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3. Infant mortality and maternal mortality

In 2009, 160 children died aged under one year, the figure being almost the same as the year before. Sixty per cent of children dying in their first year die during their first week of life and 76 per cent during the first four weeks of life. Perinatal mortality (deaths during the first week and stillborn) was 4.9 per thousand births. The figure has fallen by almost one half in the last decades. In 2009 there were 15 cot deaths. Cot deaths mostly occur to children over the age of one month.

Maternal mortality started to fall already in the 1970s, after which around one to seven mothers have died per year.

Figure 2. Stillborn and deaths at the age of under one year and under one week in 1987-2009

Figure 2. Stillborn and deaths at the age of under one year and under one week in 1987-2009

Figure 3. Deaths at the age of under one year by age in 1989 and 2009

Figure 3. Deaths at the age of under one year by age in 1989 and 2009

Table 4. Causes of death among under one-year-olds in 2009

Causes of death Total Less than 1 day 1-6 days 7-27 days 28 days-
5 months
6-11 months
TOTAL DEATHS 160 52 43 27 29 9
Perinatal causes 74 30 31 10 3 0
Congenital malformations 52 18 10 13 10 1
Sudden infant death syndrome 15 0 0 2 8 5
Diseases of circulatory system and respiratory system 5 0 0 1 3 1
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases 5 0 1 1 2 1
Other diseases 4 0 1 0 2 1
Assault 4 4 0 0 0 0
Accidents 1 0 0 0 1 0

Table 5a. Leading causes of death among boys aged 1 to 14 in 1989 and 2009

  TOTAL DEATHS Congenital malformations Malignant neoplasms Accidents Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases Other diseases of the nervous system and sense organs Assault Suicides
1989 121 7 12 53 7 14 6 3
2009 42 10 9 7 4 2 1 0

Table 5b. Leading causes of death among girls aged 1 to 14 in 1989 and 2009

  TOTAL DEATHS Malignant neoplasms Congenital malformations Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases Accidents Other diseases of the nervous system and sense organs Suicides Assault
1989 76 12 12 3 28 4 0 2
2009 39 11 6 6 4 3 1 0

Table 6. Maternal mortality in 1960–2009

Year Maternal deaths
per 100 000 live births
Maternal deaths
1960 71,8 59
1965 25,7 20
1970 12,4 8
1975 10,6 7
1980 1,6 1
1985 6,4 4
1990 6,1 4
1995 1,6 1
2000 5,3 3
2005 5,2 3
2006 6,8 4
2007 1,7 1
2008 8,4 5
2009 1,6 1

Source: Causes of death, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Irmeli Penttilä (09) 1734 3253, Helena Korpi (09) 1734 3605, Ulla Arkkio (09) 1734 3757, kuolemansyyt@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma


Updated 22.2.2011

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Causes of death [e-publication].
ISSN=1799-5078. Annual review 2009, 3. Infant mortality and maternal mortality . Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 28.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ksyyt/2009/01/ksyyt_2009_01_2011-02-22_kat_004_en.html