Väestörekisterikeskus

Väestörekisterikeskus, known in English as the Population Register Centre, was a Finnish government agency responsible for managing national population information and related registers. It maintained the Population Information System and the Address Register, which contain personal data used by authorities to verify identity, determine residency, and support public services.

The agency’s core functions included handling civil registration data, such as births, deaths, and changes of address, and maintaining the population information system that underpins the issuance and updating of demographic identifiers. It provided data services to other authorities and, through various channels, to citizens for administrative processes, identity verification, and access to public e-services. The Register supported interagency data exchange while aiming to ensure data quality, accuracy, and timely updates.

Väestörekisterikeskus operated under Finland’s public administration framework and collaborated with public authorities, municipalities, social security institutions, and the Tax Administration to ensure coherent use of population and address data in public services. The agency conducted its activities in alignment with Finnish data protection laws and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, with oversight by the relevant authorities to safeguard privacy and personal data.

As part of a broader reform of Finland’s population data services, Väestörekisterikeskus’ duties were integrated into the Digital and Population Data Services Agency, which continued to manage population information and related digital services for both authorities and citizens. This transition reflected an ongoing effort to streamline public sector data infrastructures while maintaining service quality and privacy protections.