Finland among the best in the world
Finland is a small country on a global scale. The population of Finland makes up just 0.07 per cent of the world's population and its area as much of the total world area. But even a small country can jump to the top of the world, and this is what Finland has done: in international country comparisons of positive things Finland is often among the top countries next to other Nordic countries.
In honour of Finland's centenary celebrations, we collected a list of comparisons in which Finland is one of the best in the world. The list below was last time updated on 5 December 2018, when Finland was for the last day one hundred years old. An updated list is available at Independence Day 2019.
Society
Finland is the most stable country in the world.
The Fund for Peace, Fragile States Index 2018
Finland is the freest country in the world together with Sweden and Norway.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018
Finland is the safest country in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017
Finland is the fourth best country in the world.
The Good Country Index, Results
Finland has the best governance in the world.
Legatum Institute, The Legatum Prosperity Index 2018: Finland
Finland’s police and internal security as a whole are the second best in the world.
The International Police Science Association, World Internal Security and Police Index
Finland has the least organised crime in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2018: Organized crime
Next to Norwegians and Icelanders, Finns feel the second least insecure in the world.
Gallup, Law and Order Index 2018
Finland’s judicial system is the most independent in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2018: Judicial independence
After Danes, Finns vote in the freest and most reliable elections.
Pippa Norris, Thomas Wynter and Sarah Cameron, Electoral Integrity & Campaign Media: The Electoral Integrity Project 2018 mid-year update (The Electoral Integrity Project, University of Sydney & Harvard University)
Finland has the third least corruption in the world.
Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2017
Finland is the third most prosperous country in the world.
Legatum Institute, The Legatum Prosperity Index 2018: Finland
Protection of property rights in Finland is the best in the world.
World Economic Forum (WEF), The Global Competitiveness Report 2018: Property Rights
Availability of official information in Finland is the best in the EU.
Center for data innovation, The State of data innovation in the EU: Freedom of information
Finnish banks are the soundest in the world.
World Economic Forum, The Global Competitiveness Report 2018: Soundness of banks
Finland’s pension system is the third best in the world. (34 countries in the comparison).
Mercer, Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index 2018
Finland has the third most personal freedom and choice in the world.
The Social Progress Imperative, 2018 Social Progress Index: Finland
Finland has the fourth best press freedom in the world.
Reporters Without Borders, 2018 World Press Freedom Index: Ranking
After Denmark and Sweden, Finland is the most socially just EU country.
D. Schraad-Tischler & C. Schiller: Social Justice in the EU – Index Report 2017 (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2017)
Among the world’s richest countries, Finland is the third most dedicated to policies that benefit people living in poorer nations.
Centre for Global Development, The Commitment to Development Index 2018 (CDI)
Finland is the best country in the world in a comparison of human wellbeing.
Sustainable Society Index, Main results 2016
Finland is the third best country in adhering to the rule of law in the world.
The World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index 2017–2018
Finland is the best country in protecting fundamental human rights in the world.
The World Justice Project, Rule of Law Index 2017–2018
Satisfaction and trust
Finland is the happiest country in the world.
Sustainable Development Solutions Network, World Happiness Report 2018
Finns are the second most satisfied with their life among Europeans.
Eurostat, Percentage of the population rating their satisfaction as high, medium or low
Finns are the most satisfied with their accommodation in the EU.
Eurostat, Percentage of the population rating their satisfaction as high, medium or low
Among EU citizens, Finns are the second most common to have someone to rely on in case of need.
Eurostat, Persons having someone to rely on in case of need.
Finns' trust in the police is the highest and in the political system and in the legal system the second highest in Europe.
Eurostat, Average rating of trust
Finns trust news the most in the world. (37 countries in the comparison).
Reuters Institute, Digital News Report 2018
Finns' trust in other people is the highest in Europe.
European Commission, Fairness, inequality and inter-generational mobility: Social Capital: Trust in people
In Finland, consumers' confidence in the economy is second strongest in Europe.
European Commission, Business and consumer surveys
Equality
Finland is the third most gender equal country in the world.
World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Index 2017
Participation of genders in working life in Finland is the second most equal in the EU.
European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Gender Equality Index 2017: Work / Participation
Finnish women's gender equality in working life is the fourth best in the world.
The Economist, The Glass-Ceiling Index 2018
In Finland, power is divided between genders the third most equally in the EU.
European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Gender Equality Index 2017: Power
Finland has the third most female MPs in European countries.
Inter-Parliamentatary Union (IPU), Women in Politics 2017
Finland has the second lowest poverty rate in OECD countries.
OECD, Poverty rate
Finland has the fifth lowest income differences in OECD countries.
OECD, Income inequality
Environment and energy
The air in Finland is the cleanest in the world.
Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland tops WHO air quality statistics
Finland is the water richest country in the world.
Keele University, The Water Poverty Index: an International Comparison
The risk to be exposed to natural disasters is lowest in the world in Finland together with Bahrain, São Tomé and Príncipe and Singapore.
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and the European Commission, INFORM Global Risk Index Results 2018
Finland has the most forests in Europe.
FAO, Global Forest Resources Assessment
Finland has the third most wetlands in Europe.
Eurostat, Wetlands cover 2% of the EU's land
The share of renewable energy of total energy consumption is the second biggest in Finland of EU countries.
Eurostat, Share of energy from renewable sources in the EU Member States
Education and human capital
Finland has the most human capital in the world.
The Lancet, Measuring human capital: a systematic analysis of 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016
Finland ranks as one of the top OECD country in education.
OECD, Better Life Index: Education
Education in Finland answers to future needs the third best in the world.
Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) & Yidan Prize, Worldwide Educating for the Future Index
Finland is placed third in a comparison of lifelong learning in EU countries.
European Commission, European Innovation Scoreboard 2018: Lifelong learning
Finnish adults are the third best in literacy and numeracy of OECD countries.
OECD, How's Life? 2017: Measuring Well-being, Education and skills: adult skills
Finland is the most literate country in the world.
J. W. Miller and M. C. McKenna, World's Most Literate Nations: Rank Breakdown
Finns are the second biggest library users in Europe.
The European Bureau of Library, Public Libraries – Statistics
Information society and competitiveness
Finland is the second best in the world in using information and communication technologies to boost competitiveness and well-being.
World Economic Forum (WEF), Global Information Technology Report 2016: Networked Readiness Index
Finland has EU's best digital public services.
European Commission, The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2018: Finland
Finland has the strongest digital knowledge capital in Europe.
<European Commission, The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2018: Finland
Finland has the second most wireless mobile broadband subscriptions per inhabitant in OECD countries.
OECD, Wireless mobile broadband subscriptions
Finns use most mobile data per subscription.
OECD, Digital Economy Outlook 2017
Finnish enterprises are most likely to have their own website of OECD countries.
OECD, Digital Economy Outlook 2017
Finland is the third best country for business in Europe.
European Chamber, Best European countries for business 2018
Finland has the third best economic environment for business growth.
Grant Thornton, Global Dynamism Index 2015
Corporate ethics in Finland is the second best in the world.
World Economic Forum (WEF), The Global Competitiveness Report 2017–2018: Corporate Ethics
Finland is the second best country in the field of clean technology. (40 countries in the comparison.)
WWF & Cleantech Group, The Global Cleantech Innovation Index 2017
Finland's sustainable competitiveness is the fourth best in the world.
SolAbility, The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2017
Children's well-being and school attendance
Finland has 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
Finland is the second best country to be a girl in the world.
Save the Children, Every last girl: Girl’s opportunity index
Finnish children have the fifth most secure childhood in the world.
Save the Children, The Many Faces of Exclusion: End of Childhood, Report 2018
Young people (aged 11 to 15) in Finland are the fourth satisfied with their life among young people in welfare countries.
UNICEF, Child Well-being in Rich Countries: A comparative overview
Finns aged 15 are the third most satisfied with their lives among same-age young people in OECD countries.
OECD, PISA 2015 Results, Students’ Well-Being
Finnish fourth graders' knowledge of science is the second best in OECD countries.
M. O. Mullis, I. V. S. Mullis, P. Foy and M. Hooper, TIMSS 2015 International Results in Science
Finns aged 15 are among OECD countries the second best in literacy and the third best in science.
Ministry of Education and Culture, PISA 2015: Finnish youth still at the top despite the drop
Health
Finland is among the world’s top 25 countries in life expectancy at birth. Differences at the top are small.
WHO, Life expectancy
Finland has the least underweight (under 2,500 g) children born of OECD countries.
OECD, Low birth weight
Mothers' and children's well-being in Finland is the second best in the world.
Save the Children, State of the World´s Mothers 2015, 16th annual report
Finland has the world's third lowest infant mortality rate (deaths at the age of under one year).
UN, SDG Indicators, Infant mortality rate
Maternal mortality is the lowest in the world in Finland together with Greece, Iceland and Poland.
WHO, World Health Statistics 2018: Monitoring health for the SDGs
The second lowest number of children weighing under 2.5 kg are born in Finland in OECD countries.
OECD, Health at a Glance 2015. Infant health: Low birth weight
Finland has the second lowest total mortality from cancer in EU countries.
OECD, Health at a Glance: Europe 2018: Mortality from cancer
Finnish adults are the second least likely to smoke of EU countries.
OECD, Health at a Glance: Europe 2018: Adults smoking daily
Finland's share of actively exercising people is bigger than in any other EU country.
Eurostat, How much do Europeans exercise?
Capital city
Helsinki is the third best city to live in. (65 cities in the comparison).
Metropolis, The Best Cities to Live in (2016)
People living in Helsinki have the highest satisfaction with the place where they live, alongside with people living in Stockholm.
European Commission, Quality of Life in European Cities 2015
Helsinki is the second most appealing city in the world for startups.
Nestpick, Startup Cities Index
Helsinki is the most equal city in Europe. (33 cities in the comparison).
Spotahome, Equality in Europe
Helsinki is fifth best in the ability to compete for talented workforce.
INSEAD, Global Cities Talent Competitiveness Index 2018 Rankings
Helsinki is the third best city in terms of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship. (40 cities in the comparison).
J. Gibson, M. Robinson & S. Cain, CITIE – City Initiatives for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Nesta, Accenture & Catapult 2015)
Among European cities, Helsinki is the fourth best in supporting digital enterprises and entrepreneurs.
Nesta, European Digital City Index 2016
Of European big cities, Helsinki is the easiest and most pleasant to get around in. (20 cities in the comparison).
Politico, Urban Mobility Index
People living in Helsinki are the second most satisfied with cultural facilities among inhabitants of EU capital cities.
Eurostat, Satisfaction with cultural facilities in EU capital cities
Helsinki is the most honest city in the world.
Readers Digest, Most Honest Cities
The Helsinki-Vantaa airport is the best in the world.
Lonely Planet, Helsinki takes the world’s best airport award for 2016
And in these we are also at the top of the world
Finland has the third most space per person in Europe.
Eurostat, Population density, persons per km²
Finns drink most coffee per person in the world.
International Coffee Organization, Coffee Trade Statistics
Finns drink the most milk per person in the world.
Dairy Nutrition Council, Maidon kulutus maailmalla 2015 (Milk consumption in the world in 2015)
Finland has the most Summer Olympics medals per capita.
Medals per Capita, Total Medals per Capita: All Time (Summer)
Finnish adults' English skills are the sixth best in a comparison of 80 countries.
Education First (EF), EF English Proficiency Index
The Finnish passport has the third most influence in the world.
Passport Index, Global Passport Power Rank 2018
Finland has the second most islands in the world.
WorldAtlas, Which Country Has the Most Islands?
Finland has the most heavy metal bands per inhabitant in the world.
Big Think, A World Map of Heavy Metal Density