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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

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Updated 22.4.2009

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Births [e-publication].
ISSN=1798-2413. 2008. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 21.11.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/synt/2008/synt_2008_2009-04-22_tie_001_en.html