A Comprehensive Statistical Analysis of Multi-Story Timber Residential Buildings in Finland (1995-2025)

Abstract

By the end of 2024, Finland had approximately 1.55 million buildings, excluding holiday residences and agricultural structures, with residential buildings accounting for nearly 65% of the total gross floor area. Among European countries, Finland ranks second after Spain in terms of the proportion of multi-story residential buildings, with nearly 47% of Finnish housing units located in such structures. Despite an annual construction rate of 35,000–45,000 new housing units, timber multi-story apartments represent only 1% of total new housing construction. However, when two-story buildings are included, the market share of wooden residential buildings increases to approximately 6%. By March 2025, Finland had constructed around 200 timber residential buildings exceeding two stories, comprising 6,000 apartments. In recent years, the use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) in frame-based volumetric modular element construction has gained significant traction within Finland’s timber residential sector, reflecting a growing shift toward industrialized wood-based building solutions.