The Republic of Finland is a small Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Russia, Norway and Sweden. Finland was settled during the Stone Age as the ice slowly retreated northward. During the Bronze and Iron ages, the tribes in the area established contacts with Scandinavia and the Baltic area. In the 13th Century the region now known as Finland came under Swedish rule, which lasted almost unbroken until Finland became a part of the Russian Empire in 1809. However, with the communist revolution in Russia in 1917, Finland declared independence.

In World War II, Finland fought Russia with German assistance, before they towards the end of the war turned against the Nazi regime and liberated the country. During the Cold War, Finland held an uneasy position as a buffer zone between Soviet Russia and the Western Allies. Finland became a member of the European Union in 1995.

Inhabitants: 5,300,000
Area: 340,000 km2
Capital: Helsinki (570.000 inhabitants)
Languages: Finnish, Swedish
Religion: Protestants (83%), atheists (15%), others (2%)
GDP (PPP) per capita: $34,800
Government: Government Parliamentary democracy
Climate: Southern Finland has a northern temperate climate, whereas Northern Finland has a subarctic climate.