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Compare Finland (2001) - Solomon Islands (2001)

Compare Finland (2001) z Solomon Islands (2001)

 Finland (2001)Solomon Islands (2001)
 FinlandSolomon Islands
Administrative divisions 6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani 7 provinces and 1 town*; Central, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Temotu, Western; note - there may be two new provinces of Choiseul (Lauru) and Rennell/Bellona and the administrative unit of Honiara may have been abolished
Age structure 0-14 years:
18% (male 474,967; female 456,584)

15-64 years:
66.97% (male 1,750,660; female 1,715,358)

65 years and over:
15.03% (male 300,569; female 477,645) (2001 est.)
0-14 years:
43.79% (male 107,229; female 103,162)

15-64 years:
53.15% (male 129,315; female 126,021)

65 years and over:
3.06% (male 7,190; female 7,525) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products cereals, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish cocoa, beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish
Airports 159 (2000 est.) 31 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total:
69

over 3,047 m:
3

2,438 to 3,047 m:
26

1,524 to 2,437 m:
10

914 to 1,523 m:
20

under 914 m:
10 (2000 est.)
total:
2

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways total:
90

914 to 1,523 m:
6

under 914 m:
84 (2000 est.)
total:
29

1,524 to 2,437 m:
1

914 to 1,523 m:
10

under 914 m:
18 (2000 est.)
Area total:
337,030 sq km

land:
305,470 sq km

water:
31,560 sq km
total:
28,450 sq km

land:
27,540 sq km

water:
910 sq km
Area - comparative slightly smaller than Montana slightly smaller than Maryland
Background Ruled by Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and by Russia from 1809, Finland finally won its independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and fend off invasions by the Soviet Union and Germany. In the subsequent half century, the Finns have made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999. The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Current issues include government deficits, deforestation, and malaria control.
Birth rate 10.69 births/1,000 population (2001 est.) 34.05 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget revenues:
$36.1 billion

expenditures:
$31 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
revenues:
$147 million

expenditures:
$168 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
Capital Helsinki Honiara
Climate cold temperate; potentially subarctic, but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather
Coastline 1,126 km (excludes islands and coastal indentations) 5,313 km
Constitution 17 July 1919 7 July 1978
Country name conventional long form:
Republic of Finland

conventional short form:
Finland

local long form:
Suomen Tasavalta

local short form:
Suomi
conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Solomon Islands

former:
British Solomon Islands
Currency markka (FIM); euro (EUR)

note:
on 1 January 1999, the EU introduced the euro as a common currency that is now being used by financial institutions in Finland at a fixed rate of 5.94573 markkaa per euro and will replace the local currency for all transactions in 2002
Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)
Death rate 9.75 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) 4.27 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external $30 billion (December 1993) $152.4 million (1998)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Carol VAN VOORST

embassy:
Itainen Puistotie 14B, FIN-00140, Helsinki

mailing address:
APO AE 09723

telephone:
[358] (9) 171931

FAX:
[358] (9) 174681
the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission:
Ambassador Jaakko Tapani LAAJAVA

chancery:
3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:
[1] (202) 298-5800

FAX:
[1] (202) 298-6030

consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles and New York
chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Jeremiah MANELE

chancery:
800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017

telephone:
[1] (212) 599-6192, 6193

FAX:
[1] (212) 661-8925
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - donor ODA, $379 million (1997) -
Economic aid - recipient - $47 million (1999 est.), mainly from Japan, Australia, China, and NZ
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, with exports equaling more than one-third of GDP. 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 11 countries joining the euro monetary system (EMU) on 1 January 1999 - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 2001 will be bolstered by strong private consumption, yet may be 1 or 2 points lower than in 2000, largely because of a weakening in export demand. The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. However, severe ethnic violence, the closing of key business enterprises, and an empty government treasury have led to a continuing economic downslide. Deliveries of crucial fuel supplies (including those for electrical generation) by tankers have become sporadic due to the government's inability to pay and attacks against ships. Telecommunications are threatened by the lack of technical and maintenance staff many of whom have left the country.
Electricity - consumption 81.611 billion kWh (1999) 27.9 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports 232 million kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports 11.356 billion kWh (1999) 0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production 75.792 billion kWh (1999) 30 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel:
41.88%

hydro:
16.77%

nuclear:
28.82%

other:
12.53% (1999)
fossil fuel:
100%

hydro:
0%

nuclear:
0%

other:
0% (1999)
Elevation extremes lowest point:
Baltic Sea 0 m

highest point:
Haltiatunturi 1,328 m
lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m
Environment - current issues air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations deforestation; soil erosion; much of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
Environment - international agreements party to:
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:
Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Finn 93%, Swede 6%, Sami 0.11%, Roma 0.12%, Tatar 0.02% Melanesian 93%, Polynesian 4%, Micronesian 1.5%, European 0.8%, Chinese 0.3%, other 0.4%
Exchange rates euros per US dollar - 1.0659 (January 2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999); markkaa per US dollar - 5.3441 (1998), 5.1914 (1997), 4.5936 (1996) Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 5.0968 (November 2000), 5.0864 (2000), 4.8381 (1999), 4.8156 (1998), 3.7169 (1997), 3.5664 (1996)
Executive branch chief of state:
President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)

head of government:
Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)

cabinet:
Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament

elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 6 February 2000 (next to be held NA February 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections

election results:
Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esco AHO (Kesk) 48.4%

note:
government coalition - SDP, Kok, Leftist Alliance (People's Democratic Union and Democratic Alternative), SFP, and Green Union
chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Father John LAPLI (since NA 1999)

head of government:
Prime Minister Mannaseh Damukana SOGAVARE (since 1 July 2000); Assistant Prime Minister Nathaniel WAENA (since 1 July 2000); Deputy Prime Minister Allan KEMAKEZA (since 1 July 2000); note - Prime Minister Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU was forced to resign his position in June 2000 following the armed takeover of the capital by elements supporting the opposition parties; Mannaseh Damukana SOGAVARE, who had been opposition leader, was then elected prime minister at a sitting of National Parliament on 30 June 2000

cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of Parliament for up to five years; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament
Exports $44.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $165 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp timber, fish, palm oil, cocoa, copra
Exports - partners EU 58% (Germany 13%, Sweden 10%, UK 9%, France 5%, Netherlands 4%), US 8%, Russia, Japan (1999) Japan 35.5%, other Asian countries 47.3% (1999)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white with a blue cross that extends 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) divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green
GDP purchasing power parity - $118.3 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $900 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture:
3.5%

industry:
29%

services:
67.5% (1999)
agriculture:
50%

industry:
3.5%

services:
46.5% (1995)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $22,900 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 5.6% (2000 est.) 1% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 64 00 N, 26 00 E 8 00 S, 159 00 E
Geography - note long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain -
Highways total:
77,796 km

paved:
49,789 km (including 444 km of expressways)

unpaved:
28,042 km (1999)
total:
1,360 km

paved:
34 km

unpaved:
1,326 km (includes about 800 km of private plantation roads) (1996 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%:
4.2%

highest 10%:
21.6% (1991)
lowest 10%:
NA%

highest 10%:
NA%
Imports $32.7 billion (f.o.b., 2000) $152 million (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains plant and equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals, fuels, chemicals
Imports - partners EU 60% (Germany 15%, Sweden 11%, UK 7%), US 8%, Russia 7%, Japan 6% (1999) Australia 38.5%, Singapore 15%, Japan 10.6%, NZ 6.2% (1999)
Independence 6 December 1917 (from Russia) 7 July 1978 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate 7.5% (2000) NA%
Industries metal products, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, copper refining, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing fish (tuna), mining, timber
Infant mortality rate 3.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) 24.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 3.4% (2000 est.) 10% (1999 est.)
International organization participation AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), IOC, ITU, Sparteca, SPC, SPF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 23 (2000) 1 (2000)
Irrigated land 640 sq km (1993 est.) NA sq km
Judicial branch Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president) Court of Appeal
Labor force 2.6 million (2000 est.) 26,842
Labor force - by occupation public services 32%, industry 22%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, agriculture and forestry 8%, transport and communications 8%, construction 6% agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries total:
2,628 km

border countries:
Norway 729 km, Sweden 586 km, Russia 1,313 km
0 km
Land use arable land:
8%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
76%

other:
16% (1993 est.)
arable land:
1%

permanent crops:
1%

permanent pastures:
1%

forests and woodland:
88%

other:
9% (1993 est.)
Languages Finnish 93.4% (official), Swedish 5.9% (official), small Lapp- and Russian-speaking minorities Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2% of population

note:
120 indigenous languages
Legal system civil law system based on Swedish law; Supreme Court may request legislation interpreting or modifying laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations English common law
Legislative branch unicameral Parliament or Eduskunta (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 21 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2003)

election results:
percent of vote by party - SDP 22.9%, Kesk 22.5%, Kok 21.0%, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 10.9%, SFP 5.1%, Green Union 7.2%, SKL 4.2%; seats by party - SDP 51, Kesk 48, Kok 46, Leftist Alliance (Communist) 20, SFP 11, Green Union 11, SKL 10, other 3
unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:
last held 6 August 1997 (next to be held by August 2001)

election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - GNUR 21, PAP 7, NAPSI 5, SILP 4, UP 4, independents 6, other 3
Life expectancy at birth total population:
77.58 years

male:
73.92 years

female:
81.36 years (2001 est.)
total population:
71.55 years

male:
69.12 years

female:
74.1 years (2001 est.)
Literacy definition:
age 15 and over can read and write

total population:
100% (1980 est.)

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
definition:
NA

total population:
NA%

male:
NA%

female:
NA%
Location Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea
Map references Europe Oceania
Maritime claims continental shelf:
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone:
12 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 NM)
measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

continental shelf:
200 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM
Merchant marine total:
98 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,172,808 GRT/1,138,175 DWT

ships by type:
bulk 9, cargo 23, chemical tanker 5, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 11, railcar carrier 1, roll on/roll off 37, short-sea passenger 11 (2000 est.)
none (2000 est.)
Military branches Army, Navy, Air Force, Frontier Guard (includes Sea Guard) no regular military forces; Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $1.8 billion (FY98) $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2% (FY98) NA%
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49:
1,251,700 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49:
1,033,188 (2001 est.)
-
Military manpower - military age 17 years of age -
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males:
33,883 (2001 est.)
-
National holiday Independence Day, 6 December (1917) Independence Day, 7 July (1978)
Nationality noun:
Finn(s)

adjective:
Finnish
noun:
Solomon Islander(s)

adjective:
Solomon Islander
Natural hazards NA typhoons, but they are rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity
Natural resources timber, copper, zinc, iron ore, silver fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel
Net migration rate 0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Pipelines natural gas 580 km -
Political parties and leaders Center Party or Kesk [Esko AHO]; Finnish Christian Union or SKL [C. P. Bjarne KALLIS]; Green Union [Satu HASSI]; Leftist Alliance (Communist) composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Sauli NIINISTO]; Reform Group [Risto KUISMA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Paavo LIPPONEN]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-Erik ENESTAM]; True Finns [Timo SOINI] there are two main coalitions - Coalition for National Unity, Reconciliation, and Peace or CNURP and Alliance for Change; the CNURP took power on 30 June 2000, it comprises members of the Liberal Party, People's Alliance Party, and the United Party, as well as a number of independents; the Alliance for Change, represents the former government and now is the opposition; in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions; Group for National Unity and Reconciliation or GNUR [leader NA]; Liberal Party [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; National Action Party of Solomon Islands or NAPSI [Francis SAEMALA]; People's Alliance Party or PAP [George LEPPING]; People's Progressive Party [Mannaseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; United Party or UP [leader NA]
Political pressure groups and leaders Communist Workers Party [Timo LAHDENMAKI]; Constitutional Rightist Party; Finnish Communist Party-Unity [Yrjo HAKANEN]; Finnish Pensioners Party NA
Population 5,175,783 (July 2001 est.) 480,442 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.16% (2001 est.) 2.98% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma, Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus Aola Bay, Honiara, Lofung, Noro, Viru Harbor, Yandina
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998) AM 3, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 7.7 million (1997) 57,000 (1997)
Railways total:
5,865 km

broad gauge:
5,865 km 1.524-m gauge (2,192 km electrified; 480 km double or multiple track) (1998)
0 km
Religions Evangelical Lutheran 89%, Greek Orthodox 1%, none 9%, other 1% Anglican 34%, Roman Catholic 19%, Baptist 17%, United (Methodist/Presbyterian) 11%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10%, other Protestant 5%, indigenous beliefs 4%
Sex ratio at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.63 male(s)/female

total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:
1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over:
0.96 male(s)/female

total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 21 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment:
modern system with excellent service

domestic:
cable, microwave radio relay, and an extensive cellular net provide domestic needs

international:
1 submarine cable; 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)
general assessment:
NA

domestic:
NA

international:
satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 2.861 million (1997) 8,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,162,574 (1997) 658 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 130 (plus 385 repeaters) (1995) 0 (1997)
Terrain mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls
Total fertility rate 1.7 children born/woman (2001 est.) 4.65 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate 9.8% (2000 est.) NA%
Waterways 6,675 km

note:
includes Saimaa Canal; 3,700 km suitable for large ships
none
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