Study title

Rural Finland 2023: Swedish-Speaking Finns

Dataset ID Number

FSD4092

Persistent identifiers

https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD4092
https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd4092

Data Type

Quantitative

Authors

• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)

Abstract

The Rural Finland survey examines Finns' perceptions of the significance and future of rural areas. Commissioned by the Rural Policy Council and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, the survey explores perceptions of rural areas, willingness to move to a rural area, criteria for a good life, and the importance of rural areas at present and ten years into the future. This dataset contains responses to a survey directed at Swedish-speaking citizens. The dataset forms part of a repeated study conducted at regular intervals among respondents drawn from the same target population. As the survey questions remain largely unchanged over time, the data enable longitudinal comparisons.

Respondents were first asked about the images and perceptions that rural and urban areas evoke, whether they considered certain areas to be rural, and how different types of areas, such as sparsely populated areas, urban areas, and rural areas, relate to their own lives. They were then asked how much time they spend in different types of areas during the year and whether they intend to move to a more rural or more urban environment within the next ten years.

Respondents were then asked which factors they considered necessary for a good life and to what extent these were realised in their own lives. They were also asked about their hopes and expectations regarding the future of rural areas and the role of rural areas in the sustainability transition. Finally, respondents were asked to evaluate a range of statements concerning rural areas, as well as entrepreneurship and livelihoods in rural areas.

The background variables included region, major region, municipality classification, urban-rural classification, year of birth, age, gender, level of education, occupational status, combined gross household income, party preference in parliamentary elections, mother tongue, household size, household type, number and ages of children, and type of dwelling.

Keywords

countryside; housing; internal migration; migration (human); quality of life; residential mobility; rural areas; rural development; rural economics; rural environment; rural planning; rural policy; rural-urban migration

Topic Classification

• Social sciences (Fields of Science Classification)
• Agriculture and forestry (Fields of Science Classification)
• Housing (CESSDA Topic Classification)
• Agriculture and rural industry (CESSDA Topic Classification)

Series

Rural Finland

Distributor

Finnish Social Science Data Archive

Access

The dataset is (B) available for research, teaching and study.

Data Collector

• Taloustutkimus

Data Producers

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland

Funders

• Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland

Time Period Covered

2023

Collection Dates

2023-11-07 – 2023-11-27

Nation

Finland

Geographical Coverage

Finland

Analysis/Observation Unit Type

Individual

Universe

Swedish-speaking Finns aged 15 and over

Time Method

Longitudinal: Trend/Repeated cross-section

Sampling Procedure

Mixed probability and non-probability

Taloustutkimus first drew a nationwide random sample representative of the Swedish-speaking population in Finland from population registers. Individuals were then recruited to the study by telephone using regional quotas (Uusimaa approximately 44%, Southwest Finland approximately 9%, Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia combined approximately 36%, and Åland approximately 10%).

Collection Mode

Self-administered questionnaire: Web-based (CAWI)

Research Instrument

Structured questionnaire

Data File Language

Downloaded data package may contain different language versions of the same files.

The data files of this dataset are available in the following languages: Finnish.

FSD translates quantitative data into English on request, free of charge. More information on ordering data translation.

Data Version

1.0

Related Datasets

FSD4091 Rural Finland 2023: Finnish-Speaking Finns

FSD4093 Rural Finland 2023: Political Decision-Makers, Rural Development Specialists, the Media

Completeness of Data and Restrictions

Panel respondents were not asked questions 11-13 or 15e-15h of the questionnaire.

The data were anonymised at the FSD by removing open-ended responses and variables indicating municipality of residence and postal code. In addition, the variables describing household size and the number of children were top-coded. For respondents with five or more children, responses to the dichotomous variables indicating the ages of their children were also removed. Additionally, responses from participants living in Åland were removed for variables that contained more detailed information about their place of residence.

Weighting

The dataset includes a weighting variable, "PAINO", which weights responses by age, gender, and region.

Citation Requirement

The data and its creators shall be cited in all publications and presentations for which the data have been used. The bibliographic citation may be in the form suggested by the archive or in the form required by the publication.

Bibliographical Citation

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke): Rural Finland 2023: Swedish-Speaking Finns [dataset]. Data version 1.0 (2026-08-19). Finnish Social Science Data Archive [distributor]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.60686/t-fsd4092; URN: https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:fsd:T-FSD4092

Deposit Requirement

Notify FSD of all publications where you have used the data by sending the citation information to user-services.fsd@tuni.fi.

Disclaimer

The original data creators and the archive bear no responsibility for any results or interpretations arising from the reuse of the data.

Related Materials

Vihinen, H., Korhonen, K., Saukkonen, T., Voutilainen, O. ja Kaseva, J. 2024. Mitä mieltä maaseudusta? : Maaseutubarometri 2023. Luonnonvara- ja biotalouden tutkimus 79/2024. Luonnonvarakeskus. Helsinki. 151 s. Saatavissa https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-380-968-0.

Related Publications

Vihinen, H., Korhonen, K., Saukkonen, T., Voutilainen, O. & Kaseva, J. 2024. Mitä mieltä maaseudusta? : Maaseutubarometri 2023. Luonnonvara- ja biotalouden tutkimus 79/2024. Luonnonvarakeskus. Helsinki. 151 s.