FDI stock refers to the total value of all foreign direct investments made in Finland at a given point in time. It includes both new and follow-on investments, acquisitions, and other capital flows that foreign companies have invested in their Finnish operations. While the trend is positive, there is room for improvement.

“There has been public discussion about several large-scale projects that may already have investment decisions behind them, such as data centers and green transition projects. However, these are not yet reflected in the official figures, as only realized capital flows are included. Investment processes are long and often take years to complete. Invest in Finland, together with its network, is engaged in the kind of long-term work required to promote foreign investment. For investment projects to materialize, it is crucial that Finland maintains a stable and predictable operating environment across political terms,” says Kaija Laitinen, Senior Advisor at Invest in Finland.

The value of FDI Stock in Finland from 2014 to 2024. Image: Invest in Finland/Business Finland

FDI stock figures are influenced by many intra-group arrangements and corporate acquisitions. Perhaps even more important than tracking the development of the FDI stock is monitoring the number of foreign-owned companies and jobs.

New Investments Especially in Services, Health, and Clean Technology

From January to August 2025, the upward trend in foreign investment projects has continued strongly: Invest in Finland has recorded 300 new projects, which is 62 more than during the same period in 2024 (238 projects).

“This year, the majority of foreign investments have been made in business services, the health and care sector, retail, digitalization, and clean technology,” Laitinen notes.

Sweden has long been Finland’s most significant source country for direct investments: at the end of 2024, one-quarter of all foreign direct investments in Finland—EUR 20.7 billion in total—came from Sweden. This year, Sweden has also accounted for the highest number of investment projects (90). Other major source countries include the United Kingdom, the United States, Denmark, and Norway.

Foreign-owned companies are significant for employment in Finland: between 2010 and 2023, they created a total of 109,000 new jobs. In 2023, they accounted for 21% of private sector employment, totaling 321,000 jobs.