Finland

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FACTS

Terrain

Mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Climate

Cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

People

Nationality: Finn(s)
Population: 5,266,114 (July 2013 est.)
Languages: Finnish (official) 91.2%, Swedish (official) 5.5%, other (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) 3.3% (2007)

Religions

Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1% (2006)

Economy

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita output almost as high as 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.

Living Conditions

There are three basic types of dwellings in Finland: kerrostalot or apartment complexes, omakotitalot or single-family homes, and rivitalo or row-houses. The typical Finnish apartment is only two or three rooms and a kitchen. In many single-family homes, a shower and sauna take the place of a bathtub. Most Finns own (or rent or borrow) a summer cottage in the picturesque countryside. Finland provides the entire population with health insurance.