Editing Finland (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Finland}}
{{See also|List of cities and towns in Finland|List of lakes of Finland|List of national parks of Finland|Environmental issues in Finland}}{{More citations needed|section|date=April 2025}}[[File:Map of Finland-en.svg|thumb|upright=1.2|Topographic map of Finland]]
Lying approximately between latitudes [[60th parallel north|60°]] and [[70th parallel north|70° N]], and longitudes [[20th meridian east|20°]] and [[32nd meridian east|32° E]], Finland is one of the world's northernmost countries. Of world capitals, only [[Reykjavík]] lies more to the north than Helsinki. The distance from the southernmost point – [[Hanko, Finland|Hanko]] in Uusimaa – to the northernmost – [[Nuorgam]] in Lapland – is {{convert|1160|km|mi}}.

Finland has about 168,000 lakes (of area larger than {{convert|500|m2|acre|2|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and 179,000 islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_alue_en.html|title=Statistics Finland, Environment and Natural Resources|access-date=4 April 2013|archive-date=8 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308174735/http://www.stat.fi/tup/suoluk/suoluk_alue_en.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Its largest lake, [[Saimaa]], is the fourth largest in Europe. The [[Finnish Lakeland]] is the area with the most lakes in the country;<ref name="travel+leisure"/> many of the major cities in the area, most notably [[Tampere]], [[Jyväskylä]] and [[Kuopio]], are located near the large lakes. The Finnish coastline is speckled with the world's largest archipelago, encompassing more than 50,000 islands, greatest concentration of which is found in the southwest, in the [[Archipelago Sea]] between continental Finland and the main island of [[Åland]].<ref>[https://www.visitfinland.com/en/places-to-go/coast-and-archipelago/ Coast and Archipelago ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240426115856/https://www.visitfinland.com/en/places-to-go/coast-and-archipelago/ |date=26 April 2024 }} Visit Finland. Retrieved 26 April 2024.</ref>

Much of the geography of Finland is a result of the Ice Age. The glaciers were thicker and lasted longer in [[Fennoscandia]] compared with the rest of Europe. The eroding effects have contributed to a mostly flat landscape in Finland, characterized by hills. However, in the northern regions, including areas bordering the [[Scandinavian Mountains]], the terrain features mountainous elevations. At 1,324 metres (4,344&nbsp;ft), [[Halti]] is the highest point in Finland. It is found in the north of Lapland at the border between Finland and Norway. The highest mountain whose peak is entirely in Finland is [[Ridnitšohkka]] at {{convert|1316|m|ft|abbr=on}}, directly adjacent to Halti.
[[File:Saana 5.jpg|thumb|The view from the top of [[Saana|Saana fell]] in [[Kilpisjärvi]]]]
[[File:View to Pielinen from Paha-Koli in Lieksa, Finland, 2019 July.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|There are some 187,888 [[List of lakes of Finland|lakes in Finland]] larger than 500 square metres and 75,818 [[List of islands of Finland|islands]] of over 0,5 km2 area, leading to the denomination "the land of a thousand lakes".<ref name="thousand"/> Picture of [[Pielinen|Lake Pielinen]] in [[North Karelia]].]]
The retreating glaciers have left the land with [[moraine|morainic]] deposits in formations of [[esker]]s. These are ridges of stratified gravel and sand, running northwest to southeast, where the ancient edge of the glacier once lay. Among the biggest of these are the three [[Salpausselkä]] ridges that run across southern Finland.

Having been compressed under the enormous weight of the glaciers, terrain in Finland is rising due to the [[post-glacial rebound]]. The effect is strongest around the Gulf of Bothnia, where land steadily rises about {{convert|1|cm|1|abbr=on}} a year. As a result, the old sea bottom turns little by little into dry land: the surface area of the country is expanding by about {{convert|7|km2|sqmi}} annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |title=Trends in sea level variability |work=Finnish Institute of Marine Research |date=24 August 2004 |access-date=22 January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227172733/http://www.fimr.fi/en/tutkimus/fysikaalinen-tutkimus/vedenkorkeuden-vaihteluiden-ajalliset-muutokset.html |archive-date=27 February 2007 }}</ref> Relatively speaking, Finland is rising from the sea.<ref name="EB">"Finland". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 2011.</ref>

The landscape is covered mostly by coniferous [[taiga]] forests and [[fen]]s, with little cultivated land. Of the total area, 10% is lakes, rivers, and ponds, and 78% is forest. The forest consists of [[pine]], [[spruce]], [[birch]], and other species.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metla.fi/suomen-metsat/ |title=Euroopan metsäisin maa |year=2013 |website=Luke |language=fi |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814111534/http://www.metla.fi/suomen-metsat/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Finland is the largest producer of wood in Europe and among the largest in the world. The most common type of rock is [[granite]]. It is a ubiquitous part of the scenery, visible wherever there is no soil cover. Moraine or [[till]] is the most common type of soil, covered by a thin layer of [[humus]] of biological origin. [[Podzol]] profile development is seen in most forest soils except where drainage is poor. [[Gleysol]]s and peat [[bog]]s occupy poorly drained areas.

===Biodiversity===
{{Main |Fauna of Finland |Wildlife of Finland}}
[[File:Reindeer near Purnulahti of Säytsjärvi in Inari, Lapland, Finland, 2021 September.jpg|thumb |In Finland, reindeer graze in [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]] area and on the [[fells]].]]
[[File:Ähtärin karhut 7.jpg|thumb |The [[brown bear]] is Finland's national animal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://finland.fi/life-society/iconic-finnish-nature-symbols-stand-out/ | title=Iconic Finnish nature symbols stand out | date=25 August 2014 | publisher=This is Finland | access-date=24 December 2020 | archive-date=25 October 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025235927/https://finland.fi/life-society/iconic-finnish-nature-symbols-stand-out/ | url-status=live }}</ref> It is also the largest [[carnivore]] in Finland.]]
[[Phytogeography|Phytogeographically]], Finland is shared between the Arctic, central European, and northern European provinces of the [[Circumboreal Region]] within the [[Boreal Kingdom]]. According to the [[World Wide Fund for Nature|WWF]], the territory of Finland can be subdivided into three [[ecoregion]]s: the [[Scandinavian and Russian taiga]], [[Sarmatic mixed forests]], and [[Scandinavian Montane Birch forest and grasslands]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad |display-authors=3 |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |volume=67 |issue=6 |year=2017 |pages=534–545 |issn=0006-3568 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287}}</ref> Taiga covers most of Finland from northern regions of southern provinces to the north of Lapland. On the southwestern coast, south of the Helsinki-[[Rauma, Finland|Rauma]] line, forests are characterized by mixed forests, that are more typical in the Baltic region. In the extreme north of Finland, near the [[tree line]] and Arctic Ocean, Montane Birch forests are common. Finland had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.08/10, ranking it 109th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal |last1=Grantham |first1=H. S. |last2=Duncan |first2=A. |last3=Evans |first3=T. D. |last4=Jones |first4=K. R. |last5=Beyer |first5=H. L. |last6=Schuster |first6=R. |last7=Walston |first7=J. |last8=Ray |first8=J. C. |last9=Robinson |first9=J. G. |last10=Callow |first10=M. |last11=Clements |first11=T. |last12=Costa |first12=H. M. |last13=DeGemmis |first13=A. |last14=Elsen |first14=P. R. |last15=Ervin |first15=J. |last16=Franco |first16=P. |last17=Goldman |first17=E. |last18=Goetz |first18=S. |last19=Hansen |first19=A. |last20=Hofsvang |first20=E. |last21=Jantz |first21=P. |last22=Jupiter |first22=S. |last23=Kang |first23=A. |last24=Langhammer |first24=P. |last25=Laurance |first25=W. F. |last26=Lieberman |first26=S. |last27=Linkie |first27=M. |last28=Malhi |first28=Y. |last29=Maxwell |first29=S. |last30=Mendez |first30=M. |last31=Mittermeier |first31=R. |last32=Murray |first32=N. J. |last33=Possingham |first33=H. |last34=Radachowsky |first34=J. |last35=Saatchi |first35=S. |last36=Samper |first36=C. |last37=Silverman |first37=J. |last38=Shapiro |first38=A. |last39=Strassburg |first39=B. |last40=Stevens |first40=T. |last41=Stokes |first41=E. |last42=Taylor |first42=R. |last43=Tear |first43=T. |last44=Tizard |first44=R. |last45=Venter |first45=O. |last46=Visconti |first46=P. |last47=Wang |first47=S. |last48=Watson |first48=J. E. M.  |display-authors=3 |title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material |journal=Nature Communications |volume=11 |issue=1 |year=2020 |page=5978 |issn=2041-1723 |doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3 |pmid=33293507 |pmc=7723057 |bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G }}</ref>

Similarly, Finland has a diverse and extensive range of fauna. There are at least sixty native [[mammal]]ian species, 248 breeding bird species, over 70 fish species, and 11 reptile and frog species present today, many migrating from neighbouring countries thousands of years ago.
Large and widely recognized wildlife mammals found in Finland are the [[brown bear]], [[grey wolf]], [[wolverine]], and [[Moose|elk]]. Three of the more striking birds are the [[whooper swan]], a large European swan and the national bird of Finland; the [[Western capercaillie]], a large, black-plumaged member of the [[grouse]] family; and the [[Eurasian eagle-owl]]. The latter is considered an indicator of [[old-growth forest]] connectivity, and has been declining because of landscape fragmentation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514259904/html/x288.html |title=Nutritional and genetic adaptation of galliform birds: implications for hand-rearing and restocking |work=Oulu University Library (2000) |date=17 May 2001 |access-date=23 May 2008 |archive-date=9 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409035257/http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn9514259904/html/x288.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Around 24,000 species of insects are prevalent in Finland some of the most common being [[hornets]] with tribes of [[beetles]] such as the [[Onciderini]] also being common. The most common breeding birds are the [[willow warbler]], [[common chaffinch]], and [[redwing]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.birdlife.fi/lintuharrastus/faq-muut.shtml |title=BirdLife Finland |work=BirdLife International (2004) Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status. Cambridge, UK. (BirdLife Conservation Series No. 12) |access-date=22 January 2007 |archive-date=26 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070126193248/http://www.birdlife.fi/lintuharrastus/faq-muut.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Of some seventy species of freshwater fish, the [[northern pike]], [[perch]], and others are plentiful. [[Atlantic salmon]] remains the favourite of [[Fly fishing|fly rod]] enthusiasts.

The endangered [[Saimaa ringed seal]], one of only three lake seal species in the world, exists only in the [[Saimaa]] lake system of southeastern Finland, down to only 390 seals today.<ref>{{cite web |title= Saimaa Ringed Seal |url= https://wwf.fi/en/saimaaringedseal/ |access-date= 22 December 2018 |archive-date= 25 December 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181225014047/https://wwf.fi/en/saimaaringedseal/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nationalparks.fi/saimaa-ringed-seal |title=Saimaa Ringed Seal |website=Nationalparks.fi |access-date=5 March 2021 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126183307/https://www.nationalparks.fi/saimaa-ringed-seal |url-status=live }}</ref> The species has become the emblem of the Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |title=SOS: Save our seals |work=this is Finland ([[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910195719/http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=170517&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |archive-date=10 September 2015 }}</ref>

A third of Finland's land area originally consisted of [[moorland]], about half of this area has been drained for cultivation over the past centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Corona |first=Hanna |date=30 August 2022 |title=Finland - Forests and Forestry |url=https://www.borealforest.org/finland-forests-and-forestry/ |access-date=21 September 2022 |website=Boreal Forest |language=en-US |archive-date=21 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921193556/https://www.borealforest.org/finland-forests-and-forestry/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Finland}}
[[File:Finland Köppen.svg|thumb|upright|[[Köppen climate classification]] types of Finland]]
The main factor influencing Finland's climate is the country's geographical position between the [[60th parallel north|60th]] and [[70th parallel north|70th northern parallels]] in the [[Eurasia]]n continent's coastal zone. In the [[Köppen climate classification]], the whole of Finland lies in the [[subarctic climate|boreal zone]], characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. Within the country, the [[temperateness]] varies considerably between the southern coastal regions and the extreme north, showing characteristics of both a [[Oceanic climate|maritime]] and a [[continental climate]]. Finland is near enough to the Atlantic Ocean to be continuously warmed by the [[Gulf Stream]]. The Gulf Stream combines with the moderating effects of the Baltic Sea and numerous inland lakes to explain the unusually warm climate compared with other regions that share the same [[latitude]], such as [[Alaska]], [[Siberia]], and southern [[Greenland]].<ref name="Finland's climate">{{cite web |title=Finland's climate |url=http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |publisher=Finnish Meteorological Institute |access-date=3 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721105549/http://www.fmi.fi/weather/climate.html |archive-date=21 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:Share Of Forest Area In Total Land Area, Top Countries (2021).svg|thumb|330x330px|Share of forest area in total land area, top countries (2021). Finland has the tenth highest percentage of forest cover in the world.]]
Winters in southern Finland (when the mean daily temperature remains below {{convert|0|°C|disp=or}}) are usually about 100 days long, and in the inland the snow typically covers the land from about late November to April, and on the coastal areas such as Helsinki, snow often covers the land from late December to late March.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://ilmasto-opas.fi/fi/ilmastonmuutos/suomen-muuttuva-ilmasto/-/artikkeli/08848977-fd1a-4e85-8389-7ecf3ca7de7d/uusimaa-merellisen-ilmaston-maakunta.html|title = The climate in Finland (finnish)|access-date = 3 January 2015|archive-date = 3 January 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150103033232/https://ilmasto-opas.fi/fi/ilmastonmuutos/suomen-muuttuva-ilmasto/-/artikkeli/08848977-fd1a-4e85-8389-7ecf3ca7de7d/uusimaa-merellisen-ilmaston-maakunta.html|url-status = dead}}</ref> Even in the south, the harshest winter nights can see the temperatures fall to {{convert|-30|°C}} although on coastal areas like Helsinki, temperatures below {{convert|-30|°C|0}} are rare. Climatic summers (when mean daily temperature remains above {{convert|10|°C|disp=or}}) in southern Finland last from about late May to mid-September, and in the inland, the warmest days of July can reach over {{convert|35|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> Although most of Finland lies on the [[taiga]] belt, the southernmost coastal regions are sometimes classified as [[hemiboreal]].<ref name="Havas">{{cite web|url=http://www.oulu.fi/northnature/finnish/Suomi/luma1.html|title=Pohjoiset alueet / yleiskuvaus|last=Havas|first=Paavo|language=fi|access-date=3 December 2012|archive-date=13 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513014712/http://www.oulu.fi/northnature/finnish/Suomi/luma1.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In northern Finland, particularly in Lapland, the winters are long and cold, while the summers are relatively warm but short. On the most severe winter days in Lapland can see the temperature fall to {{convert|-45|°C}}. The winter of the north lasts for about 200 days with permanent snow cover from about mid-October to early May. Summers in the north are quite short, only two to three months, but can still see maximum daily temperatures above {{convert|25|°C}} during heat waves.<ref name="Finland's climate" /> No part of Finland has [[Arctic tundra]], but [[Alpine tundra]] can be found at the [[fell]]s Lapland.<ref name="Havas" />

The Finnish climate is suitable for cereal farming only in the southernmost regions, while the northern regions are suitable for [[animal husbandry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|title=Finland's Northern Conditions: Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture|publisher=Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland|pages=1–4|access-date=3 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407022547/http://www.mmm.fi/attachments/mmm/julkaisut/esitteet/5HIspFLpC/45920_LFA_esite.pdf|archive-date=7 April 2012 }}</ref>

A quarter of Finland's territory lies within the [[Arctic Circle]] and the [[midnight sun]] can be experienced for more days the farther north one travels. At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73 consecutive days during summer and does not rise at all for 51 days during winter.<ref name="Finland's climate" />

Finland is ranked 4th in [[Environmental Performance Index]] for year 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Environmental Performance Index |url=https://epi.yale.edu/measure/2024/EPI |access-date=11 October 2024 |website=Environmental Performance Index |language=en}}</ref> This Index combines various indicators around known issues around the world and measures how good they fit in among each countries on a scale. Finland scores good in parameters like Climate Change Mitigation, Waste Management, Air pollution, Air quality etc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Environmental Performance Index - Finland |url=https://epi.yale.edu/country/2024/FIN |access-date=15 October 2024 |website=Environmental Performance Index |language=en}}</ref>

===Regions===
{{Main|Regions of Finland}}
Finland consists of 19 regions ({{lang|fi|maakunta}}). The counties are governed by regional councils which serve as forums of cooperation for the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] of a county. The main tasks of the counties are regional planning and development of enterprise and education. In addition, the public health services are usually organized based on counties. Regional councils are elected by municipal councils, each municipality sending representatives in proportion to its population. In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, which is the responsibility of regional councils, each county has a state Employment and Economic Development Centre which is responsible for the local administration of labour, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and entrepreneurial affairs. Historically, counties are divisions of [[historical provinces of Finland]], areas that represent local dialects and culture more accurately.

Six [[Regional State Administrative Agencies of Finland|Regional State Administrative Agencies]] are responsible for one of the counties called {{lang|fi|alue}} in Finnish; in addition, Åland was designated a seventh county.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |title=Tervetuloa aluehallintoviraston verkkosivuille! |publisher=State Provincial Office |language=fi |access-date=9 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315151138/http://www.avi.fi/fi/Sivut/etusivu.aspx |archive-date=15 March 2012 }}</ref>

{| style="width:90%"
| style="width:50%" |
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width: 330px;" | Regional map
! English&nbsp;name<ref>{{cite web |title=Suomen hallintorakenteeseen ja maakuntauudistukseen liittyviä termejä sekä maakuntien ja kuntien nimet fi-sv-en-(ru) |url=https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/3457861/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyvi%C3%A4+termej%C3%A4+sek%C3%A4+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29/974f7fc5-1466-c667-9787-381c5bd57603/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyvi%C3%A4+termej%C3%A4+sek%C3%A4+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29.pdf |access-date=23 August 2019 |website=vnk.fi |pages=8–9 |archive-date=11 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611150344/https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/3457861/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyvi%C3%A4+termej%C3%A4+sek%C3%A4+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29/974f7fc5-1466-c667-9787-381c5bd57603/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyvi%C3%A4+termej%C3%A4+sek%C3%A4+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! Finnish&nbsp;name
! Swedish&nbsp;name
! Capital
! Regional state administrative agency
|-
| rowspan="19" | {{Finnish Regions|options=float:top}}
| [[Lapland, Finland|Lapland]]
| {{lang|fi|Lappi}}
| {{lang|sv|Lappland}}
| [[Rovaniemi]]
| [[Municipalities of Lapland|Lapland]]
|-
| [[North Ostrobothnia]]
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Österbotten}}
| [[Oulu]]
| [[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Northern Finland]]
|-
| [[Kainuu]]
| {{lang|fi|Kainuu}}
| {{lang|sv|Kajanaland}}
| [[Kajaani]]
| Northern Finland
|-
| [[North Karelia]]
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Karelen}}
| [[Joensuu]]
| [[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Eastern Finland]]
|-
| [[North Savo]]
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Savo}}
| |{{lang|sv|Norra Savolax}}
| [[Kuopio]]
| Eastern Finland
|-
| [[South Savo]]
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Savo}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Savolax}}
| [[Mikkeli]]
| Eastern Finland
|-
| [[South Ostrobothnia]]
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Österbotten}}
| [[Seinäjoki]]
| [[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Western and Central Finland]]
|-
| [[Central Ostrobothnia]]
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Österbotten}}
| [[Kokkola]]
| Western and Central Finland
|-
| [[Ostrobothnia (administrative region)|Ostrobothnia]]
| {{lang|fi|Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Österbotten}}
| [[Vaasa]]
| Western and Central Finland
|-
| [[Pirkanmaa]]
| {{lang|fi|Pirkanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Birkaland}}
| [[Tampere]]
| Western and Central Finland
|-
| [[Central Finland]]
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Finland}}
| [[Jyväskylä]]
| Western and Central Finland
|-
| [[Satakunta (region)|Satakunta]]
| {{lang|fi|Satakunta}}
| {{lang|sv|Satakunta}}
| [[Pori]]
| South-Western Finland
|-
| [[Southwest Finland]]
| {{lang|fi|Varsinais-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Finland}}
| [[Turku]]
| South-Western Finland
|-
| [[South Karelia]]
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Karelen}}
| [[Lappeenranta]]
| [[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Southern Finland]]
|-
| [[Päijät-Häme]]
| {{lang|fi|Päijät-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Päijänne-Tavastland}}
| [[Lahti]]
| Southern Finland
|-
| [[Kanta-Häme]]
| {{lang|fi|Kanta-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Tavastland}}
| [[Hämeenlinna]]
| Southern Finland
|-
| [[Uusimaa (region)|Uusimaa]]
| {{lang|fi|Uusimaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Nyland}}
| [[Helsinki]]
| Southern Finland
|-
| [[Kymenlaakso]]
| {{lang|fi|Kymenlaakso}}
| {{lang|sv|Kymmenedalen}}
| [[Kotka]] and [[Kouvola]]
| Southern Finland
|-
| Åland{{refn|group=note|name="åland_note"|The role that the regional councils serve on [[Mainland Finland]] are on Åland handled by the autonomous [[Government of Åland]].}}
| {{lang|fi|Ahvenanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Åland}}
| [[Mariehamn]]
| [[Municipalities of Åland|Åland]]
|}
|}
The county of [[Eastern Uusimaa|Eastern Uusimaa (Itä-Uusimaa)]] was consolidated with Uusimaa on 1 January 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |title=Valtioneuvosto päätti Uudenmaan ja Itä-Uudenmaan maakuntien yhdistämisestä |date=22 October 2009 |publisher=Ministry of Finance |language=fi |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084712/http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref>

====Administrative divisions====
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Finland|Sub-regions of Finland|Municipalities of Finland|Historical provinces of Finland}}
[[File:Finland administrative divisions 2.svg|thumbnail|[[Municipalities of Finland|Municipalities]] (thin borders) and [[Regions of Finland|regions]] (thick borders) of Finland (2021)]]
The fundamental administrative divisions of the country are the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]], which may also call themselves towns or cities. They account for half of the public spending. Spending is financed by municipal income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. {{As of|2021}}, there are 309 municipalities,<ref name="Suomen Kuntaliitto">{{cite web|title=Kaupunkien ja kuntien lukumäärät ja väestötiedot|url=https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot|access-date=7 March 2021|publisher=Suomen Kuntaliitto – Association of Finnish Municipalities|language=fi|archive-date=8 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108222022/https://www.kuntaliitto.fi/tilastot-ja-julkaisut/kaupunkien-ja-kuntien-lukumaarat-ja-vaestotiedot|url-status=live}}</ref> and most have fewer than 6,000 residents.

In addition to municipalities, two intermediate levels are defined. Municipalities co-operate in seventy [[Sub-regions of Finland|sub-regions]] and nineteen [[Counties of Finland|counties]]. These are governed by the member municipalities and have only limited powers. The autonomous province of Åland has a permanent democratically elected regional council. Sami people have a semi-autonomous [[Sami native region (Finland)|Sami native region]] in Lapland for issues on language and culture.

[[Health system|Health]], [[Social services|social]] and [[emergency service]]s are organised by the [[Wellbeing services counties of Finland|Wellbeing services counties]]. Finland has 21 Wellbeing services counties and the county structure is mainly based on the region structure. The [[County council (Finland)|County council]], which is responsible for the operation, administration and finances of the area, is the highest decision-making body in the Wellbeing services county. The delegates and deputy commissioners of the county council are elected in the county elections for a term of office of four years. Wellbeing services counties are self-governing. However, they do not have the right to levy taxes and their funding is based on central government funding.<ref name="stm-wellbeing">{{cite web| url = https://stm.fi/en/wellbeing-services-counties| title = Wellbeing services counties will be responsible for organising health, social and rescue services on 1 January 2023| publisher = Ministry of Social Affairs and Health| access-date = 7 September 2023| archive-date = 7 September 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230907074217/https://stm.fi/en/wellbeing-services-counties| url-status = live}}</ref>

The [[Helsinki capital region|capital region]] – comprising Helsinki, [[Vantaa]], [[Espoo]] and [[Kauniainen]] – forms a continuous [[conurbation]] of approximately {{formatnum: {{#expr: ({{Data Finland municipality/population count|Helsinki}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Espoo}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Vantaa}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kauniainen}}) /1000000 round 2 }}}} million people. However, common administration is limited to voluntary cooperation of all municipalities, e.g. in [[Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council]].