Russians in Finland or Finnish Russians are a linguistic and ethnic immigrant minority in Finland. , there were 102,618 Russian speakers in Finland, or 1.8% of the population. It is the second largest linguistic minority in the country. However, many of the Russian-speaking immigrants are ethnically Ingrian Finns and other Finno-Ugric peoples. In addition, a significant minority of Estonians, Ukrainians and people from the former Soviet Union speak Russian as their mother tongue.
, there were 33,848 people, or 0.6% of population, who hold Russian citizenship residing in Finland – dual citizens included. The dissolution of the Soviet Union has influenced how Statistics Finland defines a person's country of birth in their statistical data. Before 1991, individuals born in what is now Russia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, or in other Post-Soviet states, are considered to have been born in the Soviet Union. 23,530 people were born in Russia and whereas 84,504 people come from the former Soviet Union.
Furthermore, there are people with Russian-background who have received only Finnish citizenship, and Estonian Russians. Two common reasons for immigration were marriage, and descendant from Ingrian Finns.
Russian citizens who moved before the Second World War are called "Old Russians". The next immigration wave happened after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as Ingrian Finns re-migrated to Finland. At present, marriage and family ties are two other common reasons for Russians to immigrate to Finland.
History
The first migratory wave of Russians began in the early 18th century, when Finland was part of the Swedish Empire."Socmag: Russian Immigrants in Finnish Society" 18 November 2007 About 40,000 Russian soldiers, civilian workers, and about 600 businessmen moved to the Grand Duchy of Finland, which became an autonomous state in personal union with the Russian Empire in 1809. When Finland became fully independent in 1917, many soldiers returned to Russia. Many businessmen stayed, including the Sinebrychoff family. During the Russian Revolution, many aristocrats and officers fled to Finland as refugees. The biggest refugee wave was in 1922 when about 33,500 people came to Finland. Many of them had Nansen passports for many years. During the Kronstadt rebellion about 1,600 officers fled to Finland. Russian citizens who moved in these three waves are called "Old Russians", whose 3,000–5,000 descendants live in Finland today. During World War II, there were about 69,700 Soviet prisoners of war in Finland, and 200–300 children were born to them and Finnish women.
A second major wave of immigration occurred after the fall of the Soviet Union. Many Russian guest workers came to Finland, working low-paying jobs. In the 1990s, immigration to Finland grew, and a Russian-speaking population descended from Ingrian Finns immigrated to Finland. In the 2000s, many nouveaux riche Russians have bought estates in Eastern Finland.
Population by municipalities
People born in Russia and living in Finland, according to Statistics Finland. Country of birth Russia by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 23,320 Helsinki 4,621 Espoo 2,907 Vantaa 1,951 Joensuu 1,078 Tampere 1,073 Lappeenranta 761 Turku 666 Lahti 659 Kuopio 616 Jyväskylä 515 Oulu 429 Kotka 418 Kajaani 311 Imatra 308 Pori 271 Kouvola 254 Mikkeli 238 Kitee 184 Porvoo 174 Rovaniemi 174 Vaasa 171 Kerava 159 Kirkkonummi 153 Savonlinna 146 Varkaus 146 Hamina 144 Salo 128 Hämeenlinna 123 Seinäjoki 123 Lieksa 106 Alajärvi 103 Järvenpää 103 Iisalmi 101 Raahe 97 Tuusula 96 Kokkola 95 Hyvinkää 87 Nurmijärvi 85 Lohja 81 Raisio 74 Outokumpu 62 Nurmes 61 Nokia 60 Riihimäki 59 Kalajoki 58 Lappajärvi 58 Tohmajärvi 57 Sipoo 56 Kemi 55 Kontiolahti 55 Liperi 54 Tornio 54 Rauma 52 Leppävirta 49 Kuusamo 48 Raseborg 47 Heinola 45 Kaarina 45 Pieksämäki 45 Jakobstad 45 Vihti 45 Kangasala 44 Siilinjärvi 41 Virrat 41 Forssa 39 Haapavesi 39 Mariehamn 39 Mäntsälä 37 Valkeakoski 37 Ylöjärvi 37 Loviisa 35 Sotkamo 35 Ilomantsi 34 Hollola 33 Kauhava 32 Jämsä 30 Salla 30 Kauhajoki 28 Kauniainen 28 Lempäälä 28 Ulvila 26 Inari 25 Karkkila 25 Loimaa 25 Pirkkala 25 Kemijärvi 24 Lapua 24 Akaa 22 Taipalsaari 22 Juuka 21 Kuhmo 21 Orimattila 21 Uusikaupunki 21 Keuruu 20 Oulainen 20 Rantasalmi 20 Siuntio 20 Virolahti 20 Ylivieska 20 Mäntyharju 19 Posio 19 Suonenjoki 19 Alavus 18 Lapinlahti 18 Korsholm 18 Lieto 17 Naantali 17 Närpes 17 Ruokolahti 17 Vimpeli 17 Hanko 16 Kangasniemi 16 Luumäki 16 Pyhtää 16 Sievi 16 Äänekoski 16 Kankaanpää 15 Kempele 15 Kurikka 15 Nivala 15 Suomussalmi 15 Kittilä 13 Laukaa 13 Miehikkälä 13 Pyhäntä 13 Haapajärvi 12 Harjavalta 12 Hattula 12 Huittinen 12 Ilmajoki 12 Paimio 12 Vörå 12 Keminmaa 11 Muurame 11 Parkano 11 Pyhäjoki 11 Rääkkylä 11 Vieremä 11 Jomala 10 Joroinen 10 Laitila 10
People with Russia citizenship living in Finland according to Statistics Finland. Citizens of Russia by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 35,172 Helsinki 6,833 Espoo 4,128 Vantaa 2,996 Lappeenranta 1,407 Joensuu 1,383 Tampere 1,262 Lahti 1,189 Turku 1,091 Kotka 936 Imatra 807 Kuopio 743 Jyväskylä 615 Kouvola 528 Kajaani 519 Oulu 512 Savonlinna 335 Hamina 317 Kerava 295 Salo 272 Mikkeli 265 Kitee 239 Pori 228 Porvoo 221 Kirkkonummi 219 Lieksa 213 Vaasa 193 Hämeenlinna 176 Rovaniemi 170 Alajärvi 164 Hyvinkää 163 Järvenpää 155 Raisio 151 Iisalmi 149 Lohja 149 Nurmijärvi 139 Raahe 138 Kokkola 133 Varkaus 130 Tuusula 117 Outokumpu 108 Heinola 101 Nurmes 98 Sotkamo 98 Nokia 97 Kalajoki 93 Raseborg 93 Kuhmo 92 Rauma 91 Sipoo 89 Vihti 86 Taipalsaari 85 Seinäjoki 83 Virolahti 82 Haapavesi 79 Kuusamo 79 Tohmajärvi 79 Lappajärvi 77 Ruokolahti 77 Kaarina 76 Pieksämäki 75 Loviisa 73 Riihimäki 70 Hollola 62 Luumäki 62 Virrat 61 Karkkila 60 Forssa 56 Kauhava 54 Leppävirta 53 Uusikaupunki 52 Keuruu 51 Tornio 51 Pyhtää 49 Liperi 47 Valkeakoski 47 Äänekoski 47 Kemi 46 Kontiolahti 46 Rantasalmi 45 Ylivieska 45 Orimattila 44 Siilinjärvi 44 Inari 43 Suomussalmi 42 Jämsä 41 Kauniainen 40 Jakobstad 40 Kemijärvi 37 Vimpeli 37 Ilomantsi 36 Kangasala 36 Kauhajoki 35 Hanko 34 Mäntsälä 34 Pyhäjoki 33 Salla 33 Loimaa 32 Pyhäntä 32 Lapinlahti 31 Siuntio 30 Ylöjärvi 30 Lapua 29 Laukaa 29 Vieremä 29 Alavus 28 Mäntyharju 27 Sastamala 27 Haapajärvi 26 Miehikkälä 26 Parikkala 26 Rautjärvi 26 Sievi 26 Juuka 25 Juva 25 Kiuruvesi 25 Korsholm 25 Akaa 24 Nivala 24 Oulainen 24 Rääkkylä 24 Sulkava 24 Ulvila 24 Kangasniemi 23 Heinävesi 22 Loppi 22 Huittinen 21 Suonenjoki 21 Mänttä-Vilppula 20 Posio 20 Puumala 20 Kokemäki 19 Laitila 19 Lempäälä 19 Kittilä 18 Evijärvi 16 Kempele 16 Lemi 16 Naantali 16 Savitaipale 16 Harjavalta 15 Mariehamn 15 Närpes 15 Pielavesi 15 Puolanka 15 Ruovesi 15 Siikajoki 15 Ii 14 Jokioinen 14 Keitele 14 Masku 14 Paimio 14 Pargas 14 Parkano 14 Pirkkala 14 Pudasjärvi 14 Tuusniemi 14 Eura 13 Joroinen 13 Kankaanpää 13 Kärkölä 13 Muurame 13 Enonkoski 12 Hämeenkyrö 12 Ilmajoki 12 Lapinjärvi 12 Siikalatva 12 Janakkala 11 Lieto 11 Pyhäjärvi 11 Taivalkoski 11 Ähtäri 11 Askola 10 Hankasalmi 10 Kristinestad 10 Larsmo 10 Rautalampi 10 Saarijärvi 10
People with Russian as mother tongue living in Finland according to Statistics Finland. Russian speakers by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 102,487 Helsinki 21,423 Espoo 11,144 Vantaa 10,754 Turku 3,902 Tampere 3,808 Lappeenranta 3,379 Lahti 3,359 Joensuu 2,692 Kotka 2,603 Jyväskylä 1,900 Kuopio 1,856 Imatra 1,588 Kouvola 1,580 Oulu 1,385 Kerava 1,106 Kirkkonummi 971 Salo 915 Hamina 892 Kajaani 883 Pori 817 Mikkeli 722 Porvoo 706 Savonlinna 696 Järvenpää 692 Tuusula 679 Vaasa 635 Nurmijärvi 629 Hyvinkää 572 Raisio 559 Hämeenlinna 513 Rovaniemi 475 Kitee 468 Lohja 467 Rauma 363 Sipoo 362 Riihimäki 357 Kokkola 354 Seinäjoki 348 Kaarina 347 Raahe 326 Vihti 312 Lieksa 293 Varkaus 289 Iisalmi 278 Nokia 265 Heinola 262 Hollola 251 Pieksämäki 228 Outokumpu 221 Raseborg 219 Alajärvi 217 Ylöjärvi 217 Loviisa 203 Sotkamo 194 Kangasala 190 Tohmajärvi 189 Forssa 187 Valkeakoski 184 Mäntsälä 181 Taipalsaari 178 Kemi 174 Kontiolahti 170 Jämsä 167 Kuhmo 165 Kuusamo 159 Liperi 158 Orimattila 154 Pirkkala 150 Pyhtää 150 Virolahti 149 Karkkila 147 Jakobstad 146 Ruokolahti 143 Äänekoski 141 Kauhava 139 Tornio 135 Uusikaupunki 134 Lapua 132 Sastamala 131 Lempäälä 129 Nurmes 129 Siilinjärvi 128 Naantali 126 Kalajoki 125 Luumäki 118 Lieto 117 Keuruu 113 Kauniainen 110 Siuntio 110 Leppävirta 108 Suomussalmi 106 Lappajärvi 105 Loimaa 101 Haapavesi 100 Laukaa 98 Ilomantsi 97 Kemijärvi 95 Huittinen 92 Mariehamn 92 Lapinlahti 91 Hanko 89 Virrat 89 Ylivieska 86 Somero 85 Ulvila 84 Akaa 83 Kankaanpää 80 Laitila 80 Korsholm 80 Närpes 75 Inari 73 Muurame 73 Paimio 71 Miehikkälä 68 Parikkala 68 Kempele 66 Juva 65 Nivala 65 Kangasniemi 64 Mäntyharju 64 Janakkala 63 Mänttä-Vilppula 63 Harjavalta 59 Pargas 58 Juuka 57 Rantasalmi 57 Suonenjoki 56 Kauhajoki 55 Kittilä 54 Pyhäntä 53 Sievi 52 Haapajärvi 51 Hausjärvi 50 Kokemäki 50 Masku 50 Salla 50 Eura 48 Oulainen 48 Rääkkylä 48 Alavus 47 Askola 47 Loppi 47 Pyhäjoki 46 Kurikka 45 Pöytyä 45 Rautjärvi 45 Kärkölä 44 Saarijärvi 44 Vimpeli 44 Pornainen 43 Nykarleby 43 Vieremä 43 Lemi 42 Pielavesi 41 Asikkala 40 Ikaalinen 40 Mynämäki 40 Joroinen 38 Vörå 37 Ingå 36 Evijärvi 35 Kiuruvesi 35 Puumala 35 Sulkava 35 Hattula 33 Jokioinen 33 Kronoby 33 Säkylä 33 Taivalkoski 33 Enonkoski 31 Ii 31 Orivesi 31 Parkano 31 Rusko 31 Iitti 30 Ilmajoki 30 Lapinjärvi 30 Pyhäjärvi 30 Eurajoki 29 Joutsa 29 Ähtäri 29 Pudasjärvi 28 Hämeenkyrö 26 Pälkäne 26 Rautalampi 26 Savitaipale 26 Heinävesi 25 Jomala 25 Kristinestad 25 Muhos 25 Polvijärvi 23 Ruovesi 23 Sauvo 23 Siikajoki 23 Korsnäs 22 Posio 22 Puolanka 21 Sodankylä 20 Tammela 20 Kannus 19 Laihia 19 Teuva 19 Tuusniemi 19 Urjala 19 Viitasaari 19 Hankasalmi 18 Keitele 18 Malax 18 Siikalatva 18 Hartola 17 Keminmaa 17 Larsmo 17 Karstula 16 Nakkila 16 Nousiainen 16 Sysmä 16 Toivakka 16 Ylitornio 16 Kaustinen 15 Liminka 15 Paltamo 15 Pedersöre 15 Pello 15 Veteli 15 Humppila 14 Hyrynsalmi 14 Isokyrö 14 Karvia 14 Kaskinen 14 Kimitoön 14 Padasjoki 14 Petäjävesi 14 Taivassalo 14 Kaavi 13 Koski Tl 13 Tervola 13 Aura 12 Kolari 12 Pukkila 12 Vesilahti 12 Kuhmoinen 11 Merikarvia 11 Multia 11 Oripää 11 Rautavaara 11 Utsjoki 11 Kustavi 10 Pihtipudas 10 Ranua 10 Vaala 10 Vesanto 10
Culture
Russian language newspaper Spektr was founded in 1998, and radio channel Radio Sputnik (Russkoje Radio Helsinki) broadcast in the Russian language until 2018. Many small Russian Orthodox Churches have been founded in Finland.
Manifestations of intolerance In a 2012 poll, 12% of Russians in Finland reported that they had experienced a racially motivated hate crime (as compared to an average of 5% of Russians in all EU countries).Pressrelase and Fact sheet for the study "Hate crime in the European Union" by EU Fundamental Rights Agency November 2012 27% of Russians in Finland were victims of crimes the last 12 months, for example theft, attacks, frightening threats or harassment (as compared to 17% of Russians in EU).Minorities as Victims of Crime by EU Fundamental Rights Agency November 2012
In 2007, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance reported in its Third report on Finland:
Notable people
Boris Popper, White émigré Georgij Alafuzoff, admiral Kirill Babitzin, musician Sammy Babitzin, musician Aleksander Barkov, hockey player Danila Bulgakov, footballer Alexei Eremenko, footballer Roman Eremenko, footballer George de Godzinsky, composer Pasha Pozdniakova, model and social media influencer Anton Popovitch, footballer Valeri Popovitch, former footballer Maria Guzenina, journalist, TV host and politician Viktor Klimenko, singer Leo Komarov, hockey player (born in Narva, Estonia) Adam Markhiyev, Ingushetia-born footballer Lyudmila Markianova, linguist Natalia Nordman, an author and the wife of Ilya Repin Ilya Repin, realist painter, moved in Finland in 1899, a naturalized Finnish citizen in 1918 the Sinebrychoff family