Birth rate remains low at end-August

A total of 30,431 children were born in the country from January to August this year, which is 2,014 fewer than in the corresponding period in 2018, according to Statistics Finland.

The number of births was 5,152 lower than that of deaths.

The number of deaths was 35,583, which is 1,173 lower than one year earlier.

According to the preliminary data, Finland's population was 5,524,387 at the end of August. Country's population increased by 6,468 persons during January-August.

The reason for the increase was migration gain from abroad, since immigration exceeded emigration by 12,071.

According to the preliminary statistics for August, 21,351 persons immigrated to Finland from abroad and 9,280 persons emigrated from Finland.

The number of immigrants was 870 higher and the number of emigrants 2,845 lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year. In all, 6,382 of the immigrants and 6,187 of the emigrants were Finnish citizens.