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Published: 22 November 2013

Reconstituted families mainly have the mother's children

According to the 2012 family statistics, there are some 110,000 underage children living in reconstituted families, which represents ten per cent of all children living in families with underage children. A majority, some 60 per cent of children living in reconstituted families are the mother's children. Close on one-third are joint children and around ten per cent the father's children. A reconstituted family is a family with at least one underage child of just one of the parents.

Share of children in reconstituted families by age in 2012

Share of children in reconstituted families by age in 2012

There are some 36,000 children under school-age growing up in reconstituted families of which 70 per cent are joint children, 27 per cent the mother's children, and three per cent the father's children.

There are 53,000 reconstituted families representing nine per cent of all families with underage children. Around one-half of the parents of reconstituted families are married to each other and one-half cohabit with each other.

Altogether, 46 per cent of reconstituted families only have children that were brought into the family by the mother. The second most common type of reconstituted families is one with the mother's children and joint children, 38 per cent. In six per cent of reconstituted families there are only children that were brought into the family by the father. Four per cent of reconstituted families have both the mother's and father's children but no joint children. Reconstituted families that have the father's children and joint children also represent four per cent. A combination with the mother's and father's children, as well as joint children is quite rare, only around two per cent of reconstituted families are of this type. Even though the mother's children most commonly live permanently in reconstituted families, the daily life of the family may also involve the father's children permanently living elsewhere.


Source: Population and Cause of Death Statistics, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Marjut Pietiläinen 09 1734 2798, Timo Nikander 09 1734 3250, vaesto.tilasto@stat.fi

Director in charge: Riitta Harala

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Updated 13.1.2014

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Families [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-3231. Annual Review 2012. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/perh/2012/02/perh_2012_02_2013-11-22_tie_001_en.html