Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Russians in Finland
Russians in Finland or Finnish Russians are a linguistic and ethnic immigrant minority in Finland. As of 2025[update], there were 102,618 Russian speakers in Finland, or 1.8% of the population. It is the second largest linguistic minority in the country. However, many of the Russian-speaking immigrants are ethnically Ingrian Finns and other Finno-Ugric peoples. In addition, a significant minority of Estonians, Ukrainians and people from the former Soviet Union speak Russian as their mother tongue.
As of 2025[update], there were 33,848 people, or 0.6% of population, who hold Russian citizenship residing in Finland – dual citizens included. The dissolution of the Soviet Union has influenced how Statistics Finland defines a person's country of birth in their statistical data. Before 1991, individuals born in what is now Russia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, or in other Post-Soviet states, are considered to have been born in the Soviet Union. 23,530 people were born in Russia and whereas 84,504 people come from the former Soviet Union.
Furthermore, there are people with Russian-background who have received only Finnish citizenship, and Estonian Russians. Two common reasons for immigration were marriage, and descendant from Ingrian Finns.
Russian citizens who moved before the Second World War are called "Old Russians". The next immigration wave happened after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as Ingrian Finns re-migrated to Finland. At present, marriage and family ties are two other common reasons for Russians to immigrate to Finland.
The first migratory wave of Russians began in the early 18th century, when Finland was part of the Swedish Empire. About 40,000 Russian soldiers, civilian workers, and about 600 businessmen moved to the Grand Duchy of Finland, which became an autonomous state in personal union with the Russian Empire in 1809. When Finland became fully independent in 1917, many soldiers returned to Russia. Many businessmen stayed, including the Sinebrychoff family. During the Russian Revolution, many aristocrats and officers fled to Finland as refugees. The biggest refugee wave was in 1922 when about 33,500 people came to Finland. Many of them had Nansen passports for many years. During the Kronstadt rebellion about 1,600 officers fled to Finland.[citation needed] Russian citizens who moved in these three waves are called "Old Russians", whose 3,000–5,000 descendants live in Finland today. During World War II, there were about 69,700 Soviet prisoners of war in Finland, and 200–300 children were born to them and Finnish women.
A second major wave of immigration occurred after the fall of the Soviet Union. Many Russian guest workers came to Finland, working low-paying jobs. In the 1990s, immigration to Finland grew, and a Russian-speaking population descended from Ingrian Finns immigrated to Finland. In the 2000s, many nouveaux riche Russians have bought estates in Eastern Finland.
People born in Russia and living in Finland, according to Statistics Finland.
People with Russia citizenship living in Finland according to Statistics Finland.
Hub AI
Russians in Finland AI simulator
(@Russians in Finland_simulator)
Russians in Finland
Russians in Finland or Finnish Russians are a linguistic and ethnic immigrant minority in Finland. As of 2025[update], there were 102,618 Russian speakers in Finland, or 1.8% of the population. It is the second largest linguistic minority in the country. However, many of the Russian-speaking immigrants are ethnically Ingrian Finns and other Finno-Ugric peoples. In addition, a significant minority of Estonians, Ukrainians and people from the former Soviet Union speak Russian as their mother tongue.
As of 2025[update], there were 33,848 people, or 0.6% of population, who hold Russian citizenship residing in Finland – dual citizens included. The dissolution of the Soviet Union has influenced how Statistics Finland defines a person's country of birth in their statistical data. Before 1991, individuals born in what is now Russia, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, or in other Post-Soviet states, are considered to have been born in the Soviet Union. 23,530 people were born in Russia and whereas 84,504 people come from the former Soviet Union.
Furthermore, there are people with Russian-background who have received only Finnish citizenship, and Estonian Russians. Two common reasons for immigration were marriage, and descendant from Ingrian Finns.
Russian citizens who moved before the Second World War are called "Old Russians". The next immigration wave happened after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, as Ingrian Finns re-migrated to Finland. At present, marriage and family ties are two other common reasons for Russians to immigrate to Finland.
The first migratory wave of Russians began in the early 18th century, when Finland was part of the Swedish Empire. About 40,000 Russian soldiers, civilian workers, and about 600 businessmen moved to the Grand Duchy of Finland, which became an autonomous state in personal union with the Russian Empire in 1809. When Finland became fully independent in 1917, many soldiers returned to Russia. Many businessmen stayed, including the Sinebrychoff family. During the Russian Revolution, many aristocrats and officers fled to Finland as refugees. The biggest refugee wave was in 1922 when about 33,500 people came to Finland. Many of them had Nansen passports for many years. During the Kronstadt rebellion about 1,600 officers fled to Finland.[citation needed] Russian citizens who moved in these three waves are called "Old Russians", whose 3,000–5,000 descendants live in Finland today. During World War II, there were about 69,700 Soviet prisoners of war in Finland, and 200–300 children were born to them and Finnish women.
A second major wave of immigration occurred after the fall of the Soviet Union. Many Russian guest workers came to Finland, working low-paying jobs. In the 1990s, immigration to Finland grew, and a Russian-speaking population descended from Ingrian Finns immigrated to Finland. In the 2000s, many nouveaux riche Russians have bought estates in Eastern Finland.
People born in Russia and living in Finland, according to Statistics Finland.
People with Russia citizenship living in Finland according to Statistics Finland.