Income of elected MPs quadruple compared to persons entitled to vote

The average income of the elected MPs, EUR 75,500, was double compared to the candidates (EUR 34,200) and nearly quadruple (EUR 19,700) compared to persons entitled to vote.

Elected MPs and Parliamentary election candidates by average income (in euro) in 2003, 1999 and 1995

The income of 95 per cent of the elected MPs exceeded EUR 32,000. Only 19 per cent of the electorate have an income of over EUR 32,000.

Elected MPs older than candidates

Thirty-eight per cent of the elected MPs are women, proportionally fewer than were nominated. Of the candidates 40 per cent were women. The majority of voters are women, 52 per cent. In relative terms, the Centre Party and the Swedish People's Party had the lowest number of female candidates, 42 per cent in both. The Green League was the sole party with a female majority of a few percentages.

The average age of the elected female MPs is 43.1 and that of male MPs 51.6. The average age of female candidates was 43.6 and that of male candidates 47.9.

Elected MPs highly educated employed persons

Of the elected MPs, 63 per cent have university level education, while this is the case for 11 per cent of the electorate.

In all, 96 per cent of the elected MPs are employed persons. Around one half of all persons entitled to vote are employed, eight per cent are unemployed and students and 30 per cent pensioners. In the three major parties almost all the candidates, 85 to 90 per cent, were employed persons. Not many of the candidates were unemployed, and students and pensioners both made up 7 per cent of the candidates. The Green League had the largest proportion of student candidates.

Source: Statistics Finland's election result service
Further information about the Parliamentary elections is available on the Internet at: tilastokeskus.fi/tk/he/vaalit/vaalit2003/vaalit2003_vaalitilastot_en.html and on the background of the Parliamentary election candidates and elected MPs at: tilastokeskus.fi/tk/he/vaalit/vaalit2003/vaalit2003_vaalitilastot_eatausta_en.html