A newly published study shows that Finland is among the most successful countries in Europe when it comes to immigrant integration ranking just behind Sweden. Finland has stood out as a leader particularly in the fields of permanent residence and education policy though its citizenship requirements remain stricter than those of Sweden and Portugal. Overall Finland’s performance in integration surpasses the EU average.
Published: 29/09/25 | 14:26
According to the findings Finland places second in the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) 2025 with Sweden in first place and Portugal in third. All three countries achieved scores above 80 compared to the EU average of 54 points.
Finland holds the highest score in the EU for permanent residence and ranks second in education. Immigrants in Finland also enjoy the strongest opportunities for political participation in the EU although the report points out that limited awareness of these rights has hindered actual engagement.
The country’s weakest area is citizenship policy where Finland lags clearly behind Sweden and Portugal.
The MIPEX score is calculated using indicators across eight main policy areas which are further broken down into detailed questions examining different aspects of integration. Country rankings are based on the most recent data available from 2023 or 2024 while the EU average reflects 2023 results.
The report emphasizes that effective integration policies innovates education and employment, build social trust and reduces prejudice. Conversely, restrictive approaches cause inclusion and weaken social cohesion. Despite progress in some areas overall EU integration policy is described as stagnant with long-standing gaps between older and newer member states still apparent.
