BPW International

Finland (Finnish name Suomi) is a republic which became a member of the European Union in 1995. Its population is 5.3 million. The capital Helsinki has 585 000 residents. Finland is an advanced industrial economy: the metal, engineering and electronics industries account for about 60 % of export revenues, the forest products industry for about 20 %. Finland is one of the leading countries in Internet use. Today, there are more mobile phones than fixed network subscriptions.

It is situated in northern Europe and its neighboring countries are Sweden, Norway and Russia. Forest covers about 75 per cent of Finland, while bodies of water - mainly lakes - cover almost 10 per cent. Finland is the most heavily forested country in Europe, with 23 million hectares under forest cover. There are approximately 190,000 lakes and about 180,000 islands.

The four seasons in Finland are clearly distinct from one to another. The climate is marked by cold winters and warm summers. The highest daytime temperature in southern Finland during the summer occasionally rises to almost 30 degrees. During the winter months, particularly in January and February, temperatures of minus 20 Celsius are not uncommon.

The population of Finland is 5.3 million. Finland is the sixth largest country in Europe in area, with a low population density of 15.5 persons per square kilometers. Most Finns, some two thirds, now live in urban areas, while one third remain in a rural environment. The capital, Helsinki, and the neighboring towns, Espoo and Vantaa, form the fast growing Helsinki metropolitan region, which is now home to almost a million Finns.

Finnish people have a high standard of education. All children receive compulsory basic education between the ages of 7 and 16. Education beyond the age of 16 is voluntary, taking the form of either a three to four-year course in upper secondary school or three years at a vocational school. Finnish higher education consists of two sectors: universities and polytechnics. There are 16 universities and 25 polytechnics in the country in the beginning of 2010. Nearly 85 per cent (2005) of the population have completed post-primary education and 25 per cent have a university degree or polytechnic qualification. According to PISA, Finnish children are top of the class in reading and maths among the OECD-countries.

Around Midsummer in northern Finland, the sun does not set for several weeks. This may cause wakefulness, and a desire to stay out past your normal bedtime. In Utsjoki, for example, a single summer day lasts for over two months. Most people fall asleep long before the sun goes down.

Finland is one of the leading countries in Europe for physical activity: 64 per cent of women and 60 per cent of men engage in physical activity and sports at least twice a week. Sports activities in Finland are organised mainly by sports clubs and federations. 97 per cent of the clubs are non-profit making. The most popular sports among adults are walking, including Nordic walking, floorball, cycling and skiing. Children's and young people's favourite sport is football. Pesäpallo is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular forms of sport in terms of television viewers and media coverage are ice-hockey and Formula One.

How are you? = Mitä kuuluu?

How do you do or Hello = Hyvää päivää

Nice to meet you. = Hauska tavata.

Good evening = Hyvää iltaa

Thank you = Kiitos