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Finland Overview
- Officially the Republic of Finland
- Nordic country in Northern Europe
- Borders Sweden, Norway, and Russia; coastal areas include Gulf of Bothnia and Gulf of Finland
- Capital: Helsinki; Population: 5.7 million
- Official languages: Finnish (83.5%) and Swedish (5.0%)
Historical Context
- Settled around 9000 BC; various cultures emerged during the Stone and Bronze Ages
- Became part of Sweden in the late 13th century; autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809
- Declared independence in 1917; established as a republic in 1919
Modern Developments
- Joined the European Union in 1995; Eurozone in 1999; NATO in 2023
- First in Europe to grant universal suffrage in 1906
- Rapid industrialization since the 1950s led to a high-income economy
- Ranked highly in education, happiness, and prosperity; supports international cooperation and partnership.