Finnish residents express concern over declining access to basic services in rural areas

Finnish residents feel that access to basic services has deteriorated, as revealed by the latest Rural Barometer. This sentiment is particularly strong in rural areas, where access to social, health, educational, sports, and cultural services is perceived to have declined sharply. The fifth edition of the Rural Barometer, conducted in 2023, was managed by the Natural Resources Institute Finland, with the citizen survey executed by Taloustutkimus.

In 2020, more than 70 percent of respondents living near urban areas felt that basic services were very or fairly accessible. By 2023, that figure had dropped to around 46 percent. Hilkka Vihinen, a research professor at the Natural Resources Institute, warns that these results indicate a significant loss of service availability in parts of Finland. “We are pushing services further out into rural areas, making them inaccessible for many,” she noted. “A service that is not reachable cannot be considered a service.”

Vihinen expressed concern over significant cuts to funding for the third sector, where various organizations provide essential services in rural areas efficiently and affordably. Without adequate support, these services might collapse, leading to increased costs for the public sector rather than savings.

Respondents now place greater importance on easy access to services and safety nets in daily life compared to previous years. The sense of justice and capability to influence one’s daily life has diminished, especially in sparsely populated areas. Despite these challenges, 85 percent of respondents positively associate rural living with a good life, highlighting attributes like nature, tranquility, and a pleasant environment.

Rural experts and advocates are currently gathering at the Rural Parliament event in Nurmes to discuss how to keep Finnish rural areas vibrant.