After having lived for decades in the shadow of the Soviet Union, Finland is now well settled in the European Union.
Following its defeat at the hands of the Soviet Union in the Second World War, the country endured strong influence from Moscow during the Cold War, though retaining its sovereignty.
When the Soviet Union collapsed Finland joined the EU and is the only Nordic EU member to use the euro as its national currency.
The country spends heavily on education, training and research - investment which pays dividends by delivering one of the best-qualified workforces in the world.
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Two pillars of the Finnish economy have been in serious decline in recent years: the timber industry, amid a drop in global demand for paper, and Nokia, once a source of national pride but which lost its spot as world leader in mobile phones in 2012, before its mobile phone unit was finally sold.Finland has made broadband access a legal right for every citizen.
By 2015 more than 93% of the population was online, one of the highest rates of internet penetration in the European Union. Finland is ceded to Russia by Sweden, which has dominated the country since the 1300s. The Finns retain a considerable amount of autonomy.
1899 onwards - Attempt at Russification of Finland, including conscription of Finnish men into the Russian army and the imposition of Russian as an official language. Campaign of civil disobedience begins. Parliament Act establishes universal suffrage, including the right for women to stand for elected office, for the first time in Europe.
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