Finland

Republic of Finland

A long border with Russia, a Finno-Ugric language, a Lutheran culture: Finland joined NATO in 2023 after eight decades of caution.

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Heritage

Christianised by Sweden from the twelfth century, Finland owes its writing to the Reformation: Mikael Agricola translated the New Testament in 1548 and effectively created literary Finnish. The Kalevala, compiled in 1835, gave the country a national epic on the Homeric model.

History

A Swedish province for six centuries, Finland passed to Russia in 1809 as an autonomous grand duchy. That singular status let it develop its institutions and identity even before independence.

Proclaimed on 6 December 1917 in the wake of the Russian revolution, independence was followed by a short and violent civil war. The Winter War of 1939-1940 and then the Continuation War cost Finland a tenth of its territory but preserved its sovereignty.

During the Cold War the country practised active neutrality and hosted in 1975 the Helsinki conference, whose Final Act introduced human rights into détente. A member of the Union since 1995 and of the euro area from the outset, Finland joined NATO on 4 April 2023.

Milestones

1548 Renaissance and Reformations

The New Testament in Finnish

Mikael Agricola creates written Finnish so that Scripture is accessible to all.

1809 Early modern period

Autonomous grand duchy

Attached to Russia, Finland keeps its Swedish laws and develops its institutions.

1835 Early modern period

Publication of the Kalevala

Lönnrot compiles the national epic, the foundation of the Finnish cultural awakening.

1906 Early modern period

Universal suffrage

Finland is the first country in Europe to grant women both the vote and eligibility for office.

1917 Contemporary period

Independence of Finland

On 6 December Finland separates from revolutionary Russia.

1939 Contemporary period

Winter War

Facing Soviet invasion, Finnish resistance saves independence at the cost of Karelia.

1975 European construction

Helsinki Final Act

Thirty-five states sign a text placing human rights at the heart of détente.

1995 European construction took part

Nordic enlargement

Austria, Finland and Sweden bring the Union to fifteen members.

1999 European construction took part

Birth of the euro

Eleven currencies are irrevocably fixed; the European Central Bank takes up its functions.

2023 Contemporary period

NATO accession of Finland

On 4 April Finland doubles the Alliance’s land border with Russia.

Political landscape

Results of the June 2024 European election and their translation into European Parliament groups.

Kok — Kansallinen Kokoomus 4
Vas — Vasemmistoliitto 3
SDP — Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue 3
Vihr — Vihreä liitto 1
Kesk — Suomen Keskusta 1
PS — Perussuomalaiset 1
RKP — Svenska folkpartiet i Finland 1
KD — Kristillisdemokraatit 1

Distribution of European seats

Group of the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) 5
The Left group in the European Parliament — GUE/NGL 3
Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament 3
Renew Europe Group 2
Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance 1
European Conservatives and Reformists Group 1

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The state in numbers

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Public debt, % of GDP 89.7 % 1.2 % GDP per head (EU = 100) 100.9 1.0 Government spending, % of GDP 57.7 % 1.8 % Total tax burden, % of GDP 42.3 % 0.6 % Prisoners per 100,000 people 56.9 3.6