Inari experiences population growth, welcoming 80 new residents in Finland

Inari, a municipality in Finland, has experienced growth over the past year, increasing its population by 80 residents. With just over 7,000 inhabitants, Inari ranks 17th in nationwide comparisons. The Statistics Finland recently published information regarding net migration among municipalities during the period from August 2023 to July 2024. Net migration refers to the difference between the influx and outflux of residents in a municipality.

Inari’s population has been on the rise for the last three years, consistently recording net migration gains. Marianne Pekola-Sjöblom, the research manager at the Association of Finnish Municipalities, explains that this trend is unusual in both Lapland and the broader urban municipalities across the country. “There are relatively few municipalities experiencing population growth when looking at the entire country. Growing municipalities are typically cities and urban regions,” she states.

Pekola-Sjöblom attributes Inari’s appeal to its connection with nature and the tourism industry. “I would assume that industries and activities related to nature tourism are a strong explanatory factor,” she says. Other attractive features include good transportation links and a functioning local airport. “It’s not always about distances in kilometers but rather travel times,” adds Pekola-Sjöblom.

Inari’s mayor, Tommi Kasurinen, highlights the municipality’s excellent services, including the construction of two new educational centers in a short period. “This is a crucial criterion for many families. We also have various other services, with library services being in good condition,” Kasurinen lists.

The municipality aims to attract more year-round residents, encouraging new families and individuals of all ages to settle in Inari. “We seek diversity and, above all, residents who will live here year-round,” Kasurinen concludes.