Statistics Finland reported on Thursday that last year the number of births dropped by 1,760 year-on-year – almost twice as much as one year earlier – to 55,472, close to the levels recorded during the famine of 1866–1868.

“The previous year with as few births as 2015 was the exceptional year of 1868, when slightly fewer than 44,000 children were born. The number of births in 2002, on the other hand, was almost comparable to that in 2015 – only 83 higher,” the statistical institution reports.

Last year, the birth rate dropped for women of all ages but especially for those aged 28–29 years and fell particularly in Kainuu and Central Ostrobothnia, by 15 and 13 per cent respectively. Seinäjoki and Oulu had the highest birth rates, of 1.94 and 1.92 respectively, while Helsinki and Turku had the lowest rates, of 1.32 and 1.35 respectively, reports Statistics Finland.

Nationwide, the total fertility rate stood at 1.65.

The total fertility rate has thereby been on the decline for five consecutive years and remained below the replacement level of roughly 2.1 per woman since 1969.

Aleksi Teivainen – HT

Photo: Jenni Tamminen – Uusi Suomi

Source: Uusi Suomi