The 2004 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

account balance:

       $10.3 billion (2003)

      Exports:

       $54.28 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

      Exports - commodities:

       machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp

       (1999)

      Exports - partners:

       Germany 11.8%, Sweden 9.9%, US 8.2%, UK 8%, Russia 7.5%,

       Netherlands 4.8% (2003)

      Imports:

       $37.35 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

      Imports - commodities:

       foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport

       equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,

       grains (1999)

      Imports - partners:

       Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.1%, Russia 11.7%, Netherlands 6.3%,

       Denmark 5.7%, UK 5.3%, France 4.3% (2003)

      Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:

       $11.17 billion (2003)

      Debt - external:

       $30 billion (December 1993)

      Economic aid - donor:

       ODA, $379 million (2001)

      Currency:

       euro (EUR)

       note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the

       euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of

       member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole

       currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

      Currency code:

       EUR

      Exchange rates:

       euros per US dollar - 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001),

       1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999)

      Fiscal year:

       calendar year

      Communications Finland

      Telephones - main lines in use:

       2.548 million (2003)

      Telephones - mobile cellular:

       4.7 million (2003)

      Telephone system:

       general assessment: modern system with excellent service

       domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive

       cellular network provide domestic needs

       international: country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (Finland

       Estonia Connection); 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)

      Radio broadcast stations:

       AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

      Radios:

       7.7 million (1997)

      Television broadcast stations:

       120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)

      Televisions:

       3.2 million (1997)

      Internet country code:

       .fi

      Internet hosts:

       1,219,173 (2004)

      Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

       3 (2002)

      Internet users:

       2.65 million (2002)

      Transportation Finland

      Railways: total: 5,851 km broad gauge: 5,851 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2003)

      Highways:

       total: 78,137 km

       paved: 50,398 km (including 750 km of expressways)

       unpaved: 27,739 km (2003)

      Waterways:

       7,842 km

       note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased

       from Russia (2004)

      Pipelines:

       gas 694 km (2004)

      Ports and harbors:

       Hamina, Helsinki, Kokkola, Kotka, Loviisa, Oulu, Pori, Rauma,

       Turku, Uusikaupunki, Varkaus

      Merchant marine:

       total: 90 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,152,175 GRT/1,053,906 DWT

       registered in other countries: 39 (2004 est.)

       by type: bulk 9, cargo 26, chemical tanker 5, container 1, passenger

       2, petroleum tanker 9, roll on/roll off 28, short-sea/passenger 10

       foreign-owned: Estonia 1

      Airports:

       148 (2003 est.)

      Airports - with paved runways: total: 75 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)

      Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 69 (2004 est.)

      Military Finland

      Military branches:

       Army, Navy, Air Force

      Military manpower - military age and obligation:

       18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service

       (October 2004)

      Military manpower - availability:

       males age 15–49: 1,226,890 (2004 est.)

      Military manpower - fit for military service:

       males age 15–49: 1,013,961 (2004 est.)

      Military manpower - reaching military age annually:

       males: 32,058 (2004 est.)

      Military expenditures - dollar figure:

       $1.8 billion (FY98/99)

      Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

       2% (FY98/99)

      Transnational Issues Finland

      Disputes - international: none

      This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005

      ======================================================================

      @France

      Introduction France

      Background:

       Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France

       suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank

       as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the

       most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European

       nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy

       resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary

       democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation