Arabs in Finland

Arabs in Finland

Total population
56,432 (1% of the population of Finland)
Regions with significant populations
Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Turku, Tampere, Lahti
Iraqis	29,266[1]
Syrians	11,125[1]
Moroccans	4,673[1]
Sudanese	2,244[1]
Egyptians	2,158[1]
Algerians	1,716[1]
Tunisians	1,414[1]
Lebanese	1,000[2]
Languages
Arabic Finnish
Religion
Islam and Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Arabs and Arab diaspora

Arabs in Finland (Arabic: العرب في فنلندا, romanized: al-ʻArab fī Finlandā) are residents and citizens of Finland who speak the Arabic language.[3]

Status of Arabic

Arabic has for a long time been taught in Finnish schools as a native language for Arabs. Starting from 2019 fall, Arabic will be an optional B2 language in Finnish primary schools. As an academic subject it can be learned at University of Helsinki.[4]

Demographics

Arabic is Finland's third most spoken foreign language, after Russian and Estonian. As of 2023, 41,311 people speak it as their mother tongue. In bilingual Vantaa it had more speakers than Swedish.[3]

Arabic speakers by municipality in 2023[5]

№	Municipality	Arabs (2018)	%
1.	Helsinki	10,420	1.54
2.	Espoo	5,881	1.87
3.	Vantaa	5,682	2.30
4.	Turku	3,430	1.70
5.	Tampere	2,540	1.00
6.	Lahti	1,282	1.06
7.	Oulu	1,031	0.48
-	Finland	41,311	0.74

Society

The majority of Finnish Arabs have arrived as refugees and have lived in Finland for less than five years. 37% of Arabs feel that they are Finnish, and 57% have experienced discrimination in the labour market. One in three Arabs lack Finnish friends.[6]

During Helsinki New Year's Eve sexual assaults, Arabs in Facebook discussed how they could clear their reputation.[7]

Notable people

• Finnish people of Arab descent: Algerian, Egyptian, Iraqi, Lebanese, Moroccan, Palestinian, Sudanese, Syrian, Tunisian,
• Immigrants: Egyptian, Iraqi, Palestinian,
• Expatriates: Algerian, Lebanese, Moroccan, Syrian, Tunisian

References

1. "PX-Web - Valitse muuttuja ja arvot". Archived from the original on 2019-02-12. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
2. "Immigrant and Emigrant Populations by Country of Origin and Destination". migrationpolicy.org. February 10, 2014.
3. "Arabic third most common foreign language in Finland". Yle Uutiset. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
4. "Kansoja yhdistävä ja erottava arabia". Kieliverkosto.
5. "Population 31.12. By Area, Language, Sex, Year and Information".
6. "Tutkimus: 90 prosenttia Suomessa asuvista somaleista kokee tulevansa syrjityksi työmarkkinoilla". Helsingin Sanomat. September 30, 2019.
7. Särkkä, Heini (January 20, 2016). "Näin Suomen arabit kommentoivat uudenvuoden epäiltyjä seksuaalirikoksia Facebookissa". Ilta-Sanomat.