Finland
Academic perspectives on immigration, demographic change and social cohesion, viewed through Finland’s national experience.
Migration and demographic change in Finland
In 2025, Finland had a total of 5.66 million inhabitants, an increase of 20,929 persons during the year.
The population growth was driven solely by migration gain from abroad, as the number of immigrants exceeded emigrants by 34,852, while births were 13,195 lower than deaths.
The number of people is still relatively stable. In 2015 the figure stood at 5.5 million inhabitants. While the fertility rate per woman was still 1.74 in 2013, this figure fell to 1.30 in 2025, after reaching a historic low of 1.26 in the previous year.
Finland’s population would rise to 6.5 million by 2070 if net immigration remains at the current level of 40,000 persons per year.
In 2024, the largest groups of work-based immigrants came from Thailand, due to seasonal wild berry pickers, the Philippines, India, China, and Vietnam. In 2025, immigration in Finland was 50,060 persons, the third highest since 1990, although this figure was 13,905 lower than the previous year.
By the end of January 2025, Finland had welcomed a total of 69,980 non-EU citizens who had fled the war against Ukraine and were under temporary protection. As of 1 January 2024, there were about 386,100 third-country nationals, representing 6.9% of the population in Finland.
The number of asylum applications in Finland has declined, following the general trend in the EU. A total of 2,047 first asylum applications were submitted in 2025, especially by citizens of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia.
Interviews from Finland
These interviews explore perceptions of migration, the institutional and societal logic shaping public debate, and recommendations based on Finland’s national experience.
Sources and further information
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01
Total population, population change, migration, births and deaths.
Statistics Finland – Population statistics -
02
Finland’s fertility rate and historical fertility statistics.
Statistics Finland – Fertility statistics -
03
International demographic and population data.
United Nations Population Data Portal -
04
Finland’s population projections, including the impact of continued net immigration.
Statistics Finland – Population projection -
05
Work-based immigration to Finland and the main countries of origin during 2024.
Finnish Immigration Service – European Migration Network Annual Report 2024 -
06
Immigration figures for Finland in 2025.
Statistics Finland – Immigration statistics -
07
Information on third-country nationals, temporary protection and migrant integration in Finland.
European Commission – Migrant integration in Finland -
08
Finnish Immigration Service statistics for 2025, including asylum applications and immigration trends.
Finnish Immigration Service – Statistics for 2025
Explore perspectives from across Europe
Compare national experiences and examine how migration, integration and demographic change are understood across different European societies.