Nigeria Abroad
For the fourth year, Finland is world’s happiest country followed by Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, and the Netherlands. The United States ranked 19th on the list.
A small Scandinavian country with a population of around 5.5 million, Finland as used past wins to tout tourism and promote its natural beauty. It has fared relatively well during the pandemic compared to other European countries, recording 805 total deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
For Nigerians who may love to move there, here are the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
1. Good Income
Finland is one of the most prosperous countries in the world with a solid GDP. The highly industrialized economy is primarily based on telecommunication equipment, automobiles, and forestry products. Finland also produces more than 10% of paper and paperboard worldwide.
2. Generous and Honest Society
In Finland a “How are You?” means exactly what it should literally mean. You should be ready for nothing but a surprisingly honest answer to everything you ask the Finns.
The Finnis people are also known for being honest in whatever they do, think and say. Moreover, they are the global ambassadors of generosity.
3. Healthy Life
It might be surprising to some of us but in Finland, universal healthcare is a given, including to legal immigrants. If you happen to be in an accident or fall sick, you’ll receive the best of treatments available in the world and it won’t cost you a dime.
4. Corruption Levels
Finland is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. It has always been amongst the cleanest in the corruption index. In 2018, the index reading was 85 out of 100.
5. Good Education System
One of the best things about Finland is the regard towards the teaching profession. The government itself ensures that the teachers get the best pay and top-notch training.
The education system in Finland is considered to be very much student-friendly, and teachers have been reported to have a high sense of job satisfaction.
6. High Literacy Rate
Finnish people are voracious readers. Huge and beautiful public libraries are a common sight. Ability to communicate in the Finnish language is not mandatory in Finland, and everyone speaks English and Swedish.
7. Minimum Violence and Criminal Activities
When a parent says he’s fine knowing his kid would be playing in the neighbourhood be it with a stranger or a friend, you know they live in a safe and peaceful country. Finland is a good place to raise kids. Even in the crowded cities like Helsinki and Tampere, criminal activities are low.
According to the 2017 World Economic Forum report, Finland has been rated the safest country in the world. For travellers as well, Finland is the safest country to be in.
8. Blessed with Natural Beauty
Known as the Land of the Thousand Lakes, the population is fairly dispersed which gives a lot of space for nature with a lot of open spaces to explore. Besides, the landscape of Finland is picturesque.
Cons of Living in Finland
Finland, although one of the best countries to live in, has some not-so-major issues that people find unfavourable sometimes.
1. Brutal Winters and Rare Sunlight
Expect the worst of winters in Northern Finland, the temperature drops to as low as -50°C. In fact, the entire country is known to have extremely cold winters with heavy snowfall and even snowstorms at times. Broad daylight is a rare sight in Finland.
2. Cost of Living
Cost of living is high. Helsinki is the most expensive city. You’ll need to spend more than 2000 Euros per person for an average lifestyle in Finland. The cost of living in Finland is more than in more than 80% of the countries in the world.
3. Alcoholism
Like many of the European countries, Finland is no new to alcohol. The country has been dealing with excessive alcoholism for many years. However, violence and criminal activities because of alcoholism are very rare.
4. Depression
Unfortunately, Finland is also considered to be a rare country with a maximum number of depressed citizens—usually attributed to the gloomy weather and people more often than not choosing to stay in the house. Outdoor activities on a daily basis are very rare too.
5. Difficult Language for Immigrants
Although Finnis is said to be one of the most logical languages to learn, many foreigners and immigrants find it quite difficult. People probably feel so because it is logical and really systematically established.
People find the words difficult to pronounce in particular.
6. High Taxation
Living in Finland comes with high taxation. Income taxes can soar up at a staggering 31.75%. People also need to pay social insurance contributions and public broadcasting tax.
Finns are levied taxes on their salaries, pensions, capital income from their investments and social benefits. All the earned income of the people are subject to national taxes, municipal taxes, and church taxes.
This story first appeared in Nigeria Abroad
