There are a lot of reasons why Finland has been named – for the fourth time in a row – the happiest place on earth to live, according to the World Happiness Report. Despite its minimal daylight and cold winters, for one thing, it’s touted to be one of the safest places around the globe. And for another, its abundant nature and gorgeous scenery can take anyone’s breath away.
Apart from those, there are so many other reasons that make this country in Northern Europe a prime destination for those looking to migrate and eventually plant their roots – for good. Read on!
A Welfare State that Takes Care of the People
Finland has one of the most advanced and comprehensive welfare systems in the world. It supports Finnish society and ensures decent living conditions for all its citizens. Distinguished by robust social security, the vast range of free public services, built from a relatively high tax burden, the government provides financial support to individuals and families through the system. From infancy through old age, Finland offers a variety of support services, including healthcare, sickness, parental and family benefits, as well as pension and unemployment benefits. The system ensures high-quality universal healthcare, free top-notch early childhood and basic education, and efficient public transportation and road networks.
Strong Healthcare and Social Security System
Municipal taxes are used to fund healthcare services in the public sector. The right to access public healthcare exists for all permanent inhabitants of each municipality in Finland. When using private healthcare clinics, everyone who is covered by the Finnish social security system or has a European Health Insurance Card receives expense reimbursements. Other insurances are available from a variety of companies. Plans are fairly priced and enable you to use lower-cost private clinics.
All doctors working in Finland’s public and private sectors have earned their degrees from a Finnish university, ensuring high-quality care.
As for its security system, from birth until old age, the Finnish social security system offers financial help to individuals and families in a variety of life situations. Healthcare and unemployment benefits are examples of benefits. Child benefit and home care allowance, private care allowance, and maternity allowance are among the benefits available to families. Occupational healthcare is also provided by employers to their employees.
To be included in the system, you must apply for benefits.
Freedom and Equality
In various metrics, Finland is among the finest in the world. When it comes to social performance, equality, education, human capital, and children’s well-being, the small country of about 5.5 million people ranks first.
Here are Finland’s ranking in various reports:
- Safest (World Economic Forum, The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017)
- Freest (Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2019)
- Most Stable (The Fund for Peace, Fragile States Index 2019), and
- Happiest (Sustainable Development Solutions Network, World Happiness Report 2019, second year in a row) country
In addition, Finland is also a country where equality prevails, according to these studies –
- Third Most Gender-Equal Country (World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Index 2020)
- The country with the second-lowest inequality among children (UNICEF, Fairness for Children: A league table of inequality in child wellbeing in rich countries)
Finland also has the most human capital (The Lancet, Measuring human capital: a systematic analysis of 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016) in the world. While its capital, Helsinki, is recognized as the Third Best City to Live In (Metropolis, The Best Cities to Live in (2016)) and the best city for work-life balance (Kisi, The 2019 Work-Life Balance Index).
Work and Life Balance
Finn values work-life balance as well as time spent with family and friends. Long vacations and moderate working hours help to keep a work-life balance.
The duration of vacations and working days vary by profession, although an eight-hour workday is standard. It’s also normal to get a four-week paid summer vacation every year, usually in July. In most professions, 30 days of paid yearly leave is the mandatory minimum. Public holidays in Finland are not included as yearly leave and are thus paid like regular working days.
Employers in Finland, such as the University of Helsinki, have a paid leave system in place for their employees, which includes things like parental leave and sick leave.
Finland also ranks in the following categories:
- 2nd Fairest Country for Children (UNICEF, 2016)
- 2nd Best Country to be a Mother (UNICEF, 2016)
- 1st for Good Working Hours (European Company Survey).
- Helsinki is the Best City for Work-Life Balance (Kisi, The 2019 Work-Life Balance Index).
Affordable Top-Notch Education System
Finland’s school system is considered one of the most successful in the world, and yet, students do not even do homework. The secret to their success lies within a more holistic, family-friendly approach, based on research, and run by highly professionalized teachers.
The country ranks first in PISA examinations (OECD) and its education system has become a model for other developed countries. One of its distinguishing features is its linguistic accessibility since English and other foreign-language schools are famous choices.
On the other hand, Finland has a high-quality early childhood education and school system. In the Helsinki Capital Region, there are both public and private childcare centers and schools. Children in public schools begin their education at seven years old and preschool is both mandatory and free.
Greater emphasis is placed on ensuring that children’s fundamental needs are satisfied, and this includes offering free school meals to all pupils as well as emphasizing the nutritional worth of the food consumed by children.
Unlike many schools across the globe, where vending machines offer a never-ending supply of sugary beverages and junk food, Finnish schools ensure that all food supplied to children is nutritious and will aid kids in their ability to focus while learning, as they should be able to do in school.
Post-high school, pupils who do not wish to attend university are given other choices. Finland allows students to enroll in three-year vocational education programs in addition to preparing them for college or university, which means that if higher education is not for you, your path does not have to end there.
Reasonable Cost of Living
A dollar’s worth of goods and services in the United States would cost $1.04 in Finland, according to the Global Property Guide.
Finland also has progressive taxation, which implies that the tax rate grows as income rises. The Finnish Tax Administration website has a tax calculator that may be used to figure out the tax percentage. In Finland, a wide array of public services is efficiently supported by the tax system.
In addition to comprehensive schools and high-quality early childhood education, the state heavily subsidizes childcare for children, making it relatively affordable.
When employing overseas care providers, it is possible to earn a childcare allowance for private daycare.
Schools, except for the International School of Helsinki, are free, as is almost all healthcare, with a few exceptions.
Housing expenditures account for a significant portion of overall costs in Helsinki and the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Heating and water are usually included in the rent, while internet and power are considered as extra expenses. In comparison to the rest of Western and Central Europe, electricity in Finland is quite affordable.
Equality at the Workplace
The working culture of the Finnish has been described as democratic, efficient, and rational. There is little structure, and employees of all job levels engage casually with one another. In regular conversation, titles are rarely used.
Independence and personal space are appreciated and respected. In addition, Finland places great importance on honesty, punctuality, and equality.
While workplaces encourage collaboration at all levels, independence and taking personal initiative are also commended.
Finnish law prohibits all forms of discrimination at work. Employers need to ensure that equality is achieved at the workplace.
Unique Business Culture
Finland’s corporate culture is also quite exceptional, as it is essentially molded by and built on trust. Giving one’s word is equally as strong as signing a legal contract in Finland. Because of this, there is relatively little underhandedness or backstabbing in business, which means that entrepreneurs rarely make huge promises that they can’t deliver. And even if they did, the population is so small that word of such behavior would spread quickly, and whoever committed it would be unlikely to get away with it a second time.
Unlike other parts of the world, Finland’s economic operations are likewise far more open. As a result, you’ll have stronger relationships, more respect for your coworkers, and a sense of obligation to be open and honest in all professional dealings.
Glorious Nature in Abundance
Finland is simply beautiful. It boasts of Northern Europe’s most famous natural environment, most of which is untouched since prehistoric times. It is made up of woods, lakes, sea, tundra, and bogs and covers most of the country.
Because of this, national parks are found all across the nation, from the Archipelago National Park, which covers hundreds of islands, to the Pyhä-Luosto National Park, which is located in the Lapland fells. Hossa National Park in the northeast was the most recent piece of land to be chosen as a national park, in honor of Finland’s 100th anniversary.
Creative Food Scene
Although Finnish cuisine is not as well-known as its Scandinavian counterparts, it is gaining in popularity. In Finland, natural, unadulterated substances are the basis of good food, and less is typically considered as more. Each Finnish area has its delectable ingredients and dishes deep-rooted in traditions.
Finland is a country rich in healthy, nutrient-dense foods. The scents and hues in wild berries, mushrooms, and plants are enhanced by the long summer days and mild temperatures. These natural delicacies thrive on clean, Nordic soil, as well as clean air and water – among the cleanest in the world.
Finns comb their vast forests and fields for these delectable treasures in the summer and fall. These delicacies can also be found on the menus of restaurants all around the country. Try fresh summer potatoes, cloudberry jam (also known as the “gold of the Arctic”), lingonberry juice, or even spruce sprout powder in your morning yogurt for a real flavor of Finnish nature.
The Land of the Midnight Sun
The Finnish are used to contrasts due to the changes in seasons. The Midnight Sun, one of Finland’s most famous natural occurrences, has a counterpart in the dark Arctic winters.
Expats are perplexed as to how Finns manage to exist without sunshine in the winter since there are 24 hours of it in the summer. In Finland, the stark variation in light conditions has a significant impact on all aspects of life.
Summer brings a surge of activity to public spaces. After a long winter, the arrival of eternal sunshine is never a day too soon. Summer in Finland is a time when everyone gets out of the home to enjoy the brief but lovely season, and all cares are put on hold until the evenings go dark again.
Exciting Northern Lights and Winter Activities
Finland is one of Europe’s greatest places to watch the aurora borealis.
In addition to running after the northern lights, Finland is an ideal location for winter activities such as dog sledding. You’ll also get the opportunity to see Santa in his country and stay in an ice and snow hotel. All of this may be done on a family vacation to Lapland or a romantic holiday for two.
The Best Place to be a Child and a Mother
Did you know that many babies in Finland sleep in cardboard boxes? Since 1938, the Finnish government has supplied all pregnant mothers with a lovely, sturdy box with sheets, clothing, diapers, mattresses, toys, making it an ideal bed for a little arrival.
All moms are allowed to stay at home with their children for nearly a year while earning a full income or receiving outstanding benefits. In most places, a parent with a child in a stroller rides for free on public transportation.
When the youngsters become older, their good fortune continues as they get educational support and a warm and welcoming environment in Finland’s exceptional school system.
A Country Where People Support Each Other
If you ever find yourself in the company of Finns, the first thing you’ll notice is their quiet, somewhat stoic, and reclusive demeanor. But you know what? Finns are incredibly friendly, gregarious, and hospitable people once you get to know them. It’s just that being humble, timid, as well as avoiding small conversation in favor of getting right to the topic, is ingrained in the culture.
Inadvertently, these cultural standards, which include pragmatism, reticence, and a humble and quiet attitude, have set the path for Finland’s extraordinary success in several sectors.
The same mentality is applied even in their business culture where everyone is encouraged to succeed. The results of this mindset can be widely seen in their successes within the country and the global arena.
Finns place a greater emphasis on giving social aid to their people, whether it’s helping the jobless find work or assisting the homeless in finding shelter, ensuring that nobody is left behind.
Check out the video below from This is Finland to learn more. This is Finland is Produced by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and published by the Finland Promotion Board
