Estonians in Finland

Estonians in Finland or Finnish Estonians (; ) are people who originate from Estonia and who live in Finland. People can be born in Estonia, have Estonian ancestry and/or be citizens of Estonia. , there were 45,604 people born in Estonia living in Finland. Similarly, the number of people with Estonian citizenship was 48,894. The number of people who spoke Estonian as their mother tongue was 48,495.

Finland has the largest Estonian community outside Estonia.

History The earliest known mention of Estonian migration to Finland comes from the 14th century, when it was mentioned that people had fled from the Bishopric of Ösel–Wiek to the towns of Turku and Viipuri or their surroundings. Place names containing the elements Est- and Viro- are found across the southern coast of Finland, the former in traditionally Swedish-speaking and the latter in Finnish-speaking areas. One of the earliest attested examples of such names is Virolahti, which was first mentioned in 1336 as Viirlax. These names may refer to contacts between the locals and Estonians, or even to Estonian settlement, though the latter is less likely. Some later names may be references to migrants from Swedish Estonia and Livonia, who were not necessarily ethnic Estonians, and may have included Estonian Swedes, Livonians and Latvians as well.

During the Great Northern War, Estonians came to Uusimaa as refugees, settling especially in Kirkkonummi, Pernå and Porvoo, later followed by more migrants coming to the area for various reasons, such as fleeing serfdom or searching for better fishing waters. A document of the (then mostly Swedish-speaking) Kirkkonummi parish assembly from 1795 mentions that the small Finnish-language congregation within the parish consisted mainly of Estonians. The island of Pirttisaari near Porvoo was mostly Estonian-speaking in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

In 1906, an Estonian community emerged in the village of Kabböle, part of the largely Swedish-speaking municipality of Pernå, after nine families from Kuusalu had bought land there. Due to mixed marriages and education in Swedish, the community began assimilating into the majority, and the third generation of Estonians in Kabböle was almost entirely Swedish-speaking.

Immigration from Estonia to Finland was low before 1990. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and Estonia's accession to the EU in 2004, emigration from Estonia to Finland increased rapidly.

The migration of Estonians peaked in 2012, when more than 6,000 Estonians emigrated to Finland. In 2017, however, net migration from Estonia was negative, as Estonians returned to their country. The reasons for this are rising salaries in Estonia and family ties. Nevertheless, the Estonian population is still growing, although at a much slower rate than before.

Population by municipalities

People born in Estonia and living in Finland, according to Statistics Finland. Country of birth Estonia by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 46,675 Helsinki 9,979 Vantaa 8,437 Espoo 5,560 Turku 1,626 Kerava 1,225 Nurmijärvi 1,099 Tampere 1,061 Tuusula 1,024 Kirkkonummi 997 Lahti 914 Vihti 597 Lohja 590 Järvenpää 587 Salo 569 Hyvinkää 478 Porvoo 474 Hämeenlinna 417 Sipoo 386 Kouvola 350 Kotka 328 Jyväskylä 284 Mäntsälä 258 Rauma 257 Pori 247 Riihimäki 245 Kuopio 228 Raisio 218 Kaarina 207 Heinola 182 Seinäjoki 173 Vaasa 173 Lappeenranta 172 Valkeakoski 171 Karkkila 165 Raseborg 161 Mikkeli 137 Siuntio 137 Orimattila 135 Laitila 133 Hollola 124 Oulu 122 Forssa 112 Loviisa 112 Nokia 112 Janakkala 109 Kangasala 104 Hamina 100 Loimaa 98 Paimio 98 Sastamala 93 Somero 88 Hausjärvi 87 Kauniainen 86 Lempäälä 86 Lieto 86 Naantali 85 Eura 83 Akaa 77 Pargas 76 Harjavalta 75 Kankaanpää 75 Kauhava 75 Pirkkala 75 Rovaniemi 75 Ylöjärvi 75 Kimitoön 69 Mariehamn 69 Uusikaupunki 66 Kurikka 64 Joensuu 63 Kärkölä 61 Kokkola 57 Imatra 56 Pöytyä 53 Ingå 52 Kokemäki 51 Jämsä 50 Loppi 50 Huittinen 49 Hanko 47 Pieksämäki 47 Alajärvi 46 Askola 46 Eurajoki 46 Iitti 45 Orivesi 45 Pornainen 43 Masku 42 Mänttä-Vilppula 42 Urjala 42 Asikkala 41 Jomala 41 Pälkäne 41 Savonlinna 40 Ulvila 40 Kauhajoki 39 Kristinestad 39 Jakobstad 39 Koski Tl 38 Ikaalinen 37 Lapua 37 Mäntyharju 37 Säkylä 36 Varkaus 36 Iisalmi 35 Siilinjärvi 35 Kajaani 34 Karvia 34 Nykarleby 34 Hattula 33 Lapinjärvi 33 Sysmä 31 Aura 30 Kemi 30 Mynämäki 30 Hämeenkyrö 29 Lapinlahti 29 Närpes 28 Vörå 28 Äänekoski 28 Keuruu 27 Parkano 27 Tornio 27 Joutsa 25 Joroinen 24 Juva 24 Pyhtää 24 Virrat 23 Kaustinen 22 Myrskylä 22 Nakkila 22 Raahe 22 Suonenjoki 22 Tammela 22 Vesilahti 22 Alavus 21 Ilmajoki 21 Isojoki 21 Jokioinen 21 Oripää 21 Evijärvi 20 Haapavesi 20 Laukaa 20 Korsholm 20 Nousiainen 20 Sotkamo 19 Teuva 18 Föglö 17 Kolari 17 Pedersöre 17 Sauvo 17 Vieremä 17 Hartola 16 Humppila 16 Kronoby 16 Padasjoki 16 Halsua 15 Kittilä 15 Kuortane 15 Laihia 15 Kiuruvesi 14 Taivassalo 14 Juuka 13 Muurame 13 Outokumpu 13 Kitee 12 Pukkila 12 Rautalampi 12 Sodankylä 12 Finström 11 Isokyrö 11 Kalajoki 11 Kannus 11 Muhos 11 Parikkala 11 Rusko 11 Virolahti 11 Kihniö 10 Kontiolahti 10 Kustavi 10 Kuusamo 10 Marttila 10 Ruokolahti 10 Saarijärvi 10

People with Estonian citizenship living in Finland according to Statistics Finland. Citizens of Estonia by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 50,444 Helsinki 9,761 Vantaa 9,445 Espoo 6,038 Turku 1,515 Kerava 1,414 Nurmijärvi 1,414 Tuusula 1,211 Kirkkonummi 1,144 Tampere 915 Lahti 898 Vihti 713 Salo 666 Lohja 665 Järvenpää 643 Porvoo 579 Hyvinkää 543 Sipoo 454 Hämeenlinna 398 Kouvola 359 Kotka 330 Mäntsälä 317 Jyväskylä 263 Pori 263 Riihimäki 257 Kuopio 255 Rauma 230 Raisio 223 Lappeenranta 211 Valkeakoski 195 Laitila 190 Heinola 188 Karkkila 188 Raseborg 187 Kaarina 182 Vaasa 175 Loviisa 167 Siuntio 164 Seinäjoki 161 Orimattila 160 Mikkeli 158 Forssa 156 Oulu 153 Loimaa 146 Hollola 144 Sastamala 138 Hamina 120 Paimio 115 Nokia 112 Janakkala 111 Somero 109 Kangasala 101 Eura 99 Harjavalta 93 Hausjärvi 93 Kankaanpää 89 Kauhava 89 Kauniainen 85 Uusikaupunki 85 Lieto 84 Huittinen 83 Lempäälä 83 Pargas 83 Kärkölä 80 Mariehamn 80 Akaa 77 Rovaniemi 76 Kokemäki 74 Kimitoön 73 Kurikka 73 Imatra 72 Ylöjärvi 70 Naantali 69 Joensuu 67 Ingå 66 Hanko 65 Kokkola 65 Pöytyä 65 Pirkkala 64 Eurajoki 60 Askola 57 Loppi 56 Pieksämäki 56 Lapinjärvi 55 Pornainen 55 Nykarleby 54 Alajärvi 52 Iitti 52 Jämsä 52 Orivesi 52 Iisalmi 49 Säkylä 49 Kristinestad 48 Ulvila 48 Mänttä-Vilppula 47 Asikkala 44 Hattula 44 Lapua 44 Savonlinna 44 Mäntyharju 43 Pälkäne 43 Siilinjärvi 43 Urjala 43 Varkaus 43 Kauhajoki 42 Karvia 40 Koski Tl 40 Parkano 40 Jakobstad 39 Ikaalinen 38 Kajaani 38 Masku 35 Äänekoski 35 Lapinlahti 34 Laukaa 34 Pyhtää 34 Vörå 33 Aura 32 Hämeenkyrö 32 Myrskylä 32 Närpes 32 Haapavesi 31 Joutsa 31 Mynämäki 30 Joroinen 29 Tammela 29 Virrat 29 Jomala 28 Raahe 28 Sotkamo 28 Sysmä 27 Tornio 27 Vieremä 27 Nakkila 26 Juva 25 Kemi 25 Alavus 24 Isojoki 24 Jokioinen 24 Kiuruvesi 24 Taivassalo 24 Evijärvi 23 Nousiainen 23 Oripää 23 Suonenjoki 23 Keuruu 22 Kronoby 22 Teuva 22 Föglö 21 Halsua 21 Ilmajoki 20 Kalajoki 20 Vesilahti 20 Kaustinen 19 Muhos 19 Pedersöre 18 Pukkila 18 Hartola 17 Humppila 17 Kitee 17 Kittilä 17 Kolari 16 Laihia 16 Muurame 16 Rautalampi 16 Ruokolahti 16 Isokyrö 15 Juuka 15 Kihniö 15 Kontiolahti 15 Finström 14 Kannus 14 Korsholm 14 Padasjoki 14 Saarijärvi 14 Sodankylä 14 Heinävesi 12 Marttila 12 Sauvo 12 Toholampi 12 Brändö 11 Kaskinen 11 Kustavi 11 Kuusamo 11 Kärsämäki 11 Outokumpu 11 Jämijärvi 10 Kempele 10 Kivijärvi 10 Kuortane 10 Lemland 10 Liperi 10 Parikkala 10 Siikalatva 10

People with Estonian as mother tongue living in Finland according to Statistics Finland. Estonian speakers by municipality (2024) Municipality Population Whole country 49,563 Helsinki 9,382 Vantaa 8,495 Espoo 5,640 Turku 1,490 Nurmijärvi 1,377 Kerava 1,317 Tuusula 1,200 Kirkkonummi 1,131 Tampere 953 Lahti 875 Salo 717 Vihti 698 Lohja 697 Järvenpää 632 Porvoo 615 Hyvinkää 583 Hämeenlinna 490 Sipoo 450 Kouvola 388 Kotka 342 Mäntsälä 332 Jyväskylä 305 Kuopio 285 Riihimäki 285 Pori 273 Rauma 234 Lappeenranta 220 Kaarina 210 Raseborg 208 Raisio 204 Heinola 194 Valkeakoski 192 Laitila 191 Oulu 187 Karkkila 186 Loviisa 180 Seinäjoki 178 Mikkeli 176 Orimattila 173 Forssa 172 Siuntio 162 Hollola 158 Vaasa 157 Loimaa 144 Sastamala 140 Hamina 122 Janakkala 121 Somero 117 Kangasala 114 Nokia 113 Paimio 107 Hausjärvi 97 Eura 94 Kankaanpää 91 Kauhava 91 Naantali 91 Akaa 90 Lempäälä 88 Kärkölä 87 Joensuu 86 Harjavalta 85 Kauniainen 85 Pargas 84 Lieto 82 Huittinen 80 Kimitoön 80 Uusikaupunki 80 Rovaniemi 79 Ylöjärvi 79 Mariehamn 76 Pirkkala 75 Kokkola 73 Kurikka 71 Kokemäki 69 Pöytyä 68 Jämsä 67 Hanko 66 Imatra 66 Loppi 66 Ingå 63 Askola 60 Eurajoki 58 Iisalmi 58 Pieksämäki 58 Nykarleby 57 Alajärvi 56 Pornainen 56 Lapinjärvi 55 Savonlinna 54 Orivesi 53 Säkylä 53 Iitti 52 Kristinestad 50 Asikkala 48 Kauhajoki 48 Mänttä-Vilppula 47 Pälkäne 47 Varkaus 46 Hattula 45 Jomala 45 Lapua 45 Siilinjärvi 45 Äänekoski 45 Koski Tl 44 Jakobstad 44 Ulvila 44 Urjala 44 Laukaa 42 Karvia 41 Lapinlahti 41 Mäntyharju 41 Parkano 40 Ikaalinen 39 Sysmä 39 Hämeenkyrö 37 Kajaani 37 Haapavesi 36 Mynämäki 36 Aura 35 Masku 34 Myrskylä 34 Alavus 33 Vörå 33 Tornio 32 Tammela 31 Joutsa 30 Juva 30 Nakkila 30 Ilmajoki 29 Joroinen 29 Kemi 29 Virrat 29 Jokioinen 28 Sotkamo 28 Keuruu 27 Närpes 27 Raahe 27 Suonenjoki 27 Vieremä 27 Isojoki 26 Pyhtää 26 Nousiainen 25 Kalajoki 24 Kaustinen 24 Kiuruvesi 24 Halsua 23 Laihia 23 Oripää 23 Taivassalo 23 Evijärvi 22 Föglö 22 Vesilahti 22 Kronoby 21 Teuva 21 Kittilä 20 Kannus 19 Pedersöre 19 Finström 18 Humppila 18 Kolari 18 Muhos 18 Pukkila 18 Isokyrö 17 Juuka 17 Kontiolahti 17 Saarijärvi 17 Sodankylä 17 Hartola 16 Kihniö 16 Kitee 16 Pyhäjoki 16 Ruokolahti 16 Kuortane 15 Kuusamo 15 Padasjoki 15 Heinävesi 14 Muurame 14 Sauvo 14 Virolahti 14 Jämijärvi 13 Liperi 13 Parikkala 13 Toholampi 13 Inari 12 Kempele 12 Kärsämäki 12 Marttila 12 Korsholm 12 Outokumpu 12 Rautalampi 12 Siikajoki 12 Kaskinen 11 Kustavi 11 Lemland 11 Lieksa 11 Luumäki 11 Pielavesi 11 Siikalatva 11 Kivijärvi 10 Nivala 10 Petäjävesi 10 Pyhäranta 10 Rautjärvi 10 Taipalsaari 10 Vehmaa 10 Ylivieska 10 Ähtäri 10

Notable people

Hans Kalm, soldier Hella Wuolijoki, writer Imbi Paju, journalist, writer and filmmaker Kalevi Kotkas, athlete Mikael Gabriel, rapper Mäkki, rapper Siim Liivik, ice hockey player Sofi Oksanen, writer Tiina Lillak, athlete

See also

Estonia–Finland relations Estonian diaspora Immigration to Finland

References