Ulkomaalaisten

Ulkomaalainen means a person who is not Finnish or is from outside Finland; Ulkomaalaisten is the genitive plural form used in phrases like ulkomaalaisten oikeudet (the rights of foreigners) or ulkomaalaisten määrä (the number of foreigners). The term is common in everyday language, media, and official statistics.

In Finland, the concept of ulkomaalaiset is used in statistics and administration to describe people who are not Finnish citizens or who live in Finland but are foreign-born. The exact definition can vary by dataset; some classifications distinguish between foreign citizens, foreign-born residents, and people with a foreign background (ulkomaalaistausta).

The term is part of public discourse on immigration and integration. Some people consider it neutral, while others view it as a label that can create othering. For this reason, Finnish media and authorities often prefer more specific or person-centered language, such as maahanmuuttajat (immigrants) or phrases describing someone's background rather than labeling individuals as ulkomaalaiset.

Finland has legal protections against discrimination based on nationality or origin, and public policy includes integration efforts and language training for residents with foreign backgrounds. The topic of ulkomaalaisten encompasses issues of demography, policy, culture, and social cohesion.