¤ Countries of the
Month: The Nordic States¤
DENMARK
Official Name: Kingdom of Denmark
Location: Northern Europe, on a
peninsula north of Germany
Size: 16,639 3 sq mi (slightly less
than twice the size of Massachusetts)
History: From the 8th to the 10th
century, the Danes were known as Vikings who
colonized parts of Europe. Denmark became a
constitutional monarchy on June 5, 1849.
After World War II, Denmark became one of
the founding members of the United Nations
and NATO and, in 1973, joined the European
Economic Community (later, the European
Union).
Climate: humid and overcast; mild,
windy winters and cool summers
Languages: Danish, English is the
predominant second language
Population: 5,450,661 (July 2006
est.)
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran
(predominant)
Government type: Constitutional
Monarchy
Capital: Copenhagen
Main Industry: Denmark is
self-sufficient in energy. Its principal
exports are machinery, instruments and food
products.
Economy: This modern market economy
features extensive government welfare
measures, comfortable living standards, and
high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark
chose not to join the 11 other European
Union members who launched the euro on 1
January 1999.
FINLAND
Official name: Republic of Finland
Location: Northern Europe, between
Sweden and Russia
Size: 130,558 sq mi (slightly smaller
than Montana)
History: 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 won its
complete independence in 1917. As a member
of the European Union, Finland was the only
Nordic state to join the euro system at its
initiation in January 1999.
Climate: cold temperate
Languages: Finnish 92% (official),
Swedish 5.6% (official)
Population: 5,231,372 (July 2006
est.)
Religions: Lutheran National Church
84.2%, none 13.5% (2003)
Government type: Republic
Capital: Helsinki
Main Industry: Its key economic
sector is manufacturing.
Economy: Finland has a highly
industrialized economy.Trade is important,
and Finland excels in high-tech exports.
Finland was one of the 12 countries joining
the European Economic and Monetary Union
(EMU).
SWEDEN
Official name: Kingdom of Sweden
Location: Northern Europe, bordering
the Baltic Sea, between Finland and Norway
Size: 173,732 sq mi (slightly larger
than California)
History: A military power during the
17th century, Sweden has not participated in
any war in almost two centuries. Sweden
joined the European Union in 1995, and
waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.
Climate: temperate in south with
cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy
summers; subarctic in north
Languages: Swedish
Population: 9,016,596 (July 2006
est.)
Religions: Lutheran (predominant)
Government type: Constitutional
Monarchy
Capital: Stockholm
Main Industry: Timber, hydropower,
and iron ore constitute the resource base of
an economy heavily oriented toward foreign
trade.
Economy: Sweden has achieved an
enviable standard of living under a mixed
system of high-tech capitalism and extensive
welfare benefits.
