Flag description:
white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the
vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style
of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy Finland
Economy - overview:
Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy
with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and
Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the
wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics
industries. Trade is important; exports equal two-fifths of GDP.
Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. Except for
timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw
materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods.
Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to
maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an
important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the
rural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe
- Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic
and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over
the next several years. High unemployment remains a persistent
problem.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$161.9 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$184.2 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$31,000 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.8% industry: 29.5% services: 67.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.61 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%