Finland Yearbook - 1992

476 AHVENANMAAN MAAKUNTA - LANDSKAPET ÅLAND
THE A U TO N O M O U S TER RITO RY O F THE Å LA N D ISLANDS
G eneral
Because o f its autonomy and dem ilitarization based on international agreements, Åland occupies a special
position in Finland. In view o f this, the Statistical Yearbook o f Finland introduces a special section on Åland
in which the most im portant data on the territory are gathered together.
The natural environm ent
Åland comprises a total o f approx. 6,500 islands, about 65 o f which are inhabited. Mainland Åland is the
largest island. O rrdalsklint in Saltvik is the highest point (128.8 m above sea level). There are more than 160
lakes. Åland has a land area of 1,526.6 sq.km and a total area - including inland waters and sea areas - of
6,784.3 sq.km.
Population an d the econom y
Åland had 24,867 inhabitants at the end o f 1991, an increase o f nearly 20 per cent on 1970. More than 40
per cent o f the population lives in Mariehamn, which is the only urban m unicipality on Åland and serves as
its adm inistrative and economic centre. In addition, there are 15 rural municipalities with a population of 130
to 3,081.
Primary production and shipping used to be the backbone o f Aland’s economy. During the 1960s and '70s,
however, Åland became a service economy in which tourism plays an important part. In 1991, Åland received
over 1.6 m illion visitors. The service sector accounts for over 80 percent of Aland's gross domestic product.
Autonom y
Åland has wide-ranging autonomy with the right to enact own laws. The legislative assembly, Landstinget
(from 1993, 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 o f Åland Act. Under an amended act
with effect from 1993, Åland w ill have the right to enact legislation concerning statistics on Åland.
Policies concerned with autonomy are prepared and implemented by the Government of Åland, with the
adm inistrative services provided by a central office.
The origins o f Aland’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 o f Nations. According to the League o f Nations resolution o f 1921,
Åland was to belong to Finland and Finland was to guarantee the inhabitants o f Åland their Swedish language,
culture and local customs by giving them autonomy. Aland's dem ilitarization, which goes back to the end o f
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. Aland is represented in the Nordic Council and
participates in the work of the Council o f Ministers. Further, there is the concept o f citizenship of Aland, a
status you get at birth or can apply for after being a resident o f Aland for a t least five years.
Å lan d in the S tatistical Yearbook o f Finland
Apart from its own tables below, Åland is included in:
1. A ll figures for the whole country (with the exception o f road statistics)
2. A ll tables with data by province (totalling more than 50)
3. The following tables with data by m unicipality:
No. 20 (surface area, population, etc. - pp. 66-67)
No. 281 (local government finance - pp. 294-295)
No. 283 (municipal taxation - pp. 309-310)
4. The following tables on special topics:
No. 3 (climate - pp. 32-33)
No. 246 (sea ports - p. 254)
No. 254 (traffic at airports - p. 258)
More exhaustive, detailed information on Åland can be found in Statistisk Årsbok för Åland, a yearbook of
statistics on Åland edited by the Government o f Aland.