About Finland

The midnight sun above the Lake Päijänne. Photo: Matti Tirri.

Independence: in 1917

Regime: republic

Head of state: President Tarja Halonen

Capital: Helsinki (564 521 inhabitants)

Other major cities: Espoo (235 019 inh.), Tampere (206 328 inh.), Vantaa (189 711 inh.)Turku (175 354 inh), Oulu (130 178 inh.)

Population: 5,2 million (2006)

Official languages: Finnish, Swedish

Total surface area: 338 145 km2

Water surface: ca 33 814 km2

Coast line: ca 1.100 km

187 888 inner lakes

Biggest inner lake: Saimaa 4 400 km2

179 584 islands

Highest mountain in Lapland: Halti 1 328 m

Neighboring countries: Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Russia

Money: euro €

National Song: Maamme (Our Land)

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran Church 83,1 %, Orthodox Church 1,2 %, other religious groups 1,2 %, persons who do not belong to any religious group 14,5 %