Majority of Finnish Women Ready to Defend Borders, Report Shows

Date: June 5, 2025
Location: Helsinki

A new survey by E2 Research, conducted in cooperation with the Women’s National Emergency Preparedness Association, shows that 70 % of Finnish women are prepared to defend Finland’s borders and territorial integrity (E2 Tutkimus).

Survey Highlights

• Age variations in readiness
  • A modest 47 % of women aged 18–29 are willing to defend borders.
  • The number rises significantly to 83 % among women aged 50–59 (Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies, E2 Tutkimus).

• Finnish Women Stand Behind Democracy, Human Rights, and More

  • 61 % would stand up for human rights and gender equality.
  • 57 % would defend national sovereignty.
  • 56 % would protect Finland’s welfare state.
  • 55 % prioritize defending democracy (OECD, E2 Tutkimus).
  • Among younger women (18–29), these figures are higher: 78 % for human rights/equality and 68 % for democracy (E2 Tutkimus).
• Willing to take action in crises
  • 71 % are open to helping with practical crisis tasks like food distribution, first aid, or temporary housing setup.
  • 68 % are ready to support their local communities directly (E2 Tutkimus).
  • Younger women are especially ready: 74 % for practical tasks, 77 % would personally assist their networks, and 54 % would offer psychosocial support. Many also have the skills for expert roles—IT support, education, or crisis communications (E2 Tutkimus).
• Strong interest in preparedness training
  • 69 % want training to improve their emergency skills.
  • 46 % are open to training that would enable them to assist public authorities during crises.
  • 21 % would participate in training to support military defence (reuters.com, E2 Tutkimus).

Voices from the Study

Participants expressed strong personal conviction:

“In the event of an attack, everyone has to pitch in. I don’t see myself as any different from anyone else.”

“Even as a woman, I can fight for my family on the front lines.” (E2 Tutkimus, E2 Tutkimus)

What the Experts Say

Paula Risikko, Chair of the Women’s National Emergency Preparedness Association and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, noted:

“These results are encouraging … Women possess diverse skills and are ready to use them for the benefit of society as a whole.” (E2 Tutkimus)

Karina Jutila, CEO of E2 Research, emphasized the depth of their commitment:

“Women of different ages are ready to defend … democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and welfare.” (E2 Tutkimus)

The findings also highlight how training has evolved into readiness—especially for younger women stepping into critical roles during emergencies.

Survey Methodology

• Conducted May 13–18, 2025 via Norstat’s online panel.
• Sample: 511 Finnish women aged 18+, nationally representative through statistical weighting (E2 Tutkimus).

This report shows Finnish women are ready to defend their country and take active roles in crisis response.