About Finland

Every person has their own story, but many of us are united by the fact that due to the circumstances of fate, we've found ourselves in a new country where we need to build a new life as soon as possible. We hope that our portal Expaterra can assist you!

So, Finland: a country of opportunities and warm hospitality, where everyone will find a home among picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage.

Culture and Lifestyle

Finland is a country with a unique culture, a special way of life, and diverse cuisine, reflecting its geographical and historical characteristics.

The sauna is considered an integral part of Finnish life, a place for cleansing the body and spirit, where Finns spend time with family and friends. Finland is known for its forests and lakes. Outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, and boating, are popular pastimes.

In the Finnish diet, fish, game meat, potatoes, dairy products, and grains prevail. Traditional dishes include: Karelian pies (pastries with a filling of rice or potatoes wrapped in thin rye dough), salmon soup (a creamy soup with salmon, potatoes, and onions), rye bread (dark bread made from rye flour, often served with butter or cheese). Finland is known for a high coffee consumption per capita. Traditional drinks include milk, kefir, and various herbal teas.

Finns value personal space and tend to be reserved in communication. They prefer to listen to a conversation partner until the end before speaking. Punctuality is highly valued in Finland. Being late is considered disrespectful to the person you are meeting. The winter holiday of Christmas and the summer holiday Midsummer's Day are important events in the lives of Finns.

Finland regularly ranks first in various international indices reflecting a high quality of life, education, and social justice.

Since 2018, Finland has consistently topped the Happiness Index, confirming the high level of life satisfaction among its citizens. In 2024, Finland ranked first in the Good Country Index, which assesses a country's contribution to global development. Finland often ranks in the top 10 countries for innovation, which confirms its leadership in the field of technology and research. Finland regularly ranks high in the Environmental Performance Index, reflecting its efforts in environmental conservation and sustainable development. The country also often leads in the Social Justice Index, which assesses the level of social justice and equality in the country.

Despite many achievements, Finland ranks low in some international ratings. 

Economic Freedom Index: In 2023, Finland ranked 20th, which is lower compared to previous years. This is due to increased government intervention in the economy and rising taxes.

Competitiveness Index: In 2023, Finland fell to 11th place, three positions lower compared to the previous year. The decline is associated with worsening indicators in the areas of international trade and price levels.

Economic Growth Index: In 2023, Finland ranked 10th from the bottom in the global ranking for economic growth, alongside Ireland. In EU countries this year, economic growth averaged 1.1%, while in Finland, the indicator is at -0.3%.

These data highlight the necessity for Finland to continue efforts to improve economic indicators and increase competitiveness on the international stage.

Local Language

Learning the Finnish language can be a challenge for many foreigners, especially for those whose native languages bear no similarity to Finnish. Finnish has an extensive case system. Unlike most European languages, Finnish uses 15 cases that convey various grammatical relationships such as direction, place, time, and others. Finnish has no grammatical gender. That is, unlike many European languages, Finnish words do not change form depending on gender. Finnish actively uses suffixes to form new words. This can create long and complex words, which are difficult to understand and pronounce. Finnish has many words unlike those in other languages, making its vocabulary unique. Despite the fact that Finnish words are pronounced as they are written, many foreigners find the correct pronunciation of vowels challenging, especially long ones, as these sounds are absent in most European languages. Finnish is an agglutinative language, where words often consist of numerous parts, complicating auditory perception. There are various dialects in Finland that can differ significantly from the standard language. Learning Finnish requires long-term effort and a consistent approach. The complex grammar and rich vocabulary demand time to master.

Thus, Finnish presents a serious challenge, but with the right approach and patience, it can be mastered, and knowing the language will open up broad opportunities for communication and living in Finland.