Swedish Finns
Swedish Finns are Sweden’s largest national minority, with a thousand-year history, their own language, and a rich culture.
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Who is a Swedish Finn?
Swedish Finns are people with Finnish roots who live in Sweden. Each person decides for themselves whether they identify as a Swedish Finn.
Most have either themselves, a parent, or a grandparent who was born in Finland. What unites Swedish Finns is above all the language and the culture.
Today, there are about 700,000 people in Sweden with Finnish heritage.
The history of Swedish Finns
The history of Swedish Finns in Sweden spans nearly a thousand years. Finland was part of Sweden from the 12th century until 1809, and people moved freely between the areas for centuries.
- Many came to work in forestry, mining, and industry.
- During World War II, around 80,000 Finnish children were sent to Sweden to escape the war.
- Most Swedish Finns today are the children or grandchildren of those who moved here in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s to work in industry.
- When Finland became part of Russia in 1809, many Finnish speakers ended up on the Swedish side of the border, but migration from Finland continued even after that.
Swedish Finns’ day and flag
Swedish Finns’ Day is celebrated on February 24, the birthday of Carl Axel Gottlund. He was a Finnish folklorist and cultural politician who founded the first Finnish association in Sweden.
The day became official in 2011, and since 2014, Swedish Finns have also had their own flag, symbolizing their language, culture, and history.
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Citizens Service
E-mail: kommunen@boden.se
Phone: +46 921 620 00