Map of Finland
Finland is a country in Europe with its capital at Helsinki, home to about 5.65 million people across 338,478 km². The interactive map below plots 21 cities and towns, 8 rivers, 12 lakes, 2 mountain summits and 31 ports recorded for Finland in YearMaps.
- Population
- 5.65 million
- Area
- 338,478 km²
- Capital
- Helsinki
- Continent
- Europe
Interactive Map of Finland
Centred on Helsinki at 60.1775° N, 24.9322° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Finland
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, opposite Estonia. Its capital and largest city is Helsinki. Finland has a population of 5.7 million. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish, the mother tongues of 83.5 percent and 5.0 percent of the population, respectively. Finland's climate varies from humid continental in the south to boreal in the north. Its land is predominantly covered by boreal forest, with over 180,000 recorded lakes.
Finland was first settled around 9000 BC after the last Ice Age. During the Stone Age, various cultures emerged, distinguished by different styles of ceramics. The Bronze Age and Iron Ages were marked by contacts with other cultures in Fennoscandia and the Baltic region. From the middle of the 13th century, Finland became part of Sweden during the Northern Crusades. In 1809, as a result of the Finnish War, Finland was captured from Sweden and became an autonomous grand duchy within the Russian Empire. During this period, Finnish art flourished and an independence movement gradually developed.
Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Finland declared its independence. A civil war ensued the following year, with the anticommunist Whites emerging victorious. Finland's status as a republic was confirmed in 1919. During World War II, Finland fought against the Soviet Union in the Winter War and the Continuation War, and later against Nazi Germany in the Lapland War. As a result, it lost parts of its territory to the Soviet Union but retained its independence and democracy. During the Cold War, Finland embraced an official policy of neutrality. After the Cold War, Finland became a member of the European Union in 1995 and the Eurozone in 1999. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Finland joined NATO in 2023.
Finland became the first country in Europe to grant universal suffrage in 1906, and the first in the world to give all adult citizens the right to run for public office. Finland remained a largely rural and agrarian country until the 1950s, when it pursued rapid industrialization and a Nordic-style welfare state, resulting in an advanced economy and high per capita income. The country consistently ranks highly in international rankings across various categories, such as education, economic competitiveness, happiness, and prosperity.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Finland (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Finland
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, Finland successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union, albeit with some loss of territory. During the next half-century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per-capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the EU since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high-quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system, although the system is currently facing the challenges of an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland opted to join NATO; it became the organization's 31st member in April 2023.
- Location
- Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia.
- Climate
- Cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes.
- Terrain
- Mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills.
- Highest point
- Halti (alternatively Haltia, Haltitunturi, Haltiatunturi) 1,328 m.
- Lowest point
- Baltic Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 1,250 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 2,563 km; border countries: Norway 709 km; Sweden 545 km; Russia 1,309 km.
- Major lakes
- Fresh water lake(s): Saimaa - 1,760 sq km; Paijanne - 1,090 sq km; Inarijarvi - 1,000 sq km; Oulujarvi - 900 sq km; Pielinen - 850 sq km.
- Natural resources
- Timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 7.4% (2023 est.); arable land: 7.4% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 0% (2023 est.); forest: 74.2% (2023 est.); other: 18.4% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Severe winters in the north.
- Geographic note
- Long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain.
- Languages
- Finnish (official) 85.9%, Swedish (official) 5.2%, Russian 1.7%, other 7.2% (2022 est.)
- Religions
- Lutheran 66.6%, Greek Orthodox 1.1%, other 1.7%, none 30.6% (2022 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Estonian, Romani, Sami.
- Economy
- High-income, export-based EU and eurozone economy; major timber, metals, engineering, telecom, and electronics industries; emerging from recession triggered by inflation, weak consumer and export demand, and lower private investment; labor market reform plan to address structural rigidities.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Finland in Numbers
- Population
- 5.65 million
- GDP
- US$317.0 billion
- GDP per person
- US$56,149
- Life expectancy
- 82.3 years
- Population growth
- 0.47% a year
- Population density
- 18 per km²
- Urban population
- 74.5%
- Surface area
- 338,485 km²
- Forest cover
- 74.2%
- Arable land
- 7.4%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 93.7%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Finland in Depth
History
The area that is now Finland was settled in, at the latest, around 8500 BC during the Stone Age towards the end of the last glacial period. The artefacts the first settlers left behind present characteristics that are shared with those found in Estonia, Russia, and Norway. The earliest people were hunter-gatherers, using stone tools.
The first pottery appeared in 5200 BC, when the Comb Ceramic culture was introduced. The area of present-day Finland was in the western limits of the culture, which produced pottery with a distinct comb pattern. The arrival of the Corded Ware culture in the south of coastal Finland between 3000 and 2500 BC may have coincided with the start of agriculture.
Geography
Lying approximately between latitudes 60° and 70° N, and longitudes 20° and 32° E, Finland is one of the world's northernmost countries. Of world capitals, only Reykjavík lies more to the north than Helsinki. The country is geographically stretched strongly in a north–south direction: the distance from the southernmost point – Hanko in Uusimaa – to the northernmost – Nuorgam in Lapland – is 1,160 kilometres (720 mi).
Finland has about 168,000 lakes (of area larger than 500 m2 or 0.12 acres) and 179,000 islands. 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.
Economy
As of 2022, Finland ranked 16th globally in nominal GDP per capita according to the IMF. Additionally, Finland boasts a well-developed welfare system that encompasses free education and universal healthcare, contributing to its reputation as a wealthy nation.
In 2018, the service sector constituted the largest segment of the economy, amounting to 66% of the GDP, while manufacturing and refining made up 31%. Primary production accounted for 2.9% of the economy. Manufacturing is the primary economic sector concerning foreign trade. The predominant industrial sectors in 2007 were electronics (22%), machinery, vehicles, and other engineered metal products (21.1%), forest industry (13%), and chemicals (11%). The gross domestic product reached its peak in 2021.
Demographics
The population of Finland is approximately 5.7 million. The birth rate is 7.8 per 1,000 inhabitants, giving a fertility rate of 1.26 children born per woman, one of the lowest in the world and well below the replacement rate of 2.1. In 1887, Finland recorded its highest rate, with 5.17 children born per woman. The child mortality rate is 2.1 deaths per every 1,000 births, one of the lowest in the world; this is attributed to a strong medical system and robust maternal care initiatives, including the maternity package programme.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Finland (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Finland: Key Facts
| Official languages | Finnish, Swedish |
|---|---|
| Head of state | Alexander Stubb |
| Head of government | Petteri Orpo |
| Form of government | parliamentary republic |
| Calling code | +358 |
| Internet domain | .fi |
| Highest point | Halti |
| Lowest point | Baltic Sea |
| Established | 6 December 1917 |
Facts from Wikidata Q33 (CC0).
History of Finland: Empires and States
The atlas records 7 polities whose mapped territory included part of Finland, from Novgorod Republic in 1056 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Novgorod Republic | 1056–1293 CE | A small part |
| Kingdom of Sweden | 1250–1611 CE | Nearly all |
| Kalmar Union | 1402–1525 CE | Nearly all |
| House of Oldenburg | 1450–1458 CE | Most |
| Swedish Empire | 1612–1808 CE | Nearly all |
| The Russian Empire | 1809–1916 CE | Nearly all |
| Republic of Finland | 1918–2024 CE | Nearly all |
Historical Maps of Finland
Finland on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Finland
Finland (Finnish: Suomi, Swedish: Finland) is a country with vast areas of unspoiled nature speckled with comfortable small towns and cities. Scraped flat by sheets of ice during several ice ages, Finland lacks the dramatic mountains and fjords of its Nordic neighbours but makes up for it with 188,000 lakes and a similar number of islands. Finland extends into the Arctic, where the Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun can be seen. The mythical mountain of Korvatunturi is said to be the home of Santa Claus, and there is a Santaland in Rovaniemi.
While Finland is a high-technology welfare state, Finns love to head to their summer cottages in the warmer months to enjoy all manner of relaxing pastimes including sauna, swimming, fishing and barbecuing during the short but bright summer. Finland has a distinctive language and culture that sets it apart from both Scandinavia and Russia. While Finnish culture is ancient, the country only became independent in 1917, shortly after the collapse of the Russian Empire.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Finland (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Finland
21 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsinki | 1.11 million | Southern Finland | National capital |
| 2 | Tampere | 259,279 | Pirkanmaa | Populated place |
| 3 | Turku | 175,945 | Finland Proper | Admin-1 capital |
| 4 | Oulu | 136,752 | Northern Ostrobothnia | Admin-1 capital |
| 5 | Lahti | 98,826 | Päijänne Tavastia | Populated place |
| 6 | Jyväskylä | 98,136 | Central Finland | Admin-1 capital |
| 7 | Kuopio | 91,900 | Eastern Finland | Admin-1 capital |
| 8 | Pori | 76,772 | Satakunta | Populated place |
| 9 | Lappeenranta | 59,276 | South Karelia | Populated place |
| 10 | Vaasa | 57,014 | Western Finland | Admin-1 capital |
| 11 | Joensuu | 53,388 | North Karelia | Populated place |
| 12 | Hämeenlinna | 47,261 | Tavastia Proper | Admin-1 capital |
| 13 | Kokkola | 46,714 | Western Finland | Populated place |
| 14 | Mikkeli | 46,550 | Southern Savonia | Admin-1 capital |
| 15 | Rovaniemi | 34,781 | Lapland | Admin-1 capital |
| 16 | Kouvola | 31,133 | Southern Finland | Admin-1 capital |
| 17 | Savonlinna | 27,353 | Southern Savonia | Populated place |
| 18 | Kemi | 22,641 | Lapland | Populated place |
| 19 | Porvoo | 12,242 | Eastern Uusimaa | Populated place |
| 20 | Sodankylä | 8,942 | Lapland | Populated place |
| 21 | Kemijärvi | 8,883 | Lapland | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Finland
2 mountains recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haltiatunturi | 1,328 m | 4,357 ft | Europe |
| 2 | Ukko Koli | 347 m | 1,138 ft | Europe |
Haltiatunturi
Mountain · 1,328 m
Haltiatunturi is a mountain rising to 1,328 metres (4,357 ft) in Finland and Norway, in the Europe region. The summit stands on the border between them. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..
Halti (Finnish: Halti, rarely Haltiatunturi, Northern Sami: Háldičohkka, Swedish: Haldefjäll) is a fell at the border between Norway and Finland. The peak (elevation 1,365 m (4,478 ft)) of the fell, called Ráisduottarháldi, is in Norway, on the border Nordreisa Municipality and Gáivuotna Municipality (Kåfjord), about one kilometre (5⁄8 mile) north of the border with Finland. The highest point of the fell on the Finnish side is at 1,324 m (4,344 ft) above sea level, and thus the highest point in the country. The Finnish side of Halti belongs to the municipality of Enontekiö in the province of Lapland.
The highest point in Finland is on a spur of Ráisduottarháldi at 1,324 m (4,344 ft) known as Hálditšohkka at the border of Norway. The peak proper is not in Finland; the border marker is on a slope. The highest peak of a mountain that is entirely in Finland is Ridnitšohkka, at 1,316 m (4,318 ft) and a few kilometers from Halti.
The reason for the border being the way it is can be traced to a Swedish-Danish border treaty in 1734, when Norway belonged to Denmark and Finland was part of Sweden. The treaty specifies the border only by some of its biggest natural features like mountains.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Halti (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 1,328 m (4,357 ft)
- Global rank
- #517 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Europe (#60)
- Countries
- Finland, Norway
- Coordinates
- 69.3000°, 21.2600°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Haltiatunturi ranks #517 by elevation, below Cerro de Punta (1,338 m) and above Tomanivi (1,323 m).
- Ranges:
- Ural Mountains (Europe), Grampian Mountains (Europe)
More about Haltiatunturi
Haltiatunturi: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 510 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Scandinavian Mountains |
Facts from Wikidata Q216035 (CC0).
Largest Lakes in Finland
12 lakes recorded. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Saimaa | 11,134 km² | Lake |
| 2 | Pijnne | 4,189 km² | Lake |
| 3 | Inarijrvi | 1,608 km² | Lake |
| 4 | Oulujarvi | 1,210 km² | Reservoir |
| 5 | Pielinen | 1,153 km² | Lake |
| 6 | Pyhjrvi | 1,054 km² | Lake |
| 7 | Lokan Tekojarvi | 538 km² | Reservoir |
| 8 | Rikkavesi | 355 km² | Reservoir |
| 9 | Porttipahta Reservoir | 328 km² | Reservoir |
| 10 | Koitere | 272 km² | Reservoir |
Rivers in Finland
8 rivers recorded. Listed alphabetically. A river is listed where its mapped reach lies, so long rivers appear under more than one country.
Ports in Finland
31 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kantlax | 56.7 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 2 | Rahja | 53 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 3 | Kristinestad | 49.4 m | Minor | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 4 | Hellnas | 49.4 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 5 | Signilskar | 49.4 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 6 | Ekenas | 49.4 m | Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 7 | Jussaro | 49.4 m | Very Small | Baltic Sea | point_of_interest |
| 8 | Hanko | 45.7 m | Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 9 | Mantyluoto | 45.7 m | Minor | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
| 10 | Himanka | 45.7 m | Small | Baltic Sea | medium vessels |
The other 21 (channel depth, class, sea, max vessel)
- Tolkkinen · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Pargas · 45.7 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Pori · 45.7 m · Major · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Veitsiluoto · 45.7 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Hamina · 42.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Jakobstad · 42.1 m · Minor · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Kaskinen · 42.1 m · Minor · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Raahe · 42.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Uusikaupunki · 42.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Tornio · 42.1 m · Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Nykarleby · 42.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Porkkala · 42.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Loviisa · 42.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Vaasa · 42.1 m · Minor · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Rauma · 38.4 m · Minor · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Tahkoluoto · 38.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
- Turku · 38.4 m · Minor · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Inkoo · 31.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Naantali · 31.1 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Kotka · 27.4 m · Major · Baltic Sea · medium vessels
- Porvoo · 27.4 m · Very Small · Baltic Sea · large vessels
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Finland
7 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Rauma | 1991 | Cultural | (iv) (v) |
| 2 | Suomenlinna | 1991 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 3 | Petäjävesi Old Church | 1994 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 4 | Verla | 1996 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 5 | Sammallahdenmäki | 1999 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
| 6 | High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago | 2000 | Natural | (viii) |
| 7 | Struve Geodetic Arc | 2005 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) (vi) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Finland
6 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Europe | 11.24M km² | Continent | Europe |
| 2 | Karelia | 200,349 km² | Geoarea | Europe |
| 3 | Scandinavia | 114,532 km² | Pen/cape | Europe |
| 4 | Finnish Lake Region | 89,520 km² | Geoarea | Europe |
| 5 | Lapland | 37,144 km² | Geoarea | Europe |
| 6 | Finnmarks-vidda | 7,272 km² | Plateau | Europe |
States and Provinces of Finland
1 first-level divisions with their own map.
Countries Bordering Finland
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Europe
Finland: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Finland?
- The capital of Finland is Helsinki.
- What is the population of Finland?
- Finland has a population of about 5.65 million, the #118 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Finland?
- Finland covers 338,478 km², ranking #68 by area, with about 17 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Finland in?
- Finland is in Europe.
- Which countries border Finland?
- Finland shares a land or maritime border with Norway, Sweden, Russia.
- What is the largest city in Finland?
- Helsinki is the largest city in Finland, with a metropolitan population of about 1.11 million.
- What is the highest mountain in Finland?
- The highest summit recorded for Finland in YearMaps is Haltiatunturi at 1,328 m (4,357 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.
- What is the largest lake in Finland?
- The largest lake recorded in or bordering Finland is Lake Saimaa, at roughly 11,134 km².