The number of second-generation Finns — meaning people born in Finland with one or both parents born abroad — climbed above the 100,000 mark last year, according to figures published by Statistics Finland.

The data-crunching agency's numbers revealed that a total of 661,000 people with foreign backgrounds were residing permanently in Finland by the end of last year.

Of this number, 102,000 had been born in Finland — a figure that has doubled since 2014.

The largest foreign national group living in Finland last year was Ukrainians, with their numbers also accounting for a slight increase in Finland's overall population.

The official population figure for last year is 5.65 million, according to Statistics Finland.

This is an increase of some 16,910 people on the previous year, but the agency noted that Finland's population growth has slowed significantly in comparison to 2023 and 2024.

In 2024, the corresponding future stood at over 32,000 while in 2023 growth was nearly 40,000.

A separate report published by Statistics Finland at the start of this year revealed that a total of 50,060 immigrants arrived in Finland during 2025, representing a "significant" decrease on the figure of 63,965 registered in 2024, and the 73,236 recorded in 2023, which was an all-time high figure.

Without immigration, Finland's population would have declined by nearly 200,000 people over the past three years amid the country's stagnated birth rate.

The Finnish government has been repeatedly criticised by immigrants and business lobbies alike for policies which create an "unwelcome atmosphere" for people moving to the country from abroad.