Born November 4, 1955 in Jyväskylä, Central Finland.
Studied political science at the University of Helsinki. Master of Social Sciences degree.
1985-1988: correspondent at local newspaper Kehäsanomat.
1988-1991: editor-in-chief at Kehäsanomat.
1981-1984: Espoo City Council, member.
1989: Nurmijärvi Municipal Council, member.
1997-2000: Uusimaa Regional Council, board member.
1976-2000: Centre Party, member.
1980-1983: Centre Party, chairman of the party's Youth Union.
2000-2003: Centre Party, deputy chairman.
2003 to present: Centre Party, chairman.
1991 to present: Member of Parliament.
1994-2001: Centre Party parliamentary group, vice chairman.
1991-1995: Parliamentary Environment Committee, vice chairman.
2000-2001: Parliamentary Grand Committee, chairman.
2002-2003: European Convention on the Future of the European Union, representative of Finland.
April -June 2003: Minister of Defence.
June 24, 2003: appointed Prime Minister of Finland.
March 2007: re-elected Prime Minister after Centre Party victory in parliamentary election.
Divorced, two children with Merja Hannele Vanhanen.