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### Viewing cable 09HELSINKI239, FINLAND: MUSLIM POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09HELSINKI239 | 2009-06-24 10:42 | 2011-04-24 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Helsinki

`

    VZCZCXRO7680
    RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
    RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK
    RUEHYG
    DE RUEHHE #0239/01 1751042
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 241042Z JUN 09
    FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5030
    INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HELSINKI 000239

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    EUR/NB FOR MIGUEL RODRIGUES AND EUR/FO/FARAH PANDITH

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PINR KISL KPLS FI PHUM PGOV
    SUBJECT: FINLAND: MUSLIM POPULATION AND DEMOGRAPHICS

    ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  Over the last two decades, Finland has
    experienced significant growth in its Muslim population,
    albeit based on smaller numbers than other European
    countries.  In the last decade, the growth occurred mainly
    due to refugee acceptance programs.  Analyzing that growth
    proves challenging as the Government of Finland (GoF)
    collects limited official data on origin and ethnicity per se
    - especially once a resident obtains Finnish citizenship.
    From an estimated population historically quoted around 1,000
    in 1990, Post estimates a population at year-end 2007 of
    around 40,000 based on statistics available for both mother
    tongue and resident country of origin and birth, with
    adjustments. That population reportedly has risen rapidly
    since 2008, at the same time national polls now show a drop
    in support for immigration.  One of the GoF's goals for the
    second half of its term is to focus more on immigration
    policy - integration, education and employment.  END SUMMARY.

    ESTIMATING POPULATION
    ---------------------

    ¶2.  (SBU) Estimating the Muslim population proves difficult,
    as the GoF collects limited ethnic data before a resident
    gains Finnish citizenship and ceases tracking ethnicity after
    citizenship.  It collects religious-affiliation data, but it
    appears few Muslims participate in the voluntary registration
    system.  Fewer than 6000 Muslims have registered; GoF
    officials have told EmbOffs that most of the largest Muslim
    immigrant group, Somalis, practice but do not register, so
    that figure is clearly far too low.  Examining estimates from
    various sources indicates a growth in population from a low
    of 1,000 in 1990 to approximately 40,000 in 2008:

    --1990 (Academy of Finland
    www.helsinki.fi/teol/uskt/musref/into.html) 1,000
    --1999 (Academy of Finland
    www.helsinki.fi/teol/uskt/musref/intro.html) 15,000 to 20,000
    --2005 September 12, (Helsingin Sanomat newspaper
    www.helsinginsanomat.fi/english) cited 30,000 Muslims in
    Finland, the largest group comprised of Somalis.
    --2007 December 4-5 (OSCE Report) cited 40,000 Muslims living
    in Finland with most holding citizenship, but did not
    footnote the citation.

    ¶3. (SBU) Published population estimates vary and appear
    mostly drawn from the range contained in the CIA World
    Factbook, 20,000 to 40,000 (as of July 2005).  The cited
    Factbook estimate broadly tracks with GoF figures based on
    residents' country of origin by birth and nationality (see
    paragraph 10), estimating approximately 20,000 by Country of
    Citizenship and 46,000 by Country of Birth.  (NOTE: Such
    figures are subject to additional uncertainties, e.g.,
    estimates would be subject to adjustment based on percentage
    of Muslims in countries of birth/origin, and GoF estimates
    did not include figures from countries with a Muslim
    population under 2 per cent. Also, the dissolution of
    Yugoslavia and the U.S.S.R. creates differences between birth
    and nationality countries.  END NOTE.)

    ¶4.  (SBU) Aside from country of birth and nationality, the
    GoF also collects information regarding the mother tongue for
    those residents who have not yet changed their "official
    tongue" to Finnish (see paragraph 9).  Totaling the
    (self-selected) languages with a high Islamic bias, spoken in
    areas with an estimated 70 to 100 percent Muslim population
    results in 37,475 for 2006 and 39,586 for 2007.

    APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MUSLIMS IN FINLAND
    ---------------------------------------

    ¶5.  (SBU) One might accept the broad range of 20,000 to
    46,000, or one might seek a single figure.  In arriving at a
    single figure, post believes that a reasonable source is
    mother tongue data, taking into account factors supporting
    adjustments up and down.  Additions would include the number
    of Tatars, the native Finnish Muslim minority, which the GoF
    estimates to be 800.  The higher birth rate among immigrant
    populations might suggest further addition.  Counted against
    that would be an unknown number of non-Muslims fleeing from
    Islamic states.  A reasonable estimate for the Muslim
    population in Finland is 40,000.  Media reported in October
    and November 2008, that at least 40,000 Muslims reside in
    Finland; of these, one report said, 27,000 are immigrants,
    9,000 to 13,000 are next generation and 1,000 are converts.
    (NOTE:  These two reports did not reflect a source for their
    figures.  END NOTE.)

    MUSLIM POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
    ------------------------------

    HELSINKI 00000239  002 OF 003

    ¶6. (U) Based on additional Statistics Finland data on
    "Citizenship of the population by age and sex 31.12.2006,"
    immigrants to Finland - virtually all of the Muslim
    population - typically bring a different population age
    structure than exists among the Finnish populace in general:
    Most immigrants are working age and the proportion of
    children and young people with them is larger, explained by
    families accompanying refugees and family reunification.
    Finnish officials commented to PolOff that birthrates are
    initially higher among immigrant families, but the higher
    birthrate cannot be corroborated by the data, as live births
    in Finland are not necessarily reported by mother's or
    father's mother tongue or origin.

    MUSLIM POPULATION BOOMLET?
    --------------------------

    ¶7. (U) Finland may be experiencing a boomlet in its Muslim
    population due to asylum and refugee activity. Somali and
    Iraqi refugees comprise a large majority of asylum
    applicants. In 2008 and likely in 2009 a large number of
    UNHCR refugees will be Kurdish Iraqis and Palestinians.
    Media reported that in 2008 a total of 4,000 people applied
    for asylum in Finland with most of them arriving from Somalia
    and Iraq; media also reported that the number of applications
    is expected to climb to 6,000 in 2009.  Statistics from the
    Finnish Migration Service support the reported trend; Iraqi
    asylum applications grew 284 per cent for 2008 over 2007; and
    Somali applications grew 165 per cent; Iranian applications
    grew 82 per cent.  In a meeting with PolOff, a Helsinki city
    official estimated that each of four ferries coming daily
    from Sweden brings six asylum applicants.

    ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT.  The fast rise of a youthful, largely male
    immigrant population during an economic downturn will present
    a challenge to the government.  An additional concern is the
    drop in public support for immigration, revealed in latest
    national polls.  One of the GoF's goals for the second half
    of its term is to focus more on immigration policy -
    integration, education and employment.  END COMMENT.

    MOTHER TONGUE STATISTICS
    ------------------------

    ¶9. (U) The GoF agency Statistics Finland issued a report,
    "Population Structure and Vital Statistics by Municipality
    2006," which presents the most detailed published population
    data (October 2007) available for mother tongue statistics.

    PASHTO:  317 nationwide with 150 in Southern Finland and 159
    in Western Finland
    ALBANIAN:  5,415 nationwide with 4,376 of those in Southern
    Finland.
    AMHARIC:  549 nationwide with 433 of those in Southern
    Finland.
    ARABIC:  7,564 nationwide with 5,568 of those in Southern
    Finland, 1,240 in Western Finland, 474 in Eastern Finland,
    265 in Northern Finland and 17 in the Aland Islands.
    AZERBAIJANI:  261 nationwide with 165 of those in Southern
    Finland and 93 in Western Finland.
    INDONESIAN:  211 nationwide with 150 of those in Southern
    Finland.
    KURDISH:  5,469 nationwide with 4,237 of those in Southern
    Finland and 872 in Western Finland, 113 in Eastern Finland,
    199 in Northern Finland, and 49 in the Aland Islands.
    MALAYALAM:  114 nationwide with 89 in Southern Finland.
    PERSIAN:  3,529 nationwide with 1,944 in Southern Finland,
    1,096 in Western Finland, 246 in Eastern Finland, 207 in
    Northern Finland and 36 in Aland Islands.
    SOMALI:  8,990 nationwide with 8,505 in Southern Finland, 336
    in Western Finland, 73 in Eastern Finland, and 76 in Northern
    Finland.
    TATAR:  138 nationwide with 125 in Southern Finland.
    TURKISH:  3,929 nationwide with 2,855 in Southern Finland,
    692 in Western Finland, 191 in Eastern Finland and 187 in
    Northern Finland.
    TURKMEN:  164 nationwide with 90 in Southern Finland and 72
    in Western Finland.
    URDU:  679 nationwide with 546 in Southern Finland and 107 in
    Western Finland.
    CHECHEN:  146 nationwide with 98 in Southern Finland and 36
    in Western Finland.

    Total of these languages nationwide (2006):  37,475.

    Statistics Finland "Statistical Yearbook of Finland 2008"
    presents the most recent data nationwide (October 2008)
    regarding year end 2007.  Many of the less widely spoken
    second languages are relegated to "other" in the newer report.

    HELSINKI 00000239  003 OF 003

    ALBANIAN: 5791
    AMHARIC: 637
    ARABIC:  8119
    KURDISH:  5893
    PASHTO:  364
    PERSIAN:  3896
    SOMALI: 9810
    TURKISH: 4276
    URDU:  800

    Total of these languages nationwide (2007):  39,586

    COUNTRY OF ORIGIN STATISTICS
    ----------------------------

    ¶10. (U) Statistics Finland reports (non-Finnish) citizenship
    or (non-Finnish) country of birth for 2006, as follows
    included:

    Country/Citizenship/Birth
    Afghanistan/2011/1738
    Albania/104/124
    Algeria/252/536
    Azerbaijan/121/64
    Bangladesh/606/736
    Bosnia & Herzegovina/1599/70
    Burma (Myamar )/403/287
    Cameroon/201/193
    Congo/40/--
    Congo (DCR)/676/556
    Cote d'Ivoire/--/74
    Egypt/279/611
    Eritrea/73/--
    Ethiopia/383/1001
    Former Yugosalvia/529/5214
    Gambia/177/546
    Georgia/51/--
    Ghana/447/546
    India/1990/2479
    Indonesia/181/246
    Iran/2602/3442
    Iraq/3045/4436
    Israel/328/624
    Jordan/137/197
    Kazakhstan/307/307
    Kenya/459/578
    Kuwait/--/83
    Lebanon/100/440
    Liberia/77/80
    Libya/107/130
    Malaysia/188/296
    Morocco/702/1366
    Nepal/269/309
    Nigeria/572/657
    Pakistan/540/770
    Philippines/671/1129
    Rwanda/74/76
    Saudi Arabia/--/223
    Senegal/58/78
    Serbia/45/--
    Serbia & Montenegro/3340/813
    Sierra Leone/53/72
    Singapore/48/99
    Somalia/4623/5261
    Sri Lanka/298/470
    Sudan/976/764
    Syria/140/304
    Tanzania/207/303
    Thailand/2994/4074
    Tunisia/255/411
    Turkey/2886/3708
    Uganda/58/68
    Uzbekistan/99/--
    Zambia/76/105

    ¶11.  Contact at Post for further information on the data:
    Lisa Conesa,email,ConesaLB@state.gov

    BUTLER

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