Statistics on Finnish literary exports

The Translation Database maintained by FILI contains information on translations of Finnish literature published since 1839. Use the database to search for translations by author, language or year of publication. The database is updated regularly, but it does have some gaps. We are always happy to receive details of translations that are missing from the database.

A total of around 300–400 translations of Finnish books are published each year in around 40 different languages. Number of books published (according to our Translation Database):

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018   2019 2020
307 361 457 389 378  416 351 320 53

Last updated: 04/2020. Source: FILI Translation Database.

What are the top languages for translations of Finnish literature?

Last updated: 04/2020. Source: FILI Translation Database.

2014  2015 2016  2017 2018 2019 2020
  
German 110 English 36 English 28 Estonian 45 Estonian 35 Russian 33 French 5
Estonian 26 Estonian 28 Danish 28 German 39 German 31 German 26 German 5
English 24 French 27 Estonian 28 Russian 28 Russian 25 Estonian 24 Turkish 5
Chinese 20 German 26 French 27 English 27 French 23 English 23 Polish 4
Danish 20 Danish 24 German 26 French 20 Czech 20 French 22 Swedish 4
Hungarian 18 Russian 18 Czech 18 Hungarian 20 English 18 Czech 19 Estonian 4
Russian 18 Swedish 17 Chinese 17 Chinese 18 Italian 15 Spanish 15 English 3
French 17 Spanish 16 Hungarian 17 Swedish 17 Swedish 15 Latvian 14 Croatian 3
Spanish 16 Czech 16 Bulgarian 13 Danish 17 Danish 15 Hungarian 12 Czech 3
Italian,
Czech		 15 Hungarian 15 Russian 13 Latvian 16 Polish 13 Danish 11 Spanish 2

View this information as a map illustration created by Koponen+Hildén.

Most widely translated works

These refer to translations that have been published, not to rights sold.
Last updated: 11/2019. Source: FILI Translation Database.

Fiction / adults

Author Title Languages
(Total number of
languages into which
each author’s all works
have been translated)
1. Lönnrot, Elias Kalevala 55 (55)
2. Waltari, Mika Sinuhe egyptiläinen 40 (42)
3. Oksanen, Sofi Puhdistus 38 (39)
4. Kivi, Aleksis Seitsemän veljestä 34 (35)
5. Paasilinna, Arto Jäniksen vuosi 29 (35)
6. Jansson, Tove Sommarboken 27 (47)
7. Oksanen, Sofi Kun kyyhkyset katosivat 26 (39)
7. Paasilinna, Arto Ulvova mylläri 26 (35)
8. Sillanpää, Frans Emil Nuorena nukkunut 25 (32)
9. Linna, Väinö Tuntematon sotilas 24 (28)
9. Waltari, Mika Valtakunnan salaisuus 24 (42)
10. Paasilinna, Arto Hurmaava joukkoitsemurha 23 (35)

Books for children and young readers

Author Title Languages
(Total number of
languages into which
each author’s all works
have been translated)
1. Simukka, Salla Punainen kuin veri 37 (37)
2. Jansson, Tove Trollkarlens hatt 33 (47)
2. Simukka, Salla Valkea kuin lumi 33 (37)
3. Jansson, Tove Kometen kommer 32 (47)
4. Jansson, Tove Trollvinter 30 (47)
4. Simukka, Salla Musta kuin eebenpuu 30 (37)
5. Jansson, Tove Farlig midsommar 28 (47)
6. Jansson, Tove Pappan och havet 27 (47)
7. Jansson, Tove Det osynliga barnet och andra berättelser 25 (47)
8. Kunnas, Mauri Joulupukki 24 (32)
9. Jansson, Tove Muminpappans memoarer 23 (47)
10. Jansson, Tove Sent i november 20 (47)

For more information on translations that have been published, as well as their languages, translators and publishers, visit the Translation Database.

The value of Finnish literary exports, 2011–2018

FILI has commissioned reports on changes in the value of Finnish literary exports. These reports have monitored the revenues received in Finland for the sale of translation rights, both the advances paid and royalties received. The figures do not include details for authors represented by agencies outside Finland, so the actual value of literary exports is significantly higher. Reports were produced by Media Clever.