Indians in Finland

Finnish-Indians
Finnish Indians; Intialaiset Suomessa / Intialais-suomalaiset
Total population
	16,842 Indian citizens;; 18,090 born in India
Regions with significant populations
	Helsinki, Tampere and Turku regions & Oulu
Languages
	Finnish · Various Indian Languages · English
Religion
	Hinduism · Sikhism . Christianity
Related ethnic groups
	People of Indian Origin

Indians in Finland are people who have ancestry from the country of India and live in Finland. People can be born in India, have Indian descent and/or be citizens of India. As of 2025^[update], there were 18,090 people born in India who live in Finland. Similarly, the number of people holding Indian citizenship was 16,842.^[1]

Overview

At the beginning of the 21st century there were about 450 Indians in the Helsinki region.^[2] In 2022, Finland was home to 11,634 Indians.^[3] The majority of the Indians live in and around the capital Helsinki. Most of them are engaged in businesses such as restaurants and stores selling garments, textiles, artificial jewellery, groceries and gift items. A number of young Indians, mainly computer and telecom experts, have in recent years joined Finnish high-tech companies such as Nokia.

There are hundreds of Indian engineers working in Finland. Many of them came to work there to get a quality life and also their salary would be double than what they would get in India even though taxes erode the difference.^[4] At Nokia's research facility alone there are nearly 100 Indians working there. Wipro employed some 300 people in Finland while their competitor Tata Consultancy Services employed 600 individuals. Many of the engineers came with their spouses and children and have settled permanently in Finland.

There is also a sizable population of Indian postgraduate students, both Master's and PhD level students, in Finland and especially in Helsinki region. They are most prominent in technology related fields.^[5]

Religious life

The Indian diaspora in Finland is religiously diverse, with Sikhism and Hinduism representing two of the most prominent faiths. Sikhism has a deep-rooted history in Finland, with the first permanent places of worship established to support the growing Punjabi community. Gurdwara Sarab Sangat Sahib in Helsinki and Gurudwara Vantaa serve as the primary religious institutions. Beyond religious services, these Gurdwaras act as vital socio-cultural hubs for the broader Indian diaspora. They frequently serve as the first point of contact for newly arriving Indian expatriates and international students, providing social support, meals, and informal guidance on integrating into Finnish society.^[6]

A significant portion of the community practices Hinduism. While official state registries record a small number of formally affiliated members—around 367 individuals spread across four registered Hindu communities—the actual number of Hindus living in Finland is estimated to be approximately 6,000.^[7] Interest in Hindu philosophies first arrived in Finland via theosophy in the early 20th century, followed by devotional movements like ISKCON in the 1980s. As the Indian student and expatriate population has surged in recent years, there have been increasing calls for institutional accommodations. For example, Hindu organizations have petitioned major Finnish educational institutions to establish designated Hindu prayer rooms on campus to support the spiritual needs of international students.^[8]

Family migration and spousal integration

Because a large percentage of Indian immigrants move to Finland as highly skilled specialists in the IT and engineering sectors, family-tie immigration is common. However, trailing expatriate spouses—often highly educated women—frequently face significant integration challenges. Academic studies indicate that these spouses often experience language barriers, social isolation, and "deskilling" (inability to find work matching their qualifications) within the Finnish labor market.^[9]

To mitigate these issues, prevent family-driven repatriation, and utilize this hidden talent pool, the Finnish government and local municipalities have launched targeted support initiatives. Programs such as the Helsinki Spouse Program and Tampere's "Hidden Gems" offer career coaching, networking events, and peer mentoring specifically designed to help international spouses integrate into Finnish society and the local workforce.^[10]

Culture and sports

The diaspora is supported by several long-standing cultural institutions. The Finnish-Indian Society (''Suomi-Intia-Seura ry''), founded in 1949 initially by Finns interested in Indian philosophy, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024. Today, it serves as a primary bridge between the two cultures.^[11]

To preserve their heritage and foster intercultural exchange with the Finnish public, the community actively organizes large-scale festivals. The most prominent is India Day (''Intia-päivä''), an annual summer festival held in central Helsinki. Co-organized by the Finnish-Indian Society, the Embassy of India, and various regional diaspora associations, the event showcases Indian classical and Bollywood-style dance, music, regional cuisines, and yoga, attracting thousands of visitors.^[12]

Other regional and demographic-specific groups also play a key role in community life. Organizations such as O-India in Oulu serve populations outside the capital region, while Indian Women in Finland (IWF) organizes educational seminars to help expatriate families navigate the Finnish school system.^[13]

Furthermore, the Punjab Cultural Society (PCS) organizes major traditional festivals such as Vaisakhi and Diwali, helping the younger, Finnish-born generation maintain a structured connection to their South Asian roots^[14]

The Indian diaspora has played a notable role in reviving field hockey in Finland, creating a modern parallel to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics where the Indian national team won gold. In 2014, immigrant Vicky Moga founded the Helsinki-based Warriors Hockey Club. The club has since won consecutive Finnish National Championships and successfully developed a new generation of Finnish-Indian players who currently represent the Finnish National Team in both youth and adult brackets.^[15]

Population by municipalities

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1990	517	—
1995	773	+8.38%
2000	1,172	+8.68%
2005	2,138	+12.78%
2010	3,955	+13.09%
2015	5,688	+7.54%
2020	8,426	+8.18%
2025	18,090	+16.51%
Indian-born. Source: Statistics Finland

People born in India who now live in Finland, according to Statistics Finland.

Country of birth India by municipality (2024)^[16]

Municipality

Population

Whole country

16,404

5,016

3,321

1,824

1,186

918

637

346

344

256

199

164

147

145

107

104

103

83

75

63

53

53

44

43

43

40

40

37

36

29

28

28

27

27

26

26

26

25

23

23

22

22

19

19

18

18

18

17

17

16

15

14

14

14

14

12

12

11

11

10

10

10

People with Indian citizenship now living in Finland according to Statistics Finland.

Citizens of India by municipality (2024)^[16]