Friday November 01, 2024

Birth rate remains low in country in Q1

Published : 12 Jun 2017, 01:32

Updated : 13 Jun 2017, 02:33

  DF Report
Sami baby. Photo VisitFinland.

A total of 12,118 children were born in the country from January to March this year , which is 1,168 fewer than during the stipulated period in 2016, according to the Statistics Finland.

The number of deaths, however, was also lower during the stipulated period. A total of 14,370 people died from January to March in 2017 and the number was 291 lower than the first three months of the previous year.

The growth rate of population was positive during the period due to immigration of people.

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, country's population at the end of March was 5,504,913. During January-March Finland's population increased by 1,617 persons, which is 613 persons more than in the preliminary data the year before.

The reason for the population increase was migration gain from abroad: the number of immigrants was 3,868 higher than that of emigrants. There was no natural population growth, since deaths exceeded births by 2,252 persons.

Altogether 7,062 persons immigrated to Finland from abroad and 3,194 persons emigrated from Finland during January-March period. The number of immigrants was 828 higher and the number of emigrants 419 lower than in the corresponding period of previous year. Some 1,520 of the immigrants and 2,127 of the emigrants were Finnish citizens.

According to the preliminary data, the number of inter-municipal migrations totalled 56,798 by the end of March. Compared with the previous year, the increase was 2,173 migrations according to the municipal division of 2017.

Same-sex marriages took legal effect in March 2017. A total of 51 women and 23 men entered into marriage in which the spouse was of the same sex. In all, 963 women and 558 men changed their registered partnership into marriage.

According to preliminary data by region, the population grew only in Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, Varsinais-Suomi, North Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia and Åland in the beginning of 2017.

The population grew most in absolute numbers in Uusimaa, where it grew by 4,123 persons. The next largest increase in population was seen in Pirkanmaa, 1 616 persons. Relative to the population, population increase was highest in Uusimaa, 2.5 per mil, in Central Ostrobothnia, 1.6 per million and in Pirkanmaa, 0.9 per mil. Population loss was highest in absolute numbers in the region of Pohjois-Savo that lost 468 persons of its population.

The population of Kymenlaakso decreased by 427 persons. Relative to the population, the biggest population loss was also found in North Karelia, 2.6 per million. Most migration gain from intramunicipal and international migration was collected by Uusimaa, 3,402 persons and Pirkanmaa, 615 persons. Most migration gain in relative terms based on total net migration was attained by Uusimaa, 2.1 per mil and Varsinais-Suomi, 1.3 per million.

In absolute numbers, migration loss from total net migration was biggest in the region of Pohjois-Savo, 167 persons. In the region of Kanta-Häme the loss was 149 persons. In relative terms, the biggest migration loss from total net migration was found in the region of Kanta-Häme, 0.8 per mil of the population.