The number of people speaking domestic languages has dropped below five million, according to preliminary population data released on Thursday by Statistics Finland, driven by demographic trends and changes in population records.
Figures show that 4,999,717 residents spoke Finnish, Swedish or Sámi at the end of March, accounting for 88 per cent of the total population. The number fell by 6,772 during the first months of the year. The figure had remained above five million since 1992 and reached a peak of more than 5.16 million in 2013.
Markus Rapo, a senior statistician at Statistics Finland, said the decline reflects long-term demographic shifts. He said deaths among domestic language speakers now exceed births due to an ageing population and lower birth rates.
At the same time, the overall population fell during the first quarter. The total stood at 5,650,933 at the end of March, down by 1,948 from the start of the year.
Migration data played a key role in the change. A total of 9,412 people moved into the country between January and March, while 7,856 left. Compared with the same period last year, immigration fell by 1,397 and emigration rose by 4,477.
A large share of departures was recorded to Estonia. Official figures show 4,807 moves to Estonia during the first quarter, compared with 298 in the same period a year earlier.
The increase follows a new agreement between the two countries on population register data. Under the system, a person can hold a permanent address in only one country. Individuals previously listed in both registers but residing in Estonia are now recorded as having moved abroad.
Joonas Toivola, another senior statistician, said the data revision has had a clear impact on migration figures. “The clean-up of population register data is visible in statistics as a strong increase in emigration to Estonia,” he said, adding that elevated figures are expected to continue in the coming months.
He said the rise in recorded emigration reduced net migration to a level that no longer supports population growth.
The shift has also affected regional trends. Most of the recorded moves to Estonia came from Uusimaa, where 3,193 people were registered as having left for Estonia in the first quarter, an increase of 2,986 from a year earlier.
Minna Wallenius, a senior statistician, said the pattern is unusual. She noted that more people moved abroad from Uusimaa than arrived from overseas, a reversal of typical trends in which the region attracts most international migration.
The effect extended beyond the capital region. In Southwest Finland, 353 people were recorded as moving to Estonia, compared with 18 a year earlier. In Pirkanmaa, the figure rose to 250 from 21. Both regions saw slight population declines during the period.
Officials said the revised registration system will continue to shape migration data and population trends in the months ahead.
HT
