ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief historical background and a description of major events in Finland. It also provides basic political, economic, and social data arranged in the following categories: polity, economy, population, purchasing power parities, life expectancy, ethnic groups, capital, political rights, civil liberties, and status. The chapter discusses the progress and decline of political rights and civil liberties in Finland. While an economic downturn highlighted Finland's heavy dependence on a single industry—telecommunications—Finland was buoyed after receiving the "least corrupt country" rating by Transparency International in 2001. Finns can change their government by democratic means. Finland has a large variety of newspapers and magazines and is ranked among the highest in terms of Internet users per capita in the world. Gender-based equality is guaranteed by law. In 1906, Finland became the first country in Europe to give women full political entitlement, including the right to vote and hold office. Women hold an exceptionally high proportion of parliamentary seats.
