Finland is a parliamentary republic in Northern Europe, bordering the Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland, located between Sweden and Russia. It has a population of 5,541 million inhabitants in an area: 338,424 square kilometers. Its capital is Helsinki and National Day is December 6
The Prime Minister is Petteri Orpo since the previous Prime Minister, the well-known Sanna Marin, fell. The most spoken language is Finnish, then Swedish and Sami. The main religion is Lutheran, but there are also Eastern Orthodox and others. The Currency of Finland is the euro.
Related to the polar cold, Finland has cool summers and cold, snowy winters. If you want to feel what the polar cold and long winters with little sun are really like, Finland awaits you here.
Finnish culture is a mix of Eastern and Western influences. The country has a rich tradition of folklore, music and art. The sauna is an important part of Finnish culture and is considered a way to relax and socialize. Socializing is, however, something underdeveloped in Finland.
According to official statistics, 12.6% of Finnish women married a foreign man. The main countries of origin of the foreign bride and groom were:
* Sweden (28%)
* Estonia (10%)
* Russia (9%)
* Iraq (6%)
* Afghanistan (5%)
Finnish women may fall in love with men from other countries for various reasons, such as their appearance, personality or values, or to seek better opportunities, such as a job or education or experiencing a new culture.
Among the Friends and Enemies of Finland we have, as Friends:
* Sweden:
* Norway:
* Denmark:
* Estonia:
* Iceland:
While among the Enemies is Russia: Finland has a complicated relationship with Russia. The two countries share a common border and a long history of conflict. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has deteriorated relations, Finland has decided to apply for NATO membership in response.
According to official data, the most popular countries for emigration of Finnish women are first of all Sweden, followed by the United States, Spain, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Finnish women often emigrate to other countries mainly to seek better work or education opportunities, for love, or to change their lifestyle to a warmer climate.
Finland's current geopolitical situation is in a state of flux. The country's accession to NATO is a significant change in its foreign policy and will have a major impact on its geopolitical position. Since then Finland faces a series of challenges, including the threat from Russia, climate change and global competition. However, the country also has a series of opportunities, due to its close ties with the other Nordic countries.
Russia was Finland's third largest trading partner, accounting for 8.2% of total exports and imports.
The war in Ukraine has created economic uncertainty and has caused energy prices to rise, causing significant inconvenience to the Finnish economy.
Finland has a demand-driven labor immigration policy. Foreign workers must have a work permit to work in Finland. 8.2% of the Finnish workforce is foreign. The main countries of origin of foreign workers in Finland are:
* Russia: 22%
* Estonia: 13%
* Ukraine: 10%
* Iraq: 5%
* China: 4%
The penetration of new cultures in Finland, although it is less than in Sweden, is beginning to change the panorama of its cities, in which global brands, new trends and fashions and, above all, new styles and faces are appearing more frequency. Recent geopolitical changes may create new complications for Finland.
According to a survey conducted by the Finnish national broadcaster Yle in 2023, the main concerns of Finns are the War in Ukraine (52%), Energy Prices (48%), Inflation (46%) and Healthcare ( 43%)
Other major concerns include:
* Unemployment
* Crime
* Immigration
* Environment
* Education
Finns touted as the happiest people in the world have a high standard of living and a strong social safety net. However, there are some major concerns facing Finns, such as the war in Ukraine, energy prices and inflation that cast a shadow over the future outlook.
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🔎 I am Gustavo Llusá, Argentine, after traveling for several years through more than 65 countries I settled in Latvia where I married Dace and learned to know another way of life, on the other side of the map.
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