Helsinki population growth in 2005 dependent on migrants from abroad

Estonian, Russian, and Asian arrivals swell population of Greater Helsinki area most

print this

The majority of the population growth in the Greater Helsinki area is a result of immigration. The population of the region grew by some 7,800 inhabitants last year. Almost half of the growth is based either on the large number of immigrants moving into Finland from abroad or on the large number of foreign women having given birth, according to estimates released by the City of Helsinki Urban Facts.
      Last year was an all-time record in terms of immigrants in the entire country. Even Helsinki's population increased after a lengthy period of zero or negative growth. The population gain recorded by the city was close to 1,600 persons up to the end of November 2005.
     
The number of inhabitants in the entire capital area increased by around 7,000 individuals between January and the end of November 2005. Apart from Helsinki's population gain of nearly 1,600 persons, Espoo grew by some 3,700 people, while Vantaa increased its population by 1,900.
      Around 7,160 people moved to the capital area from abroad up to the end of November. While simultaneously a total of 4,311 persons moved abroad from the region, the net immigration rate was 2,849 individuals.
     
No accurate figures of the newborn babies of foreign origin are available for last year as yet. "While the proportion of residents of foreign background is around seven percent in Helsinki, the share of foreign women having giving birth in the city is around 10 percent", researcher Pekka Vuori of the City of Helsinki Urban Facts estimates.
      "Among those moving into the Greater Helsinki area, around 40 percent are Finns coming back after having been working abroad, for example", notes Markus Rapo of Statistics Finland.
      However, this is not the reason for the growth of population, as the number of Finnish citizens moving out of the area was some 600 individuals more than the number of those moving back to the region.
      Among immigrants who moved into the Helsinki metropolitan area, the two clearly largest groups are Estonians and Russians.
      According to Rapo, the most conspicuous phenomenon is the distinct increase of Asian immigrants. Last year, the majority of Asians moving into Finland came from India, China, Thailand, and Japan.
     
"Even the free movement of labour within the EU can be noticed. However, I believe that a more distinct reason for the positive population development is the fact that the employment rate in Finland and particularly in the Greater Helsinki area is improving", estimates researcher Pekka Vuori.
      Furthermore, the world political situation has settled down, and the numbers of Somalis moving into and out of the country are already almost in balance.
      Moreover, the number of Vietnamese moving into Finland was only some dozens last year.
     
Last year was the all-time record immigration year in the Greater Helsinki area and even in the entire country.
      The change was particularly noticeable when compared with the previous year. The net immigration of foreigners in the capital area was 989 individuals in 2004, whereas last year, the corresponding figure was 2,849 already by the end of November.
     
"The actual difference is not so large, however. As 2004 was the year of municipal elections, the statistics were corrected so that people who had moved out of Finland but had neglected to notify the Population Register Office were removed from the register", reports Vuori.
      At the end of 2004, a total of 29,186 foreigners were resident in Helsinki. The number of foreign residents in Espoo was 9,723, in Vantaa 7,660, and in Kauniainen only 258.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Helsinki population on increase after three years of negative development (19.9.2005)

Links:
  City of Helsinki Urban Facts
  Statistics Finland

Helsingin Sanomat