Laws in Finland
How Finland is classified on 38 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
- Euthanasia
- Passive only Active euthanasia is illegal, but passive euthanasia is legal in Finland.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- No specific ban There is no FGM-specific law; only general criminal provisions could apply.
- Surrogacy
- Banned All surrogacy arrangements are prohibited in Finland.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
Daily Life
- Drinking in Public
- Restricted areas/times Public drinking is prohibited in built areas and public transport, though exempt in parks.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Partial ban Smoking is banned in most indoor public places, but remains allowed in enclosed smoking booths in bars.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
- Homeschooling
- Legal Homeschooling is legal.
Animals & Environment
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Cosmetic animal testing is banned nationwide under EU regulations.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Partial measures Plastic-bag measures are voluntary rather than mandatory.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 14.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Decriminalized / unregulated Selling sex is legal, but organized prostitution and buying sex linked to trafficking are illegal.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available, including unilaterally without fault.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Criminal offense Blasphemy is prohibited and punishable by fine or imprisonment.
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Desecrating the Finnish flag is illegal under the law on the Finnish flag.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No ban is currently in force as the proposed initiative lapsed and a new one is pending.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- Gun Laws
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment in schools has been banned by law in Finland since 1984.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only; recreational use remains prohibited.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat is classified as an illegal drug in Finland, with possession, use, and sale prohibited.
- E-Cigarettes
- Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.