Demographics ofFinland
Population pyramid ofFinland in 2020
Population	5,644,772
Growth rate	0.6% (2024)[1]
Birth rate	7.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Death rate	10.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Life expectancy	81.76 years
• male	78.86 years
• female	84.79 years (2023)
Fertility rate	1.25 children born/woman (2024)[2]
Infant mortality rate	2.13 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate	8.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024)
Age structure
0–14 years	14.6% (2024)[1]
15–64 years	61.9% (2024)[1]
65 and over	23.6% (2024)[1]
Sex ratio
Total	0.97 male(s)/female (2023)
At birth	1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15	1.05 male(s)/female
65 and over	0.63 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality	Finn
Major ethnic	Finnish (88.9% background)[1]
Language
Official	Finnish,Swedish
Spoken	Finnish, Swedish,Sámi

Thedemographics of Finland is monitored by theStatistics Finland (Finnish:Tilastokeskus,Swedish:Statistikcentralen).Finland has a population of over 5.6 million people, ranking it 19th out of 27 within theEuropean Union. The average population density in Finland is 19 inhabitants per square kilometre (49/sq mi), making it the third most sparsely populated country in Europe, afterIceland andNorway. Population distribution is extremely uneven, with the majority of the population concentrated in the southern and western regions of the country. The majority of the Finnish population - approximately 73% - lives in urban areas. Approximately 1.62 million, or almost 30%, reside solely in theHelsinki Metropolitan Area. Conversely, the ArcticLapland region contains only two inhabitants per square kilometre (5.2/sq mi).^[3]

Until recently, Finland has been mainly an ethnically homogeneous country, with nativeFinns being the dominant ethnic group. However, with increased immigration, the country is slowly becoming moreethnically diverse. In addition, Finland is home to significant groups ofFinno-Swedish,Sámi andRoma minorities, which have long historical roots in the country. The official languages areFinnish andSwedish, of which 84.1 percent and 5.1 percent of the population respectively speak as their mother tongue.^[1] Finland was a part of the Swedish kingdom for around 500 years.^[4]

Due to recent immigration, significant populations of ethnicEstonians,Russians,Ukrainians,Iraqis,Chinese,Somalis,Filipinos,Indians andIranians, now reside in the country.^[1]

As of 2024^[update], Statistics Finland has published data on the foreign population using three different methods. The Finnish population includes persons of foreign origin and background, who make up 11.1% of the total population.^{[note 1]} In additional calculations, the proportion of persons born outside Finland is 10.3%. Persons with a mother tongue other than Finnish, Swedish or Sámi account for 10.8%.^[1]

In thehistory of Finland, the first human settlement originated approximately 11,000 BC, following the end of theIce Age.^[6] The initial settlers of present-day Finland were presumablyhunter-gatherers. They were later replaced by the Sámi, followed by Finnic populations from the east, south and west. The initial dependable population information dates back to 1749 when Swedish officials initially recorded population statistics. Finland was a part of theSwedish Kingdom until it became aGrand Duchy ruled by theRussian Empire in 1809, and finallygained its full independence in 1917.

In the late 19th and 20th centuries, significant emigration, primarily from rural areas, occurred to Sweden and North America, while Finland's primary immigrant source was other European countries. Approximately 300,000 Finnish nationals reside abroad and, according to estimates, the number of individuals of Finnish ancestry worldwide ranges from 1.6 to 2 million. Currently, Sweden, theUnited Kingdom,Germany, theUnited States, andSpain are the preferred destinations for most Finnish emigrants.^[7]

One of the primary challenges facing society in the future is adapting to demographic changes, particularly the aging of the population. The proportion of the working-age population is decreasing, resulting in projected labour shortages.^[8] However, immigration has significantly increased in recent years. If the current trend persists, the population of Finland will continue to increase and could even reach the milestone of 6 million people by 2040.^[9]

As of 2024^[update], there are 5,635,971 people in Finland.^[1]

The first human settlement in Finland originated around 11,000 BC, following the end of theIce Age. The initial inhabitants of modern-day Finland were presumablyhunter-gatherers. There is no information about the language spoken by the first inhabitants. However, it is known that the Finnish and Sámi languages emerged thousands of years later.^[6] Archaeological, linguistic, and genetic studies support the notion that the country was inhabited from south to north, with a population of a few thousand during prehistoric times. The Sámi people then succeeded the previous inhabitants, followed by the influx of Finnic people from the east, west, and south who eventually replaced them. The Sámi people now number around 10,000 in Finland as a minority. Although they have lived north of theArctic Circle for 7,000 years, they make up only 5% of the population of the province of Lapland.

The reliable population data is available from 1749, when Sweden first compiled population statistics. At that time, the population of Finland stood at 410,400 individuals. The threshold of one million inhabitants was surpassed subsequent to theFinnish War (1808–1809) in 1811, upon the annexation of theOld Finland region. The milestone of five million inhabitants was reached in 1991.^[10]

Exceeding the million population milestones:^[10]

• 1 million in 1811
• 2 million in 1879
• 3 million in 1912
• 4 million in 1950
• 5 million in 1991

Until the beginning of the 20th century, annual population growth fluctuated between 1% and 2%. There were a few exceptional years of negative growth during times of war and destruction.^[10] The significant demographic and economic transformations that took place in Finland post-World War II affected the composition of Finnish families. Over time, family sizes reduced noticeably, declining from an average of 3.6 individuals in 1950 to an average of 2.7 in 1975. Despite this change, family structures remained relatively constant during the 25-year period, with 24.4% of families consisting of a man and a woman, 61.9% comprising a couple and children, 11.8% consisting of a woman with offspring, and 1.9% consisting of a man with offspring. There were no substantial differences in percentages compared to 1950.^[11]

Nonetheless, fewer children were born per family; the average decreased from 2.24 in 1950 to 1.7 in the 1980s. Large families were infrequent, with only 2% having four or more children, while 51% had a single child; 38% had two children, and 9% had three children.^[11] Population growth declined to below 0.5% in the 1970s, and to approximately 0.2% in the 1990s. In recent years, however, population growth has recovered partially, rising to approximately 0.5%, partly due to increased immigration.^[10]

As of 2024^[update], the population density of Finland was 18.5 persons per square kilometre.^[1] The region ofUusimaa was the most densely populated region with around 196 persons per square kilometre, whileLapland was the least densely populated region with only around two persons per square kilometre.^[1] The populace is heavily clustered in the west and south of Finland, where the largest urban centres are situated.^[12] There are a total of nine cities in Finland with more than 100,000 residents.^[8]

The geographicalcenter of population (Weber point) of the Finnish population is currently located inHauho, in the village of Sappee, now part of the town ofHämeenlinna. The coordinates of this point are 61' 17" N, 25' 07" E.^[13]

As of 2023^[update], the birth rate dropped to its lowest level on record since 1776 with atotal fertility rate of 1.26. A total of 43,320 children were born, and 38,179 (85%) of them were delivered by women who speak Finnish, Swedish or Sámi, the country's national languages.^[14] As of 2020^[update], the average age of first-time mothers was 29.7 years old. The mean age of women who have given birth to a live child was 31.3 years.^[15]

As of 2021^[update], people with a foreign background in Finland had higher fertility rates than those with Finnish roots. Women of foreign descent, either born abroad (1.7) or in Finland (1.65), had the most substantial total fertility rates, averaging 1.45 for all women in Finland. Women of Finnish lineage had a slightly higher fertility rate of 1.4. For men, the total fertility rate was just above 1.3, with Finnish men slightly under the average. In contrast, men of foreign origin, whether born abroad or in Finland, exhibited a fertility rate of approximately 1.45 each. Since 2018, the most frequent countries of affiliation for women of foreign origin delivering infants have been former Soviet Union countries, Somalia, and Iraq.^[17]

In the 18th century, Finland recorded a fertility rate of 5-6 children per woman, but population growth was hindered by high infant mortality, with approximately 1 in 5 infants dying before their first birthday. Fertility remained relatively steady in the 19th century, with occasional variations. During times of conflict, such as the Finnish war, and periods of famine, birth rates declined, but eventually normalised. Presently, some developing countries have fertility rates similar to those of Finland in the 18th and 19th centuries.^[18]

As the 19th century drew to a close, the traditional agrarian society began to crumble. Simultaneously, the industrial and service sectors witnessed a surge in job opportunities, and urban migration intensified. Manufacturing plants mushroomed in proximity to rivers. Fewer children being born played a role in the rising living standards. However, it is important to note that contraceptive methods were limited to the rhythm method and interrupted intercourse.^[18]

The decline in fertility experienced a noteworthy acceleration in the early 20th century. In 1900, the fertility rate stood at 4.8, which plummeted to 2.3 by 1933. In the late 1930s, fertility rates experienced an uptick, but it later plummeted due to the war, particularly in 1940 as a result of theWinter War. Although the ceasefire caused a spike in births, the resumption of hostilities stalled family planning efforts. Post-war in autumn 1944, there was a resurgence in births, leading to a total fertility rate of 3.1 in 1945, reaching a peak of 3.5 in 1947–1948, a record that remains unbroken. However, fertility rates began a steady decline, dipping below the generational renewal threshold of 2.1 by 1969. Finnish fertility rates have not recovered to this level since.^[18]

The decline persisted until 1973, when it hit a historic low of 1.5 children per woman. In recent years, there have been fluctuations, with fertility rates fluctuating between 1.7 and 1.9.^[18] As of the 2020s, Finland's overall fertility rate has fallen below 1.4.^[16]

The fertility rate in Finland exceeded that of neighbouring countries for the duration of the 20th century. However, since 2010, there has been a significant decline, whereas otherNordic countries have not experienced such a trend until more recently. It is a recent development that Sweden and Finland have similar social policies and incomes, however, Finland is the only country experiencing natural population decrease (excluding immigration).^[20]

The Finnish population is ageing. Life expectancy has also increased in recent decades. Population growth has mainly been driven by immigration. Furthermore, the population is increasingly concentrated in urban areas in southern and western Finland.

• As of 2024^[update], theaverage age of the Finnish population was 44.0 years, with an average age of 42.7 years for men and 45.2 years for women.^[1]
• As of 2020^[update], theaverage age of death was 75.3 for men and 82.1 for women, indicating a margin of 6.9 years.^[21]
• As of 2022^[update],infant mortality was very low in Finland. There were two deaths per thousand live births, with 2.3 deaths per thousand for male infants and 1.8 deaths per thousand for female infants.^[22]

In the mid-18th century, when population statistics were initially recorded, Finland recorded an annualdeath rate of over 10,000, with yearly fluctuations. The overall mortality rate was at 26 and men had alife expectancy of 36.1 years during the 1750s, while women had an expectancy of 38.4 years. The gender gap in life expectancy was a few years at that time.^[24]

The rapid spread of variousinfectious diseases such as cholera caused mortality up until the 1870s. The war years significantly increased mortality rates in the civilian population. During this time, the highest mortality rates were recorded during the Finnish War of 1808-09 and thecholera outbreak of 1832–33, which caused the deaths of a significant portion of the population. The years 1867-68 were marked as years of high death rates, with the latter year seeing a peak of 137,700 deaths.^[24]

Before the turn of the 20th century, mortality rates were notably high, but they gradually decreased thereafter. During that time period, the life expectancy of a newborn saw a significant increase to 42.8 years for men and 45.7 years for women. The gender gap in life expectancy already stood at three years. Starting from the beginning of the 20th century, improvements in hygiene, prevention of communicable diseases, and advancements in vaccinations and medicines played crucial roles in accelerating the decline in mortality rates, as compared to previous decades. On the eve of World War II, life expectancy for males stood at 53.4 years and for females, 59.0 years, constituting a five-year gap between them.^[24] The life expectancy took almost two centuries to increase by 20 years since the 18th century. In contrast, the succeeding two decades only required 40 years to attain the same growth by the mid-20th century.^[24]

Data from Statistics Finland, which is the official agency for the collection of statistics in Finland.^[26]. TheOld Finland (Vanha Suomi) territories were incorporated into the newGrand Duchy of Finland in 1811.

Notable events in Finnish demographics:

• 1808-1809 –Finnish War
• 1866-1868 –Finnish famine of 1866–1868
• 1914-1918 –First World War
• 1939-1940 –Winter War
• 1945-1950 –Post-World War II baby boom

In the year 2023 36,174 (83.4%) babies were born to mothers with Finnish background, and 7,209 (16.6%) to mothers with foreign background. Persons with Finnish background are defined as persons who have at least one parent born in Finland. Of those newborns that have mothers with foreign background 2,741 had Asian mothers, 2,683 had European mothers (both EU and non-EU countries), 1,355 had African mothers, and 171 had American mothers. 249 babies were born to mothers with unknown background.^[27]

Period	Live births	Deaths	Natural increase
January—September 2024	33,143	42,949	-9,806
January—September 2025	34,444	43,805	-9,361
Difference	+1,301 (+3.93%)	+856 (+1.99%)	-445
Source:[28][29]

Finland has two official languages (national languages):Finnish andSwedish. In addition, there are other languages that are officially recognised by the authorities, but are not national languages. TheSámi languages are those of Finland's indigenous people. Indigenous languages with a long history in Finland includeFinnish Romani (Kalo),Finnish Sign Language,Finnish-Swedish Sign Language andKarelian. Finnish, which belongs to theUralic languages, is spoken by approximately 4.9 million people in Finland as a first language and by more than 0.5 million as a second language. It is also spoken in Sweden,Norway,Eastern Karelia,Ingria (Russia), theUSA andAustralia, with various dialects. Written Finnish dates back 500 years.^[30]

Swedish, anIndo-European language within theNorth Germanic branch, is spoken by approximately 9 million people worldwide, including 285,360 (2024) speakers in Finland.Finland Swedish is a regional variety that aims to remain similar to the Swedish spoken in Sweden. The Sámi languages, which are indigenous to Europe and closely related to the Finnic languages, have approximately 60,000-100,000 speakers, of whom 10,000 live in Finland. There are three Sámi languages in Finland:Inari Sámi,Skolt Sámi andNorthern Sámi, each with its own written form. Since 1992 they have had official status in certain areas of Lapland.^[30]

Karelian, spoken in Finland and Russia, is the closest linguistic relative of Finnish. There are fewer than 100,000 speakers of Karelian, with approximately 5,000 in Finland. Romani, an Indo-European language, belongs to the Indo-Aryan subgroup of the Indo-Iranian branch. Finnish Romani is one of theNorthern Romani dialects and has been spoken in Finland for approximately 450 years. Efforts to preserve it as a literary language began in the 1970s. Finnish Sign Language serves as the primary language for 4,000-5,000 deaf Finns and is used as a first or second language by 6,000-9,000 hearing Finns. Finnish-Swedish Sign Language, on the other hand, is endangered, with only 90 users left.^[30]

All mainlandmunicipalities are monolingual in Finnish or bilingual in Finnish and Swedish. None is monolingual Swedish. However, Swedish is the only official language on the autonomous island ofÅland.^[31]

As of 2024^[update], 610,148 people, or 10.8%, live in Finland with a first language other than Finnish, Swedish or Sámi.^[1] More than 150 foreign languages are spoken in Finland.^[30] However, most of them have only few speakers. Historically, Finland has been a bilingual country where only Finnish or Swedish was spoken. This is slowly changing as the rate of immigration has increased in last three decades.^[32] The majority of the Finnish population is able to communicate inEnglish. However, the foreign population is expected to study and speak Finnish or Swedish if they want to integrate into Finnish society.^[33]

As of 2024^[update], the most common foreign languages areRussian (1.8%),Estonian (0.9%),Arabic (0.8%),Ukrainian (0.7%),English (0.7%),Somali (0.5%) andPersian (0.4%).^[1] Approximately 70% of the country's foreign speakers live in Finland's six largest cities.^[34]

As of 2024^[update], Statistics Finland produces statistics on foreign nationals in three different ways:^[1]

1. Origin and background country: 623,949 people or 11.1%, have a foreign background.
2. Country of birth: 583,155 people, or 10.3%, were born in a foreign country.
3. Language: 610,148 people, or 10.8%, have a first language other than Finnish, Swedish or Sámi.

No official statistics exist on ethnicities. Nonetheless, the Finnish population statistics are available according to the birth countries of the residents' parents (foreign background/origin statistics). International census recommendations define an ethnic group by the perception of its members of historical, regional, or national origin. Therefore, data on ethnic status should always be sourced from a person's own statement. Due to the fact that Finland's census is registry-based, official statistics regarding ethnic groups cannot be provided.^[41]

Origin and background country - the definition used by Statistics Finland includes all individuals with at least one parent born in Finland as being of Finnish background. Individuals with both parents or only one known parent born abroad are classified as having foreign heritage. If both parents of an individual were born abroad, the mother's country of birth is primarily considered as the background country. For all individuals of Finnish heritage, the background country is Finland.^{[42][note 2]}

The definition used by Statistics Finland for country of birth is based on the mother's country of permanent residence at the time of birth. Consequently, Estonian immigrants born before Estonian independence are recorded as being born in theSoviet Union, and those born in territories ceded by Finland are listed as being born in Finland, regardless of subsequent territorial changes. This information reflects the government in power at the time of birth and is devoid of subjective evaluations.^[45]

Country of birth (2024)[1]	Population	%
Finland	5,052,816	89.7%
Soviet Union	81,821	1.5%
Estonia	46,675	0.8%
Sweden	34,471	0.6%
Russia	23,320	0.4%
Iraq	23,120	0.4%
Ukraine	23,017	0.4%
China	17,992	0.3%
Philippines	16,836	0.3%
India	16,404	0.3%
Somalia	14,560	0.3%
Vietnam	13,695	0.2%
Thailand	13,604	0.2%
Iran	12,287	0.2%
Turkey	12,202	0.2%
Afghanistan	10,936	0.2%
Yugoslavia	9,676	0.2%
Bangladesh	9,655	0.2%
Syria	9,408	0.2%
Nepal	8,981	0.2%
Sri Lanka	8,357	0.1%
Germany	8,222	0.1%
United Kingdom	7,830	0.1%
Pakistan	7,740	0.1%
United States	7,016	0.1%
Nigeria	5,959	0.1%
Poland	5,699	0.1%
Romania	5,493	0.1%
Latvia	4,190	0.1%
Italy	3,900	0.1%
Spain	3,859	0.1%
Morocco	3,597	0.1%
France	3,477	0.1%
Ethiopia	3,386	0.1%
Bulgaria	2,966	0.1%
Hungary	2,944	0.1%
DR Congo	2,928	0.1%
Kenya	2,925	0.1%

Historically, Finnish emigration began in the 16th century, when Finns worked inSwedish mines, and continued until the 1970s. About 100,000 Finns emigrated to Russia during the Tsarist period, mainly toSt Petersburg. Large-scale emigration began in the late 19th century, with about 400,000 Finns moving to the United States and Canada by 1980. After the Second World War, many Finns emigrated to Sweden, reaching a peak in 1970 when 41,000 settled there. An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 Finns became permanent residents of Sweden after the war. However, migration slowed in the 1980s, with more Finns returning than leaving.^[11]

The impact of emigration on the Finnish labour force and birth rate has been significant. Finland has experienced two major waves of emigration: one at the beginning of the 20th century, when more than 300,000 Finns went to North America, and another from the 1950s to the 1970s, when 400,000 Finns moved to Sweden, forming large expatriate communities.^[46]

Apart from these major flows, there have been smaller migrations around the world and some Finns live in different countries. In the 21st century about 14,000 people, mostly of Finnish origin, emigrate every year. Many are well-educated and may return to Finland after a few years. About 300,000 Finnish citizens live abroad and it is estimated that about 1.5 million people of Finnish origin live overseas.^[46]

Migration has played an important role in shaping Finnish society throughout its history. Notable instances are theForest Finns' migration to Sweden during the 15th century and the relocation ofIngrians to the present-day St Petersburg region during the 17th century. Changes in borders resulted in the formation of Finnish settlements outside its territory. Wars and political conflicts led to massive population movements, such as theKarelian evacuation during World War II, which exiled roughly 420,000 individuals within Finland's borders.^[47]

Until the 1960s, Finland was predominantly an agricultural society. However, waves of urbanization and political transitions have contributed to migration movements. Currently,urbanization continues to be a significant internal migration pattern, with growth centers and sparsely populated regions. Approximately 250,000 people, mainly young adults, make annual municipal moves, which have notable implications for regional development in the 21st century.^[47]

BeforeChristianisation,Finnish paganism prevailed, venerating deities such asUkko, the god of thunder and sky. Currently, most of the Finnish population consider themselves nominal Christians, though the proportion of non-religious individuals has increased since the 1980s. As of 2024^[update], 62.2% of the population were affiliated with theEvangelical Lutheran Church, 1.0% with theOrthodox Church and 1.9% were members of another religious group. A total of 34.9% have no religious affiliation.^[1] The Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church are both entitled to collect church tax. There are around 140 registered religious communities, includingIslam,Catholicism, andJehovah's Witnesses.^[48]

In Finland, there are alsorevival movements, which began as spiritual reform movements and are now organized and active within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The historic Finnish revivalist movements emerged in the late 1700s and 1800s and consisted of thePrayer Movement, theAwakened Movement, theLutheran Evangelical Movement, and theLaestadian Movement. These movements laid out an important religious and social influence on Finnish society during this period.^[49]

Religious freedom is highly valued in Finland and all residents have the right to choose and practice their faith.^[48]Religious education is mandatory in Finnish schools, customized to a student's registered denomination if there are a minimum of three pupils who profess that religion.^[50]

The Finnish educational framework encompasses several developmental phases, from early childhood throughpre-primary,primary, andlower secondary (basic education), togymnasium (lukio),vocational,higher, andadult education. Compulsory education is mandatory for 6 to 18-year-olds, covering pre-primary to upper secondary levels.^[51]

Upon completion of the nine-year basic education, students may opt between gymnasium, culminating in amatriculation exam, or vocational upper secondary, culminating in avocational qualification. Higher education in Finland consists ofuniversities anduniversities of applied sciences, which place emphasis on education and research. While universities are authorized to grant doctorates, universities of applied sciences offer vocational education and practical research.^[51]

In 2012OECD survey, adults aged 16 to 65 in Finland exhibit exceptional literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills in technology compared to other countries surveyed. Young adults aged 16–24 have above-average literacy, whereas those aged 55–65 perform at an average level, resulting in a massive 37-point age-related gap. In contrast, foreign-language immigrants in Finland demonstrate lower literacy proficiency than native Finns, consistent with the international average.^[52]

Low literacy is correlated with poor health, with individuals reporting low literacy being twice as likely to experience health problems. Furthermore, in Finland, individuals with advanced skill sets have a significantly higher likelihood of being employed when compared to those with lower skill sets, with a difference of almost double.^[52]

• Ageing of Europe
• Finnish Youth Survey Series