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Published: 8 April 2014

Number of deaths at under one year decreased clearly from one year ago

In 2013, the number of deaths of children during their first year of life decreased by 28 per cent. The number was by far the lowest during Finland's independence, amounting to 102 children. Twelve months previously the number was 141 children. Infant mortality per 1,000 live births was 1.8. Prior to 2013, the lowest infant mortality rate was 2.3 per mil in 2010.

Children having died during their first year of life in 1990–2013

Children having died during their first year of life in 1990–2013

Finland's infant mortality rate was, on average, the third lowest in 2009 to 2011 compared with Nordic countries and Western European countries (Appendix figure 4). Iceland and Sweden have a lower infant mortality rate than Finland, 1.63 and 2.37 per mil, respectively. Japan also has a low infant mortality rate, 2.3 per mil, according to Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

The number of deaths in 2013 was 51,470, which is 250 fewer than in 2012. The number of deaths decreased by 250 for women and remained unchanged for men. The number of deaths has been higher only in 2012, in the war years and in the 1920s. Apart from 2012, the number of deaths among women was last higher than this 21 years ago. If the war years are not taken into consideration, the number of deaths among men was last higher than this in 1929.

In 2013, the average life expectancy at birth grew by 0.3 for men and by 0.4 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 2001–2013

    Year        Total       Men     Women   0-year-olds total
2001 48 550 23 783 24 787 181
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

Source: Population and Cause of Death Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Matti Saari 09 1734 3401

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 08.4.2014

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Deaths [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-2545. 2013. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 28.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/kuol/2013/kuol_2013_2014-04-08_tie_001_en.html