HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

After the disasterous crop failure in the 1860's the population grew fast. About 85% of the population lived in the country. Families were big and the oldest son of the house inherited the farm, the others were left with no land of their own.

Communications had improved and that made moving from one place to an other easier. People heard from their friends how easy life was at the service of the gentry in a town. Industry could pay better salaries than agriculture.

People started moving to cities. Most people first moved to the nearest population centre and then to the big cities in the south, especially to Helsinki.

SITUATION NOWADAYS

In the latter half of the 1990’s migrating to population centres has grown a lot. Especially welleducated people tend to move towards the south of Finland. The pressure is biggest in Helsinki, the capital of the country.

There is shortage of flats and their prices have risen a lot in the metropolitan area. Because the newcomers often are young families they have children. This means that daycare centres and schools in certain areas are full. New schools should be built. In northern Finland, on the other hand, houses and estates become empty and deserted. People who move away are often young.

Last year about 240 ,000 people moved from one community or town to an other. This year the number of migration is estimated to rise up to over a quarter of a million.