Expressen, one of two nationwide tabloids in Sweden, has listed ‘11 reasons to love our neighbouring country of Finland’ in its edition published Friday, December 19.
One can only speculate if the Finnish tabloid press will return the favour with its own list of reasons to love Sweden in the coming days. As a rule, Finns like to keep up a good-natured rivalry with their neighbour to the west.
Either way, this act of friendly goodwill before Christmas by the Swedes provides several opportunities for the Finns to feel good about their country. Here is a run-down of the Expressen list:
1. Happiness
According to the Expressen, Finland is among the happiest nations in the world. As proof, the tabloid refers to an OECD-wide questionnaire administered in 2010 in which Finland was ranked second after Denmark.
2. World design capital
Finland is one of only three countries that has been granted the title of World Design Capital, says Expressen. Helsinki was dubbed the World Design Capital in 2012. The paper says Finland also boasts some of the biggest names in design, including Marimekko, Fiskars, Aarikka, Arabia, Nokia, Alvar Aalto, Iittala, Kalevala, Jopo and Artek. Even the Guggenheim Foundation wants to found a museum in Helsinki, says the tabloid.
3. The best schools
The Finnish education system is a model to the world, and the name of Finland is always mentioned in discussions on effective schooling. The paper mentions Finland’s famed top marks in PISA rankings as evidence.
4. The most saunas
Finland’s population of 5.3 million inhabitants have 3.3 million saunas to their name. Almost every home has a sauna, as do hotels, gyms and office buildings, says Expressen. The tabloid says the rest of the world is beginning to understand what the Finns have known for thousands of years: Sauna is good for the body and soul.
5. Best country for mothers
The international NGO Save the Children ranked Finland recently as the best country in the world to be a mother. The World Economic Forum has also listed Finland as the second most equal country after Iceland.
6. Honest people
Finland came out on top of a country ranking of honesty compiled by the magazine Reader’s Digest, in which testers ’lost’ 12 wallets in 16 different countries. In Finland 11 of the 12 wallets that were intentionally left behind were returned. The Expressen paper noted that the test results had nothing to do with the standard of living in the country, either, as the second country in the ranking was India, where 9 of the 12 wallets were returned.
7. Best mobile games
The world’s most successful games for mobile phones originate in Finland. As an example, Expressen mentions Angry Birds. Per capita, Finland has produced more successful games than any other country in the world.
8. World’s best workforce
The Swedish Expressen says companies love Finland. As proof, the paper cites a World Economic Forum appraisal of the workforce of different countries, in which Finland ranked third behind Switzerland and Singapore.
9. Northern lights and clean air
Finland is a nature-lover’s paradise, says the Expressen. A country with one foot in Central Europe and the other in the Nordics. Its location in the Arctic means its seasons and landscapes change by night and by day. According to the paper, Finland has 200,000 lakes and 180,000 islands. The Planetware travel site has listed Finland as the best place in the world to see aurora borealis and studies show that Finnish air is the cleanest in Europe, the paper reads.
10. Best travel destination
Lonely Planet travel guides say Finland and its Lapland city of Rovaniemi are the best winter tourist destinations. The tabloid adds that even Santa Claus is said to be from Rovaniemi. The Travel and Leisure website says Helsinki is one the best travel destinations on the globe and The New York Times praises the beauty of Finland in several articles, Expressen says.
11. World’s best country
Finland was ranked the best country in the world in a 2010 analysis from Newsweek magazine considering such factors as education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness and political climate, says Expressen. Also noted are Finland’s unspoilt natural environment and efficient infrastructure.
