ASEM 6

Finland has a population of approximately 5.2 million. The total area of Finland provides for plenty of room and the population density is only 17 persons per square kilometre. In Europe, only Norway, Russia and Iceland have a lower population density.

 

Most Finns live in the urban areas of southern Finland. The capital, Helsinki, and the neighbouring towns of Espoo and Vantaa form the metropolitan region which is now home to almost a million people. Other important towns are Lahti, Tampere and Turku in southern Finland and Oulu in the north.

 

 

 

 

Ageing population

Average life expectancy is now 82 years for women and 75 for men and has risen steadily since the 1950s.

 

As in many other countries, the post-war baby-boom generation is now reaching retirement age. This means that the age groups entering the labour market are invariably smaller than the age groups leaving working life. In recent years it has become fashionable to retire early, on average at age 59, but this trend may be altering following the recent introduction of a flexible system allowing retirement between the ages of 63 and 68 and offering pension bonuses to those who remain at work after the age of 63.

 

In comparison with other European countries, the birth rate, however, remains relatively high at 1.7 children per woman. 

Finnish and Swedish

Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish, both of which have strong roots in society. Swedish is spoken as a mother tongue by some 6% of the population and all children are taught both languages at school. Everyone has the right to use Finnish or Swedish before a state authority.

 

The small community of Saami people in Lapland speak Saami as their mother tongue. In specified areas, the Saami have a right to public services in their own language. English is by far the most popular foreign language and visitors with knowledge of the language are unlikely to have communication problems in Finland.

Religion

 

The position of the Evangelic Lutheran Church is unrivalled with some 84% of the population as its members. Only one percent of Finns belong to the Finnish Orthodox Church. About 14% of Finns do not belong to a religious denomination.

 

Most Finns are not regular church-goers and only attend important ecclesiastical events such as baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals.

 

 

Virtual Finland: The Population of Finland

Virtual Finland: Swedish in Finland

Virtual Finland: The Church in Finland today

Statistics Finland: Finland in Figures