02 December, 2024

Because We Are Finland and You Are Not!

Finland lacks ancient ruins, royal palaces, a colonial past and altogether any historical grandeur. What we do have, instead, is the present and the future. 

In international comparisons between nations Finland is always at the top.

The identity of an independent Finland was built with design, architecture and heavy industry. Today's Finland is characterised by progress and wealth.

Nowhere else has the motto of the French Revolution for liberty, equality and fraternity been taken as literally as it has been in Finland.

Finland is globally a small country. The population of Finland is only 0.07 per cent of the world's population and its area covers the same percentage of the Earth.

Yet even a small nation can spring to the forefront, and that is what Finland has done: in international comparisons between nations Finland is always at the top. 

​​Safety and Society

THE MOST STABLE COUNTRY 
in the World 
The Fund for Peace, Fragile States Index 2017 

THE FREEST COUNTRY 
in the World Shared top place with Sweden and Norwat. 
Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2017 

THE SAFEST COUNTRY 
in the World 
World Economic Forum, The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 

THE BEST GOVERNANCE 
in the World 
Legatum Institute, The Legatum Prosperity Index 2016: Finland

THE LEAST ORGANISED CRIME 
in the World 
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017: Organized crime

THE MOST INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY
in the World
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017: Judicial independence

THE FREEST AND MOST RELIABLE ELECTIONS
in the World
Pippa Norris and Max Grömping, Populist threats to electoral integrity: The Year in Elections, 2016–2017 (The Electoral Integrity Project, University of Sydney & Harvard University)

THE THIRD LEAST CORRUPTION
in the World
Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2016

THE SOUNDEST BANKS
in the World
World Economic Forum, The Global CompetitivenessReport 2016–2017: Soundness of banks

THE THIRD BEST PRESS FREEDOM
in the World
Reporters Without Borders, 2017 WorldPress Freedom Index: Ranking

Wellbeing and Equitability

THE SECOND BEST COUNTRY IN SOCIAL PROGRESS
in the World
The Social Progress Imperative, 2017 Social Progress Index: Finland

THE SECOND MOST SOCIALLY JUST COUNTRY
in the EU
D. Schraad-Tischler & C. Schiller: Social Justice in the EU – Index Report 2016 (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2016)

THE BEST IN A COMPARISON OF HUMAN WELLBEING
in the World
Sustainable Society Index, Main results 2016

THE BEST IN PROTECTING FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS
in the World
The World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index 2016

Satisfaction and Trust

THE PEOPLE WITH SECOND HIGHEST SATISFACTION WITH THEIR LIFE
in Europe
Eurostat, Percentage of the population ratingtheir satisfaction as high, medium or low

THE PEOPLE WITH THE SECOND HIGHEST TRUST IN OTHERS
in Europe
Eurostat, Average rating of trust

Equality

THE SECOND MOST GENDER EQUAL COUNTRY
in the World
World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Index 2016

THE SECOND LOWEST INEQUALITY AMONG CHILDREN
in the World
UNICEF, Fairness for Children: A league table of inequality in child well-being in rich countries

THE SECOND BEST COUNTRY TO BE A GIRL
in the World
Save the Children, Every last girl: Girl’s opportunity index

Education

THE MOST HUMAN CAPITAL
in the World
World Economic Forum, The Human Capital Report: Human Capital Index 2016

THE BEST PRIMARY EDUCATION
in the World
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2016–2017: Primary Education

THE TOP IN EDUCATION
in the OECD
OECD, Better Life Index: Education

THE MOST LITERATE COUNTRY
in the World
J. W. Miller and M. C. McKenna, World’s Most Literate Nations: Rank Breakdown

Photo: Jussi Hellsten / Helsinki Marketing

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