The Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region comprising five States: Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Also included are the autonomous province of Åland (Finland), Greenland and the Foroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark) and the archipelagos of Svalbard and Jan Mayen (Norway). These countries have a lot in common in terms of way of life, history, language and social structure.
The Nordic countries rank first in a host of global indicators, including education, competitiveness, civil rights, quality of life, economy and human rights.
The majority of the population of Finland has an ethnic origin different from that of the Swedes, Norwegians and Danes, in addition to their own language, although they share historical and cultural ties, after 550 years of Swedish domination.
The five Nordic countries and the three special status agencies make up the Nordic Council, an interparliamentary cooperation organization.
Scandinavia refers to the Scandinavian peninsula, which includes mainland Norway, Sweden, and the northwesternmost part of Finland.
The flags of the Nordic countries, along with those of other historically and culturally close regions, have a similar design based on Dannebrog, showing a cross displaced to the left or Nordic Cross.
