View of Turku (Abo), Finland's third largest city, with the Aura River in the foreground; in the background, Turku Cathedral
Courtesy Embassy of Finland, Washington

In addition to the above benefits that were classified as income security in the form of social insurance, there were income security programs classified as welfare. One of the differences between the two classes of social programs was that the welfare measures were financed mostly through taxes, whereas social insurance programs were paid for by employers and employees. This second category of income security also consisted of payments to those eligible. The most important and expensive class of these benefits involved payments to families with children. Other programs assisted those who had suffered war injuries and their dependents, provided financial aid to those called up for military service and to their families, made payments to the handicapped that helped them earn their living, and provided living allowances that were the last resort of those unable to earn their way.

Data as of December 1988

NOTE: The information regarding Finland on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Finland Income Security Classified as Welfare information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Finland Income Security Classified as Welfare should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.