Europe > Northern Europe > Finland > Finland People Profile 2012

Finland: Finland People Profile 2012

2012/03/12

Finland People Profile 2012

Population

In 1991 Finland had a population of 5,029,002. The population density, about 39 persons per square mile (15 per km2), was one of the lowest in Europe and about 55 per cent that of the United States. Most of the people live in southern Finland. The rural population, living mostly on scattered farms and in small villages, makes up about two-fifths of the country's total. The urban population is concentrated in cities on or near the coast.

The Finns are descended mainly from a people of Finno-Ugric language stock who migrated into the area perhaps as early as 1000 B.C. Later there was some intermingling with other Nordic and East Baltic peoples. Finns are generally of light complexion, with fair hair and blue or gray eyes. There is also a small Lapp population.

Language and Religion

Finnish and Swedish are the official languages. Most of the people speak Finnish, a Finno-Ugric language akin to Estonian and Hungarian. Swedish is spoken by many people, though only about 6 per cent of the people speak it as a mother tongue. The Lapps have their own language, also of Finno-Ugric origin.

Since 1923 there has been complete religious freedom. Most of the people belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. Chief among the minority faiths is the Eastern Orthodox Church. Many people do not belong to any religious group.

Population

Value:

5 255 068

Date:

July 2010est.

Comparison to the world:

112

Age structure

Age:

0-14 years

Value:

16.2% (male 433,446/female 418,080)

Year:

2010

Age:

15-64 years

Value:

66.6% (male 1,769,232/female 1,729,242)

Age:

65 years and over

Value:

17.2% (male 369,428/female 535,586)

Median Age

Name:

total

Value:

42.3 years

Year:

2010

Name:

male

Value:

40.7 years

Name:

female

Value:

44years

Population growth rate

Value:

0,084%

Year:

2010

Comparison to the world:

187

Birth rate

Value:

10.37 births/1,000 population

Year:

2009

Comparison to the world:

187

Death rate

Value:

10.15 deaths/1,000 population

Date:

July 2010 est.

Comparison to the world:

Net migration rate

Value:

0.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Year:

2010

Comparison to the world:

Urbanization

Urban population:

63% of total population (2008)

Rate of urbanization:

0.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Sex ratio

Range:

at birth

Value:

1.04 male(s)/female

Year:

2010

Range:

under 15 years

Value:

1.04 male(s)/female

Range:

15-64 years

Value:

1.02 male(s)/female

Range:

65 years and over

Value:

0.68 male(s)/female

Range:

total population

Value:

0.96 male(s)/female

Infant mortality rate

Total value:

3.45deaths/1,000 live births

Comparison to the world:

215

Male value:

3.75deaths/1,000 live births

Female value:

3.13 deaths/1,000 live births

Year:

2010

Life expectancy at birth

Total value:

79.13 years

Comparison to the world:

Male value:

75.64 years

Female value:

82.76 years

Year:

2010

Total fertility rate

Value:

1.73 children born/woman

Year:

2010

Comparison to the world:

163

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

Value:

less than 0.1%

Year:

2007

Comparison to the world:

136

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

Value:

2 400

Year:

2007

Comparison to the world:

136

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Value:

fewer than 100

Year:

2003

Comparison to the world:

147

Nationality

Noun:

Finn(s)

Adjective:

Finnish

Ethnic groups

Value:

<p> Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.6%, Russian 0.5%, Estonian 0.3%, Roma (Gypsy) 0.1%, Sami 0.1%</p>

Religions

Value:

Lutheran Church of Finland 82.5%, Orthodox Church 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 15.1%

Languages

Languages info:

Finnish 91.2% (official), Swedish 5.5% (official), other 3.3% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities)

Year:

2007

Literacy

Definition:

age 15 and over can read and write

Total population:

100,00%

Male:

100,00%

Female:

100,00%

Year:

2000

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Total:

17 years

Male:

17 years

Female:

18 years

Year:

2006

Education expenditures

Value:

6.4% of GDP

Comparison to the world:

Year:

2005

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