THL moves to improve birthrate as fertility rate drops in Finland

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is developing national models for family preparation and childbirth preparation, as well as support related to miscarriage, termination of pregnancy and fear of childbirth, said a press release on Tuesday.

The development work, funded by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, is part of the Population Policy Programme, which aims to strengthen services that support the fulfilment of childbearing intentions and increase their equity across Finland.

The birth rate in Finland has declined rapidly over the past 15 years. The total fertility rate fell from 1.86 to 1.25 between 2009 and 2024. In 2025, a small increase was observed for the first time.

The shrinking size of birth cohorts is reflected in the population structure, and the change challenges the economic and social sustainability of society. The decline has been steeper in Finland than in the other Nordic countries. Birth rates are at a historically low level, and the number of children born was last at this level in the 1830s.

There is a significant gap in Finland between the desired and the actual number of children. The desired number of children is approximately 2.3, while the actual figure is only around 1.7.

The THL observed that society must adapt to changes in the population structure, but at the same time it is important to support people in achieving their childbearing intentions, for example by developing care related to miscarriage and fear of childbirth.

The THL is implementing the Population Policy Programme, whose key objectives are to support the fulfilment of people’s childbearing intentions, improve the low birth rate and develop services for families with children.

Through THL’s VPO Maternity and Child Health Clinic Project, national models are being developed for family and childbirth preparation programmes, for organising support and assistance for people who have experienced miscarriage or termination of pregnancy, and for strengthening support for those experiencing fear of childbirth.

“Supporting the fulfilment of childbearing intentions requires that people receive the services they need on an equal basis regardless of where they live. National operating models help ensure that services are of high quality, accessible and based on research evidence,” said State Secretary Laura Rissanen.

There are major regional differences in the equitable implementation of family and childbirth preparation services, and declining birth rates have further complicated the provision of services to all expectant families.

Care pathways related to miscarriage and termination of pregnancy are fragmented, and the Current Care Guidelines are not implemented in all regions.

Although care for fear of childbirth has been developed across Finland in recent years, there are still significant regional differences in service availability, service content and care pathway structures, and the overall service system is not perceived as clear by clients. Experiences related to pregnancy, childbirth, miscarriage and termination of pregnancy can have long-term effects on an individual’s wellbeing, future pregnancies and childbearing intentions. For this reason, more consistent services and more readily available stepped psychosocial support are needed in all wellbeing services counties.

The national models are being developed through collaboration within a multidisciplinary expert network.

“Our goal is that every family receives the support it needs. In this development work, we combine research evidence, professionals’ experiences and families’ views into operating models that can be used in all wellbeing services counties,” said Development Manager of THL Sanna Nieminen.