Do people in Finland speak English? Learn about English proficiency in Finland, top English speaking cities, language stats, and teaching English in Finland.
### The Status of English in Finland: Everything You Need to Know
Finland has two official languages Finnish and Swedish but English holds a remarkably strong position in the country. Around 70% of Finland's population of approximately 5.4 million speaks English, placing Finland among the top four countries in the world for English proficiency. For tourists, students, and immigrants alike, this makes everyday life and communication significantly easier than in many other non English speaking countries.
### Three Main Languages Spoken in Finland
### Finnish
Finnish is spoken by approximately 4,868,751 people around 88.98% of the population. It is one of the oldest languages in the region, with a history spanning 500 years, and belongs to the Uralic language family. Finnish is related to Estonian and, more distantly, to Hungarian and the Samoyedic languages of Siberia such as Nenets. It is widely considered one of the most challenging languages for speakers of European languages to learn, due to its complex grammar and sentence structure.
### Swedish
Swedish is spoken by approximately 290,747 people in Finland around 5.31% of the population and is the second official language. Over 92% of Swedish speakers in Finland come from the autonomous region of Åland. Swedish is a mandatory subject in Finnish schools for students whose primary language is Finnish, and vice versa. The largest Swedish speaking communities are in Vaasa, Helsinki, Porvoo, and Espoo.
### Russian
Russian is the third most widely spoken language in Finland, with approximately 69,614 speakers (1.27% of the population). Due to historical ties with the Soviet Union, older generations often have some Russian proficiency, but among younger Finns, English has largely replaced Russian as the preferred third language.
### Languages Spoken in Finland: Full Breakdown
Finland is linguistically diverse. Here is a complete overview of the languages spoken in the country:
Finnish is spoken by 4,868,751 people, making up 88.98% of the population.
Swedish is spoken by 290,747 people, making up 5.31% of the population.
Russian is spoken by 69,614 people, making up 1.27% of the population.
Estonian is spoken by 38,364 people, making up 0.84% of the population.
English is spoken by 16,732 people, making up 0.31% of the population.
Somali is spoken by 16,721 people, making up 0.31% of the population.
Arabic is spoken by 14,825 people, making up 0.27% of the population.
Kurdish is spoken by 10,731 people, making up 0.20% of the population.
Chinese is spoken by 10,110 people, making up 0.18% of the population.
Albanian is spoken by 8,754 people, making up 0.16% of the population.
Persian is spoken by 8,103 people, making up 0.15% of the population.
Thai is spoken by 8,038 people, making up 0.15% of the population.
Vietnamese is spoken by 7,532 people, making up 0.14% of the population.
Turkish is spoken by 6,766 people, making up 0.12% of the population.
Spanish is spoken by 6,583 people, making up 0.12% of the population.
German is spoken by 6,059 people, making up 0.11% of the population.
Sami languages are spoken by 1,949 people, making up 0.04% of the population.
All other languages combined are spoken by 73,543 people, making up 1.34% of the population.
### Do People in Finland Speak English?
Yes, and at a high level. Around 70% of Finns speak English, and a 2015 international survey ranked Finland fourth globally in English language skills. Even Finns who score in the lower range of proficiency still test above the international average. English has been taught in Finnish schools for decades, meaning most people under 60 can speak it comfortably, and many are genuinely fluent.
For tourists visiting Helsinki or other major cities, English is sufficient for virtually all daily needs shopping, transport, restaurants, and public services. For travel to older or more remote areas, having a few basic Finnish phrases is helpful, but not strictly necessary.
It is worth noting that while Finns are highly proficient in English, they are also characteristically reserved. They are helpful and friendly when approached, but they tend to speak only when they have something to say in any language.
### English Proficiency in Major Finnish Cities
### Helsinki
Finland's capital, founded in 1550, is a year-round destination for international visitors. Located on the Gulf of Finland, Helsinki has a large proportion of English speakers and is fully navigable using English alone.
### Turku
Finland's fourth largest city, situated on the southwest coast at the mouth of the Aura River, is a hub for business and technology. The city's professional and international environment has contributed to high English proficiency among its residents.
### Tampere
Located in western Finland and consistently ranked among the most popular cities in the country, Tampere has a strong English speaking community and poses no language barrier for English speaking visitors.
### Espoo
The second largest city in Finland, Espoo is part of the Capital Region alongside Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. It is home to Aalto University and major international companies, including Nokia, HMD Global, Neste, Rovio, and Remedy Entertainment. Espoo is officially bilingual, and English is widely spoken across its research institutions and corporate offices.
### Should You Learn Finnish Before Moving to Finland?
For daily life, tourism, and work in international environments, English alone is genuinely sufficient in Finland. However, learning basic Finnish phrases shows respect for local culture and helps build connections with Finnish colleagues and neighbors. For those planning to study in Finnish high schools or work in public facing roles, intermediate Finnish proficiency is typically required.
Finnish is complex its grammar and verb structure can take years to master but learning a handful of practical phrases is not difficult and goes a long way in everyday interactions.
### Teaching English in Finland
Finland's consistently top ranked education system creates demand for qualified English teachers, both in public schools and private language institutes. English remains in high demand in the Finnish business community as well, creating additional teaching opportunities outside the traditional school setting.
To teach English in Finland, the general requirements are:
- A bachelor's degree (in any field)
- Preferably EU citizenship
- Prior teaching experience is a significant advantage
Given the competitive nature of Finnish public school hiring, any formal teaching background strengthens an application considerably.
### Thinking About Moving to Finland?
Whether you are planning to study, work, or immigrate to Finland, understanding the language landscape is an important first step. The team at **FinlandQ** can guide you through every stage of the process from language preparation to residence permits. Contact our experts for personalized advice on your path to Finland.