Published: 22 April 2009
Number of births increased
According to Statistics Finland’s data on population changes, 59,530 children were born in Finland in 2008, which is 801 children more than in the year before.
At the fertility rate of 2008, a woman would give birth to 1.85 children during her reproductive period. This indicator of fertility is known as the total fertility rate. In 2007, it was 1.83 children per one woman. The previous year in which total fertility rate was as high as in 2008 was in 1994.
In order for the population to renew itself in the long term, the total fertility rate should be approximately 2.1. In 2008, total fertility rate was above this limit in four regions: North Ostrobothnia, 2.38, Central Ostrobothnia, 2.25, South Ostrobothnia, 2.18 and Ostrobotnia, 2.10. The total fertility rate was lowest in the region of Varsinais-Suomi, 1.68. The region of Uusimaa had the second lowest total fertility rate of 1.69.
On the average, the women who gave birth in 2008 were little older than in the previous year. The mean age of all women at confinement rose by one tenth to 30.1 years. Women’s mean age at first confinement was 28.2 years in 2008, having been 28.1 years in the year before. Mean age at time of first confinement has risen by 0.6 years in the 2000s.
Number of live births, total fertility rate and mother's mean age by live births 1999–2008
Year | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
Number of live births | 57 574 | 56 742 | 56 189 | 55 555 | 56 630 | 57 758 | 57 745 | 58 840 | 58 729 | 59 530 |
Total fertility rate | 1,73 | 1,73 | 1,73 | 1,72 | 1,76 | 1,80 | 1,80 | 1,84 | 1,83 | 1,85 |
Mother's mean age by all live births | 29,9 | 29,9 | 29,9 | 29,9 | 30,0 | 30,0 | 30,0 | 30,0 | 30,0 | 30,1 |
Mother's mean age by first live birth | 27,6 | 27,6 | 27,6 | 27,7 | 27,9 | 27,8 | 27,9 | 28,0 | 28,1 | 28,2 |
Source: Population and Cause of Death Statistics. Statistics Finland
Inquiries: Timo Nikander (09) 1734 3250
Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma
Publication in pdf-format (261.6 kB)
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Appendix tables
- Total fertility rate by region 1997 - 2008 (22.4.2009)
- Figures
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- Live births 1971 - 2008 (22.4.2009)
- Total fertility rate 1900 - 2008 (22.4.2009)
- Quality descriptions
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- Quality description, births (22.4.2009)
Updated 22.4.2009
Official Statistics of Finland (OSF):
Births [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-2413. 2008. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 15.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/synt/2008/synt_2008_2009-04-22_tie_001_en.html