Debt enforcement in Finland is rising at an alarming pace, reflecting deeper economic strain among citizens and businesses. According to new data from the Enforcement Authority, the number of people and organizations involved in enforcement proceedings has increased by 4 percent compared to the same period in 2024. If the current trend continues, more than 600,000 individuals and companies could face enforcement action by the end of the year.
Private individuals make up over 90 percent of all enforcement cases. Nearly 40 percent of these involve debts below €1,000, showing how even small unpaid amounts are pulling thousands of Finns into recovery proceedings.
The Enforcement Authority also reports an increase in the total number of cases. By the end of September, 1.5 percent more enforcement filings had been recorded than during the same period last year. If this growth continues, Finland could reach nearly 2.8 million cases before the year ends.
Asset sales linked to enforcement are increasing steadily. By September, sales had been initiated in 12 percent more cases than a year earlier. About 3,100 asset sales have already been completed, marking a 16 percent year-on-year rise.
Director General Veikko Minkkinen of the Enforcement Authority said that while more sales are being finalized, the backlog of open cases is also growing. As of September, ongoing sales were up 14 percent from the previous year. He noted that cautious consumer behavior and a weak housing market are slowing down resolutions.
While debt enforcement in Finland continues to climb, eviction cases are showing a slight decline. Filed evictions fell by just over 3 percent, completed ones dropped 5.5 percent, and cancellations decreased by around 3 percent.
Despite this drop, eviction figures remain slightly above 2023 levels. Minkkinen explained that eviction cases are becoming more complicated as social and mental health challenges increase among affected individuals. Bailiffs are now spending more time coordinating with welfare and housing agencies to manage these situations carefully.
Authorities are also seeing more disruptive behavior and violent incidents during evictions, requiring greater police presence. The Enforcement Authority is now working with several agencies to reduce evictions through earlier intervention and social support.
Despite growing pressure, enforcement operations are bringing in record recoveries. By the end of September, €1.147 billion had been returned to creditors, and the total is projected to reach €1.4 billion by year-end, the highest figure ever recorded.
Nearly half of the recovered funds come from wage and pension garnishments. Public authorities receive about €400 million yearly from unpaid taxes, fines, and other public claims. Additionally, enforcement fees collected from debtors add around €90 million each year to the state budget.
If the same pace continues, Finland’s enforcement system will face mounting case volumes and greater social strain. The figures highlight how rising personal debt remains one of the country’s most persistent financial challenges, even as collection efforts hit record highs.
