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Published: 24 April 2020

The number of infant deaths lowest in history

In 2019, the number of children dying at the age of under one year was 96. The number is the lowest during Finnish independence. The number of infant deaths per one thousand live-born children was 2.1, which is the same figure as in the previous year. The infant mortality rate of boys, 2.3 per mil, was slightly higher than among girls, 1.9 per mil. The lowest infant mortality rate in recorded history was 1.7 per mil in 2015, when 97 children died at the age of under one year.

Deaths at the age of under one year by sex in 1990 to 2019

In 2019, the average life expectancy at birth was 79.2 years for boys and 84.5 years for girls. For boys, the life expectancy increased by 0.3 years and for girls by 0.2 years compared with 2018. Life expectancy at birth indicates the number of years a person aged 0 would live on average, provided the rate of mortality remains unchanged.

Age distribution at the time of death by sex in 2019

A total of 53,949 persons died in 2019, which is 578 less than in 2018. Men died, on average, at the age of 75.3 and women at 82.1. Women died, on average, 6.8 years older than men. In young age groups, a majority of deaths occurred among young men but among persons aged 83 and older there were more women than men. The median age at death for men was 77.8 years and for women 85.5 years. The median describes the middle value, that is, one-half of all persons that died, died at a younger or older age than the median age at death.

Annual number of deaths by sex and deaths of 0-year-olds in 2009 to 2019

Year	Total	Males	Females	0-year-olds total
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
2017	53 722	26 895	26 827	102
2018	54 527	27 184	27 343	101
2019	53 949	27 082	26 867	96

Source: Deaths 2019. Statistics Finland

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

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (256.5 kB)

Tables

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• Database tables and their variables
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Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Deaths in 1930 to 2019 (24.4.2020)
• Appendix figure 2. Life expectancy at birth by sex in 1980 to 2019* (24.4.2020)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description, deaths 2019 (24.4.2020)

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Updated 24.4.2020