Population studies on multicultural population

Little data is available on the health, wellbeing and service use of the multicultural population in Finland. While the population base in Finland is becoming increasingly diverse, rather limited data is available on the health, wellbeing and lives of different linguistic and cultural groups. The volume of data itemised at the regional level is also low.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has conducted two population surveys to study the health and wellbeing of the population with a foreign origin. In addition, some population surveys of the Institute directed at the entire population also produce data on the population with a foreign background.

Currently, the Survey on well-being among foreign born population (FinMONIK) is in progress. The survey collects reliable information about the well-being and health, working ability and functional capacity, service use and experiences of foreign population. The questionnaire can be answered in 18 different languages and the total sample is 13 600 foreign born people living in Finland. 
More information about the FinMONIK Survey

Relatively little data is also available on the more traditional linguistic and cultural minorities in Finland, including the Roma and the Saami. This data cannot be collected in connection with surveys addressed to the whole population, as the numbers of participants representing these groups are low.

THL is currently studying the health and wellbeing of the Roma to ensure that their needs can be addressed better, for example in social and health care services.
The Roma Wellbeing Study (in Finnish)