Fewer immigrants move to Finland in 2025

A total of 51,121 immigrants moved to Finland in 2025 and the number went down by around 12,800 compared to the number in 2024, according to Statistics Finland.

Emigration from Finland rose slightly from the previous years, being 19,888 in 2025.

As a result, net immigration also fell from the previous year, being 31,233 in 2025.

Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa and Southwest Finland received most migration gain from elsewhere in Finland in 2025.

North Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia and South Karelia had the biggest migration loss.

In intermunicipal migration, Helsinki received the largest migration gain and Lappeenranta got the biggest migration loss in 2025.

Earlier in January, the preliminary statistics said that a total of 50,060 immigrants arrived in Finland in 2025 and the number is 13,905 lower compared to the previous year.

The four-party alliance government led by conservative Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) has taken various initiatives to tighten integration rules for the immigrants.

Earlier this month, the government took another initiative to further tighten criteria for acquiring Finnish Citizenship.

On December 17, 2025, the new law, which tightened the requirements for acquiring Finnish citizenship entered into force.

On October 15, 2025, the Parliament approved the government proposal to amend the Nationality Act further tightening the criteria for Finnish citizenship.

Earlier, in July 2024, the parliament passed the government proposal to bring legislative amendments extending the period of residence required for Finnish citizenship to eight years from the existing five years.

On June 16, 2023, leaders of the ruling parties announced the programme, which included tougher immigration, residence and citizenship laws.

The government tightened the immigration policy despite strong protest by different groups.

Separate demonstrations were held in Helsinki on June 27, 2023 and June 18,2023 protesting against the immigration policy taken by the government.

Several hundreds of people went on demonstrations in Helsinki in August, 2023 protesting against the move.