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20 Best Facts About Finland

Finland is a country in Northern Europe. Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world for the past consecutive years. Finland is well known for its beautiful landscapes, unique traditions and is the perfect blend of modernity and nature all in one place. 

In this article, we highlight the 20 best facts about Finland. From its rich heritage to the culture and hospitality of its people and breathtaking landscapes. We break down why Finland has arched its place on the global stage as a favorite destination for travelers and observers alike. Let’s delve into the 20 best facts about Finland. 

1. Finland is a Nordic country

The Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. It includes the sovereign states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

The Nordic countries have much in common in their way of life, history, religion and social structure. They have a long history of political unions and other close relations but do not form a singular entity today. Read more on 10 Essential Things To Know about Finland And World War II.  

2. Finland is ranked as the happiest country in the world

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In April 2012, Finland was ranked second in Gross National Happiness in a report published by The Earth Institute. Since 2012, Finland has every time ranked at least in the top 5 of the world’s happiest countries in the annual World Happiness Report by the United Nations, as well as ranking as the happiest country in 2018.

There are a couple of reasons that make Finland one of the happiest countries in the world. These include; a secure safety net that provides basic needs for its citizens including, healthcare, education and housing. The people of Finland are also known for their warmth and hospitality which contributes to a sense of community and belonging and hence the happiness ranking.

 3. The official languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish

Finland has these two official languages with Swedish being the native language of 5.2% of the population. Finnish is spoken by the majority of the population in Finland and by ethnic Finns outside of Finland. 

4. Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland

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Helsinki is the capital, primate, and most populous city of Finland. The city’s urban area has a population of 1,268,296, making it by far the most populous urban area in Finland as well as the country’s most important center for politics, education, finance, culture, and research. 

Helsinki has one of the world’s highest standards of urban living. In 2011, the British magazine Monocle ranked Helsinki as the world’s most live able city in its live able cities index.

5. Finland has an excellent education system which is free for citizens

The Finnish education system is highly regarded globally and is known for its emphasis on equality and high academic standards. The World Economic Forum ranks Finland’s tertiary education No. 1 in the world. 

Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 18. In tertiary education, two mostly separate and non-interoperating sectors are found: the profession-oriented polytechnics and the research-oriented universities. Education is free and living expenses are to a large extent financed by the government through student benefits. 

6. Northern Lights can be seen from Finland

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Finland is one of the world’s northernmost countries. The northernmost region of Finland, Lapland, is known for its stunning natural beauty, the Northern Lights, and being the official home of Santa Claus. 

Northern lights are most common in Lapland in wintertime. Northern lights are a natural light display in Earth’s sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions.

7. Finland is known as the Land of a Thousand Lakes 

There are 187,888 lakes in Finland larger than 500 square meters. Most are small, but there are 309 lakes or reservoirs larger than 10 km. Its largest lake, Saimaa, is the fourth largest in Europe. 

The Finnish Lakeland is the area with the most lakes in the country; many of the major cities in the area, most notably Tampere, Jyväskylä and Kuopio, are located near the large lakes.

8. Finland is home to the largest archipelago in the world

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Finland has about 179,000 islands. The greatest concentration of islands is found in the southwest, in the Archipelago Sea between continental Finland and the main island of Ã…land.

Read more about Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Gulf of Finland. 

9. Finland was the first European state to grant universal suffrage

Universal suffrage ensures the right to vote for as many people who are bound by a government’s laws as possible, as supported by the one-person, one-vote principle. Finland was also the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office.

 10. In Finland, there’s one sauna for every two people

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The Finns’ love for saunas is generally associated with Finnish cultural tradition in the world. Steam baths have been part of European tradition elsewhere as well, but the sauna has survived best in Finland.

Moreover, nearly all Finnish houses have either their own sauna or in multi-story apartment houses, a timeshare sauna. Municipal swimming halls and hotels have often their own saunas. 

11. Finland is the most sparsely populated country in the European Union

The population of Finland is currently about 5.5 million. Finland has an average population density of 18 inhabitants per square kilometer. 

This is the third-lowest population density of any European country, behind those of Norway and Iceland, and the lowest population density of any European Union member country

12. Finland is the origin of the popular game Angry Birds

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The game Angry Birds was developed by Rovio Entertainment in Finland. The company’s success has helped to establish Finland as a leading player in the mobile game industry and has helped to create a thriving ecosystem for game development in the country.

In December 2009, Rovio released Angry Birds, a puzzle game where a bird is flung at pigs using a slingshot. In May 2012, Rovio announced that its game series Angry Birds had reached its one billionth download.

13. Finland has a high population of avid coffee drinkers

Finland has the world’s second-highest per capita consumption of coffee. Milk consumption is also high, at an average of about 112 liters, per person, per year, even though 17% of the Finns are lactose intolerant.

14. The most popular food in Finland is salmon

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Finnish cuisine generally combines traditional country fare and contemporary style cooking. Potato, meat and fish play a prominent role in traditional Finnish dishes. Finnish foods often use wholemeal products and berries. Milk and its derivatives like buttermilk are commonly used as food and drink.

15. Finland has one of the lowest rates of corruption in the world

Finland has a very low number of corruption charges; Transparency International ranks Finland as one of the least corrupt countries in Europe.

Finland is rated the least corrupt country in the world on the Corruption Perceptions Index and 13th on the Ease of doing business index.

16. Nokia, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of mobile phones is in Finland

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Nokia is a Finnish multinational telecommunications, information technology, and consumer electronics corporation, established in 1865. Nokia’s main headquarters are in Espoo, Finland, in the greater Helsinki metropolitan area.

Much of the late 1990s economic growth was fueled by the success of the mobile phone manufacturer Nokia. In 2013, the 10 largest private sector employers included Nokia.

17. Finland celebrates its independence day on December 6th

Independence Day of Finland is a national public holiday, and a flag-flying day, held on 6 December to celebrate Finland’s declaration of independence from the Russian Empire when the Bolsheviks took power in late 1917.

After the 1917 Russian Revolution, Finland declared independence from Russia. In 1918, the fledgling state was divided by the Finnish Civil War. During World War II, Finland fought the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War, and Nazi Germany in the Lapland War. It subsequently lost parts of its territory but maintained its independence.

18. The national animal of Finland is the brown bear

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The brown bear is Finland’s national animal. It is also the largest carnivore in Finland. Other widely recognized wildlife mammals found in Finland are the brown bear, grey wolf, wolverine, and elk. 

Three of the more striking birds are the whooper swan, a large European swan and the national bird of Finland; the Western capercaillie, a large, black-plumaged member of the grouse family; and the Eurasian eagle-owl. 

19. Finland is the largest producer of wood in Europe 

Of Finland’s total area, 10% is lakes, rivers, and ponds, and 78% is forest. Forests play a key role in the country’s economy, making it one of the world’s leading wood producers and providing raw materials at competitive prices for the crucial wood processing industries. 

The government of Finland has long played a leading role in forestry, regulating tree cutting, sponsoring technical improvements, and establishing long-term plans to ensure that the country’s forests continue to supply the wood-processing industries.

20. Finland is known for its gender equality

Finland was also one of the first European countries to strongly aim for equality for women, with Miina Sillanpää serving in Väinö Tanner’s cabinet as the first female minister in Finnish history in 1926–1927. Women are allowed to serve in all combat arms in the Finnish Defense Forces. Read more about Finland’s Top 10 Women Football Players. 

In Conclusion, from the facts stated above Finland lives up to its fame as the happiest country for its citizens. From the quality of life, it provides for citizens to free education from a primary to a tertiary level to job security and even the low levels of corruption evidenced, Finland is really one of the best countries to live in. It also offers a vast landscape and activities for tourists, so be sure to add it to your bucket list of destinations.