If you lived in Finland instead of France, you would:

Health

be 12.1% less likely to die by suicide

France has a suicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Finland, it is 14.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.2 times more likely to be obese

In France, 11.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Finland, that number is 24.2% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 21.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In France, 15.6% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Finland, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2022.

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make 14.6% more money

France has a GDP per capita of $48,986 as of 2025, while in Finland, the GDP per capita is $56,149 as of 2025.

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be 25.5% more likely to be unemployed

In France, 7.5% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Finland, that number is 9.5% as of 2025.

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Life

be 44.1% less likely to die during infancy

In France, approximately 3.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Finland, on the other hand, 1.9 children do as of 2024.

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have 19.6% fewer children

In France, there are approximately 9.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Finland, there are 7.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 19.9% more on education

France spends 5.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Finland spends 6.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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Geography

see 74.2% less coastline

France has a total of 4,853 km of coastline. In Finland, that number is 1,250 km.

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Safety

be 26.9% less likely to be murdered

France has a homicide rate of 1.3 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Finland, that number is 1.0 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 10.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In France, road accidents kill 4.7 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Finland, they kill 4.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 66.7% less strain on fresh water

France withdraws 21% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Finland withdraws 7% as of 2022.

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use 2.3 times more electricity

France uses 6,447 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Finland uses 14,819 kWh as of 2024.

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find 25.4% less home broadband

France has 48.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Finland has 36.5 as of 2024.

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Environment

be 30.0% less likely to die from air pollution

In France, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Finland, it causes 7.0 as of 2019.

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emit 38.5% more CO2

France emits 4.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Finland emits 5.5 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Finland: At a glance

Finland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 303,815 sq km. Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries, and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It gained complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it successfully defended its independence through cooperation with Germany and resisted subsequent invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, Finland transformed from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is among the highest in Western Europe. A member of the European Union since 1995, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro single currency at its initiation in January 1999. In the 21st century, the key features of Finland's modern welfare state are high quality education, promotion of equality, and a national social welfare system - currently challenged by an aging population and the fluctuations of an export-driven economy.
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How big is Finland compared to France? See an in-depth size comparison.

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