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Published: 23 April 2021

Number of deaths increased from the previous year

In 2020, a total of 55,488 persons died, which is 1,539 more than in the year before. In 2020, men died, on average, at the age of 75.3 and women at 82.1. Women died, on average, 6.9 years older than men. In young age groups, a majority of deaths occurred among men but among persons aged 83 and older there were more deaths among women than men. The median age at death was 77.8 years for men and 85.5 years for women. 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.

Age distribution at the time of death by sex in 2020

In 2020, the life expectancy at birth was 79 years for boys and 84.6 years for girls. For boys, the life expectancy decreased by 0.13 years and for girls it increased by 0.09 years compared with 2019. Life expectancy at birth indicates how many years a person aged 0 would live on average if mortality remained at its present level.

Deaths at the age of under one year by sex in 1990 to 2020

Number of infant deaths record low again

In 2020, there were 83 infant deaths, that is, children who died at the age of under one year. The number is lowest in the history of independent Finland for the second year in a row. In 2019, the number was 96. In 2020, infant mortality per one thousand live-born children was 1.8, which is 0.3 per mil lower than in the previous year. The infant mortality rate of boys, 2.1 per mil, was slightly higher than that of girls, 1.5 per mil. The infant mortality rate was lowest in the measuring history in 2015, when it was 1.7 per mil. At that time, the number of infant deaths was 97.

Source: Deaths 2020. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Joni Rantakari 029 551 3249, Katariina Heikkilä 029 551 3638, info@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Tables

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Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Deaths in 1930 to 2020 (23.4.2021)
• Appendix figure 2. Life expectancy at birth by sex in 1980 to 2020* (23.4.2021)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description, deaths 2020 (23.4.2021)

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Updated 23.4.2021