rates:euros per US dollar - 0.81 (2004), 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12
(2001), 1.09 (2000)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Finland
Telephones - main lines in use:
2.548 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.7 million (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive
cellular network provide domestic needs
international: country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (Finland
Estonia Connection); satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat
transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1
Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares
the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:
7.7 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)
Televisions:
3.2 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.fi
Internet hosts:
1,219,173 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2002)
Internet users:
2.65 million (2002)
Transportation Finland
Railways: total: 5,851 km broad gauge: 5,851 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2004)
Highways:
total: 78,197 km
paved: 50,539 km (including 794 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,658 km (2004)
Waterways:
7,842 km
note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased
from Russia (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 694 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvou, Raahe,
Rauma, Turku
Merchant marine:
total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,152,175 GRT/1,053,906 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 27, chemical tanker 6, container 1,
passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll
off 25
foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 1, United States 1)
registered in other countries: 42 (2005)
Airports:
148 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 75 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 69 (2004 est.)
Military Finland
Military branches:
Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense
Forces), Air Force (2003)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service
(October 2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18–49: 1,121,275 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18–49: 913,617 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males: 32,040 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$1.8 billion (FY98/99)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2% (FY98/99)
Transnational Issues Finland
Disputes - international:
various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other
areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts
no territorial demands
This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005
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@France
Introduction France
Background:
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France
suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank
as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the
most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European
nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy
resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary
