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Published: 14 May 2020

Total net migration in Greater Helsinki highest in at least 50 years

Corrected on 14 May 2020. The table was corrected. The correction is indicated in red.

According to Statistics Finland, the combined total net migration of municipalities in Greater Helsinki was 13,867 persons in 2019. The number is highest in at least 50 years. Total net migration includes migration gain from elsewhere in Finland and from abroad. Foreign-language speakers accounted for 71 per cent of total net migration in Greater Helsinki.

Total net migration in Greater Helsinki in 1972 to 2019

Finland received more migration gain from abroad than in the previous year

Finland's migration gain from abroad grew in 2019 by around one third compared with the previous year. The migration gain rose to 15,495 from 11,965 persons in the year before. The reason for the higher migration gain was an increase in immigration and a decrease in emigration. In 2019, altogether 32,758 persons moved to Finland from abroad and 17,263 persons moved abroad from Finland.

Migration between Finland and other countries 1993–2019

The number of persons that moved to Finland from abroad grew by 1,652 persons. Of immigrants, 24,178 or 74 per cent were foreign citizens in 2019. Emigration from Finland decreased by 1,878 persons, or 10 per cent from the previous year. Fifty-eight per cent or 10,036 of emigrants were Finnish citizens. Finland's migration gain from foreign citizens amounted to 16,951 persons, but Finnish citizens generated a migration loss of 1,456 persons.

Immigration gain from immigrants from outside the EU

Finland's migration gain consisted almost completely of immigrants from outside the EU in 2019. Immigration from other than EU countries grew by good 2,000 from the previous year, while immigration from EU countries remained almost at the same level. Net immigration from countries outside the EU grew to 14,289 from the previous year's 12,733.

The immigration gain was largest in Russian citizens, 1,787 immigrants and second largest in Iraqi citizens, 1,182 immigrants. Third most immigration gain to Finland came from Indian citizens, 1,078 immigrants.

Migration gain in the region of Uusimaa highest in 20 years

In intermunicipal migration, the region of Uusimaa received 8,114 persons in migration gain from the rest of Finland. The number is biggest since 1999. Foreign-language speakers in Finland concentrate on Uusimaa, as nearly one-half of the migration gain received by Uusimaa from the rest of Finland were foreign-language speakers.

In addition to Uusimaa, only Pirkanmaa (1,872 persons) and Southwest Finland (887 persons) received migration gain from elsewhere in Finland.

Vantaa and Espoo received the largest migration gains

Vantaa (3,033 persons) and Espoo (2,535 persons) received the largest migration gain from intermunicipal migration. Two-thirds of the migration gain in Vantaa and one-half of the migration gain in Espoo were foreign-language speakers.

Examined in relative terms, Sipoo, Kempele and Kauniainen received most migration gain. Only around every sixth municipality received migration gain from migration within Finland.

Migration loss of over one thousand persons in four regions

Of the regions, Kymenlaakso, South Savo, Satakunta and Ostrobothnia suffered migration loss of over one thousand persons to the rest of Finland. Examined in relative terms, migration loss was biggest in the regions of South Savo and Kymenlaakso.

Kouvola, Mikkeli and Kotka lost most

Migration losses from intermunicipal migration were biggest in Kouvola (639 persons) and Mikkeli (610 persons). The migration loss of Kotka was 546 persons.

Examined in relative terms, migration loss was biggest in the municipalities of Punkalaidun, Honkajoki and Uurainen.

Migration gain for regions from immigration

All regions received migration gain from international migration. Taking that into account, the number of regions with migration loss falls somewhat. The sum of net immigration and net internal migration was negative in eleven regions. In Mainland Finland, net regional immigration was highest in Ostrobothnia and lowest in Kanta-Häme in relative terms.

Internal migration and in- and out-migration 2005–2019 (The table was corrected on 14 May 2020.)

Year	Intermunicipal	Intramunicipal	Immigration	Emigration	Net migration
2005	267 892	624 077	21 355	12 369	8 986
2006	265 412	600 154	22 451	12 107	10 344
2007	272 245	596 025	26 029	12 443	13 586
2008	262 379	567 694	29 114	13 657	15 457
2009	257 544	577 719	26 699	12 151	14 548
2010	264 312	575 373	25 636	11 905	13 731
2011	274 825	600 852	29 481	12 660	16 821
2012	274 587	595 226	31 278	13 845	17 433
2013	265 792	578 012	31 941	13 893	18 048
2014	267 754	571 820	31 507	15 486	16 021
2015	280 210	613 535	28 746	16 305	12 441
2016	282 207	590 880	34 905	18 082	16 823
2017	287 775	592 115	31 797	16 973	14 824
2018	288 425	595 656	31 106	19 141	11 965
2019	286 700	596 171	32 758	17 263	15 495

The regional division in all years is the one valid on 1 January 2020

Source: Migration 2019. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Matti Saari 029 551 3401, Markus Rapo 029 551 3238, Juhana Nordberg 029 551 3051, info@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Migration between Finland and non-EU countries in 1993 - 2019 (14.5.2020)
• Appendix figure 2. Migration gain for regions from internal migration by language 2019 (14.5.2020)
• Appendix figure 3. Excess of births, net immigration and increase of population in 1973 - 2019 (14.5.2020)

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• Quality description, migration 2019 (14.5.2020)

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Updated 14.05.2020