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Estonian Swedes
Swedish-speaking minority of Estonia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Estonian Swedes, or Estonia-Swedes (Swedish: estlandssvenskar, colloquially aibofolke, "island people"; Estonian: eestirootslased), or "Coastal Swedes" (Estonian: rannarootslased) are a Swedish-speaking minority traditionally residing in the coastal areas and islands of what is now western and northern Estonia. During World War II, almost all of the remaining Swedish-speaking minority escaped from the Soviet invasion of Estonia and fled to Sweden in 1944. Only the descendants of a few individuals who stayed behind are permanent residents in Estonia today.
Quick Facts Regions with significant populations, Sweden ...
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
![]() | 26,000[1] |
![]() | 811[2] |
Languages | |
Estonian Swedish, Estonian | |
Religion | |
Historically Lutheranism Predominantly irreligious | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Finland-Swedes, Swedes, Baltic Germans |
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