Country
Countries A-Z
Finland
Republic of Finland
Suomen Tasavalta (Finnish)
Republiken Finland (Swedish)
Political Status: Independent since December 6, 1917; republic established July 17, 1919, under presidential-parliamentary system.
Area: 130,119 sq. mi. (337,009 sq. km.).
Population: 5,666,876 (2012E—UN); 5,262,930 (2012E—U.S. Census).
Major Urban Centers (2005E): HELSINKI (551,000), Espoo (239,000), Tampere (208,000), Turku (178,000).
Official Languages: Finnish, Swedish.
Monetary Unit: Euro (market rate October 3, 2011: 1 euro = $1.33 US).
President: Tarja HALONEN (Finnish Social Democratic Party); reelected in second-round balloting on February 29, 2006, and inaugurated for a six-year term on March 1, 2006.
Prime Minister: Jyrki KATAINEN (National Coalition Party); approved by the legislature and sworn in on June 22, 2011, as the leader of a six-party coalition government to replace Mari KIVINIEMI (Finish Center), following legislative elections on April 17, 2011.
The Country
A land of rivers, ...