köyhien

Köyhien is the genitive plural form of the Finnish noun köyhä, meaning the poor. It is used in Finnish to refer to poor people as a social group or to indicate possession or relation, as in köyhien oikeudet (the rights of the poor) or köyhien asema (the position of the poor). The term signals a demographic defined by income or material deprivation rather than by ethnicity or nationality, and it appears in sociological, political, and policy contexts.

Definition and measurement of poverty vary by country. In high‑income nations, poverty is commonly described using relative thresholds tied to median income, or, less frequently, absolute benchmarks for basic living needs. A typical international standard defines relative poverty as living with income below about 60 percent of the median after taxes and transfers. In Finland, data on low income and poverty are produced by Statistics Finland and by European Union statistical agencies, often highlighting variations by age, family structure, and region. Risk factors for poverty include unemployment, low educational attainment, single parenthood, disability, and migration status.

Policy and welfare context in Finland emphasize reducing köyhien hardship through a comprehensive welfare state. Core elements include social security benefits, unemployment insurance, housing assistance, child benefit programs, and access to healthcare. The Social Insurance Institution (Kela) administers many of these supports, while social services and targeted measures (such as income supplements) aim to promote inclusion and prevent deprivation. Public discourse on köyhien often centers on minimum income standards, social equity, and the balance between redistribution and work incentives.

In summary, köyhien denotes the poor as a social group, a term anchored in statistical definitions and shaped by welfare policy and societal attitudes toward poverty.