State administration and central government

Finland's State administration is based on three factors:

• Finland is a sovereign republic. The powers of State in Finland are vested in the people, who are represented by the Parliament. A judicial system, independent from state powers and other government, ensures that everyone is equal before the law.
• Finland's economic system is based on a market economy.
• In Finland, as in the other Nordic countries, the main duty of public administration is to take care of the main part of welfare services for citizens, such as education, healthcare and social affairs.

Finland's administrative structure consists of the highest state organs (the Parliament, the President, the Government), independent courts of law, State central administration and other public administration.

The State administration consists of State central administration, regional administration and State local administration. State agencies that are funded wholly or in part from the annual State budget have ca. 84 000 employees. Of these, ca. 4 500 work in the ministries.

Other public administration encompasses local government, ecclesiastical self-government and indirect public administration.

Municipalities have self-government. They are by law entitled to decide on matters under their jurisdiction. The Åland Islands self-government is based on a specific law. The State's local and regional level authorities cooperate with local government authorities.

Indirect public administration refers both to certain independent, legally recognized organizations (for example, Kela, the Bank of Finland, The Institute of Occupational Health, Forestry Centre and universities) and to agencies, NGOs, trust funds and individual persons that have a legal mandate to carry out public tasks, for example, Fishing and Animal Protection Inspectors.