Independence Day 2019
Speech to Finland
Dear Finland,
The 6th of December is your day of celebration. During your 102 years of independence you have developed into an exemplary country in many respects. It is customary to praise the celebrant but as a Finn, giving praise is sometimes difficult. That’s why we searched around the world for examples on your successes.
It was particularly heart-warming to realise that you are a good country for children.
- Mothers' and children's well-being in Finland is the second best in the world.
Save the children, 2015 Mothers' Index (State of the World's Mothers 2015) - Finland has the lowest infant mortality rate in the world.
UN, Infant mortality rate (SDG Indicators) - Maternal mortality is the lowest in the world in Finland.
World Health Organization (WHO), World Health Statistics 2018: Monitoring health for the SDGs - Finland is the second most just country for children in the world among developed countries.
Unicef, Fairness for Children - Finnish children have the third most secure childhood in the world.
Save the children, Global Childhood Report 2019
When children grow up in your fold it is a joy to discover that young people are happy with their life and you give them a strong start in life.
- Finns aged 15 are the third most satisfied with their lives among same-age young people in OECD countries.
OECD, PISA 2018: Students' life satisfaction - Finland ranks as the top OECD country in education.
OECD, Better Life Index - Education in Finland answers to future needs best in the world.
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) & Yidan Prize, The Worldwide Educating for the Future Index 2018
The education and wellbeing you provide generate results that have an impact all the way to adulthood.
- Finland is the best country in Europe in lifelong learning
European Commission, European Innovation Scoreboard 2019: Lifelong learning - Finland has most human capital in the world.
The Lancet, Measuring human capital: a systematic analysis of 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016 - Finland is the most literate country in the world.
J. W. Miller (Central Connecticut State University), World's Most Literate Nations - Finland has the second most skilled workforce in the world.
World Economic Forum (WEF), The Global Competitiveness Report 2019: Skills of current workforce
Equality is what you are especially known for around the world. You are country where people, irrespective of gender, have good possibilities to be active in society.
- Finland is the fourth most gender equal country in the world.
World Economic Forum (WEF), Global Gender Gap Report 2018 - In Finland, power is divided between genders the third most equally in the EU.
European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE), Gender Equality Index 2019: Power - According to a comparison made at the beginning of 2019, Finland has second most female MPs in Europe.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women, Women in Politics 2019 - Finland is the third best country in the world for women.
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) and Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Women, Peace and Security Index 2019
Business activity, innovations and competitiveness are important for modern societies. For someone aged 102, you are exceptionally well versed in digitalisation and innovating. A spry state indeed!
- Finland is the most advanced country in the EU in the utilisation of digitalisation.
European Commission, The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2019 - Finland is the best country for business in the world. (126 countries in the comparison).
Cornell University, INSEAD and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), The Global Innovation Index 2019 - Finland has the fourth best sustainable competitiveness in the world.
SolAbility, The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2017 - Finland is the third most innovative country in the world.
Bloomberg, Bloomberg Innovation Index 2019
Your special day occurs around the darkest time of the year. Sometimes, we may gripe about the darkness, cold, loud discussions, people who stand too close to us at the bus stop... Despite complaining we are quite content on average. We are also trusting. Sometimes we do question being the happiest country in the world. But that is what they say out in the world.
- Finns are most satisfied with their life among Europeans.
Eurostat, Subjective well-being statistics: Overall life satisfaction in the EU (2018) - Finns trust the legal system most among EU countries.
European Commission, Standard Eurobarometer 91 - Finns have the highest trust in the police among EU countries.
European Commission, Standard Eurobarometer 91 - Finns have the highest trust in the defence forces in the EU countries
European Commission, Standard Eurobarometer 91 - Among EU citizens, Finns trust the media most
European Commission, Standard Eurobarometer 91 - Finns' trust in other people is the highest among Europeans.
European Commission, Fairness, inequality and inter-generational mobility (2017) - Finland is the happiest country in the world.
Sustainable Development Solutions Network, World Happiness Report (2019)
To paraphrase Tolstoy “all happy countries resemble one another”. In many of the comparisons we have presented you are among the top countries next to other Nordic countries. Based on the comparisons you offer us plenty of reasons to be happy and satisfied.
- Finland has the cleanest air in the world.
World Health Organization (WHO) / Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland tops WHO air quality statistics - Finland is the water richest country in the world.
Peter Lawrence, Jeremy Meigh & Caroline Sullivan (Keele University), The Water Poverty Index - Finland has the second lowest risk of humanitarian crises and natural disasters in the world.
Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) & European Commission, INFORM Global Risk Index Results 2018 - So far, Finland has achieved the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) third best in the world.
Sachs, J., Schmidt-Traub, G., Kroll, C., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G. (Bertelsmann Stiftung and Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)), Sustainable Development Report 2019 - Finland’s judicial system is the most independent in the world.
World Economic Forum (WEF), The Global Competitiveness Report 2019: Judicial Independence - Finland is the best country in protecting fundamental human rights in the world.
The World Justice Project, WJP Rule of Law Index (2019): Fundamental rights - Protection of property rights in Finland is the best in the world.
World Economic Forum (WEF), The Global Competitiveness Report 2019: Property Rights - Finland is the third best country in adhering to the rule of law in the world.
The World Justice Project, WJP Rule of Law Index (2019): Fundamental rights - Finland has the least organised crime in the world.
World Economic Forum (WEF), The Global Competitiveness Report 2019: Organized Crime - Finland has the third least corruption in the world.
Transparency International, Corruptions Perceptions Index (2018) - Finland has the second freest and most reliable elections in the world.
Pippa Norris & Max Grömping (The Electoral Integrity Project / University of Sydney & Harvard University): Electoral Integrity Worldwide, Electoral Integrity Project - Finland has the second best press freedom in the world.
Reporters without Borders, 2019 World Press Freedom Index - Finland has the third most personal freedom and choice in the world.
The Social Progress Imperative, 2019 Social Progress Index - Finland has second best governance in the world.
Legatum Institute, The Legatum Prosperity Index (2019) - The Finnish passport has the second most influence in the world.
Henley & Partners, Henley & Partners Passport Index (2019) - Compared to its size, Finland generates most good for humanity.
Good Country, The Good Country Index (2019) - Finland is the most stable country in the world.
The Fund for Peace, Fragile states index (2019) - Finland is the freest country in the world.
Freedom House, Freedom in the World (2019)
Fine achievements for a 102 years old. Warmest congratulations and a Happy Independence Day, Finland!