Finns’ optimism about the future has weakened significantly, compared to the findings of a similar survey in the summer of 2022.

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Most Finns are pessimistic about the near future, according to the findings of a survey commissioned by the Foundation for Municipal Development (Kaks).

The foundation’s so-called Barometer survey found that the vast majority (84%) of Finns do not believe that relations between Finland and Russia will improve this decade.

Almost as many said they were skeptical that citizens’ trust in politics would increase. At the same time, 74 percent are not sure that Finland will be able to control its national debt.

Meanwhile, only a quarter of respondents said they believed their optimism about the future would improve.

According to the survey results, Finns’ optimism about the future has dropped significantly compared to a similar survey in the summer of 2022.

Optimism levels fell the most in people’s views about job growth, their livelihoods and fiscal fairness.

However, some positivity was found among respondents. About 80% said they were confident that the level of readiness to defend the country would remain high and that Finland’s defense capabilities would continue to be at a high level in the future.

The foundation poll was conducted by polling firm Verian this fall. It surveyed 1,070 Finnish citizens and had a maximum margin of error of just under three percentage points in either direction.

In September, the government-sponsored Citizens’ Pulse poll also found that Finns were somewhat less optimistic about the future.

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