Finland vs Russia

Every indicator for Finland and Russia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorFinlandRussiaDifference
Population (2025) (people)5,646,436143,513,328−96.1%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)3172,561−87.6%
GDP per capita ($)56,14917,547+220.0%
Life expectancy (years)82.373.4—
Area (km²)338,48017,125,190−98.0%
Population density (people/km²)178+99.1%
Median age (years)43.440.3—
Internet usage (%)93.794.4—
Unemployment rate (%)9.52.1—
Inflation (%)0.38.7—
Urban population (%)74.575.3—
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)6,988148,967−95.3%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)2.307.05−67.4%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)4.0518.90−78.6%
Military expenditure per capita ($)1,2381,038+19.2%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)22,0001,454,000−98.5%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)3.910.1−61.5%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.801.98−59.6%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of Finland relative to Russia; a positive value favors Finland. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

At a glance

Russia is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Finland leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 66 times; they are closest on military expenditure per capita.

Key differences

  • Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 1,454,000 against Finland's 22,000 — roughly 66 times as much.
  • Area shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 17,125,190 against Finland's 338,480 — roughly 51 times as much.
  • Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 143,513,328 against Finland's 5,646,436 — roughly 25 times as much.
  • Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 148,967 against Finland's 6,988 — roughly 21 times as much.
  • Russia's gdp (nominal) (2,561) is about 8.1 times Finland's (317).

Frequently asked questions

Where do Finland and Russia differ most?
In armed forces personnel (2020). Russia records 1,454,000 against Finland's 22,000 — a ratio of roughly 66 to one.
Where are Finland and Russia most alike?
In military expenditure per capita, at 1,238 and 1,038 — a gap of only %19.
On how many indicators is Finland ahead of Russia?
Finland is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Russia on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
Finland and Russia — core indicators
050 M100 M150 MPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — Finland: 5,646,436GDP (nominal) — Finland: 317GDP per capita — Finland: 56,149Area — Finland: 338,480Population (2025) — Russia: 143,513,328GDP (nominal) — Russia: 2,561GDP per capita — Russia: 17,547Area — Russia: 17,125,190
FinlandRussia

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving Finland or Russia.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI