:
total population: 75.47 years
male: 73.82 years
female: 77.18 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.68 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish

Ethnic divisions: Finn, Swede, Lapp, Gypsy, Tatar

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%,
other 1%

Languages: Finnish 93.5% (official), Swedish 6.3% (official),
small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1980 est.)
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
local short form: Suomi

Data code: FI

Type of government: republic

Capital: Helsinki

Administrative divisions: 12 provinces (laanit, singular - laani);
Ahvenanmaa, Hame, Keski-Suomi, Kuopio, Kymi, Lappi, Mikkeli, Oulu,
Pohjois-Karjala, Turku ja Pori, Uusimaa, Vaasa

Independence: 6 December 1917 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution: 17 July 1919

Legal system: civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court
may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Martti AHTISAARI (since 1 March 1994) was
elected for a six-year term by popular vote; election last held 31
January-6 February 1994 (next to be held NA January 2000); results -
Martti AHTISAARI 54%, Elisabeth REHN 46%
head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April
1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
were appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of State (Valtioneuvosto) was appointed by the
president, responsible to Parliament

Legislative branch: unicameral
Parliament (Eduskunta): elections last held 19 March 1995 (next to
be held NA March 1999); results - Social Democratic Party 28.3%,
Center Party 19.9%, National Coalition (Conservative) Party 17.9%,
Leftist Alliance (Communist) 11.2%, Swedish People's Party 5.1%,
Green League 6.5%, Ecology Party 0.3%, Rural 1.3%, Finnish Christian
League 3.0%, Liberal People's Party 0.6%, Young Finns 2.8%; seats -
(200 total) Social Democratic Party 63, Center Party 44, National
Coalition (Conservati