Standard

FI

Republic of Finland

Finland

Summary

Official Name
Republic of Finland
Population
5,530,000
Principal Languages
Finnish, Swedish
Literacy Rate
100% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions
CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ECRML (1992), FCPNM (1998), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References
Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987, Salminen 1997, Salminen 1999, Salminen 2007, Stephens 1976
Deaf Population
8,000 (Van Cleve 1986)
Language Counts
The number of established languages listed for Finland is 16. Of these, 15 are living and 1 is extinct. Of the living languages, 9 are indigenous and 6 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional, 5 are developing, 1 is vigorous, 3 are in trouble, and 3 are dying. Also listed are 42 unestablished languages.

Languages

Albanian, Gheg aln
Users: 6,920 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Gheg
Albanian, Tosk als
Users: 6,920 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Albanian, Tosk
Amharic amh
Users: 1,720 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, South, Transversal, Amharic-Argobba
Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken acm
Users: 17,400 in Finland (2021). Total Arabic speakers in Finland: 36,500 (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, North Levantine Spoken apc
Users: 17,400 in Finland (2021). Total Arabic speakers in Finland: 36,500 (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Bengali ben
Users: 5,130 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Bosnian bos
Users: 2,480 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Western
Bulgarian bul
Users: 3,260 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, South, Eastern
Chinese zho
Users: 14,800 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished.
Dutch nld
Users: 2,030 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, Low Saxon-Low Franconian, Low Franconian
English eng
Widespread. Users: 3,895,600 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 25,600 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 3,870,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 4 (Educational). Alternate Names: Englanti Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Estonian, Standard ekk
Kymenlaakso and Uusimaa regions; scattered throughout south coast. Users: 50,200 in Finland (2021 census). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Eesti, Eesti Keel, Eesti Kirjakeel Classification: Uralic, Finnic
Finland-Swedish Sign Language fss
Scattered; south and west coast areas. Users: 300 in Finland (2021 EUD). 300 deaf sign language users (2021 EUD). Another estimate: approximately 150 deaf and 150 hearing, mostly middle-aged and elderly (Takkinen et al 2015). Total users in all countries: 302. Status: 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2015, Sign Language Act 359/2015). Alternate Names: FinSSL, Finlandssvenskt Teckenspråk, SRVK, Suomenruotsalainen Viittomakieli Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Finnish fin
Users: 5,300,000 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 4,800,000 in Finland (2021 census). 30,000 speakers of Tornedalen Finnish. L2 users: 500,000 (2018 Institute for the Languages of Finland). Total users in all countries: 5,639,640 (as L1: 4,983,640; as L2: 656,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2000, Constitution, Article 17(1,2)). Autonym: Suomi Classification: Uralic, Finnic
Finnish Sign Language fse
Scattered. Users: 5,000 (2014 EUD). Estimates vary: 3,000 deaf, plus 6,000–9,000 hearing (some L1, some L2, Rainò 2010); 5,000 deaf and 10,000 hearing signers (2006 Institute for the Languages of Finland, 2014 EUD); 26,500 (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, No. 61, Institute for sign language status). Recognized language (1995, Constitution, Section 17). Recognized language (2015, Sign Language Act 359/2015). Alternate Names: FinSL, SVK, Suomalainen viittomakieli, Viittomakieli Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
French fra
Scattered. Users: 443,350 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 5,350 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 438,000 (Marcoux et al 2022). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
German, Standard deu
Users: 1,002,260 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 7,260 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 995,000 (2020). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Deutsch Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, High German, German, Middle German, East Middle German
Greek ell
Users: 1,870 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Greek, Attic
Hindi hin
Users: 3,250 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Hungarian hun
Users: 3,240 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Uralic
Igbo ibo
Users: 1,050 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Igboid, Igbo
Italian ita
Users: 3,360 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Italo-Dalmatian
Japanese jpn
Users: 1,740 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Japonic
Karelian krl
Northern Ostrobothnia region: Kuusano municipality, Russian border area; mostly scattered throughout the country. Users: 5,000 in Finland (2018 Institute for the Languages of Finland). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Karelian Proper, Karely Classification: Uralic, Finnic
Kinyarwanda kin
Users: 1,310 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Ruanda-Rundi (D.61)
Kurdish, Northern kmr
Users: 15,900 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Northwestern, Kurdish
Latvian, Standard lvs
Users: 3,020 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Lithuanian lit
Users: 1,800 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic, Eastern
Livvi olo
North Karelia and South Karelia regions: scattered communities. Users: 5,170 in Finland (2000). Ethnic population: 140,000. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Aunus, Livvikovian, Livvin kieli, Olonets, Olonetsian Classification: Uralic, Finnic
Meänkieli fit
Lapland region: Kolari, Muonio, Pello, Tonio, and Ylitonio western municipalities. Users: 30,000 in Finland (1997 B. Winsa). Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Tornedalen Finnish Classification: Uralic, Finnic
Nepali npi
Users: 5,050 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, Eastern Pahari
Pashto, Southern pbt
Users: 1,530 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Eastern, Southeastern, Pashto
Persian, Iranian pes
Users: 16,400 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Polish pol
Users: 5,980 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, West, Lechitic
Portuguese por
Users: 3,840 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Punjabi, Western pnb
Users: 1,240 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi, Western Panjabi
Romani, Kalo Finnish rmf
Scattered. Users: 10,000 in Finland (2001 census). Total users in all countries: 11,650. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Fíntika Rómma, Kaalo, Roma Autonym: Kaalengo tšibbaha Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Romani, Northern
Romanian ron
Users: 6,070 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Eastern
Russian rus
Users: 87,600 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Saami, Inari smn
Lapland region: mostly Utsjoki border town area between Lake Inari and Norway border. Users: 400 (2018 census). 2,000 all Saami in Finland (2021 census). Ethnic population: 700 (1995 M. Krauss). Status: 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Sodankyla in Lapland, 3 municipalities elsewhere (2003, Sami Language Act No. 1086). Alternate Names: Anar, Saam, Saame, Samic, Sámi, “Finnish Lapp” (pej.), “Inari Lappish” (pej.), “Lapp” (pej.) Autonym: Aanaar Saami, Anarâškielâ Classification: Uralic, Sami, Eastern
Saami, Kemi sjk
Lapland: southernmost district. Users: No known L1 speakers. Language last recorded in 1829; last speaker likely died around 1840. Status: 10 (Extinct). Alternate Names: Kemi Sami, Kemi Sámi Classification: Uralic, Sami, Eastern
Saami, North sme
Lapland region: Enontekiö, western Inari, Sodankylä, and Utsjoki municipalities. Users: 1,700 in Finland (2001 census). 2,000 all Saami in Finland (2021 census). Ethnic population: 3,500 (1995 M. Krauss). Status: 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Sami Language Act No. 1086). Alternate Names: Davvin, Northern Lapp, Saame, Same, Sámegiella, “Lapp” (pej.) Classification: Uralic, Sami, Western, Northern
Saami, Skolt sms
Lapland region: Inari municipality, Sevettijärvi area. Users: 300 in Finland (Salminen 2007). 2,000 all Saami in Finland (2021 census). Ethnic population: 500 (1995 M. Krauss). Total users in all countries: 320. Status: 7 (Shifting). Statutory language of provincial identity in Sodankyla in Lapland, 3 municipalities elsewhere (2003, Sami Language Act No. 1086). Alternate Names: Kolta, Koltta, Lopar, Nuõrttsääʹmǩiõll, Russian Lapp, Saame, Same, “Lapp” (pej.), “Skolt Lappish” (pej.) Autonym: Sääʹmǩiõll Classification: Uralic, Sami, Eastern
Somali som
Users: 23,700 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Cushitic, East, Somali
Spanish spa
Users: 100,090 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 9,890 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 90,200 (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Swahili swh
Users: 2,680 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, G, Swahili (G.42)
Swedish swe
Kymenlaakso, Ostrobothnia, and Southwest Finland regions. Users: 2,698,000 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 288,000 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 2,410,000 (European Commission 2012). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (2000, Constitution, Article 17(1,2)). Alternate Names: Ruotsi, Svenska Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Swedish
Tagalog tgl
Users: 5,930 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Tamil tam
Users: 2,410 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Tamil
Telugu tel
Users: 1,240 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Dravidian, South-Central, Telugu
Thai tha
Users: 10,800 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Tigrigna tir
Users: 1,840 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, South, Ethiopian, North
Turkish tur
Users: 10,000 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Ukrainian ukr
Users: 7,280 in Finland (2021 census). Finland is expecting between 40,000 and 80,000 refugees to arrive from Ukraine in 2022 (YLE News). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Balto-Slavic, Slavic, East
Urdu urd
Users: 4,160 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Western Hindi, Hindustani
Uzbek, Northern uzn
Users: 1,270 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Eastern
Vietnamese vie
Users: 12,300 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese
Yoruba yor
Users: 1,150 in Finland (2021 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri

Languages by Status

    Finnish
    [fin] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2000, Constitution, Article 17(1,2)). 5,300,000 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 4,800,000 in Finland (2021 census). 30,000 speakers of Tornedalen Finnish. L2 users: 500,000 (2018 Institute for the Languages of Finland). Total users in all countries: 5,639,640 (as L1: 4,983,640; as L2: 656,000).
    Swedish
    [swe] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (2000, Constitution, Article 17(1,2)). 2,698,000 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 288,000 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 2,410,000 (European Commission 2012).
    Saami, Inari
    [smn] 2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Sodankyla in Lapland, 3 municipalities elsewhere (2003, Sami Language Act No. 1086). 400 (2018 census). 2,000 all Saami in Finland (2021 census). Ethnic population: 700 (1995 M. Krauss).
    English
    [eng] 4 (Educational). 3,895,600 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 25,600 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 3,870,000 (European Commission 2012).
    Estonian, Standard
    [ekk] 5* (Dispersed). 50,200 in Finland (2021 census).
    French
    [fra] 5* (Dispersed). 443,350 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 5,350 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 438,000 (Marcoux et al 2022).
    German, Standard
    [deu] 5* (Dispersed). 1,002,260 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 7,260 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 995,000 (2020).
    Finnish Sign Language
    [fse] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2011, No. 61, Institute for sign language status). Recognized language (1995, Constitution, Section 17). Recognized language (2015, Sign Language Act 359/2015). 5,000 (2014 EUD). Estimates vary: 3,000 deaf, plus 6,000–9,000 hearing (some L1, some L2, Rainò 2010); 5,000 deaf and 10,000 hearing signers (2006 Institute for the Languages of Finland, 2014 EUD); 26,500 (2014 IMB).
    Romani, Kalo Finnish
    [rmf] 5* (Developing). 10,000 in Finland (2001 census). Total users in all countries: 11,650.
    Meänkieli
    [fit] 6a* (Vigorous). 30,000 in Finland (1997 B. Winsa).
    Saami, North
    [sme] 6b (Threatened). Recognized language (2003, Sami Language Act No. 1086). 1,700 in Finland (2001 census). 2,000 all Saami in Finland (2021 census). Ethnic population: 3,500 (1995 M. Krauss).
    Saami, Skolt
    [sms] 7 (Shifting). Statutory language of provincial identity in Sodankyla in Lapland, 3 municipalities elsewhere (2003, Sami Language Act No. 1086). 300 in Finland (Salminen 2007). 2,000 all Saami in Finland (2021 census). Ethnic population: 500 (1995 M. Krauss). Total users in all countries: 320.
    Finland-Swedish Sign Language
    [fss] 8a (Moribund). Recognized language (2015, Sign Language Act 359/2015). 300 in Finland (2021 EUD). 300 deaf sign language users (2021 EUD). Another estimate: approximately 150 deaf and 150 hearing, mostly middle-aged and elderly (Takkinen et al 2015). Total users in all countries: 302.
    Karelian
    [krl] 8a (Moribund). 5,000 in Finland (2018 Institute for the Languages of Finland).
    Livvi
    [olo] 8b (Nearly extinct). 5,170 in Finland (2000). Ethnic population: 140,000.
    Saami, Kemi
    [sjk] 10 (Extinct). No known L1 speakers. Language last recorded in 1829; last speaker likely died around 1840.
    Albanian, Gheg
    [aln] Unestablished. 6,920 in Finland (2021 census).
    Albanian, Tosk
    [als] Unestablished. 6,920 in Finland (2021 census).
    Amharic
    [amh] Unestablished. 1,720 in Finland (2021 census).
    Arabic, Mesopotamian Spoken
    [acm] Unestablished. 17,400 in Finland (2021). Total Arabic speakers in Finland: 36,500 (2021 census).
    Arabic, North Levantine Spoken
    [apc] Unestablished. 17,400 in Finland (2021). Total Arabic speakers in Finland: 36,500 (2021 census).
    Bengali
    [ben] Unestablished. 5,130 in Finland (2021 census).
    Bosnian
    [bos] Unestablished. 2,480 in Finland (2021 census).
    Bulgarian
    [bul] Unestablished. 3,260 in Finland (2021 census).
    Chinese
    [zho] Unestablished. 14,800 in Finland (2021 census).
    Dutch
    [nld] Unestablished. 2,030 in Finland (2021 census).
    Greek
    [ell] Unestablished. 1,870 in Finland (2021 census).
    Hindi
    [hin] Unestablished. 3,250 in Finland (2021 census).
    Hungarian
    [hun] Unestablished. 3,240 in Finland (2021 census).
    Igbo
    [ibo] Unestablished. 1,050 in Finland (2021 census).
    Italian
    [ita] Unestablished. 3,360 in Finland (2021 census).
    Japanese
    [jpn] Unestablished. 1,740 in Finland (2021 census).
    Kinyarwanda
    [kin] Unestablished. 1,310 in Finland (2021 census).
    Kurdish, Northern
    [kmr] Unestablished. 15,900 in Finland (2021 census).
    Latvian, Standard
    [lvs] Unestablished. 3,020 in Finland (2021 census).
    Lithuanian
    [lit] Unestablished. 1,800 in Finland (2021 census).
    Nepali
    [npi] Unestablished. 5,050 in Finland (2021 census).
    Pashto, Southern
    [pbt] Unestablished. 1,530 in Finland (2021 census).
    Persian, Iranian
    [pes] Unestablished. 16,400 in Finland (2021 census).
    Polish
    [pol] Unestablished. 5,980 in Finland (2021 census).
    Portuguese
    [por] Unestablished. 3,840 in Finland (2021 census).
    Punjabi, Western
    [pnb] Unestablished. 1,240 in Finland (2021 census).
    Romanian
    [ron] Unestablished. 6,070 in Finland (2021 census).
    Russian
    [rus] Unestablished. 87,600 in Finland (2021 census).
    Somali
    [som] Unestablished. 23,700 in Finland (2021 census).
    Spanish
    [spa] Unestablished. 100,090 in Finland, all users. L1 users: 9,890 in Finland (2021 census). L2 users: 90,200 (2020).
    Swahili
    [swh] Unestablished. 2,680 in Finland (2021 census).
    Tagalog
    [tgl] Unestablished. 5,930 in Finland (2021 census).
    Tamil
    [tam] Unestablished. 2,410 in Finland (2021 census).
    Telugu
    [tel] Unestablished. 1,240 in Finland (2021 census).
    Thai
    [tha] Unestablished. 10,800 in Finland (2021 census).
    Tigrigna
    [tir] Unestablished. 1,840 in Finland (2021 census).
    Turkish
    [tur] Unestablished. 10,000 in Finland (2021 census).
    Ukrainian
    [ukr] Unestablished. 7,280 in Finland (2021 census). Finland is expecting between 40,000 and 80,000 refugees to arrive from Ukraine in 2022 (YLE News).
    Urdu
    [urd] Unestablished. 4,160 in Finland (2021 census).
    Uzbek, Northern
    [uzn] Unestablished. 1,270 in Finland (2021 census).
    Vietnamese
    [vie] Unestablished. 12,300 in Finland (2021 census).
    Yoruba
    [yor] Unestablished. 1,150 in Finland (2021 census).

Maps

  • Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden

Graphs

  • Language Vitality Profile

  • Language Status Profile

Resources

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