Finland
Finland is a highly developed democratic country situated in northeastern Europe. It borders Russia to the east, Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, and the Baltic Sea to the south. Since gaining independence from Russia in 1917, Finland has had a democratic form of government. From 1945 to 1991, Finland, although a democratic state with historical ties to Western Europe, pursued an official policy of neutrality and maintained close ties with the Soviet Union. With the Cold War's end came a tilt to the West in Finnish foreign policy, and Finland joined the European Union (EU) in 1995. Finns enjoy an advanced and productive economy, extensive social welfare programs, and one of the highest standards of living in the world.
Basic Facts
Finland is a presidential/parliamentary republic that is 337,115 square kilometers (130,160 square miles) in area, approximately the size of Montana, with its capital in Helsinki. The population is estimated at 5.2 million; the ethnic breakdown is as follows: Finns (93%), Swedes (6%), and small numbers of Saami (Lapps), Romani (gypsies), and Tatars. The overwhelming majority of Finland's citizens are Lutheran (89%). The gross national product (GNP) per capita is 26,800 euros. Both Finnish and Swedish are the official languages of the nation.
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