last edited Dec 11, 2019
Introduction to Finland
Location Map of Finland
Finland
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Quick Overview
Key Facts
- Type of place: country.
- Latitude/longitude: 60°10' N, 24°56' E.
- Local time:
- Capital: Helsinki
- Nature of the state: parliamentary republic.
- Official languages: Finnish and Swedish.
- Currency: euro.
- Population: 5,537,364 inhabitants (2018).
- Area: 338,144 km².
- Density: 16 inhabitants/km².
- Highest point: Mount Halti (1,328 m).
- Lowest point: sea level.
- Coastline: 1,126 km.
- Driving: on the right.
Tourism
This is the "nature country" par excellence! While not as extraordinary as in other regions, nature is omnipresent here, with countless lakes, rivers, marshes, forests, and coastal areas—so much so that it has shaped Finnish culture and way of life.
Though less visited than the rest of Scandinavia, Finland has found its audience, welcoming just over 3 million visitors each year (3.221 million in 2018). While neighboring countries make up the bulk of arrivals, there are also many German tourists, as well as Chinese, Japanese, and American visitors. As for the French (93,520 in 2016), they rank 9th in visitor numbers.
Travel Essentials
- Destination: beginner-friendly.
- By air: France-Helsinki.
- Entry requirements: ID card or passport.
- Currency to bring: euros.
- Exchange rate:
- Daily "backpacker" budget:
- Best for accommodation:
- Best for getting around:
- Risks: virtually none in terms of health, and very low in terms of safety (nature-related).
- Best time for climate/crowds/prices:
- Interests (out of ): Nature ; Adventure ; Culture /; Relaxation/Holidays /
Useful Addresses
Socio-Economic Statistics
- "Quality of life": 15/188 (rank in 2018)
- GDP per capita: $44,500 (2017)
- Average monthly income: ()
- Inflation: +0.8% (2017)
- "Official" unemployment: 8.5% (2017)
- Population below poverty line: ()
- Life expectancy: 81.1 years (2018)
- Migration rate per 1,000 inhabitants: +2.9 (2017)
- Population growth: +0.33% (2018)
- Literacy rate: 100% (2019)
- Urban population: 85.4% (2018)
- Press freedom: 4/180 (rank in 2018)
- Political regime: democracy (8/167 in 2018)
Sources: World Bank, Human Development Indicators, RSF, The Economist, The World Factbook