Finnish villages defy rural decline as community efforts attract new residents

Contrary to widespread assumptions about rural depopulation in Finland, the village of Tiistenjoki in Lapua is proving that small communities can thrive with collective effort, reports Yle. The village of roughly 400 residents has successfully revived local services—including a new grocery store—through volunteer work, but long-term survival depends on attracting more families to keep its school open.

Village store revived by “stubborn spirit” and volunteer labor

Tiistenjoki’s latest success is its new self-service village shop, opened in March after residents took matters into their own hands. When local entrepreneur Risto Kortetjärvi—known for similar stores in Central Finland—showed interest, villagers secured a property, renovated it themselves, and launched the shop within a year. “People here still have that kökkä [stubborn, can-do] spirit,” said 28-year-old Martti Saari, who helped with demolition, yard work, and building a loading dock. “If something needs doing, folks just show up.”

Community projects extend beyond the store. Last Christmas, villagers used 100 tractors to create Finland’s largest “tractor Christmas tree,” and plans are now underway to restore the riverside landscape. Such initiatives reflect a broader trend: while Finland’s rural areas shrink overall, some village centers—particularly near cities—are seeing population growth, according to Pellervo Economic Research (PTT). In South Ostrobothnia, where 67% of residents live in rural areas (compared to 31–52% in other regions), data shows migration not just to urban hubs but also to village cores.

School’s future hinges on new families

Tiistenjoki’s primary school, which serves the village and two neighboring hamlets (total population: ~850), currently has 40 pupils. Without an influx of families, that number could drop to 30 in five years—risking closure. “We need new residents to keep the school and services alive,” said Saari, a lifelong villager who returned after briefly living in Seinäjoki. “Here, everything you need is within walking distance. The only thing missing is a gas station—you have to drive to Lapua for that.”

Efforts to attract newcomers include the EU-funded Sydänkylät (“Heart Villages”) project, which maps vacant homes. Recent arrivals like Marcus Toppari, a Finns Party councilor and parliamentary aide, cite family ties and affordable housing as key draws. Toppari and his wife, expecting their first child, moved back to his ancestral lands last year. “Babies are what villages need most,” he said.

Marko Ämmälä, chair of the local village association and a National Coalition Party councilor, rejects fatalism about rural decline. “We’ve hit rock bottom with the narrative that villages are doomed,” he said. “But if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves, the future isn’t written yet.”

Lapua’s overall population has dipped below 14,000, mirroring national trends of low birth rates. Yet Tiistenjoki’s 22 new residents in 2023 offer a counterpoint: with housing available, services intact, and a strong communal ethos, some rural communities are turning the tide.