The voluntary return of asylum seekers reduced significantly last year despite higher subsidies announced by the Finnish Immigration Services, national broadcaster Yle reported quoting a Finnish language newspaper Keskisuomalainen.

A total of 1,422 asylum seekers returned to their countries voluntarily in 2017, which was 2,113 in the previous year, said the report.

Finland pays every asylum seeker up to EUR 2,500, if he or she makes voluntary return to home country.

The Immigration Services (Migri), however, expressed its disappointment over the lower number of voluntary return last year.

Mari Helenius, a senior adviser of Migri said that the decline can be considered a slight disappointment.