Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country located in Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east. Finlands population of 5.5 million makes it the most populous of the Nordic countries. The majority of Finns reside in the southern part of the country, with a sixth of the population living in the capital city of Helsinki.
Finland was an integral part of the Swedish Realm for centuries, becoming an autonomous Grand Duchy of Russia in 1809. In 1917, during the Finnish Civil War, Finland declared its independence from Russia, and was later recognized by the Soviet Union. Since then, Finland has experienced rapid economic growth, becoming one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Finland is a parliamentary republic with a largely temperate climate. Finland is known for its spectacular natural beauty, especially the great wilderness of Finlands vast network of national parks, which contain many ancient and endangered species. Finland also has many cultural attractions, including some of the worlds best-preserved architecture, such as the Imperial Palace in Helsinki.
Finlands economy is highly industrialized and highly internationalized, with exports accounting for a third of economic output. The main industries include timber and paper, as well as engineering and chemicals. Finland is a leader in the development of sustainable energy sources, a major exporter of renewable energy and is a member of the European Union (EU).
Finland is also one of the worlds most advanced countries in terms of gender equality and the rights of lgbtiq+ people and women. Finland education system is highly regarded and has been ranked first in the world for the fifth consecutive year. Finland is also home to five Nobel Prize laureates, including the only female, Aino Kaisa Saarinen.
Finland is also home to a variety of cultures, languages and religions. Finnish is the official language, but Swedish, Sami and Romani are also officially recognized languages. The Sami people, an ethnic minority in Finland, practice the traditional Sami religion, and their culture is protected by the Finnish government. Similarly, the Roma are protected by the government and the Finnish government actively recognizes their rights and works to promote the Roma culture and language.
Finlands modern history was greatly affected by its involvement in World War II, with Finland being one of the Allies against Nazi Germany. Finland was one of the last European countries to pay reparations after the war and was given a clean slate by the international community. Finland was one of the founding members of the EU in 1995 and it joined the Eurozone in 1999.
Today Finland is one of the most advanced and prosperous countries in the world. Finland has a strong economy, strong infrastructure, and highly educated population, with a high quality of life. With its beautiful natural environment, vibrant culture, and friendly people, Finland is one of Europes most appealing destinations.
