Where is Finland?Discover Finland's location, geography, population, climate, history, major cities, economy, and everything you need to know about this country
### Where Is Finland? Everything You Need to Know About This Nordic Country
Finland is a country in Northern Europe with pristine nature stretching from its southern lakes and the capital Helsinki all the way to the beautiful polar regions of the north. The country covers approximately 338,465 square kilometers roughly the size of Germany but with a far smaller population of around 5.5 million, making it one of the least densely populated countries in Europe.
Finland declared independence from Russia on December 6, 1917, and became a member of the European Union in 1995. The majority of the population speaks Finnish, alongside a Swedish speaking community of approximately 5% of the total population.
### Where Is Finland Located in Europe?
Finland is located in Northern Europe, sharing borders with three countries:
- **Russia** to the east, approximately 1,340 kilometers of shared border
- **Norway** to the north, approximately 736 kilometers
- **Sweden** to the west, approximately 614 kilometers
- **Gulf of Finland** to the south, a maritime boundary of approximately 1,250 kilometers
More than two thirds of Finland's total land area is covered by forests. Of its 338,455 square kilometers, nearly 35,000 square kilometers consist of internal waters, and around 52,000 square kilometers of marine area belong to Finnish national territory. Over 187,000 lakes are scattered across the country earning Finland the widely used title "Land of a Thousand Lakes." One third of Finland lies within the Arctic Circle, making it one of the northernmost countries in the world.
### Is Finland Part of Scandinavia?
Finland is often grouped with Scandinavia geographically and culturally, though strictly speaking it is part of the Nordic region rather than the Scandinavian Peninsula. Finland borders Sweden and Norway the two core Scandinavian countries and shares many of the same values, lifestyle characteristics, and natural landscapes associated with the broader Nordic region.
### Population of Finland
Finland has a population of approximately 5.5 million. The country shows a significant gap in population distribution between north and south. Southern Finland has a population density of 62.6 people per square kilometer, while northern Lapland has just 1.8 people per square kilometer. The Helsinki metropolitan area alone is home to around 1.6 million people. Finland's population is growing, but remains very low compared to most European countries.
### Major Cities in Finland
Most of Finland's major cities are concentrated in the south and central regions. The largest cities are:
- **Helsinki** — 648,042 inhabitants (capital)
- **Espoo** — 283,632 inhabitants
- **Tampere** — 235,239 inhabitants
- **Vantaa** — 228,166 inhabitants
- **Oulu** — 203,567 inhabitants (largest city in northern Finland)
- **Turku** — 191,331 inhabitants
### Time Zone in Finland
Finland follows Eastern European Time (EET), which is UTC+02:00. During summer, Finland observes Eastern European Summer Time (EEST), which is UTC+03:00 one hour behind Moscow.
### Weather and Climate in Finland
Finland experiences four distinct seasons. Summer runs from June to August, with maximum temperatures of 25–30°C and an average of around 18°C. Snowfall typically begins in December and reaches its peak in March the best time for winter sports enthusiasts. June and July bring a higher presence of mosquitoes in forested areas, though repellents are widely available.
### Official Languages of Finland
Finland is officially bilingual. Finnish is the mother tongue of approximately 92.9% of the population, while Swedish is the first language of around 5.8%. Approximately 1,700 people in Lapland speak the Sami language.
Because Finnish is spoken natively by only around 5 million people worldwide, many Finns also speak English, German, or other European languages fluently. The Finno Ugric language family, to which Finnish belongs, traces its roots back approximately 5,000 years to the region around modern Lithuania. Today, every Finnish municipality is classified as either Finnish speaking or bilingual the latter applying when at least 8% or 8,000 residents form a linguistic minority.
### Emergency Numbers in Finland
- **Ambulance, Fire, Police:** 112
- **Police (alternative):** 100-22
- **Address and phone information service:** 118
### Key Historical Dates in Finland
Finland was first settled around 8500 BC, though the precise origins of its earliest inhabitants remain debated. In the Middle Ages, both Sweden and Novgorod laid competing claims to Finnish territory. In 1323, the Treaty of Nöteborg ceded western, southern, and central Finland to Sweden, while eastern and northern regions temporarily came under Russian influence.
Sweden's dominance ended during the Great Northern War (1700–1721), when Finland was occupied by Russia. After a brief period of relative independence, Finland became part of the Russian Empire for approximately 200 years. Following the Russian Revolution of October 1917, Finland declared independence on December 6, 1917 a date still celebrated as Finnish Independence Day.
### Finland in World War II
After the Molotov Ribbentrop pact between Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939, the Soviet Union attempted to claim parts of Finnish territory. On November 30, 1939, the Soviet army attacked. The conflict became known as the Winter War, ending in March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty, which allowed Finland to retain most of its independence.
In June 1941, after the pact was broken by the Soviet Union, Finland joined forces with Germany in what became known as the Continuation War, reclaiming territories lost to the east. The war concluded with the Moscow Armistice in September 1944. Finland subsequently ended military cooperation with Nazi Germany and worked to expel German forces from its territory a campaign that caused significant destruction in Lapland. The last German troops left Finland at the end of April 1945.
### Finland in the Post War Period
Finland preserved much of its independence through World War II and maintained a neutral position during the Cold War while cooperating with the Soviet Union. A severe economic crisis in the early 1990s was successfully overcome, and Finland joined the European Union in 1995. The Finnish markka was replaced by the euro on January 1, 2002.
### Finland's Political System
Finland has been a parliamentary democracy since independence. The current constitution, enacted on March 1, 2000, expanded the powers of Parliament and the Government while reducing those of the President. Parliament consists of 200 representatives elected every four years through proportional representation. Every Finnish citizen aged 18 or over has the right to vote.
### Daily Life and Diet in Finland
Finns typically begin their day around 7 AM with a light breakfast often a sandwich, milk, and coffee. Lunch, taken between 11 AM and 12 PM, is the main meal of the day. Around 2 PM, a coffee or tea break is customary. The workday ends around 4–5 PM, and dinner is eaten between 5–6 PM typically lighter than lunch, often a soup or meat dish.
### Economy of Finland
Finland is an industrialized country with a strong export oriented economy. Industry and construction account for approximately 45% of gross national product, while agriculture and forestry contribute around 11%. Finland is a world leader in machinery and equipment for the pulp and paper industry, and its shipbuilding sector produces some of the world's largest diesel powered icebreakers, offshore platforms, and passenger vessels with major shipyards in Turku, Helsinki, and Rauma.
Key natural resources include iron, copper, zinc, nickel, chromite, cobalt, vanadium, lead, graphite, and asbestos. Major Finnish industrial companies include Nokia, Neste, Kemira, and several large engineering and shipbuilding firms. Finland holds less than 1% of the world's forest reserves yet is one of the largest producers of wood products globally.
Exports of goods and services account for approximately 30% of GDP.
### Thinking About Moving to Finland?
Finland is not just a fascinating country to learn about it is also one of the best in the world to live and study in. If you are considering studying or immigrating to Finland, the team at **FinlandQ** can guide you through every step of the process. Contact our experts for personalized advice on building your future in Finland.