The demographics of Finland is monitored by the Statistics Finland (, ). Finland has a population of almost 5.7 million people, ranking it 19th out of 27 within the European Union. The average population density in Finland is , making it the third most sparsely populated country in Europe, after Iceland and Norway. 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 million, or almost 30%, reside solely in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Conversely, the Arctic Lapland region contains only .
Until recently, Finland has been mainly an ethnically homogeneous country, with native Finns being the dominant ethnic group. However, with increased immigration, the country is slowly becoming more ethnically diverse. In addition, Finland is home to significant groups of Finland-Swedish, Sámi and Roma minorities, which have long historical roots in the country. The official languages are Finnish and Swedish, of which 83.5 percent and 5.0 percent of the population respectively speak as their mother tongue. Finland was a part of the Swedish kingdom for around 500 years.
Due to recent immigration, significant populations of ethnic Estonians, Russians, Ukrainians, Iraqis, Chinese, Somalis, Filipinos, Indians and Iranians, now reside in the country.
, 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 11.7% of the total population. In additional calculations, the proportion of persons born outside Finland is 11%. Persons with a mother tongue other than Finnish, Swedish or Sámi account for 11.4%.
In the history of Finland, the first human settlement originated approximately 11,000 BC, following the end of the Ice Age. The initial settlers of present-day Finland were presumably hunter-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 the Swedish Kingdom until it became a Grand Duchy ruled by the Russian Empire in 1809, and finally gained 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, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and Spain are the preferred destinations for most Finnish emigrants.
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. 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.
Population
, there are 5,652,881 people in Finland.
Historical population
The first human settlement in Finland originated around 11,000 BC, following the end of the Ice Age. The initial inhabitants of modern-day Finland were presumably hunter-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. 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 the Arctic 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 the Finnish War (1808–1809) in 1811, upon the annexation of the Old Finland region. The milestone of five million inhabitants was reached in 1991.
Exceeding the million population milestones: 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. 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.
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.Text from PD source: US Library of Congress: A Country Study: Finland , Library of Congress Call Number DL1012 .A74 1990. 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.
Distribution and density
, the population density of Finland was 18.6 persons per square kilometre. The region of Uusimaa was the most densely populated region with around 196 persons per square kilometre, while Lapland was the least densely populated region with only around two persons per square kilometre. The populace is heavily clustered in the west and south of Finland, where the largest urban centres are situated. There are a total of nine cities in Finland with more than 100,000 residents.
Area Population Of total population (%) Uusimaa 1,782,300 Southwest Finland 494,819 Satakunta 211,261 Kanta-Häme 169,455 Pirkanmaa 545,406 Päijät-Häme 204,635 Kymenlaakso 157,442 South Karelia 125,083 South Savo 129,376 North Savo 248,815 North Karelia 162,091 Central Finland 274,112 South Ostrobothnia 189,929 Ostrobothnia 178,749 Central Ostrobothnia 67,723 North Ostrobothnia 418,331 Kainuu 69,639 Lapland 176,151 Åland 30,654
The geographical center of population (Weber point) of the Finnish population is currently located in Hauho, in the village of Sappee, now part of the town of Hämeenlinna. The coordinates of this point are 61' 17" N, 25' 07" E.Matka väestölliseen keskipisteeseen, Helsingin Sanomat, 30 July 2012, p. A5. Online edition
+ Area Population Of total population (%) URBAN AREAS 4,044,568 Inner urban area 2,104,164 Outer urban area 1,341,122 Peri-urban area 599,282 RURAL AREAS 1,450,534 Local centres in rural areas 302,264 Rural areas close to urban areas 385,211 Rural heartland areas 503,590 Sparsely populated rural areas 259,469 Unknown 68,868
Fertility
, the birth rate dropped to its lowest level on record since 1776 with a total 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. , 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.
Area Total fertility rate Gross reproduction rate FINLAND 1.32 0.64 Uusimaa 1.26 0.61 Southwest Finland 1.27 0.62 Satakunta 1.40 0.68 Kanta-Häme 1.42 0.67 Pirkanmaa 1.23 0.61 Päijät-Häme 1.36 0.66 Kymenlaakso 1.23 0.58 South Karelia 1.28 0.61 South Savo 1.29 0.6 North Savo 1.30 0.65 North Karelia 1.19 0.57 Central Finland 1.28 0.64 South Ostrobothnia 1.57 0.78 Ostrobothnia 1.57 0.78 Central Ostrobothnia 1.73 0.83 North Ostrobothnia 1.58 0.78 Kainuu 1.37 0.67 Lapland 1.34 0.66 Åland 1.45 0.85
, 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.
Historical fertility rates
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.
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, contraceptive methods were limited to the rhythm method and interrupted intercourse.
Years 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 5.42 5.51 5.82 5.91 5.71 5.17 5.74 5.42 5.79 5.39 5.6 5.46 4.86 4.51 4.88 4.66 5.43 5.71 1794 1795 1796 1797 1798 1799 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810 1811 5.41 5.18 5.05 5.2 5.08 5.09 4.92 5.07 5.23 4.78 5.24 5.21 4.84 4.97 4.16 3.69 5.1 4.66 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 4.95 4.6 4.72 4.84 4.82 4.84 4.78 4.51 4.55 5.34 4.59 5.21 4.84 4.83 4.89 4.77 5.12 4.98 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 4.85 4.58 4.47 3.96 4.75 4.57 4.17 4.17 4.32 4.47 4.59 4.56 4.96 4.77 4.64 4.76 4.39 4.46 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 4.84 4.92 4.78 5.17 4.79 4.8 5.02 4.82 4.86 4.48 4.87 4.74 4.84 5.2 5.03 4.85 5.28 4.79 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 4.46 4.47 3.4 4.52 4.86 4.95 4.87 4.97 5.12 4.95 4.97 5.19 4.81 5.14 5.01 4.79 4.99 4.96 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 5.04 4.79 4.98 5.17 5.07 4.89 4.83 5.04 4.65 4.43 4.59 4.87 4.8 4.77 5.07 4.96