Finland's total fertility rate plummeted to an unprecedented low of 1.25 in 2024, marking the lowest figure since statistical records began in 1776, according to preliminary data from Statistics Finland. This historic decline, which saw 43,711 births in 2024, continues a trend of falling birth rates despite a slight increase in the number of births compared to 2023. The tweet from Peter Vesterbacka highlighted this critical demographic shift, stating, "Syntyvyys yhä historiallisen matalaa – väestönkasvu keskittyy Uudellemaalle" (Birth rate still historically low – population growth concentrated in Uusimaa).
The national population growth, however, is predominantly fueled by immigration rather than natural increase. In 2024, Finland's population grew by approximately 33,000, reaching 5.64 million, with immigration accounting for nearly all of this expansion. While the overall birth rate is declining, the Uusimaa region, which includes the capital Helsinki, continues to experience population growth.
This regional disparity is significant, as the Uusimaa region has historically attracted both internal migrants from other parts of Finland and international immigrants, drawn by job opportunities and urban amenities. Preliminary data for 2023 indicated a faster-than-anticipated decline in childbirths specifically within the Uusimaa region, managed by the Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), despite the region's overall population increase. This suggests that while Uusimaa is growing, its growth is heavily reliant on migration inflows.
The average age of first-time mothers in Finland has risen to 30.3 years, and for fathers, it is 32.2 years. The total fertility rate in 2023 was lowest in Kymenlaakso (1.01), North Karelia (1.14), and South Karelia (1.16), while Central Ostrobothnia (1.7) and Åland (1.58) recorded the highest rates. Joni Rantakari, Chief Actuary at Statistics Finland, noted that while the decline in the birth rate appears to be stabilizing, it remains at a historically low level.
The long-term implications of this demographic trend include an aging population and a shrinking working-age demographic, posing challenges for Finland's welfare system and economic sustainability. The Finnish government has acknowledged these concerns, with Research Professor Anna Rotkirch from Väestöliitto (the Family Federation of Finland) proposing 20 measures to support fertility and address the gap between desired and actual family sizes. Despite generous parental leave policies and high-quality childcare, Finland's fertility rate remains well below the replacement level of 2.1, reflecting a broader trend observed across many developed nations.