Finland Yearbook - 2013

Ahvenanmaan maakunta – Landskapet Åland – Åland
THE AUTONOMOUS TERRITORY OF THE ÅLAND ISLANDS
General
Because of its autonomy and demilitarization based on international agreements, Åland occupies a special
position in Finland. In view of this, the Statistical Yearbook of Finland introduces a special section on Åland in
which the most important data on the territory are gathered together.
The natural environment
Åland comprises a total of 6,700 islands that are 0.25 hectare or larger. About 60 of the islands are
inhabited. The largest island is Mainland Åland. Orrdalsklint in Saltvik is the highest point (129,1 m above
sea level). Åland has nearly 400 lakes of over 0.25 hectare. Åland has a land area of 1,552 km 2 and a total
area – including inland waters and sea areas – of 13,324 km 2 .
Population and the economy
Åland had 28 502 inhabitants at year-end 2012, an increase of almost 38 per cent on 1970. Nearly 40 per cent of
the population lives in Mariehamn, which is the only urban municipality on Åland and serves as its administrative
and economic centre. In addition, there are 15 rural municipalities with a population of 101 to 4,355.
Primary production and freighter traffic used to be the backbone of Åland’s economy. During the 1960s and
‘70s, however, Åland became a service economy in which tourism plays an important part. In 2012, Åland
received 2,2 million visitors. The service sector accounts for over 85 per cent of Åland’s gross domestic
product.
Autonomy
Åland has wide-ranging autonomy with the right to enact own laws. The legislative assembly, Lagtinget, has
30 members who are elected by general elections. The relations between Åland and the Finnish State are
governed by the provisions of the Autonomy of Åland Act. An amended act took effect in 1993, granting Åland
the right to enact legislation concerning statistics on Åland.
Policies concerned with autonomy are prepared and implemented by the Government of Åland, with the
administrative services provided by a central office.
The origins of Åland’s autonomy go back to the year 1917, when the Ålanders began to discuss what country
they should belong to and expressed their desire to rejoin Sweden. As Sweden and Finland could not agree on
the issue, it was referred to the League of Nations. According to the League of Nations resolution of 1921,
Åland was to belong to Finland and Finland was to guarantee the inhabitants of Åland their Swedish language,
culture and local customs by giving them autonomy. Åland’s demilitarization, which goes back to the end of
the Crimean War in 1856, was also confirmed in this connection.
Åland is exclusively Swedish as far as language is concerned. It has had its own cross flag in blue, yellow and
red since 1954 and its own postage stamps since 1984. Åland is represented in the Nordic Council and
participates in the work of the Council of Ministers. Further, there is the concept of citizenship of Åland, a
status you get at birth or can apply for after being a resident of Åland for at least five years.
Åland in the Statistical Yearbook of Finland
Apart from its own tables (631–647), Åland is included in:
1. Normally, all figures for the whole country (any exceptions are mentioned in connection with the tables)
2. All tables with data by major region, regional state administrative agency, region or sub-regional unit (totalling
more than 60)
3. The following tables with data by municipality:
No. 40 (surface area, population, etc. - pp. 92–93)
No. 362 (local government finances - pp. 362–363)
No. 363 (municipal and real estate taxation - pp. 373)
4. The following tables on special topics:
No. 33 (climate - pp. 70–71)
No. 295 (ports - p. 303)
No. 304 (traffic at airports - p. 308)
More exhaustive, detailed information on Åland can be found in Statistical Yearbook of Åland edited by
Statistics Åland, www.asub.ax.
586 Suomen tilastollinen vuosikirja – Statistisk årsbok för Finland – Statistical Yearbook of Finland 2013