World Happiness Report for Finland 2024
- Overall Happiness Rank Finland: 1
- Happiness Score Finland:7.741
Happiness is a subjective concept that has long been debated by philosophers, psychologists, and economists alike. However, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in quantifying happiness and using it as a measure of a nation’s overall well-being. This is where the concept of the Happiness Index comes into play.
What is the Happiness Index?
The Happiness Index is a measure that attempts to quantify the overall happiness and life satisfaction of a country’s population. It is based on the idea that traditional economic indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), do not fully capture the overall well-being of a society. The Happiness Index takes into account various factors that contribute to an individual’s sense of happiness and life satisfaction, including social support, freedom to make life choices, healthy life expectancy, and perceptions of corruption.
How is the Happiness Index Calculated?
The Happiness Index is calculated through a combination of subjective and objective data. The primary source of data is the Gallup World Poll, which is a survey conducted in over 160 countries. The survey asks respondents to rate their overall life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the worst possible life and 10 being the best possible life.
In addition to the life satisfaction score, the Happiness Index also takes into account the following factors:
- GDP per capita: This is a measure of a country’s economic output and standard of living.
- Social support: This factor measures the extent to which individuals have supportive relationships and love in their lives.
- Healthy life expectancy: This is a measure of the number of years an individual is expected to live in good health.
- Freedom to make life choices: This factor measures the extent to which individuals are able to make decisions about their lives without external constraints.
- Generosity: This factor measures the extent to which individuals engage in charitable activities and donate to others.
- Perceptions of corruption: This factor measures the extent to which individuals perceive their society to be free from corruption.
These factors are weighted and combined to produce an overall Happiness Index score for each country.
What Does the Happiness Index Affect?
The Happiness Index has significant implications for policymaking and societal well-being. Countries with higher Happiness Index scores are generally considered to have better overall quality of life and well-being for their citizens. This can have positive impacts on various aspects of society, including:
- Economic productivity: Happier individuals tend to be more productive and engaged in their work, which can contribute to a country’s economic growth.
- Public health: Higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction are associated with better physical and mental health outcomes, which can reduce healthcare costs and improve overall well-being.
- Social cohesion: Societies with higher levels of happiness tend to have stronger social bonds and lower levels of conflict and crime.
- Environmental sustainability: Happier individuals may be more likely to engage in environmentally-friendly behaviors and support policies that promote sustainability.
By focusing on the factors that contribute to happiness and well-being, policymakers can develop strategies to improve the overall quality of life for their citizens. The Happiness Index provides a valuable tool for measuring progress and identifying areas where improvements can be made.
Short information
- Abbreviation of Finland. FI.
- known for its high quality of life, with a strong emphasis on education and social welfare.
- has a parliamentary democracy with a President as the head of state and a Prime Minister as the head of government.
- is famous for its sauna culture, with over 3 million saunas in the country.
Finland – Country Overview
Early History and Ancient Civilizations
The area that is now Finland has been inhabited since the end of the last glacial period around 8500 BCE. The earliest known settlers were hunter-gatherers from the Suomusjärvi and Comb Ceramic cultures. Finland’s earliest indigenous people were the Sami, who still maintain a presence in the northern regions.
Kingdoms and Empires
In the 12th century, Finland gradually became part of the Kingdom of Sweden, a position it maintained for over 600 years. During this time, the country was heavily influenced by Swedish culture and the Lutheran faith.
Colonial Period and Independence
After the Finnish War with Russia in 1808–1809, Finland was ceded to the Russian Empire as an autonomous Grand Duchy. This period saw a rise in Finnish nationalism and the development of the Finnish language and culture. Finland declared independence on December 6, 1917, following the Russian Revolution.
Modern Era and Political Situation
Finland was a relatively peaceful democracy throughout the 20th century, although it fought against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and Continuation War during World War II. Today, Finland is a parliamentary republic with a president as head of state and a prime minister as head of government. The current president is Sauli Niinistö, and the prime minister is Sanna Marin.
International Relations
Finland is a member of the European Union and has maintained a policy of military non-alignment. It has strong ties with its Nordic neighbors and is seeking NATO membership in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Economy and Human Development
Finland has a highly industrialized, mixed economy with a per capita output among the highest in the world. Its main industries include electronics, machinery, and forestry products. Finland ranks highly on the Human Development Index and has an excellent education system.
Cultural Highlights
Finnish culture is marked by its unique language, love of nature, and appreciation for design and technology. The country is known for its saunas, Nordic cuisine, and contributions to architecture, music, and literature. Finland is predominantly Lutheran Christian but also has a significant secular population.
Challenges and Opportunities
Some challenges facing Finland include an aging population, maintaining competitiveness in a globalized economy, and managing its relationship with Russia. Opportunities lie in leveraging its strengths in education, innovation, and sustainable development to drive economic growth and enhance its international influence.
Main facts
1. Location
Finland is a Northern European country situated in the Fennoscandian region, bordering Sweden to the west, Norway to the north, Russia to the east, and the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea to the south. It is one of the Nordic countries and is a part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
2. Map References
Finland is located in Northern Europe, within the Scandinavian Peninsula.
3. Area – Comparative
Finland has an area of approximately 338,424 square kilometers (130,558 square miles), making it slightly smaller than the state of Montana in the United States.
4. Land Boundaries and Border Countries
Finland shares land borders with the following countries:
5. Coastline
Finland has a coastline of 1,250 km (776 mi) along the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Bothnia, and the Baltic Sea.
6. Maritime Claims
Finland’s maritime claims include:
- Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
- Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles
- Continental shelf: 200 nautical miles or the edge of continental margin
7. Climate
Finland has a humid continental climate, with cold, snowy winters and moderately warm summers. The climate varies significantly between the southern and northern regions, with the north experiencing longer and colder winters.
8. Terrain
Finland’s landscape is characterized by a mostly flat terrain with gentle hills and low-lying plateaus. The country is dotted with numerous lakes and forests, and the Scandinavian Mountains extend into the northwestern region.
9. Elevation Extremes
The highest point in Finland is Halti, located in the Scandinavian Mountains, with an elevation of 1,328 meters (4,357 feet). The lowest point is the Baltic Sea at 0 meters (0 feet).
10. Natural Resources
Finland’s major natural resources include:
- Timber
- Copper
- Iron ore
- Chromium
- Zinc
- Nickel
- Gold
- Hydropower
11. Major Bodies of Water
Finland has numerous lakes and rivers, including Lake Saimaa, Lake Inari, and Lake Päijänne. The country also shares borders with the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Bothnia, and the Baltic Sea.
12. Natural Hazards
The primary natural hazards affecting Finland are severe winter storms and occasional forest fires.
13. Geography – Notes
Finland is known for its vast forests, thousands of lakes, and the Arctic landscape of its northernmost region, Lapland. The country has a unique cultural heritage and strong environmental protection measures, with a significant portion of its land designated as protected areas.
- Forest Area (% of land area): 73.10%. This is the percentage of a country’s total land area that is covered by natural or planted forests.
- Co2 Emissions: 45,871. CO2 emissions refer to the release of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes.
- Agricultural Land( %). 7.50%. Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable and used for cultivating crops or raising livestock.
- Geographic Coordinates: 61.9241125.748151.
- Capital: The capital of Finland is Helsinki
- Major Cities:
- Helsinki – 656,229
- Espoo – 290,196
- Tampere – 235,615
- Vantaa – 229,606
- Oulu – 198,325
- Population: 5,520,314
- Area(Km2): 338145
- Population Density( P/Km²):18. This is the number of people living per square kilometer of land area in a given region or country.
- Calling Code:358
- Official Language(s):Finland is Finnish (87%) and Swedish (5.5%).
- Currency: EUR
Main Economic Indicators
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy with per capita GDP similar to other western economies such as Sweden, Germany, and the United States. Trade is important, with exports equaling over one-third of GDP. Finland excels in telecommunications, electronics, machinery, vehicles, and other engineered products. Finland’s main economic challenge is maintaining competitiveness and economic growth in the face of an aging population and labor shortages.
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
2022: 7.1% (Source: Statistics Finland)
2021: 2.1% (Source: Statistics Finland)
Credit Ratings
Fitch: AA+ (Stable)
Moody’s: Aa1 (Stable)
Standard & Poor’s: AA+ (Stable)
GDP – Composition by Sector of Origin
Agriculture: 2.4%
Industry: 28.2%
Services: 69.4%
Key Agricultural and Industrial Products
Agricultural Products: Grains, potatoes, sugar beets, dairy cattle, pigs
Industrial Products: Metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, furniture, telecommunications equipment, textiles
Labor Force
Total Labor Force: 2.67 million (2022 est.)
Comparative Ranking: 116th in the world
Current Account Balance
2022: -$6.63 billion (Source: Bank of Finland)
2021: $3.35 billion (Source: Bank of Finland)
Comparative Ranking: 176th in the world (2022 est.)
Exports and Imports
Total Exports: $89.6 billion (2022 est.)
Key Export Partners: Germany, Sweden, United States, Netherlands, China
Main Exports: Machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, paper and pulp, metals
Total Imports: $102.4 billion (2022 est.)
Key Import Partners: Germany, Sweden, Russia, Netherlands, China
Main Imports: Machinery, vehicles, electrical equipment, minerals, chemicals
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
Foreign Exchange Reserves: $12.8 billion (December 2022 est.)
Gold Reserves: 49.1 tonnes (December 2021 est.)
- GDP (Current US$):$268,761,201,365. It represents a country’s gross domestic product measured in current US dollars. Higher values indicate a larger economy and economic output.
- Tax Revenue (% of GDP): 20.80%. It refers to the amount of tax revenue collected by the government, expressed as a percentage of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Higher values indicate a higher tax burden relative to the size of the economy.
- Total Tax Rate (% of commercial profits): 36.60%. This is the sum of all taxes payable by businesses, expressed as a percentage of their commercial profits. Higher values indicate a higher tax burden on businesses.
- Gasoline Price. $1.45. It refers to the cost of one liter or gallon of gasoline/petrol. Higher values indicate more expensive gasoline prices for consumers and businesses.
- Minimum wage. . It refers to the lowest legally mandated hourly wage that employers must pay their workers. Higher values indicate a higher minimum level of pay for low-wage workers.
- Unemployment Rate (%): 6.59%. It represents the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment. Higher values indicate more joblessness in the economy.
Social Indicators
National Identity
Noun: Finn
Adjective: Finnish
Ethnic Groups
• Finnish 93.4%
• Swedish 5.6%
• Russian 0.5%
• Estonian 0.3%
• Romani 0.1%
• Other 0.1%
Religions
• Lutheran 67.8%
• Other/None 30.5%
• Orthodox 1.1%
• Other Christian 0.6%
Age Structure
• 0-14 years: 16.03%
• 15-64 years: 61.52%
• 65 years and over: 22.45%
Dependency Ratios
• Total dependency ratio: 62.5
• Youth dependency ratio: 24.2
• Elderly dependency ratio: 38.3
Median Age
• Total: 43.1 years
• Male: 41.3 years
• Female: 44.9 years
Lifestyle Indicators
• Obesity rate: 22.2% (2016)
• Alcohol consumption per capita: 10.7 liters (2017)
• Smoking prevalence: 16.5% (2020)
- Life Expectancy at Birth: 81.7. Life Expectancy at Birth refers to the estimated average number of years a newborn is expected to live based on current mortality rates. Higher values indicate better health outcomes and living conditions in a country or region.
- Literacy Rate (% of adults): 100%. It refers to the percentage of the population aged 15 and above who can read and write with understanding of a short simple statement about their everyday life. Higher literacy rates indicate better educational attainment within a population.
- Birth Rate:8.6. Birth Rate is the total number of live births per 1,000 population in a given year. Higher birth rates indicate a larger share of the population being born each year.
- Death Rate:10. Death Rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 population in a given year. Higher death rates indicate more people dying annually within a population.
- Fertility Rate: 1.41. Fertility Rate is the average number of children a woman would have over her reproductive years based on current birth rates. Higher fertility rates indicate larger family sizes and population growth.
- Internet Users (% of population): 97.7%. Internet Users (% of population) refers to the percentage of the total population in a country or region that has access to and uses the internet. Higher values indicate greater internet penetration and connectivity among the population.
- Urban Population: 4,716,888. Urban Population refers to the percentage or number of people living in urban areas or cities within a country or region. Higher urban population values indicate greater urbanization and concentration of people in cities compared to rural areas.
- Out of Pocket Health Expenditure (% of total health expenditure):19.90%. Out of Pocket Health Expenditure (% of total health expenditure) represents the portion of total health care costs that individuals pay directly out of their own pockets, rather than being covered by insurance or government programs. Higher values indicate greater personal financial burden for health care expenses.
Infrastructure and Services
- Armed Forces Size: 25000. Armed Forces Size refers to the total number of active personnel serving in a country’s military forces, including the army, navy, air force, and other branches. Higher values indicate a larger military presence and personnel.
- Physicians per Thousand: Number of doctors per 1,000 people is 3.81
- Population: Labor Force Participation (%): 59.10%. This is the percentage of the total population aged 15 and older that is economically active, meaning they are either employed or actively seeking employment. Higher values indicate a greater proportion of the working-age population engaged in the labor force.