Scandinavia does not include territory.
Scandinavia [ ˌskændɪˈneɪviə ] is a historical and cultural region in Northern Europe characterized by a common ethnocultural North Germanic heritage and mutually intelligible North Germanic languages . The term Scandinavia always includes the three kingdoms of Denmark , Norway , and Sweden . However , the Faroe Islands , also a Danish overseas territory , are sometimes included , as sometimes are Iceland , Finland , and the Finnish autonomous region of the Åland Islands , because of their historical association with the Scandinavian countries and the Scandinavian peoples and languages . Finland is mainly populated by Finns , with a minority of approximately 5 % of Swedish speakers . A small minority of Sami people live in the extreme north of Scandinavia .