Finland

Latest news on Finland, covering politics, economy, NATO membership, relations with Russia, culture, education, and developments in this Nordic nation.

With a population of 5.5 million and capital Helsinki approaching 700,000 residents, Finland is a Nordic country that joined NATO on 4 April 2023, marking a historic shift from decades of military non-alignment. Other major cities include Espoo, Tampere, and Oulu, with Finnish and Swedish as official languages.

Finland's economy faces challenges as it emerges from stagnation, with growth projected at modest levels through the coming years. The unemployment rate remains elevated while public debt continues to rise. Recent legislative changes have tightened permanent residence requirements, extending the qualifying period from four to six years and introducing mandatory Finnish or Swedish language proficiency from January 2026.

Finnish culture centres around the sauna tradition, inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, with over 3 million saunas serving as spaces for physical and mental cleansing. The education system, offering tuition-free schooling from primary through university, consistently ranks among the world's best. Finland's vast wilderness includes Lapland in the north, home to the indigenous Sámi people, reindeer, and the Northern Lights.

Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Finland abandoned its longstanding policy of neutrality and swiftly joined NATO, doubling the alliance's border with Russia. The country shares an 830-mile frontier with Russia and maintains preparedness for various security scenarios. Finland's accession brought significant military capabilities to NATO, including substantial artillery firepower and well-trained reserve forces.

Stay informed about Finland's political developments, economic trends, security matters, and cultural events through our NewsNow feed, which provides comprehensive, continuously updated coverage from reliable sources across Finnish society and international relations.