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  416 351 320 124

Last updated: 08/2020. Source: FILI Translation Database.

What are the top languages for translations of Finnish literature?

Last updated: 06/2021. Source: FILI Translation Database.

2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
German 109 English 36 English 30 Estonian 46 Estonian 35 Russian 34 Estonian 35 Estonian 24
Estonian 27 Estonian 28 Estonian 29 German 41 German 31 German 29 German 22 French 13
English 24 French 27 Danish 28 Russian 28 Russian 26 Estonian 25 Czech 21 German 12
Chinese 20 German 26 French 28 English 27 French 23 English 23 Swedish 19 Polish 11
Danish 20 Danish 25 German 26 French 22 Czech 20 French 23 Polish 18 Swedish 6
Hungarian 18 Russian 18 Czech 18 Hungarian 20 English 18 Czech 19 Russian 17 Danish 6
Russian 18 Swedish 18 Chinese 17 Chinese 18 Italian 15 Spanish 17 Spanish 15 Russian 6
French 17 Spanish 16 Hungarian 17 Danish 18 Swedish 15 Latvian 14 Englanti 12 Italian 5
Spanish 17 Czech 16 Bulgarian 13 Swedish 17 Danish 15 Hungarian,
Danish		 12 Ranska,
Italian,
Norwegian,
Danish		 11 English, Spanish, Dutch, Norwegian, Hungarian 3
Italian, Czech 15 Hungarian 15 Russian 13 Latvian 16 Polish 13 Norwegian 11 Hungarian 10

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: 06/2021. 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 56
2. Waltari, Mika Sinuhe egyptiläinen 40 (42)
3. Oksanen, Sofi Puhdistus 39 (40)
4. Kivi, Aleksis Seitsemän veljestä 35 (36)
5. Jansson, Tove Sommarboken 30 (48)
6. Paasilinna, Arto Jäniksen vuosi 30 (35)
7. Paasilinna, Arto Ulvova mylläri 26 (35)
8. Sillanpää, Frans Emil Nuorena nukkunut 25 (35)
9. Waltari, Mika Valtakunnan salaisuus 24 (42)
10. Linna, Väinö Tuntematon sotilas 24 (29)

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 (48)
2. Jansson, Tove Trollkarlens hatt 37 (37)
3. Jansson, Tove Kometen kommer 34 (48)
4. Simukka, Salla Valkea kuin lumi 33 (37)
5. Jansson, Tove Farlig midsommar 32 (48)
6. Jansson, Tove Trollvinter 32 (48)
7. Simukka, Salla Musta kuin eebenpuu 30 (37)
8. Jansson, Tove Pappan och havet 29 (48)
9. Jansson, Tove Muminpappans memoarer 27 (48)
10. Kunnas, Mauri Joulupukki 25 (32)

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, 2011–2019

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.