Facts about Finland Finland, or Suomi in Finnish, lies in the high northern latitudes straddling the Arctic Circle. The country is located as far north on the map as southern Greenland or northern Siberia, but it enjoys a milder climate, thanks to the warming influence of the Atlantic Gulf Stream.    More of the surface area of Finland is covered with water than is that of any other European country. There are about 188,000 lakes. Indeed, inland waters account for nearly 10% of the area. The maritime frontier accounts for nearly a third of the national border.    Finland is, in terms of area, the fifth largest country in Europe being about the same size as Japan. It is also the northernmost country in the world after Iceland having Sweden, Norway, Russia and Estonia as neighbouring countries. Finland has a population of a little bit over five million and is one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe.     Finland is one of the Nordic countries having parliamentary democracy with the president as head of the state. In January 1995 Finland became a member of the European Union. The country`s Gross National Product per capita has been among the highest in the world, and Finland`s development into a welfare state has made a comfortable standard of living possible for every Finn.     Language The official languages of the country are Finnish and Swedish. About 6% of the population belong to the Swedish-speaking minority. English is the first foreign language for most Finnish school children. English is commonly spoken, especially among the more highly educated people and the young.    Economy Last century Finland embarked on the road to industrialisation by harnessing its forest resources. Today, forests are still Finland`s most crucial raw material resource, although the metal and engineering industry has long been Finland`s leading branch of manufacturing both in terms of value added and as an employer. Today, Finland is a typical advanced industrial economy: two thirds of its total output is generated in the service sector.  Finland is the third largest exporter of pulp and paper in the world. Finland is also known all over the world as a producer of luxury cruise ships, lifts, cranes, mobile communications, meteorological instruments and paper machinery.   Finland imports electrical and optical equipment (19,9%), products from mining and quarrying (14,6%), basic metals and fabricated metal products (10,7%) and transport equipment (10,5 %). The most important export sectors in Finland are the technological industry (the electrical and electro-technical industry), the metals and mechanical engineering industry and the forest industry. Together they account for nearly 80 % of Finland´s total exports. The next biggest export sector is the chemical industry.    Climate  The climate of Finland is relatively mild due to the effect caused by the Atlantic Gulf Stream. The temperature in the Nordic countries is far above the average temperature in other areas in the far north. The warmest month is July and the coldest January. The average temperature in Mikkeli in July is +17 °C, the temperature can, however, rise up to +25-30 °C. The average temperature in January is -10 °C, the temperature can, however, sink to -25-30  °C. More information about Finland is available here.