Ukrainians in Finland

Ukrainians in Finland

Українці Фінляндії / Фінські українці Ukrainalaiset Suomessa / Suomenukrainalaiset Ukrainare i Finland / Finska ukrainare
Total population
41,403 Ukrainian citizens; 38,850 Ukrainian speakers (2024)
Regions with significant populations
Helsinki, Turku and Tampere regions & Jyväskylä and Lahti
Languages
Ukrainian, Russian, Finnish, Swedish
Related ethnic groups
Ukrainian people

Ukrainians in Finland are people who have a background from the country of Ukraine and who now live in Finland. People can be born in Ukraine, have Ukrainian ancestry and/or be citizens of Ukraine. As of 2024, there were 23,017 people born in Ukraine living in Finland. Similarly, the number of people with Ukrainian citizenship was 41,403. The number of people who spoke Ukrainian as their mother tongue was 38,850.

Historically, Ukrainians made up only a small proportion of immigrants in Finland, but their numbers increased significantly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

History

Since June 1918 about 60 Ukrainians lived in Finland. However the amount of Ukrainians in Finland for almost 70 years was unknown until 1992. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many Ukrainians came to work in Finland as berry pickers during the summer. In 2016 over 9,000 Ukrainian berry pickers arrived in Finland. Their average earnings during 2015 was 666 euros.

The number of Ukrainian refugees has greatly increased since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. By July 2022 nearly 7,000 school-aged Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Finland. Schools in Finland have prepared for the start of the school year in Autumn by increasing study groups and hiring more teachers. Ministry of the Interior estimated that up to 40,000-80,000 Ukrainian refugees may arrive in Finland during 2022.

From 2015 to July 2022 a total of 122,000 Ukrainians have submitted applications to the Finnish Immigration Service, 43,500 during 2022. Of those 43,500, nearly 36,000 sought international protection. 95% of them received a positive decision, with the rest of them being expired decisions.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	11	—
1995	133	+64.62%
2000	337	+20.44%
2005	611	+12.64%
2010	1,287	+16.07%
2015	2,843	+17.18%
2020	5,961	+15.96%
2024	38,850	+59.78%
Ukrainian speakers. Source: Statistics Finland

In absolute numbers Uusimaa and Finland Proper are home to most Ukrainians, though proportionally Ostrobothnia has the most Ukrainians. Ukrainian is the third most spoken foreign-language in Southern Ostrobothnia. During 2020, the number of Ukrainian speakers grew by 1,317, making it the fifth fastest growing language after English, Russian, Arabic and Persian. 52.2% of Ukrainian speakers are men. 16.2% are aged 0–14, 82.3% 15-64 and 1.5% are over the age of 65.

In 2019, the most common occupation for Ukrainians was farming and livestock raisers, with 28% of employed Ukrainians being in this sector. In 2019, 147 babies were born to Ukrainian mothers, the birth rate being 56.7 per 1,000 Ukrainian women. For Finnish women the number was 14.9.

Population by municipalities

People born in Ukraine and living in Finland, according to Statistics Finland.

Country of birth Ukraine by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 23,017 Helsinki 1,668 Vantaa 1,406 Espoo 1,216 Turku 1,127 Tampere 661 Jyväskylä 636 Lahti 588 Vaasa 491 Salo 487 Kuopio 465 Seinäjoki 350 Joensuu 333 Järvenpää 326 Pori 309 Kirkkonummi 306 Mikkeli 298 Raisio 292 Oulu 288 Kotka 279 Hämeenlinna 276 Jakobstad 274 Rovaniemi 255 Pieksämäki 235 Laitila 232 Kouvola 231 Riihimäki 220 Kauhava 217 Kerava 215 Porvoo 207 Varkaus 199 Hyvinkää 194 Kajaani 194 Lappeenranta 192 Kokkola 179 Forssa 178 Rauma 167 Loimaa 164 Uusikaupunki 161 Kankaanpää 156 Savonlinna 141 Valkeakoski 140 Tuusula 138 Lohja 135 Kurikka 128 Somero 126 Jämsä 125 Nykarleby 125 Hamina 121 Lapua 121 Närpes 116 Imatra 110 Kemi 107 Paimio 105 Kristinestad 100 Sastamala 98 Kitee 97 Äänekoski 94 Nurmijärvi 93 Naantali 92 Raahe 91 Mäntsälä 85 Sotkamo 85 Raseborg 83 Kaarina 80 Vihti 79 Huittinen 78 Kemijärvi 78 Pöytyä 77 Nokia 76 Outokumpu 74 Säkylä 74 Loviisa 72 Mänttä-Vilppula 70 Kauhajoki 69 Iisalmi 67 Lieksa 67 Suonenjoki 67 Sauvo 66 Siilinjärvi 65 Ikaalinen 64 Sipoo 64 Orimattila 62 Vörå 61 Laukaa 56 Vehmaa 55 Kuusamo 54 Saarijärvi 53 Alajärvi 52 Joutsa 52 Mynämäki 50 Juva 49 Keuruu 48 Pargas 48 Joroinen 47 Alavus 46 Eura 46 Mäntyharju 46 Asikkala 45 Pyhäntä 45 Nousiainen 44 Lumijoki 41 Mariehamn 40 Ulvila 40 Kauniainen 39 Kalajoki 38 Nurmes 37 Karkkila 36 Kronoby 34 Nivala 34 Taipalsaari 34 Ylöjärvi 34 Ähtäri 34 Pedersöre 33 Karvia 32 Parkano 32 Ilmajoki 31 Kangasala 31 Rautalampi 31 Heinola 30 Kimitoön 30 Rantasalmi 30 Kaustinen 29 Ylivieska 29 Janakkala 28 Lieto 28 Malax 28 Veteli 28 Pälkäne 27 Haapavesi 26 Harjavalta 26 Loppi 26 Lapinjärvi 25 Kaskinen 24 Kiuruvesi 24 Merikarvia 24 Oripää 24 Oulainen 24 Akaa 23 Kannus 23 Kangasniemi 22 Kärkölä 22 Leppävirta 22 Taivassalo 22 Lapinlahti 21 Luumäki 20 Pello 20 Ruovesi 20 Hanko 19 Kittilä 19 Pyhäjärvi 19 Eurajoki 18 Karstula 18 Rusko 18 Isojoki 17 Masku 17 Korsholm 17 Siuntio 17 Teuva 17 Viitasaari 17 Alavieska 16 Hankasalmi 16 Lappajärvi 16 Hollola 15 Jämijärvi 15 Liminka 15 Pirkkala 15 Isokyrö 14 Keitele 14 Lempäälä 14 Miehikkälä 14 Tornio 14 Tyrnävä 14 Urjala 14 Vesanto 14 Evijärvi 13 Finström 13 Kokemäki 13 Konnevesi 13 Korsnäs 13 Puolanka 13 Savitaipale 13 Sodankylä 13 Toholampi 13 Kuortane 12 Larsmo 12 Padasjoki 12 Saltvik 12 Tohmajärvi 12 Vaala 12 Vimpeli 12 Kempele 11 Kuhmoinen 11 Liperi 11 Paltamo 11 Haapajärvi 10 Hausjärvi 10 Hämeenkyrö 10 Jomala 10 Juuka 10 Punkalaidun 10

People with Ukrainian citizenship living in Finland according to Statistics Finland.

Citizens of Ukraine by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 41,403 Helsinki 2,825 Vantaa 2,314 Turku 2,034 Espoo 2,011 Jyväskylä 1,207 Lahti 1,110 Tampere 1,093 Salo 911 Vaasa 869 Kuopio 837 Järvenpää 689 Raisio 638 Kirkkonummi 612 Mikkeli 597 Seinäjoki 561 Joensuu 555 Pori 530 Kotka 502 Oulu 501 Hämeenlinna 499 Rovaniemi 491 Riihimäki 477 Pieksämäki 461 Jakobstad 438 Laitila 437 Kouvola 428 Hyvinkää 387 Kerava 377 Kauhava 375 Porvoo 370 Rauma 365 Kajaani 356 Varkaus 355 Forssa 312 Kokkola 310 Lappeenranta 302 Kankaanpää 299 Jämsä 294 Loimaa 291 Uusikaupunki 291 Tuusula 290 Somero 286 Valkeakoski 282 Hamina 252 Lohja 249 Imatra 248 Savonlinna 229 Lapua 220 Kemi 217 Kurikka 210 Äänekoski 208 Paimio 199 Mäntsälä 194 Sastamala 192 Nykarleby 176 Kitee 174 Naantali 167 Kemijärvi 164 Närpes 161 Kristinestad 158 Mänttä-Vilppula 157 Outokumpu 157 Nurmijärvi 155 Säkylä 150 Kaarina 146 Sotkamo 145 Vihti 144 Siilinjärvi 142 Pöytyä 141 Loviisa 140 Raahe 138 Nokia 136 Orimattila 136 Raseborg 133 Huittinen 132 Sauvo 123 Suonenjoki 118 Lieksa 117 Ikaalinen 115 Laukaa 113 Saarijärvi 113 Iisalmi 101 Joutsa 101 Keuruu 99 Sipoo 99 Vehmaa 94 Kauhajoki 93 Vörå 93 Eura 92 Joroinen 91 Pyhäntä 91 Nousiainen 90 Ulvila 84 Kalajoki 82 Mynämäki 82 Pargas 82 Asikkala 81 Juva 81 Kuusamo 81 Karkkila 80 Alajärvi 78 Mäntyharju 77 Alavus 73 Lumijoki 72 Taipalsaari 72 Malax 64 Ylivieska 64 Kangasala 61 Kauniainen 61 Kangasniemi 60 Ähtäri 60 Heinola 59 Rantasalmi 59 Nivala 58 Kimitoön 57 Taivassalo 55 Pälkäne 54 Nurmes 53 Oripää 53 Harjavalta 52 Rautalampi 52 Lieto 51 Janakkala 50 Kronoby 50 Luumäki 49 Karvia 47 Merikarvia 47 Ylöjärvi 47 Loppi 45 Mariehamn 45 Veteli 45 Parkano 44 Akaa 43 Haapavesi 43 Kaustinen 43 Kaskinen 42 Ilmajoki 41 Oulainen 41 Ruovesi 39 Lapinlahti 38 Pyhäjärvi 38 Karstula 37 Kärkölä 36 Hanko 35 Kittilä 35 Viitasaari 35 Kiuruvesi 34 Kannus 33 Lapinjärvi 33 Leppävirta 33 Pedersöre 33 Pello 33 Eurajoki 32 Savitaipale 32 Siuntio 31 Pirkkala 30 Puolanka 30 Sodankylä 30 Konnevesi 29 Rusko 29 Kokemäki 28 Vesanto 28 Alavieska 27 Hämeenkyrö 27 Lappajärvi 27 Urjala 27 Evijärvi 25 Hollola 24 Isojoki 24 Teuva 24 Hankasalmi 23 Kuhmoinen 23 Kuortane 23 Korsholm 23 Juuka 22 Masku 22 Miehikkälä 22 Isokyrö 21 Korsnäs 21 Liminka 21 Liperi 21 Padasjoki 21 Sonkajärvi 21 Tornio 21 Keitele 20 Lempäälä 20 Toholampi 20 Ilomantsi 19 Vieremä 19 Jämijärvi 18 Larsmo 18 Tohmajärvi 18 Tyrnävä 18 Paltamo 17 Rääkkylä 17 Aura 16 Haapajärvi 16 Ranua 16 Tammela 16 Kustavi 15 Vaala 15 Vimpeli 15 Hausjärvi 14 Karijoki 14 Kempele 14 Parikkala 14 Pihtipudas 14 Virolahti 14 Hirvensalmi 13 Marttila 13 Orivesi 13 Punkalaidun 13 Saltvik 13 Finström 12 Sulkava 12 Föglö 11 Halsua 11 Kolari 11 Sysmä 11 Toivakka 11 Uurainen 11 Virrat 11 Inari 10 Jomala 10 Koski Tl 10 Rautavaara 10 Sievi 10

People with Ukrainian as mother tongue living in Finland according to Statistics Finland.

Ukrainian speakers by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 38,850 Helsinki 2,654 Vantaa 2,129 Turku 1,892 Espoo 1,856 Jyväskylä 1,072 Tampere 1,044 Lahti 1,006 Salo 857 Vaasa 832 Kuopio 741 Järvenpää 604 Raisio 576 Kirkkonummi 561 Seinäjoki 553 Mikkeli 552 Pori 522 Joensuu 500 Hämeenlinna 477 Jakobstad 460 Oulu 453 Laitila 443 Rovaniemi 418 Pieksämäki 408 Kotka 405 Riihimäki 400 Kouvola 389 Kerava 366 Kauhava 361 Hyvinkää 343 Varkaus 341 Porvoo 334 Kajaani 317 Rauma 306 Loimaa 305 Kankaanpää 303 Forssa 298 Uusikaupunki 288 Kokkola 283 Valkeakoski 272 Jämsä 264 Tuusula 257 Lappeenranta 255 Somero 242 Hamina 236 Lohja 225 Savonlinna 223 Kurikka 218 Lapua 217 Nykarleby 206 Paimio 202 Imatra 201 Sastamala 191 Kemi 184 Mäntsälä 181 Äänekoski 175 Kitee 174 Närpes 168 Naantali 158 Säkylä 150 Huittinen 149 Kristinestad 148 Nurmijärvi 148 Vihti 145 Pöytyä 144 Raseborg 142 Siilinjärvi 138 Kemijärvi 136 Outokumpu 136 Sotkamo 136 Kaarina 135 Mänttä-Vilppula 135 Orimattila 134 Loviisa 130 Nokia 130 Sauvo 120 Raahe 118 Suonenjoki 114 Ikaalinen 110 Sipoo 105 Iisalmi 103 Mynämäki 103 Lieksa 101 Vehmaa 101 Kauhajoki 100 Laukaa 97 Vörå 97 Eura 96 Keuruu 96 Saarijärvi 96 Pargas 94 Joutsa 92 Joroinen 91 Ulvila 89 Nousiainen 86 Juva 84 Kalajoki 84 Alajärvi 80 Alavus 80 Asikkala 79 Kuusamo 77 Mäntyharju 73 Taipalsaari 71 Lumijoki 70 Ylivieska 65 Malax 63 Taivassalo 61 Ylöjärvi 61 Kimitoön 60 Kauniainen 59 Heinola 58 Oripää 58 Harjavalta 57 Rantasalmi 56 Lieto 55 Nurmes 54 Luumäki 53 Ähtäri 53 Kaustinen 52 Kronoby 52 Mariehamn 51 Pedersöre 51 Pälkäne 51 Janakkala 49 Rautalampi 49 Kangasniemi 47 Parkano 47 Loppi 46 Merikarvia 45 Akaa 44 Veteli 44 Karvia 43 Nivala 43 Kaskinen 42 Kannus 40 Haapavesi 39 Ruovesi 38 Rusko 38 Oulainen 37 Siuntio 37 Lapinlahti 36 Viitasaari 36 Hanko 35 Kärkölä 35 Korsholm 35 Lapinjärvi 34 Ilmajoki 33 Kiuruvesi 33 Karstula 32 Kittilä 32 Leppävirta 32 Pyhäjärvi 32 Lempäälä 31 Savitaipale 31 Hämeenkyrö 30 Pello 30 Sodankylä 30 Isojoki 28 Puolanka 27 Vesanto 27 Eurajoki 26 Konnevesi 26 Lappajärvi 26 Masku 26 Pirkkala 26 Alavieska 25 Evijärvi 25 Kokemäki 25 Urjala 25 Padasjoki 24 Hollola 23 Miehikkälä 23 Juuka 22 Teuva 22 Hankasalmi 21 Isokyrö 21 Liminka 21 Sonkajärvi 21 Toholampi 21 Jämijärvi 20 Keitele 20 Tohmajärvi 20 Vieremä 19 Hausjärvi 18 Ilomantsi 18 Kuhmoinen 18 Kuortane 18 Larsmo 18 Tyrnävä 18 Liperi 17 Paltamo 17 Finström 16 Haapajärvi 16 Korsnäs 15 Punkalaidun 15 Rääkkylä 15 Vaala 15 Aura 14 Inari 14 Orivesi 14 Saltvik 14 Tammela 14 Karijoki 13 Kempele 13 Marttila 13 Parikkala 13 Vimpeli 13 Virrat 13 Ranua 12 Sysmä 12 Föglö 11 Halsua 11 Jomala 11 Kolari 11 Kustavi 11 Sulkava 11 Virolahti 11 Hirvensalmi 10 Ingå 10 Koski Tl 10 Kuhmo 10 Laihia 10 Rautavaara 10 Tuusniemi 10 Uurainen 10

Organizations

The Ukrainian Association in Finland was founded in 1997.

There is also another organization called Ukrainians of Finland.

See also

• Finland–Ukraine relations
• Immigration to Finland
• Ukrainian diaspora
• Ukrainians in Sweden