Finland

Capital of Finland: Helsinki
Population of Finland: 5,259,250
Total area of Finland: 338,145 km2

Finland is a large country located in Northern Europe. Its flag is white with an off-center bright blue cross that extends from end to end and from top to bottom. Its emblem is red with an ornate lion and two swords on the top and bottom of the emblem. It is considered a Nordic country.

Finland population

The population of Finland is about 5.3 million people, the 3rd lowest dense population in all of Europe. Most people live in the South. A total of 97.5 percent of people living in Finland are Finnish. The rest are Estonian, Russian and Sweden. The national languages of Finland are Finnish and Swedish, although most people speak Finnish (92 percent). Both languages are taught in schools as a rule. There is a language known as the Sami language, which is spoken in northern Lapland. The Sami people to the North are only a population of 7000 individuals and they are considered indigenous. The vast majority of people belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, while others belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Church is considered one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world. The Finnish have strong extended family ties and the family is considered very important.  

History of Finland

Finland didn’t lose its glacial ice until around 8500 BCE and then it was settled by hunter gatherers. The land was ruled by Swedish kings in the 1100s and 1200s. The Finnish people were considered peddlers, while the Swedish were the upper classmen. Finland was receptive to the Luther Reformation and became largely Lutheran in the 1600s. In 1807, Finland came under Russian Rule as an autonomous Duchy. This lasted until 1917. In 1917, there was the February Revolution, which paved the way to Finnish independence. The October Revolution clinched the deal and there was a declaration of independence in late 1917. Finland fought in WWII against the Russians. In the Cold War, the Finnish population increase declined and emigration peaked. Finland has since stabilized and the country joined the EU in 1995.

Finland Tourism

Finland captures the hearts and imagination of many travelers from the world through its beautiful sceneries and unique culture. Finland offers a captivating and one of a kind experience to its visitors. In 2005, more than 5 million tourists came to Finland wherein a majority of them came from Sweden. Finland is most renowned for its number of beautiful lakes. Similarly, its woods and forests are popular hiking tours and biking tours. Some tourists go to Finland to go fishing, spot reindeers and moose or just enjoy nature. During the winter, families and other tourists go to skiing resorts. For the younger generation, Finland is a destination for alcohol. Drinking is a common part of Finnish lifestyle so the national favorites like the Finlandia vodka and the Salmiakki Koskenkorva attract a lot of tourists. Famous tourist spots are Suomenlinna, Helsinki Market Square, National Museum of Finland and the Hietaniemi Beach.

The Finns value courtesy in society and they expect people to act in the most proper way under any circumstance. Do not call unnecessary to attention to yourself and never raise your voice; speak with a moderate tone and volume. During conversation, they are particular about people who interrupt because they find it rude. Listen to the person talking and reply only after he or she is done. An important aspect of Finns’ daily life is the sauna. It is a common activity that families and friends do together. It is common for Finns to invite people to go to a sauna.