2 hours |
| National Days | December 6 |
| Visas | Finland is a member of the European Union. If you are a British national you can stay as a visitor for three months. Visas are not required by most other foreign nationals either |
| British Embassy | Embassy Details |
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