The Digi- ja väestötietovirasto (DVV) has announced plans to declare around 2,000 individuals, primarily those over a hundred years old and born in Finland, as deceased unless their status is confirmed by March 24. This initiative is part of the DVV's efforts to clarify the status of elderly individuals whose whereabouts and relatives are unknown. The list released in December includes individuals for whom the DVV does not have known addresses, spouses, relatives, or guardians.

According to Saija Lyytinen, a registrar at the DVV, no one has yet come forward to register these individuals, although they have received death certificates from some residents in Sweden to aid in the registration process. The public announcement serves as a means to uncover the details of people who have essentially become lost within the system, as part of a statutory responsibility of the DVV to ensure accurate population census.

The DVV emphasizes the importance of identifying potential living heirs, spouses, or guardians residing in Finland, as this might provide essential information regarding the individuals on the list. As the deadline approaches, the agency hopes to resolve these cases swiftly, fulfilling their legal obligations while ensuring that the records reflect the true status of individuals who have lived long lives but may have fallen off the census radar for various reasons.