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Published: 20 May 2009

Record immigration and migration gain in 2008

According to Statistics Finland, 29,100 persons immigrated to Finland from foreign countries during 2008. The number is 3,100 higher than in the previous year and the highest during Finnish independence. Emigration from Finland increased slightly and was 13,650 persons. During 2008, net immigration totalled 15,450 persons, which is the highest number in the post-war period. In the last quarter of 2008, net immigration totalled 400 persons more than in the same quarter of the year before.

During the past eight years immigration into Finland from other EU countries has been higher than emigration from Finland to other EU countries. In 2008, Finland had a migration gain of 5,200 persons from EU countries. Immigration into Finland from other EU countries has been growing continuously since 1997. Emigration from Finland into other EU countries has remained stable during the past few years.

Migration between Finland and other EU countries 1992–2008

The number of intermunicipal migrations was 269,800 in 2008, which is 10,350 lower than in the previous year. Migrations decreased by 11,700 inside regions and increased by 1,300 between regions. When looking at migration inside the country, the region of Uusimaa had the largest migration gain (2,800 persons) and the region of Pirkanmaa the second largest gain (1,600 persons). As in the previous year, Kanta-Häme had the largest migration gain relative to the size of the population. Population losses from migration inside the country were largest in the regions of Kymenlaakso (1,000) and Lapland (850). The migration losses of Kainuu and Kymenlaakso were the largest relative to the size of the population. In 2008, intramunicipal migrations numbered 560,300, which is 27,850 (5%) fewer than in 2007.

Migration 1987–2008

Year	Type
	Intermunicipal in-migration	Intramunicipal migration	Immigration	Emigration	Net migration
1987	184,577	497,274	9,142	8,475	667
1988	195,743	458,585	9,720	8,447	1,273
1989	191,627	406,945	11,219	7,374	3,845
1990	178,280	388,294	13,558	6,477	7,081
1991	167,482	403,321	19,001	5,984	13,017
1992	160,876	439,825	14,554	6,055	8,499
1993	165,637	477,092	14,795	6,405	8,390
1994	200,876	478,195	11,611	8,672	2,939
1995	199,398	502,215	12,222	8,957	3,265
1996	217,901	541,422	13,294	10,587	2,707
1997	222,939	538,444	13,564	9,854	3,710
1998	239,118	573,525	14,192	10,817	3,375
1999	242,590	564,124	14,744	11,966	2,778
2000	244,133	543,591	16,895	14,311	2,584
2001	265,176	593,422	18,955	13,153	5,802
2002	257,469	576,801	18,113	12,891	5,222
2003	256,624	592,467	17,838	12,083	5,755
2004	266,347	598,304	20,333	13,656	6,677
2005	275,886	616,083	21,355	12,369	8,986
2006	273,538	592,028	22,451	12,107	10,344
2007	280,156	588,114	26,029	12,443	13,586
2008	269,792	560,281	29,114	13,657	15,457

• The regional division in all years is the one valid on 1 January 2009.

Source: Population and Cause of Death Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Matti Saari (09) 1734 3401, vaesto.tilasto@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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• Immigration and emigration in 1971 - 2008 (20.5.2009)
• Intermunicipal migration by age 1972 - 2008, per mill (20.5.2009)
• Excess of births, net migration and population growth in 1971 - 2008 (20.5.2009)

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• Quality description, migration (20.5.2009)

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Updated 20.5.2009