Scandinavia, northeastern Europe.

GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

338,145 sq km (130,559 sq miles).

5.3 million (census 2005).

15.5 per sq km.

Helsinki. Population: 561,000 (census 2005).

Finland is situated in the far north of Europe, bordered to the west by Sweden and the Gulf of Bothnia, to the north by Norway, to the east by the Russian Federation and to the south by the Gulf of Finland. It is often (wrongly) referred to as part of Scandinavia. There are about 30,000 islands off the Finnish coast, mainly in the south and southwest, and some 188,000 inland lakes containing a further 98,000 islands. The Saimaa Lake area is the largest inland water system in Europe. Of the total land area, 10% is under water, and 69% is forest; Finland is situated almost entirely in the northern coniferous zone. In the south and southwest, the forest is mainly pine, fir and birch; most of the forest is managed for timber. In Lapland, in the far north, trees become more sparse and are mainly dwarf birch. Around 8% of the land is agricultural.

Member since 1995.

Republic.

President Tarja Halonen since 2000.

Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen since 2003.

Social Democrat Tarja Halonen became the first woman to hold the post of president in 2000, and was re-elected for a further six-year term in 2006. The prime minister is Matti Vanhanen, whose Centre Party came to power in 2003 in a coalition with the Social Democrats and Swedish People's Party. In the March 2007 elections, the Centre Party triumphed by only one seat over the conservative National Coalition Party, with whom they formed a governing coalition, forcing the Social Democrats into opposition. This swing to the right mirrors trends in other north European countries in recent years. The Swedish People's Party and the Green League also form part of the government.

There are two official languages: Finnish, mother tongue for 91.6% of the population, and Swedish, first language of 5.5% of the population. There is a small minority in Lapland who speak one of the country's three Sámi languages, while Karelian dialects still survive in the east of the country. English is taught as the first foreign language.

83% Lutheran, 1% Finnish Orthodox; there are also Baptists, Methodists, Free Church, Roman Catholics, Jews and Muslims.

220 (230) volts AC, 50Hz. European two-pin plugs are standard.

Shaking hands is customary. It is expected for the guest to refrain from drinking until the host or hostess toasts their health with kippis or skol (cheers). Casual dress is acceptable. Finns appear sometimes to be rather reserved and visitors should not feel alarmed if there is a lack of small talk during the first half hour or so. Shoes are usually removed when entering someone's home.