Population changes 

Updated: 29.4.2014 - Next update: 29.4.2015

Immigration and its gain increased from the year before

According to Statistics Finland, 31,940 persons immigrated to Finland from foreign countries during 2013. The number is 660 higher than in the previous year and the highest during Finland's independence. Emigration from Finland also increased slightly and was 13,890 persons. During 2013, net immigration totalled 18,050 persons, which is 620 up on the year before. Net immigration by foreign citizens increased somewhat, or by 530 persons.

Last year, 16,200 persons immigrated to Finland from the EU countries. Immigration from the EU countries was 160 persons down on the year before. Emigration from Finland to the EU countries increased by 100 persons, amounting to 8,820 persons. In 2013, Finland had a migration gain of 7,380 persons from the EU countries. Finlands migration gain from the EU countries was somewhat lower than in the previous year.

In 2013, the number of intermunicipal migrations totalled 267,190, which was 8,770 fewer than in 2012. The number of migrations between regions was 123,340 and it fell by 2,300. Migration inside regions decreased by 6,480. In 2013, intramunicipal migrations numbered 576,610, which is 17,240 fewer than in 2012.

When looking at migration inside the country, the region of Uusimaa had the largest and the region of Pirkanmaa the second largest migration gain. In Uusimaa, the gain amounted to 4,250 and in Pirkanmaa to 1,550 persons. Migration gain relative to the population in Mainland Finland was the largest in Pirkanmaa, where it was three per mille. The relative migration gain in Uusimaa was only slightly lower than in Pirkanmaa. The region having suffered the largest population loss in migration inside the country was Lapland, where the migration loss was 810 persons. Kainuu had the largest relative migration loss of nine per mille. Relative migration loss was the second largest in Lapland. Fourteen regions suffered migration loss in intramunicipal migration.

No region suffered migration loss in migration between foreign countries. The number of regions with migration loss drops clearly when net international migration is taken into consideration. The sum of net immigration and net emigration was negative in only six regions.

Statistical release

Statistics Finland / Population, Migration

Description of indicator

Persons who have moved to Finland and intend to reside or have resided one whole year without interruption in Finland shall inform the register office of their place of residence (Population Data Act 507/1993). For those who intend to live permanently in Finland and have a valid residence permit for at least one year, the place of domicile is generally determined according to the same principles as with Finnish nationals (Act on the Municipality of Domicile 201/1994).

Those who intend to leave the country for more than one year are primarily considered emigrants, barring diplomats and those working in development co-operation, etc. (Act on the Municipality of Domicile 201/1994)
Population change has cross-sectoral economic, labour policy, social and cultural effects on the development of society and economic sustainability. In the coming years, the development of Finland’s age structure together with other structural changes in the labour market will undermine the economic dependency ratio and the sustainability of public finances. Achieving stable economic growth and financing the welfare state will require in future that the fall in labour input in the economy and the slowing of the rate of productivity growth are compensated by migration from abroad. Boosting the labour market and improving the operating environment for business will demand in future growing investment from the public sector in education, labour and immigration policy measures aimed at ensuring an adequate supply of skilled labour and a competitive labour market.