Finland Grants Citizenship to More Than 1,600 Russian Nationals in 2024
Finland Grants Citizenship to Over 1,600 Russians in 2024 Amid Overall Decline in Naturalisations
In 2024, 1,624 Russian nationals were granted Finnish citizenship, making them the largest nationality group to receive citizenship in Finland that year. However, this marked a 6% decline compared to 2023, with 282 fewer Russians naturalised.
Overall Citizenship Numbers Drop Slightly
A total of 11,512 foreign nationals became Finnish citizens in 2024, down by 712 individuals or 6% compared to the previous year. Despite the drop, the figures still reflect a strong interest in Finnish citizenship.
Majority of New Citizens Were Women
Women made up a slight majority of new citizens:
6,198 women (53.8%)
5,314 men (46.2%)
The average age of new citizens was:
30 years for women
28.1 years for men
29 years overall
The largest age group among new citizens was 30–34 years, totaling 1,624 individuals or 14% of all new Finnish citizens.
Dual Citizenship Continues to Rise
According to the data, 94% of new citizens retained their original nationality, contributing to Finland’s growing dual citizenship population.
By the end of 2024, 184,838 people were Finnish citizens who also held another nationality while being permanent residents in the country.
The largest dual citizenship groups included:
Russians – 41,037
Swedes – 11,120
Iraqis – 10,607
Somalis – 9,835
Estonians – 8,852
Stricter Citizenship Procedures Under Consideration
The Finnish Interior Ministry is currently exploring ways to tighten citizenship requirements, including the introduction of a citizenship test.
According to an official statement, the test would serve as proof of successful integration into Finnish society. A cross-administrative working group is assessing how such a test would be implemented and how it could align with existing language requirements.
“Language exams are expected to be a key part of the citizenship test, requiring applicants to demonstrate proficiency in either Finnish or Swedish.”
— Finnish Interior Ministry
Similar citizenship tests are already in place in Denmark and Norway, and Finland appears to be moving in the same direction to ensure that new citizens meet integration and language benchmarks.
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