Births: documentation of statistics
21.11.2024 valid documentation
Basic data of the statistics
Data description
The statistics on births describe the number of births and the birth rate according to various background variables. The statistics on births contain data on liveborn and stillborn children, whose mother was permanently resident in Finland at the time of birth. A person resides permanently in Finland if he/she at the time of the population change event has a municipality of residence recorded in the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland. The statistics contain data on the child, mother and father, if the mother and father of the child were married when the child was born. If the mother was not married to the father of the child at the time the child was born, the data on the father are deficient.
Statistical population
All liveborn and stillborn children whose mother was living permanently in Finland at the time of birth according to the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland.
Statistical unit
Person. Each person, child, mother and father, has his/her own person number, which is used in combining data with other individual-based data.
Unit of measure
Number of persons.
In the key figures, either per mil, or the number of events per 1,000 persons of the mean population subject to the event, or events per one person.
In the key figures, either per mil, or the number of events per 1,000 persons of the mean population subject to the event, or events per one person.
Reference period
The reference period of the statistics is a calendar year.
Reference area
Data are available on Finland on the level of the whole country and by various regional divisions based on the division of municipalities in Finland.
The classification into regions and the statistical grouping of municipalities have been used since 1997. The respective categories used prior to this were province and type of municipality. Since 1999, the regional division entering into force at the beginning of the year following the statistical reference year has been applied in the statistics on births.
The classification into regions and the statistical grouping of municipalities have been used since 1997. The respective categories used prior to this were province and type of municipality. Since 1999, the regional division entering into force at the beginning of the year following the statistical reference year has been applied in the statistics on births.
Sector coverage
The statistics contain population data on liveborn and stillborn children and their mothers and fathers in all cases where, according to the Population Information System, the mother was living permanently in Finland when the child was born.
Statistics on children born include gender, whether the child was born in a currently valid marriage or outside marriage, month of birth, municipality of birth, country of birth, nationality and language. In addition, the duration of pregnancy and the weight of the foetus are recorded for stillbirths. A child is recorded as having been born in Finland if the mother is permanently resident in Finland at the time of birth even if she is temporarily abroad.
The variables on mothers include age, number of children, order number of the child, marital status, nationality, language, country of birth, municipality of birth and municipality of residence, date of marriage and order number of marriage. If the mother of the child was married at the time of birth, the same population data are available on the father of the child as on the mother. From 2018 onwards, the statistics contain some data on the father of a child born outside marriage if the father has acknowledged the child.
As a rule, indicators describing the birth rate are calculated with the help of data on the mother. These include the general birth and fertility rates, fertility rate by age group, total fertility rate by period, and gross and net reproduction rates. The ages of becoming mothers and fathers have been calculated for both genders.
Statistics on children born include gender, whether the child was born in a currently valid marriage or outside marriage, month of birth, municipality of birth, country of birth, nationality and language. In addition, the duration of pregnancy and the weight of the foetus are recorded for stillbirths. A child is recorded as having been born in Finland if the mother is permanently resident in Finland at the time of birth even if she is temporarily abroad.
The variables on mothers include age, number of children, order number of the child, marital status, nationality, language, country of birth, municipality of birth and municipality of residence, date of marriage and order number of marriage. If the mother of the child was married at the time of birth, the same population data are available on the father of the child as on the mother. From 2018 onwards, the statistics contain some data on the father of a child born outside marriage if the father has acknowledged the child.
As a rule, indicators describing the birth rate are calculated with the help of data on the mother. These include the general birth and fertility rates, fertility rate by age group, total fertility rate by period, and gross and net reproduction rates. The ages of becoming mothers and fathers have been calculated for both genders.
Time coverage
The annual number of births is available from 1749 onwards. Starting from 1776, there are data on mothers having given birth by five-year age groups and from 1936 onwards on children born by the mother's age.
The number of stillbirths per year is available starting from 1955.
The number of stillbirths per year is available starting from 1955.
Frequency of dissemination
The final statistics on liveborn for a calendar year are completed in April of the following calendar year unless otherwise stated. The final statistics are published on Statistics Finland’s website.
The final statistics on stillborn for a calendar year are completed in October of the following calendar year. The statistics on causes of death also release the number of stillborn around two months after the population statistics’ statistics on stillborn have been completed. The figures in the two different sets of statistics may differ slightly because the waiting period for events of the statistics on causes of death is longer than that of the population statistics.
Preliminary data on the number of live births are published monthly on Statistics Finland's preliminary population statistics pages.
The final statistics on stillborn for a calendar year are completed in October of the following calendar year. The statistics on causes of death also release the number of stillborn around two months after the population statistics’ statistics on stillborn have been completed. The figures in the two different sets of statistics may differ slightly because the waiting period for events of the statistics on causes of death is longer than that of the population statistics.
Preliminary data on the number of live births are published monthly on Statistics Finland's preliminary population statistics pages.
Concepts
Age
In connection with vital events, age data refer to the age on the day the event took place. Average age is obtained by adding up the ages of all persons involved in the same event at the time of the event, after which the sum is divided by the number of these persons. As the used age of a person is given in full years at the time of the event, it is not the exact age of that person. For this reason, it is assumed when computing average age that the persons were aged x+0.5, on average, at the time of the event.
Age-specific fertility rate
The age-specific fertility rate indicates the number of live births per 1,000 women of the mean population in the age group in question.
Birth order
The birth order is determined in two ways: either all births to the mother are taken into account, or only the live births during the present marriage are included.
Births
'Liveborn' is the term for a newborn who breathes or shows other signs of life after birth.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition, 'stillborn' is the term for a newborn with a birth weight of at least 500 g or, if the birth weight is not available, a newborn born dead after a pregnancy lasting 22 weeks or more. The WHO definition has been in use since 1987. From the 2003 vital statistics onwards, the same national definition is used as in the cause-of-death statistics: 'stillborn' is the term for a newborn with a birth weight of at least 500 g, or a newborn born dead after a pregnancy lasting 22 weeks or more.
Before 1987 stillborn was the term for a newborn born dead after a pregnancy lasting 28 weeks or more.
Children are classified in birth statistics by the mother's marital status at the time of the child's birth. A child born during marriage is a legitimate child. A widow can give birth to a legitimate child if the pregnancy began while she was still married. A child born out of wedlock is illegitimate. Cases where the mother has married the child's father after the child's birth are also considered illegitimate in these statistics. According to the law, such children only become legitimate as of the date when their parents enter into a marriage contract with each other.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) definition, 'stillborn' is the term for a newborn with a birth weight of at least 500 g or, if the birth weight is not available, a newborn born dead after a pregnancy lasting 22 weeks or more. The WHO definition has been in use since 1987. From the 2003 vital statistics onwards, the same national definition is used as in the cause-of-death statistics: 'stillborn' is the term for a newborn with a birth weight of at least 500 g, or a newborn born dead after a pregnancy lasting 22 weeks or more.
Before 1987 stillborn was the term for a newborn born dead after a pregnancy lasting 28 weeks or more.
Children are classified in birth statistics by the mother's marital status at the time of the child's birth. A child born during marriage is a legitimate child. A widow can give birth to a legitimate child if the pregnancy began while she was still married. A child born out of wedlock is illegitimate. Cases where the mother has married the child's father after the child's birth are also considered illegitimate in these statistics. According to the law, such children only become legitimate as of the date when their parents enter into a marriage contract with each other.
Crude birth rate
The crude birth rate refers to the number of births per 1,000 persons of the mean population.
Crude fertility rate
The general fertility rate indicates the number of liveborn children per 1,000 women of the mean population aged 15 to 49.
Excess of births
The excess of births, that is, the natural population increase, refers to the
difference between livebirths and deaths.
difference between livebirths and deaths.
Gross reproduction rate
The reproduction of the population refers to a change of a generation into a new one. Reproduction is measured by gross reproduction rates or net reproduction rates that generally indicate the ratio between the sizes of the daughter's and mother's generations. The fertility and mortality of the mother's generation before the end of the childbearing age is taken into account in the calculation of the net reproduction rate. In the gross reproduction rate this mortality is not taken into consideration. If the net reproduction rate calculated per one woman is less than one, the daughter's generation is smaller than the mother's generation and the mother's generation has not reproduced itself.
Increase of population
Increase of population is the sum of excess of births over deaths and net immigration.
Language
Information on language is obtained from the Population Information System. At the same time as parents register the name of their new-born, they also indicate the child's mother tongue. That language is retained in the Population Information System unless it is changed upon separate application.
Languages are classified by the Population Register Centre according to the ISO 639 standard. The future language classification ISO-639-1 was already adopted for the 2000 population census.
Languages are classified by the Population Register Centre according to the ISO 639 standard. The future language classification ISO-639-1 was already adopted for the 2000 population census.
Liveborn
Liveborn is the term for a newborn who breaths or shows other signs of life after birth. Only liveborn children of women living permanently in Finland are taken into account in the population statistics.
Mean population
The notion of mean population (or average population) refers to the average of the populations of two consecutive years. When a ratio describing some phenomenon is calculated for the statistical year, the number of events in the phenomenon in question is usually expressed as a proportion of the mean population of the people or the groups subject to the event. The figures relating to population events are generally given as per 1,000, that is, the result of the division is multiplied by one thousand.
Net reproduction rate
The reproduction of the population refers to a change of a generation into a new one. Reproduction is measured by gross reproduction rates or net reproduction rates that generally indicate the ratio between the sizes of the daughter's and mother's generations. The fertility and mortality of the mother's generation before the end of the childbearing age is taken into account in the calculation of the net reproduction rate. In the gross reproduction rate this mortality is not taken into consideration. If the net reproduction rate calculated per one woman is less than one, the daughter's generation is smaller than the mother's generation and the mother's generation has not reproduced itself.
Proportion of stillbirths
The proportion of stillbirths refers to the number of stillborn children per 1,000 liveborn and stillborn children.
Reproduction of the population
The reproduction of the population refers to a change of a generation into a new one. Reproduction is measured by gross reproduction rates or net reproduction rates that generally indicate the ratio between the sizes of the daughter's and mother's generations. The fertility and mortality of the mother's generation before the end of the childbearing age is taken into account in the calculation of the net reproduction rate. In the gross reproduction rate this mortality is not taken into consideration. If the net reproduction rate calculated per one woman is less than one, the daughter's generation is smaller than the mother's generation and the mother's generation has not reproduced itself.
Sex/gender
Data on sex are obtained from the gender entry in the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
According to the Act that entered into force on 3 April 2023, the gender entry in the Population Information System can be changed upon application including an explanation that a person permanently identifies as the gender they seek recognition for (Act on Legal Recognition of Gender 295/2023).
In Finland, only male or female can be entered as gender in the Population Information System. If a person who moves to Finland from abroad has a third or unspecified gender, the person is recorded as female in the Population Information System.
According to the Act that entered into force on 3 April 2023, the gender entry in the Population Information System can be changed upon application including an explanation that a person permanently identifies as the gender they seek recognition for (Act on Legal Recognition of Gender 295/2023).
In Finland, only male or female can be entered as gender in the Population Information System. If a person who moves to Finland from abroad has a third or unspecified gender, the person is recorded as female in the Population Information System.
Stillborn
From 2003 vital statistics onwards, the same national definition is used as in the cause-of-death statistics: 'stillborn' is the term for a newborn with a birth weight of at least 500 g, or a newborn born dead after a pregnancy lasting 22 weeks or more.
Total fertility
The total fertility rate is obtained by adding together fertility rates calculated for one year. This figure refers to the estimated number of children the woman gives birth to, provided that the fertility rate of that year prevails during the whole reproductive period of that woman on condition that she will not die before the end of the said period.
Accuracy, reliability and timeliness
Overall accuracy
Births are total data. Data on live births are as good as the quality of the Population Information System. For the statistics on births it means that all liveborn children whose mother lived in the country at the time of birth are entered in the register. There is a decree on the reporting of births (Decree 128/2010).
The Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland can be regarded as very exhaustive in terms of persons. To obtain a personal identity code, a person has to be registered in the Population Information System. It is practically impossible to live in Finland without a personal identity code. A personal identity code is needed in order to work legally, open a bank account, attend to matters with authorities, and so on.
Since the discontinuation of yearly checking of domicile registers in 1989, the Population Information System has been maintained only by notifications of population changes. Their correctness is determined by reliability surveys made of the addresses in the Population Information System.
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency has requested Statistics Finland to carry out sample surveys on the correctness of address data. Around 11,000 persons have been asked whether their address in the Population Information System is correct. In the latest survey 2012, the address was correct for 98.9 per cent of the respondents.
The Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland can be regarded as very exhaustive in terms of persons. To obtain a personal identity code, a person has to be registered in the Population Information System. It is practically impossible to live in Finland without a personal identity code. A personal identity code is needed in order to work legally, open a bank account, attend to matters with authorities, and so on.
Since the discontinuation of yearly checking of domicile registers in 1989, the Population Information System has been maintained only by notifications of population changes. Their correctness is determined by reliability surveys made of the addresses in the Population Information System.
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency has requested Statistics Finland to carry out sample surveys on the correctness of address data. Around 11,000 persons have been asked whether their address in the Population Information System is correct. In the latest survey 2012, the address was correct for 98.9 per cent of the respondents.
Timeliness
Data on live births are available approximately four months after the reference period. Data on stillbirths are available approximately 10 months after the reference period.
Punctuality
The data have been published almost without exception on the target date, so there has been no time lag. If the release of statistical data is significantly delayed from the announced point of time, information about the delay is posted on the home page of the statistics.
Comparability
Comparability - geographical
Comparisons based on numbers can be made regionally between different years when the effect of regional mergers are considered. It is common practice that the entire time series is updated to the temporally most recent regional division. When the numbers of births are proportioned to the population, the birth rate in different areas can be compared.
Within the country, the statistics describing regional birth rates are comparable when the effect of different age structures in the areas has been eliminated by using age standardisation.
The definitions of liveborn and stillborn are in line with international recommendations.
On the other hand, there are small differences in definitions between EU countries in how children born to foreign citizens are recorded in different countries. In some countries, a child is recorded as having been born in the country if the father of the child is permanently resident in the country, but the mother is not. In the aforementioned case, if the mother is permanently resident in Finland, the child would be recorded as having been born in Finland.
Within the country, the statistics describing regional birth rates are comparable when the effect of different age structures in the areas has been eliminated by using age standardisation.
The definitions of liveborn and stillborn are in line with international recommendations.
On the other hand, there are small differences in definitions between EU countries in how children born to foreign citizens are recorded in different countries. In some countries, a child is recorded as having been born in the country if the father of the child is permanently resident in the country, but the mother is not. In the aforementioned case, if the mother is permanently resident in Finland, the child would be recorded as having been born in Finland.
Comparability - over time
A quantitative comparison of live births in the whole country is possible starting from 1749, but there is a lot of temporal variation in the background variables related to births.
Starting from 1776, there are data on the level of the whole country on mothers having given birth by five-year age groups and from 1936 onwards on children born by the mother's age. Temporal comparisons between countries by the most used key figure, the total fertility rate, are possible starting from 1776.
Live births by the mother's marital status are available starting from 1761.
Live births by the birth order of all the mother's children are available starting from 1982.
Starting from 1776, there are data on the level of the whole country on mothers having given birth by five-year age groups and from 1936 onwards on children born by the mother's age. Temporal comparisons between countries by the most used key figure, the total fertility rate, are possible starting from 1776.
Live births by the mother's marital status are available starting from 1761.
Live births by the birth order of all the mother's children are available starting from 1982.
Coherence - cross domain
Statistics Finland’s other statistics use the data of population statistics as basic information on population. Thus, different statistics of Statistics Finland are consistent with each other as regards population data.
THL, the National Institute for Health and Welfare, maintains the birth register and releases data on deliveries, births and newborns. The figures of the National Institute for Health and Welfare differ somewhat from those of Statistics Finland. Statistics Finland's figures include mothers permanently resident in Finland at the time of birth of the child, while the National Institute for Health and Welfare's birth register includes all those having given birth in Finland and their children.
THL, the National Institute for Health and Welfare, maintains the birth register and releases data on deliveries, births and newborns. The figures of the National Institute for Health and Welfare differ somewhat from those of Statistics Finland. Statistics Finland's figures include mothers permanently resident in Finland at the time of birth of the child, while the National Institute for Health and Welfare's birth register includes all those having given birth in Finland and their children.
Coherence - internal
Preliminary data on population changes have been published from the population statistics since the 1970s. The preliminary statistics are an important point of reference for the final statistics. The final statistics do not usually differ significantly from the preliminary statistics. On the one hand, preliminary data are sought after for monitoring development of a phenomenon, and on the other hand, society uses the data in its activities.
The final statistics differ from the preliminary statistics mainly in that the data of final statistics are checked more closely than those of the preliminary statistics and the final statistics contain more variables to describe the phenomenon.
The statistics on causes of death compile statistics on stillbirths as well. The same data are used in the statistics on births as in the statistics on causes of death, but the data are taken into use around two months earlier than in the statistics on causes of death. Due to the differences in waiting period, there may be a small difference in the numbers of the two sets of statistics. In the statistics on births, stillbirths are used in the order number of children born to the mother.
The final statistics differ from the preliminary statistics mainly in that the data of final statistics are checked more closely than those of the preliminary statistics and the final statistics contain more variables to describe the phenomenon.
The statistics on causes of death compile statistics on stillbirths as well. The same data are used in the statistics on births as in the statistics on causes of death, but the data are taken into use around two months earlier than in the statistics on causes of death. Due to the differences in waiting period, there may be a small difference in the numbers of the two sets of statistics. In the statistics on births, stillbirths are used in the order number of children born to the mother.
Source data and data collections
Source data
The statistical data on births are total data. The statistics on births are based on data obtained weekly from the Population Information System. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland maintain the Population Information System by saving the data they receive on changes in the population living in the country in it.
The data stored in the Population Information System are specified in the Act (21 August 2009/661) on the Population Information System and the certificate services of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
The data stored in the Population Information System are specified in the Act (21 August 2009/661) on the Population Information System and the certificate services of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
Data collection
Since 1975, Statistics Finland has obtained population data weekly in machine-executable form from the Population Information System maintained by the Digital and Population Data Services Agency and the State Department of Åland. The acquisition of data is based on Statistics Finland's position as a statistical authority as decreed in law.
Frequency of data collection
The data for the statistics are collected annually.
Methods
Data compilation
The statistics on births (including stillbirths) are total data.
The data contain background variables where missing data may occur.
Attempts are made to fill them in using population data and the Population Information System.
Cases are not imputed.
The data contain background variables where missing data may occur.
Attempts are made to fill them in using population data and the Population Information System.
Cases are not imputed.
Data validation
The number of births is compared with the number of births in the preliminary statistics.
It is checked that there are no duplicate rows in the data.
It is checked that there are no cases that would have been included in the data for previous years.
The direct distributions of the variables are checked and it is examined if the variable values are in line with the classifications.
Missing cases are examined. Data are searched for in other population data sets and ultimately in the direct access service of the Population Information System.
The logicality of certain variables is checked by cross-tabulation, such as that a child registered as legitimate was born in marriage.
It is checked that there are no duplicate rows in the data.
It is checked that there are no cases that would have been included in the data for previous years.
The direct distributions of the variables are checked and it is examined if the variable values are in line with the classifications.
Missing cases are examined. Data are searched for in other population data sets and ultimately in the direct access service of the Population Information System.
The logicality of certain variables is checked by cross-tabulation, such as that a child registered as legitimate was born in marriage.
Principles and outlines
Contact organisation
Statistics Finland
Contact organisation unit
Social Statistics
Legal acts and other agreements
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information:Statistical legislation
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency submits the changes, such as data on children born, in persons’ population data registered in the Population Information System to Statistics Finland weekly.
Data on population changes are total data. Population changes concerning all persons permanently resident in Finland have been drawn from the Population Information System.
The data stored in the Population Information System are specified in the Act (21 August 2009/661) on the Population Information System and the certificate services of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The rights of residence of foreign citizens are defined in the Aliens Act (301/2004).
Statistics Finland and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency have prepared a data file agreement on data delivery.
Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council defines the data to be submitted to the Commission (Eurostat). Metadata are also submitted on the data releases. The due dates for submission are determined in the Regulation. The following population statistics data are supplied on live births: gender, month of birth, order of liveborn children, age of mother, year of birth of mother, marital status of mother, country of birth of mother, nationality of mother (country) and area of residence of mother. Concerning stillbirths, the age of the mother is supplied.
Membership in various international organisations also causes an obligation to deliver statistical data. These include the UN, the OECD and the Nordic Council.
Based on UN membership, cooperation is carried out with the United Nations Statistical Division by supplying the same data to the UN as to Eurostat.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information:Statistical legislation
The Digital and Population Data Services Agency submits the changes, such as data on children born, in persons’ population data registered in the Population Information System to Statistics Finland weekly.
Data on population changes are total data. Population changes concerning all persons permanently resident in Finland have been drawn from the Population Information System.
The data stored in the Population Information System are specified in the Act (21 August 2009/661) on the Population Information System and the certificate services of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency. The rights of residence of foreign citizens are defined in the Aliens Act (301/2004).
Statistics Finland and the Digital and Population Data Services Agency have prepared a data file agreement on data delivery.
Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council defines the data to be submitted to the Commission (Eurostat). Metadata are also submitted on the data releases. The due dates for submission are determined in the Regulation. The following population statistics data are supplied on live births: gender, month of birth, order of liveborn children, age of mother, year of birth of mother, marital status of mother, country of birth of mother, nationality of mother (country) and area of residence of mother. Concerning stillbirths, the age of the mother is supplied.
Membership in various international organisations also causes an obligation to deliver statistical data. These include the UN, the OECD and the Nordic Council.
Based on UN membership, cooperation is carried out with the United Nations Statistical Division by supplying the same data to the UN as to Eurostat.
Confidentiality - policy
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed in accordance with the requirements of the Statistics Act (280/2004), the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (621/1999), the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act (1050/2018). The data materials are protected at all stages of processing with the necessary physical and technical solutions. Statistics Finland has compiled detailed directions and instructions for confidential processing of the data. Employees have access only to the data essential for their duties. The premises where unit-level data are processed are not accessible to outsiders. Members of the personnel have signed a pledge of secrecy upon entering the service. Violation of data protection is punishable.
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Further information: Data protection | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Confidentiality - data treatment
In population statistics, the identification data of an individual are pseudonymised, that is, the data of a person can no longer be linked to a specific person without additional information.
In accordance with data protection practices, rules concerning less detailed data are applied when distributing data by area if the table contains variables specified as sensitive. Then figures below the threshold value are not reported or they are not divided into categories of sensitive variables.
According to the Statistics Act, data released for research use must be edited into a form from which statistical units cannot be identified directly or indirectly. In order to prevent indirect identification, the key variables in terms of identification must be edited using statistical data protection methods suitable for the situation.
Releasing the sample instead of the total data is the main data protection method.
In addition to sampling, Statistics Finland has used, for example, less detailed classification of variables, removal of variables or suppression of the variable values received by an individual unit as data limiting methods.
In accordance with data protection practices, rules concerning less detailed data are applied when distributing data by area if the table contains variables specified as sensitive. Then figures below the threshold value are not reported or they are not divided into categories of sensitive variables.
According to the Statistics Act, data released for research use must be edited into a form from which statistical units cannot be identified directly or indirectly. In order to prevent indirect identification, the key variables in terms of identification must be edited using statistical data protection methods suitable for the situation.
Releasing the sample instead of the total data is the main data protection method.
In addition to sampling, Statistics Finland has used, for example, less detailed classification of variables, removal of variables or suppression of the variable values received by an individual unit as data limiting methods.
Release policy
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data are public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
Data sharing
Statistics Finland’s task is to compile statistics and reports describing conditions in society (Statistics Finland Act of 24 January 1992/48). These also include population statistics, one set of which is statistics on births. Statistics Finland’s Rules of Procedure valid at each time specify the compiler of population statistics.
The preliminary population statistics produce monthly statistics on population changes, which include data on liveborn children.
Separate annual statistics are produced yearly on live births and stillbirths.
Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council defines the data and metadata to be submitted to the Commission (Eurostat). The due dates for submission are determined in the Regulation. The following data are supplied on live births: gender, month of birth, order of liveborn children, age of mother, marital status of mother, year of birth of mother, country of birth of mother, nationality of mother (country) and area of residence of mother. The above-mentioned data are also delivered to the United Nations Statistical Division, the OECD and the Nordic Council.
Final data on births by month and an estimate of births are also delivered to the EU in November of the year following the reference year.
The preliminary population statistics produce monthly statistics on population changes, which include data on liveborn children.
Separate annual statistics are produced yearly on live births and stillbirths.
Regulation (EC) No 1260/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council defines the data and metadata to be submitted to the Commission (Eurostat). The due dates for submission are determined in the Regulation. The following data are supplied on live births: gender, month of birth, order of liveborn children, age of mother, marital status of mother, year of birth of mother, country of birth of mother, nationality of mother (country) and area of residence of mother. The above-mentioned data are also delivered to the United Nations Statistical Division, the OECD and the Nordic Council.
Final data on births by month and an estimate of births are also delivered to the EU in November of the year following the reference year.
Accessibility and clarity
Statistical data are published as database tables in the StatFin database. The database is the primary publishing site of data, and new data are updated first there. When releasing statistical data, existing database tables can be updated with new data or completely new database tables can be published.
In addition to statistical data published in the StatFin database, a release on the key data is usually published in the web service. If the release contains data concerning several reference periods (e.g. monthly and annual data), a review bringing together these data is published in the web service. Database tables updated at the time of publication are listed both in the release and in the review. In some cases, statistical data can also be published as mere database releases in the StatFin database. No release or review is published in connection with these database releases.
Releases and database tables are published in three languages, in Finnish, Swedish and English. The language versions of releases may have more limited content than in Finnish.
Information about changes in the publication schedules of releases and database tables and about corrections are given as change releases in the web service.
Basic population data are available by municipality or by larger regional divisions than municipality in Statistics Finland’s free StatFin statistical database.
Data and time series on births are also available on the tables page of the statistics on births.
Population statistics from 1750 onwards have been digitised into PDF format in the National Library's Doria service:
Publications on population structure and population changes as well as publications on population censuses.
The charged population statistics information service contains more specified information on the population, e.g. by municipal sub-area (in Finnish). More information about the service is available on the web pages of the Information service.
In addition to statistical data published in the StatFin database, a release on the key data is usually published in the web service. If the release contains data concerning several reference periods (e.g. monthly and annual data), a review bringing together these data is published in the web service. Database tables updated at the time of publication are listed both in the release and in the review. In some cases, statistical data can also be published as mere database releases in the StatFin database. No release or review is published in connection with these database releases.
Releases and database tables are published in three languages, in Finnish, Swedish and English. The language versions of releases may have more limited content than in Finnish.
Information about changes in the publication schedules of releases and database tables and about corrections are given as change releases in the web service.
Basic population data are available by municipality or by larger regional divisions than municipality in Statistics Finland’s free StatFin statistical database.
Data and time series on births are also available on the tables page of the statistics on births.
Population statistics from 1750 onwards have been digitised into PDF format in the National Library's Doria service:
Publications on population structure and population changes as well as publications on population censuses.
The charged population statistics information service contains more specified information on the population, e.g. by municipal sub-area (in Finnish). More information about the service is available on the web pages of the Information service.
Data revision - policy
Revisions – i.e. improvements in the accuracy of statistical data already published – are a normal feature of statistical production and result in improved quality of statistics. The principle is that statistical data are based on the best available data and information concerning the statistical phenomenon. On the other hand, the revisions are communicated as transparently as possible in advance. Advance communication ensures that the users can prepare for the data revisions.
The reason why data in statistical releases become revised is often caused by the data becoming supplemented. Then the new, revised statistical figure is based on a wider information basis and describes the phenomenon more accurately than before.
Revisions of statistical data may also be caused by the calculation method used, such as annual benchmarking or updating of weight structures. Changes of base years and used classifications may also cause revisions to data.
Quality assessment
The producers of Official Statistics of Finland have approved a common quality assurance in which they commit to common quality criteria and quality assurance measures. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice. The good practices followed in the statistics are presented in Statistics Finland's Quality Guidelines for Official Statistics handbook. There are quality criteria for Official Statistics of Finland.
Live births in the statistical reference year are compared with the number of births in the preliminary statistics.
Live births in the statistical reference year are also compared with births in the year in question in the population structure data. However, the exact same numbers are not attained due to infant mortality and emigration.
The statistics on births were audited in 2016.
Live births in the statistical reference year are compared with the number of births in the preliminary statistics.
Live births in the statistical reference year are also compared with births in the year in question in the population structure data. However, the exact same numbers are not attained due to infant mortality and emigration.
The statistics on births were audited in 2016.
Quality assurance
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The quality management framework of the field of statistics is the European Statistics Code of Practice (CoP). The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information: Quality management | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
Further information: Quality management | Statistics Finland (stat.fi)
User access
Data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may only be handled at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise separately stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer of the data and the owner of the copyright. The terms of use for statistical data.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise separately stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer of the data and the owner of the copyright. The terms of use for statistical data.