Helsinki population has passed 700,000, marking a major change in the size and makeup of Finland’s capital as international migration becomes the main source of new residents.
The milestone was reached around the middle of August 2026, according to calculations by the City of Helsinki’s urban research and statistics unit. It comes 14 years after the city reached 600,000 residents in August 2012.
Helsinki had 694,392 residents at the end of 2025. Based on preliminary population data and the city’s calculations, the population is now estimated to have moved beyond 700,000.
Helsinki’s population growth has picked up sharply in recent years. During most of the 2000s, the city added roughly 5,500 residents a year. The latest forecast suggests that annual growth could reach between 8,000 and 9,000 people in the coming years.
The city expects to reach 800,000 residents by 2038. By 2040, the population is forecast to be about 822,000.
Growth is expected to slow after that, but not stop. Helsinki’s long-term forecast puts the city’s population above one million by 2070.
That projection matters because population growth affects almost every part of city life, including housing, public transport, schools, healthcare, employment and the demand for public services.
Migration is now responsible for most of Helsinki’s population growth.
About 80 per cent of the city’s annual population increase comes from people moving to Helsinki from elsewhere in Finland or from other countries. In 2025, migration accounted for about 90 per cent of the population increase.
International migration has become particularly important. Helsinki recorded a net gain of about 3,200 people from abroad in 2025.
The city expects international net migration to settle at around 5,000 people a year in the future. At the same time, migration from other parts of Finland is expected to fall gradually to about 1,800 people a year by 2040.
City researcher Hertta Sydanlammi said international migration has increased in recent years and is expected to remain the most important factor behind Helsinki’s population growth.
This changes the way Helsinki is growing. The capital is no longer relying mainly on people moving from other parts of Finland. An increasing share of new residents are arriving from other countries.
Helsinki remains younger than Finland as a whole.
At the end of 2025, the median age in Helsinki was 39. The figure was 44 elsewhere in Finland. Around two-thirds of Helsinki’s residents are of working age.
A younger population can support the city’s economy by providing workers and consumers. It can also create stronger demand for housing, education, childcare, transport and other services.
But Helsinki is also ageing.
The number of residents aged 75 and above is expected to rise from about 62,000 to 82,000 by the end of 2040.
This means the city will have to deal with two different demographic pressures at the same time. It will need to accommodate a growing working-age population while also preparing for a larger number of older residents who may require more healthcare, accessible housing and social services.
Births still outnumber deaths in Helsinki, although that balance is expected to change.
The city recorded 6,842 births in 2025. Births are expected to increase gradually as migration brings more women of childbearing age into the capital.
Deaths, however, are expected to rise more quickly as the population gets older. Helsinki forecasts that deaths will eventually exceed births from around 2060.
This is an important part of the city’s long-term population picture. Migration is expected to remain the main source of growth, while natural population growth is likely to become weaker over time.
Population growth is also changing the languages spoken across the capital.
At the end of 2025, 21 per cent of Helsinki residents had a registered mother tongue other than Finnish, Swedish or Sami. Across Finland, the corresponding figure was 11 per cent.
The city records 157 different mother tongues among its residents.
Foreign-born residents now make up 19 per cent of Helsinki’s population, while 13 per cent of residents are foreign citizens.
The number of people born outside Finland has more than tripled since the beginning of the century.
This growing diversity is visible in everyday life, from schools and workplaces to restaurants, neighbourhoods and public services. It also creates practical challenges for the city, particularly when public information and services need to reach residents who do not speak Finland’s official languages.
Population growth will not happen evenly across Helsinki.
The Central Major District is expected to see the largest increase, gaining about 36,000 residents by 2040. Much of that growth will be linked to new housing in areas such as Kalasatama and Pasila.
The Western Major District is expected to gain around 21,400 residents, while the Southern Major District is forecast to add about 20,000.
Housing construction will therefore be one of the most important factors determining whether Helsinki can manage its growth without putting excessive pressure on rents and housing availability.
The city expects an average of about 5,500 new homes to be completed every year between 2026 and 2040.
That is a substantial building programme, but the challenge is not simply about reaching a construction target. New homes also need to be located close to transport, schools, workplaces, shops and other services if the growing population is to be absorbed efficiently.
The move beyond 700,000 residents is more than a population statistic. It shows how Helsinki is changing in size, age and background.
The capital is attracting more people from abroad, adding residents faster than it did during much of the previous two decades and preparing for continued growth over several decades.
At the same time, the city is facing an ageing population, rising demand for housing and a future in which deaths are expected to exceed births.
Helsinki will mark the 700,000 milestone with a campaign starting on 21 August. Campaign materials will be available in eight languages, reflecting the city’s growing international population.
Mayor Daniel Sazonov said the milestone represents 700,000 individual people with different lives and stories.
That is perhaps the most useful way to view the figure. Helsinki is not simply becoming a larger city. It is becoming a more international and more diverse one, and its future will depend on how well housing, employment, transport and public services keep pace with that change.
The 700,000 figure is still an estimate based on preliminary population data. Statistics Finland updates preliminary population figures each month, while the final monthly population figures for 2026 are expected in summer 2027.
