|
| FINLAND : Country
Profile |
 |
Swedish influence reached Finland together with catholic missionaries in the 12th century, and by the 14th century, most of Finland was under Swedish rule. In the following years, Finnish soldiers became a part of the Swedish armies that dominated |
Northern Europe in the 17th century.
When Sweden lost Finland to Russia in 1809, Finland became an autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia. The head of state thus became a Russian czar, yet the Finns were allowed to keep the administration established under Swedish rule.
Finland became independent on December 6, 1917 in the aftermath of World War I and the Russian Revolution. A Finnish kingdom was considered briefly, but the majority favored a republic. At last, a president became head of state.
The early stages of building the republic were not easy, due largely to the breakout of civil war in 1918. Approximately 300,000 Finns emigrated to the U.S in the following years.
Finland faced its toughest test for sovereignty in November 1939 as the Soviet Union sent in troops to conquer the nation. In the ensuing Winter War, Finland held its independence and maintained control of most of its land against an enemy that had looked invincible.
New foreign policy established after this time accentuated good relations between east and west. In fact, during the Cold War Finland acted as a broker of détente between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Finland joined the United Nations in 1955 and the European Union in 1995.
|
| Source
: Website of the Embassy of Finland in Washington DC
|
| Vital Statistics |
| Full Country Name |
Republic of Finland |
| Capital |
Helsinki |
| National Day |
Independence Day, 6 December |
| Area |
338,145 sq km |
| Population |
5,223,442 (July 2005 est.) |
| Language |
Finnish (official), Swedish (official) |
| Religion |
Evangelical Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, none,
others |
| Currency |
euro (EUR) |
| GDP with Growth Rate |
3% (2004 est.) |
| GDP per capita |
$29,000 (2004 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) |
0.7% (2004 est.) |
| Major Industries |
metals and metal products, electronics,
machinery and
scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper,
foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing
|
| Major Trading partners |
Germany, Sweden, Russia, Netherlands, Denmark,
UK,
France, China
|
| Trade Information |
a) Major Export Products
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber,
paper, pulp
b) Major Import Products
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery,
textile yarn and fabrics, grains |
|
