Arabs in Finland

Summary

Arabs in Finland are residents and citizens of Finland who speak the Arabic language.[3]

Arabs in Finland
Total population
50,000
(≈0.91% of the population of Finland)
Regions with significant populations
Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Turku, Tampere, Lahti
Iraq Iraqis26,653[1]
Syria Syrians10,000[1]
Morocco Moroccans4,106[1]
Sudan Sudanese2,080[1]
Egypt Egyptians1,808[1]
Algeria Algerians1,521[1]
Tunisia Tunisians1,197[1]
Lebanon Lebanese1,000[2]
Languages
Arabic
Finnish
Religion
Islam and Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Arabs and Arab diaspora

Status of Arabic edit

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 edit

Arabic is Finland's third most spoken foreign language, after Russian and Estonian. As of 2018, 29,462 people speak it as their mother tongue.[3]

Arabic speakers by municipality in 2018[5]
Municipality Arabs (2018) %
1. Helsinki 7,465 1.15
2. Espoo 3,905 1.38
3. Vantaa 3,094 1.36
4. Turku 2,610 1.36
5. Tampere 2,061 0.88
6. Lahti 1,004 0.84
- Finland 30,062 0.54

Society edit

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 edit

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

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "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. ^ a b "Arabic third most common foreign language in Finland". Yle Uutiset. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  4. ^ "Kansoja yhdistävä ja erottava arabia". Kieliverkosto.
  5. ^ https://statfin.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11rm.px/
  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.