105,000 living in Finland hold dual citizenship

At the end of 2016, there were 104,997 persons permanently resident in Finland who held the citizenship of some other country in addition to Finnish citizenship, according to Statistics Finland.

Of them, 20,324 were native-born citizens of Finland who had been granted citizenship in another country. Altogether, 84,673 persons were foreign citizens who had also been granted Finnish citizenship.

The largest dual nationality groups at the end of 2016 were citizens of Russia, 27,456, Sweden, 7,380, Somalia, 4,650, Estonia, 4,601 and the United States, 3,934.

During 2016, the population grew in seven and diminished in twelve regions. In absolute numbers, the population grew most in Uusimaa, by 18,032 persons, in Pirkanmaa, by 3,242 persons, and in Varsinais-Suomi, by 1,220 persons. The relative population increase was also highest in Uusimaa, 1.1 per cent.

The biggest absolute decrease in population was seen in Etelä-Savo, 1,330 persons and Satakunta, 1,217 persons. In relative numbers, the population decreased most in Etelä-Savo, by 0.9 per cent.

During 2016, the population grew in 77 and diminished in 233 municipalities. The biggest absolute increase in population was seen in Helsinki, 6,973 persons, Espoo, 4,781 persons and Vantaa, 4,736 persons, The population in the Helsinki region grew by good 16,000 persons in during 2016. Foreign-language speakers accounted for 72 per cent of the population growth in the Helsinki region.

Examined by municipality in Mainland Finland, Sipoo (2.7 per cent), Vantaa (2.2 per cent) Kangasala (1.9 per cent) and Espoo (1.8 per cent) had the largest relative increases in population.

In absolute numbers, the population decreased most in Kouvola, by 549 persons, and in Salo, by 344 persons. Examined by municipality in Mainland Finland, the largest relative decreases in population occurred in Rääkkylä and Valtimo, down by 3.4 per cent, and in Kivijärvi, by 3.3 per cent.