Number of foreign-language speakers grows in 2021

The number of persons speaking Finnish, Swedish or Sami as their native language in Finland went down by 10,747 persons while the number of foreign-language speakers grew by 25,195 persons, which is most in at least 40 years, according to Statistics Finland.

Finland's total population was 5,548,241 d at the end of 2021.

In the course of 2021, country’s population grew by 14,448 persons. The relative population growth was 0.3 per cent.

During 2021, the population grew most in absolute numbers in Espoo, by 4,336 persons, in Tampere (3,214 persons) and in Oulu (2,224 persons). In municipalities with at least 50,000 inhabitants the population grew in 15 municipalities and decreased in six municipalities.

The population growth in Greater Helsinki was entirely based on the foreign-language population, as the number of people speaking national languages went down in Greater Helsinki during 2021.

The number of persons speaking national languages also decreased in the region of Uusimaa.

During 2021, the population grew in 94 and diminished in 213 municipalities. In 2020, the population increased in 89 municipalities and in 2019 in only 54 municipalities.

Examined by municipality in Mainland Finland, the population grew most in Tuusula, Kaarina and Pyhäntä, in each by 2.4 per cent.

The population of the regions of Kymenlaakso, Satakunta and South Savo diminished by over 1,000 persons in 2021. Examined in relative terms, the population shrunk most in Kymenlaakso, by 0.9 per cent.

In the regions of South Karelia, South Savo, Kymenlaakso and Satakunta the population decreased in all municipalities.

In absolute numbers, the population decreased most in Kouvola, by 733 persons, and in Mikkeli, by 461 persons. Over the past five years, the population of Kouvola has decreased by close on 5,000 persons.

In Mainland Finland, the largest relative decreases in population occurred in the municipalities of Multia (4.5 per cent) and Kyyjärvi (4,3 per cent).