Home > Statistics > Deaths > 2016 > Number of deaths increased from the previous year

Published: 28 April 2017

Number of deaths increased from the previous year

Corrected on 10 May 2017 . The correction is indicated in red.

In 2016, a total of 53,923 persons died, which is the largest number since 1944. The previous record year after the 1940s was 2015, from which the number of deaths now grew by another 1,431. Altogether, 501 more women and 930 more men died than in 2015.

Deaths in 1930 to 2016

Most deaths occurred in January, December and March. January’s 5,336 deaths were the largest number of deaths in January since 1944. Last time more than 5,000 deaths occurred in one month was in December 2003.

In 2016, a total of 100 children died during their first year. The number of children dying at the age of under one year, that is, infant mortality, was nearly the same as in 2015, when 97 children died. In 2016, infant mortality per one thousand live-born children was 1.9 which is 0.2 per mil points higher than in the previous year. Even though the number of infant deaths remained almost unchanged, infant mortality is higher due to a lower number of live births. In 2013 to 2015, Finland's average infant mortality was smallest compared with other Nordic and Western European countries.

Deaths at the age of under one year in 1990 to 2016

In 2016, the average life expectancy at birth was 78.4 years for boys and 84.1 years for girls. Men’s average life expectancy decreased by 0.1 years and women’s remained unchanged from 2015. Men’s average life expectancy has grown steadily since the 1980s, though there was a similar minor drop in 1995 from the year before. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a person aged 0 would live provided the rate of mortality remains unchanged.

Annual number of deaths by sex and deaths of 0-year-olds in 2002 to 2016

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
2016	53 923	26 922	27 001	100

Source: Deaths 2016. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Katariina Heikkilä 029 551 3638, Matti Saari 029 551 3401, info@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (271.7 kB)

Tables

Tables in databases

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

• Database tables and their variables
• Archived tables

Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Deaths by month in 2006 to 2016 (28.4.2017)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Deaths by age group and sex in 2016 (28.4.2017)
• Appendix figure 2. Life expectancy at birth by sex in 1980 to 2016* (28.4.2017)
• Appendix figure 3. Infant mortality in Nordic and Western European countries on average in 2013 to 2015 (28.4.2017)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description, deaths 2016 (28.4.2017)

---

Updated 28.4.2017