Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/79.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 15KB | 356 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Fin.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Finland"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Finland, click {z,"18.530160,57.959225,35.039403,70.498452",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between
Sweden and Russia

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 337,030 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 305,470 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly smaller than Montana

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,628 km
{3}border countries:{4} Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations)

{2}Maritime claims:{4}
contiguous zone: 6 nm
{3}continental shelf:{4} 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm
{3}territorial sea:{4} 4 nm

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating
influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

{2}Terrain:{4} mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills
{3}lowest point:{4} Baltic Sea 0 m
{3}highest point:{4} Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 8%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 0%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 76%
{3}other:{4} 16%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 620 sq km (1989 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water
pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

{2}natural hazards:{4} NA

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-
Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping,
Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-
Environmental Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea

{2}Geographic note:{4} long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on
European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 5,105,230 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 19% (male 492,616; female 471,736)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 67% (male 1,725,113; female 1,687,974)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 14% (male 275,927; female 451,864) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 0.1% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 11.32 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 10.92 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.02 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 0.61 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 75.47 years
{3}male:{4} 73.82 years
{3}female:{4} 77.18 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 1.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Finn(s)
{3}adjective:{4} Finnish

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar

{2}Religions:{4} Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1%

{2}Languages:{4} Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking
minorities

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 100%
{3}male:{4} NA%
{3}female:{4} NA%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Republic of Finland
{3}conventional short form:{4} Finland
{3}local long form:{4} Suomen Tasavalta
{3}local short form:{4} Suomi

{2}Type of government:{4} republic

{2}Capital:{4} Helsinki

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi,
Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu, Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

{2}Independence:{4} 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)

{2}National holiday:{4} Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

{2}Constitution:{4} 17 July 1919

{2}Legal system:{4} civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation
interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994) was elected for a six-year term
by popular vote; election last held 31 January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000);
results - Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime
Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995) were appointed by the president
{3}cabinet:{4} Council of State (Valtioneuvosto) was appointed by the president, responsible to
Parliament

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
Parliament (Eduskunta): elections last held 19 March 1995 (next to be held NA March 1999);
results - Social Democratic Party 28.3%, Center Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative)
Party 17.9%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%, Green League
6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party
0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats - (200 total) Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44,
National Coalition (Conservative) Party 39, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 22, Swedish People's
Party 11, Green League 9, Ecology Party 1, Rural 1, Finnish Christian League 7, Young Finns 2,
Aaland Islands 1

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court (Korkein Oikeus), judges appointed by the president

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4}
government coalition: Social Democratic Party, Paavo LIPPONEN; National Coalition
(conservative) Party, Sauli NIINISTO; Leftist Alliance (Communist) People's Democratic League
and Democratic Alternative, Claes ANDERSSON; Swedish People's Party, (Johan) Ole
NORRBACK; Green League, Pekka HAAVISTO
{3}other:{4} Center Party, Esko AHO; Finnish Christian League, Toimi KANKAANNIEMI; Rural Party,
Raimo VISTBACKA; Liberal People's Party, Tuulikki UKKOLA; Greens Ecological Party (EPV);
Young Finns, Risto PENTTILAE

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} Finnish Communist Party-Unity, Yrjo HAKANEN; Constitutional
Rightist Party; Finnish Pensioners Party; Communist Workers Party, Timo LAHDENMAKI

{2}International organization participation:{4} AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS,
CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO,
ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM,
UNMOGIP, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Jaakko LAAJAVA
{3}chancery:{4} 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}FAX:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} Los Angeles and New York

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Derek N. SHEARER
{3}embassy:{4} Itainen Puistotie 14A, FIN-00140, Helsinki
{3}mailing address:{4} APO AE 09723
{3}telephone:{4} [358] (0) 171931
{3}FAX:{4} [358] (0) 174681

{2}Flag:{4} white with a blue cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is
shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per
capita output equaling that of the UK, France and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing -
principally the wood, metals, and engineering industries. Trade is important, with the export of
goods representing about 30% of GDP. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends
on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of
the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products.
Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population.
The economy, which experienced an average of 4.9% annual growth between 1987 and 1989,
sank into deep recession in 1991 as GDP contracted by 6.5%. The recession - which continued in
1992 with GDP contracting by 4.1% - has been caused by economic overheating, depressed
foreign markets, and the dismantling of the barter system between Finland and the former Soviet
Union under which Soviet oil and gas had been exchanged for Finnish manufactured goods. The
Finnish Government has proposed efforts to increase industrial competitiveness and efficiency by
an increase in exports to Western markets, cuts in public expenditures, partial privatization of
state enterprises, and changes in monetary policy. In June 1991 Helsinki had tied the markka to
the European Union's (EU) European Currency Unit (ECU) to promote stability. Ongoing
speculation resulting from a lack of confidence in the government's policies forced Helsinki to
devalue the markka by about 12% in November 1991 and to indefinitely break the link in
September 1992. The devaluations have boosted the competitiveness of Finnish exports. The
recession bottomed out in 1993, and Finland participated in the general European upturn of 1994.
Unemployment probably will remain a serious problem during the next few years; the majority of
Finnish firms face a weak domestic market and the troubled German and Swedish export
markets. The Finns voted in an October 1994 referendum to enter the EU, and Finland officially
joined the Union on 1 January 1995. Increasing integration with Western Europe will dominate the
economic picture over the next few years.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $92.4 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 5% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $18,200 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 4.6%
{3}industry:{4} 28%
{3}services:{4} 67.4% (1994)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 2% (1995 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} 2.533 million
{3}by occupation:{4} public services 30.4%, industry 20.9%, commerce 15.0%, finance, insurance, and
business services 10.2%, agriculture and forestry 8.6%, transport and communications 7.7%,
construction 7.2%

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} 17% (1995)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $21.7 billion
{3}expenditures:{4} $31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, clothing

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 5% (1993 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 13,360,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 58 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 12,196 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; annual fish catch about 160,000 metric
tons

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} transshipment point for Latin American cocaine for the West European market

{2}Exports:{4} $29.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} paper and pulp, machinery, chemicals, metals, timber
{3}partners:{4} EU 46.5% (Germany 13.4%, UK 10.3%), Sweden 11%, US 7.2%, Japan 2.1%, FSU
8.6% (1994)

{2}Imports:{4} $23.2 billion (c.i.f., 1994)
{3}commodities:{4} foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron
and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, fodder grains
{3}partners:{4} EU 44% (Germany 15%, UK 8.3%), Sweden 10.4%, US 7.6%, Japan 6.5%, FSU 10.3
(1994)

{2}External debt:{4} $30 billion (December 1993)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
donor: ODA, $355 million (1993)

{2}Currency:{4} 1 markka (FMk) or Finmark = 100 pennia

{2}Exchange rates:{4} markkaa (FMk) per US$1 - 4.4425 (January 1996), 4.3667 (1995), 5.2235 (1994),
5.7123 (1993), 4.4794 (1992), 4.0440 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} calendar year


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 5,895 km
{3}broad gauge:{4} 5,895 km 1.524-m gauge (1,993 km electrified; 480 km double- or more-track) (1995)

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 76,755 km
{3}paved:{4} 47,588 km (including 318 km of expressways)
{3}unpaved:{4} 29,167 km (1992 est.)

{2}Waterways:{4} 6,675 km total (including Saimaa Canal); 3,700 km suitable for steamers

{2}Pipelines:{4} natural gas 580 km

{2}Ports:{4} Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki,
Varkaus

{2}Merchant marine:{4}
{3}total:{4} 92 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,051,231 GRT/1,075,397 DWT
{3}ships by type:{4} bulk 8, cargo 20, chemical tanker 5, oil tanker 12, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo
1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 31, short-sea passenger 12, vehicle carrier 1 (1995 est.)

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 157
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m:{4} 23
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 13
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 21
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 92
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 5 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 2.78 million (1986 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} good service from cable and microwave radio relay network
{3}domestic:{4} cable and microwave radio relay
{3}international:{4} 1 submarine cable; satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service
via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean Regions); note -
Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland,
Norway, and Sweden)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 6, FM 105, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 4.98 million (1991 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 235

{2}Televisions:{4} 2.1 million (1983 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard)

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 1,307,128
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 1,074,540
males reach military age (17) annually: 32,760 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $1.9 billion, 1.6% of GDP (1995)