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Students and qualifications 2023

Students in education leading to a qualification or degree numbered 1.4 million in 2023

release

According to Statistics Finland, the total number of pupils and students in education leading to a qualification or degree was 1,408,000 in 2023. The number of pupils in pre-primary education decreased by 14 per cent from the year before. The number of pupils in comprehensive education remained unchanged. The number of students grew by one per cent in general upper secondary education, by two per cent in vocational education and training, by four per cent in university of applied sciences education and by three per cent in university education.

Key selections

  • In 2023, there were 321,400 new students and altogether 1,408,000 students in education leading to a qualification or degree, and 226,500 qualifications or degrees were completed.
  • Fifty-four per cent of new students, 52 per cent of all students and 55 per cent of attainers of qualifications or degrees were women.
  • Women studied most in the fields of health and welfare and education, men in the fields of engineering, manufacturing and construction and information and communication technologies.
  • Foreign-language speaking students numbered 181,600 and they spoke 144 different native languages.
  • The decrease in the number of pupils in pre-primary education in 2023 was due to the two-year pre-primary education trial. The number of pupils grew in 2021 to 2022 and returned in 2023 to nearly the same level as in 2020.

Database tables

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

Updated database tables
11c3
Classifications used:
  • Education
  • Sector of Education
Reference period cycle:
year
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11c4
Classifications used:
  • Area
  • Sector of Education
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year
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year
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11c5
Classifications used:
  • Type of Education
  • Age
Reference period cycle:
year
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year
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12dc
Classifications used:
  • Field of education
  • Area
  • Type of Education
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
13sn
Classifications used:
  • Sector of Education
  • Level of education
  • Field of education
  • Gender
  • Nationality
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
13sp
Classifications used:
  • Sector of Education
  • Level of education
  • Field of education
  • Gender
  • First language
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:
14fd
Classifications used:
  • Sector of Education
  • Level of education
  • Field of education
  • Gender
  • Origin
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
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New database tables
14wv
Classifications used:
  • Gender
  • Origin
  • Age
  • Area
Reference period cycle:
year
Updating frequency:
year
Statistics:
Updated:

Future releases

Referencing instructions

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Students and qualifications [online publication].
Reference period: 2023. ISSN=1798-7679. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [Referenced: 10.5.2026].
Access method:

Related topics

Education and research

Contact information

Service email
koulutustilastot@stat.fi

Inquiries primarily

Heli Hiltunen
Senior Statistician
029 551 3314

Head of Department in charge

Hannele Orjala
Head of Department in charge
029 551 3582