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Published: 14 April 2016

Infant mortality record low

In 2015, a total of 97 children died during their first year. The number is lowest in the history of independent Finland. Compared with 2014, the number of children dying at the age of under one year, that is, infant mortality, went down by 27. Infant mortality per 1,000 live births was 1.7. Before 2015, the lowest infant mortality figure was 1.8 per mil in 2013, when 102 children died at the age of under one year.

Children having died during their first year of life in 1990–2015

Children having died during their first year of life in 1990–2015

In 2011 to 2013, Finland's average infant mortality was second smallest compared with Nordic and Western European countries (Appendix figure 3). Iceland had a lower infant mortality rate than Finland, where it was 1.3 per mil.

The number of deaths in 2015 was 52,492, which is 310 more than in 2014. The number of deaths among women grew by 60 and among men by 240 persons. The number of deaths has been higher only in the war years and in the 1920s.

Average life expectancy at birth was 78.5 years for boys and 84.1 years for girls in 2015. The average life expectancy at birth grew by 0.3 years for men and by 0.2 years for women. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a person aged 0 would live provided the rate of mortality remains unchanged. The increased life expectancy at birth proves that despite the growing number of aged persons and the ageing of the population, mortality has decreased.

Annual number of deaths by sex and deaths of 0-year-olds in 2002–2015

Year Total Men Women 0-year-olds total
2002 49 418 23 992 25 426 168
2003 48 996 23 922 25 074 176
2004 47 600 23 802 23 798 191
2005 47 928 24 057 23 871 174
2006 48 065 24 315 23 750 167
2007 49 077 24 809 24 268 161
2008 49 094 24 457 24 637 157
2009 49 883 25 150 24 733 158
2010 50 887 25 539 25 348 140
2011 50 585 25 335 25 250 143
2012 51 707 25 623 26 084 141
2013 51 472 25 631 25 841 102
2014 52 186 25 748 26 438 124
2015 52 492 25 992 26 500 97

Source: Deaths 2015. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Eevi Lappalainen 029 551 3367, info@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Updated 14.4.2016

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Deaths [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-2545. 2015. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 28.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/kuol/2015/kuol_2015_2016-04-14_tie_001_en.html