Last year sees highest number deaths in Finland since 1944

Finland recorded a total of 57,343 deaths in 2021 and the number of annual deaths was highest in the last 87 years since 1944, according to Statistics Finland.

The number of deaths among women was highest since 1919.

Meanwhile, the number of births was 7,760 lower than that of deaths in the last year.

A total of 49,583 children were born in 2021, which is 3,120 more than in 2020. The number of deaths was 57,343, which is 1,855 higher than one year earlier.

According to the preliminary data, Finland's population at the end of December was 5,549,599.

In the course of 2021, Finland's population, however, grew by 15,806 persons. The reason for the population increase was migration gain from abroad. The number of immigrants was 22,305 higher than that of emigrants.

In 2021, the preliminary total fertility rate was 1.46, while in 2020 it was 1.37. The total fertility rate rose for the second year in a row, but it is still the fourth lowest in measuring history.

The total fertility rate indicates how many children a woman would give birth to during her lifetime if the birth rate remained the same as in the year on which the calculation is based.

According to preliminary data, the life expectancy of newborn boys was 79.2 years and that of girls 84.5 years in 2021.

Compared to 2020, the life expectancy of boys lengthened by 0.1 years and that of girls shortened by 0.2 years.

Life expectancy is an age-standardised indicator that describes the level of mortality observed during the calculation period. In the final statistics, life expectancy data usually become revised slightly downwards from the preliminary data.

In 2021, altogether 34,445 persons moved to Finland from abroad and 12,140 persons moved abroad from Finland. The number of immigrants was 1,547 higher and the number of emigrants 2,944 lower than in the previous year.

In all, 8,129 of the immigrants and 7,996 of the emigrants were Finnish citizens. In 2021, net immigration was exceptionally high, 22,305 persons.

According to preliminary data by region, the population grew in 2021 in Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, Southwest Finland, North Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Åland, North Savo and Central Finland.

The population of Satakunta decreased by 1,089 persons, which was the second highest population loss. The highest population loss in relative terms was recorded in Kymenlaakso, 8.5 per mil.