Citizenships granted: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Citizenships granted
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on citizenships granted describe the foreign citizens permanently resident in Finland who have been granted Finnish citizenship during the statistical year. The data are obtained from the Population Information System and published once a year.
Sector coverage (SIMS 3.3)
The statistics on citizenships granted represent total data and include all data relevant to the occurrence. The statistics contain data on foreign citizens permanently residing in Finland who have been granted Finnish nationality during the statistical year.
The Finnish Immigration Service decides on Finnish citizenships and can grant citizenship based either on a declaration or application. Persons having received Finnish citizenship by both declaration or application procedure are included in statistics on recipients of Finnish nationality.
Statistical unit (SIMS 3.5)
Vital event, granting of Finnish citizenship. The individuals involved in a vital event have a personal identifier. The personal identifier is a key piece of data in other materials. The personal identifier allows for linking background information to an individual from other datasets.
Statistical population (SIMS 3.6)
The statistical population comprises foreign citizens permanently residing in Finland who have been granted Finnish nationality during the statistical year.
Reference area (SIMS 3.7)
Data are available on Finland on the level of the whole country and by various regional divisions based on the division of municipalities in Finland.
The classification into regions and the statistical grouping of municipalities have been used since 1997. Prior to this, provinces were used instead of regions and forms of local government instead of the statistical grouping of municipalities. As of 1999, the statistics have used the regional division which entered into force at the beginning of the calendar year following the statistical year.
Time coverage (SIMS 3.8)
Data on persons who have been granted Finnish citizenship are available from 1990 onwards.
Unit of measure (SIMS 4)
The number of vital events, i.e. the number of persons who have been granted Finnish citizenship.
Reference period (SIMS 5)
The reference period of the statistics is a calendar year.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Country of birth
All persons entered in the Population Register are indicated a country of birth, which is determined on the basis of the mother's permanent home country at the time of birth. This means, for example, that the country of birth of Estonian immigrants born before Estonian independence is the Soviet Union. Similarly, the country of birth of people who were born in areas that Finland has subsequently ceded is Finland even though the area no longer is Finnish territory. Country of birth is indicated according to the form of government at the time of birth.
Nationality
Citizenship refers to the legislative tie between an individual and a state that determines the relationship between them and their reciprocal rights and obligations. Citizenship is usually determined at birth, but it can be changed when a person moves to live in another country. A child receives Finnish citizenship at birth based on the parentage principle, i.e. if the child’s mother is a Finnish citizen or the child’s father is a Finnish citizen and married to the child’s mother. An adopted child aged under 12 of whose adoptive parents at least one is a Finnish citizen will automatically receive Finnish citizenship based on the adoption starting from the day the adoption becomes valid in Finland. A person may also have more than one nationality (see Nationality Act, 359/2003). If a person has two nationalities and one of them is Finnish, they will be included in statistics as a Finnish citizen. If a foreign national living in Finland has several nationalities, that person will be entered in the statistics as a citizen of the country on whose passport they arrived in the country.
Sex/gender
Data on sex are obtained from the gender entry in the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. According to the Act that entered into force on 3 April 2023, the gender entry in the Population Information System can be changed upon application including an explanation that a person permanently identifies as the gender they seek recognition for (Act on Legal Recognition of Gender 295/2023). In Finland, only male or female can be entered as gender in the Population Information System. If a person who moves to Finland from abroad has a third or unspecified gender, the person is recorded as female in the Population Information System.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Legal acts and other agreements (SIMS 6.1)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Data sharing (SIMS 6.2)
Following their release, the data in the statistics on citizenships granted are available in the StatFin statistical database. Data on persons who have been granted Finnish citizenship are delivered annually to Eurostat according to their previous citizenship.
Source data (SIMS 18.1)
The data on population changes represent total data. Finland’s populations statistics are based on the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland. Data on citizenships granted are updated in the Population Information System by the Finnish Immigration Service.
The population includes all Finnish and foreign nationals residing permanently in Finland, even if they were temporarily abroad.
Statistics Finland has waited for data on a statistical reference year’s vital events until the end of January the next year. The reported data on vital events during the statistical reference year and previous years are subsequently included in the material of the next statistical reference year.
As of statistical reference year 2018, supplementations and corrections to the background information included in vital events data have been accepted until the end of February the next year. However, the total number of the events established at the end of January does not change. Rather, the supplementations and corrections made to the data aim to improve their quality.
Frequency of data collection (SIMS 18.2)
The data for the statistics are collected annually.
Data collection (SIMS 18.3)
As of 1975, Statistics Finland has received population data from the Population Information System maintained by Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland. The acquisition of data is based on Statistics Finland's position as a statistical authority as decreed in law.
Data validation (SIMS 18.4)
The data are checked for double rows and for any events already included in older data. The absence and logic of the key variables are also reviewed during the processing phase.
Data compilation (SIMS 18.5)
The data include underlying variables which may contain missing or invalid values. The aim is to impute the data from the population structure data and the Population Information System. Cases are not imputed.
Overall accuracy (SIMS 13.1)
The statistics on citizenships granted represent total data. The data are as good as the quality of the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland. Decisions on granting Finnish citizenship are made by the Finnish Immigration Service (Nationality Act 359/2003), which enters data on the decisions in the Population Information System.
The Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland can be considered very comprehensive in terms of individuals. An individual must be registered in the Population Information System to receive a personal identity code. It is practically impossible to live in Finland without a personal identity code. Legal employment, the opening of a bank account, taking care of affairs with the authorities, etc. all require a personal identity code.
Following the discontinuation of census registration as of 1989, the Population Information System has been maintained solely with notifications of population changes. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency has commissioned sample surveys on the accuracy of addresses from Statistics Finland. Approximately 11,000 individuals are contacted to enquire whether their address in the Population Information System is accurate. In the latest survey, in 2012, the address of 98.9 per cent of the respondents was correct.
Processing error (SIMS 13.3.4)
Any other defects in form in the statistics are corrected as quickly and flexibly as possible, and no separate notifications are made of them on the web pages. Only the latest data are updated in databases. Deviations from timetables are also regarded as errors. If the release of statistical data is significantly delayed from the announced point of time, information about the delay is posted on Statistics Finland’s home page.
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: European Statistics Code of Practice | Statistics Finland and Recommendations of the Advisory Board of Official Statistics of Finland | Statistics Finland
Quality assessment (SIMS 11.2)
The Official Statistics of Finland (OSF) are a comprehensive collection of statistics describing the development and state of society. They comprise nearly 300 sets of statistics on 26 different topics. The producers of Official Statistics of Finland have approved a common quality assurance in which they commit to common quality criteria and quality assurance measures. The quality criteria of the Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice. The good practices followed in the statistics are presented in Statistics Finland’s Quality Guidelines for Official Statistics handbook.
A point of reference for the statistics on citizenships granted during a given statistical year is obtained by making a printout of the year-end population structure statistics in terms of the persons being granted citizenship during the statistical year.
Data revision - policy (SIMS 17.1)
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
Timeliness (SIMS 14.1)
The data are published approximately five months after the reference period.
Punctuality (SIMS 14.2)
The data are almost invariably released on the target date, due to which there has been no time delay. If the release of statistical data is significantly delayed from the announced point of time, information about the delay is posted on the statistics’ home page.
Comparability - geographical (SIMS 15.1)
Comparisons based on numbers can be made because the effect of regional mergers has been considered. Comparable regional vital event time series are available free of charge as of 1990. The tables always indicate the regional division used in the entire time series. It is common practice for an entire time series to be updated to the temporally latest regional division.
Every country has its own citizenship laws, and the grounds for granting citizenship vary from country to country. Given that the laws differ, direct comparisons between the figures at an international level are impossible.
Comparability - over time (SIMS 15.2)
Data on persons who have been granted Finnish citizenship are available from 1990 onwards. The number of persons receiving Finnish citizenship based on declaration was particularly high between 2004 and 2008.
Coherence – cross domain (SIMS 15.3)
The data of the population statistics are used as basic data for population in the other statistics of Statistics Finland. Thus, different statistics of Statistics Finland are consistent with each other as regards population data.
The Finnish Immigration Service’s figures on persons who have been granted citizenship are compiled from persons residing permanently in different countries of the world, whereas Statistics Finland compiles the statistics in question from persons residing permanently in Finland.
Coherence - internal (SIMS 15.4)
A legislative amendment which entered into force in 2003 (Nationality Act 359/2003) enables the dual nationality of a Finnish citizen. This means that as of then, a Finnish citizen has also been able to be a citizen of another country.
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Release calendar access (SIMS 8.2)
Statistics Finland's release calendar Future publications
Future publications of the statistics can be found on the page of the statistics at: Future publications of the statistics
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data. The terms of use for statistical data.
Frequency of dissemination (SIMS 9)
The statistics on citizenships granted according to different background variables for a calendar year are completed in April to May of the following calendar year, unless otherwise mentioned. The statistics on citizenships granted are published on Statistics Finland’s website.
News release (SIMS 10.1)
The release is published annually on the home page of the statistics.
Online database (SIMS 10.3)
The database tables of the statistics can be found in the StatFin database.
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Finnish Data Protection Act are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment (SIMS 7.2)
In population statistics, an individual’s identifier is pseudonymised, meaning that an individual’s data can no longer be linked to a particular individual without further information.
In accordance with data protection practices, regional data dissemination complies with aggregation rules if a table includes variables defined as sensitive. In such cases, figures remaining below the limit value are not reported or divided into the categories of the sensitive variable.
According to the Statistics Act, data disclosed for research purposes must be rendered into a form from which the statistical units cannot be directly or indirectly identified. To prevent indirect identification, variables key to identification must be modified with statistical data protection methods suitable for the situation.
The most important data protection method is the disclosure of a sample rather than the total data. In addition to samples, the data limiting methods used by Statistics Finland include aggregating the classification of variables, removing variables and hiding the variable values of a single unit.