Finland’s baby shortage threatens welfare state
Birth rate at lowest level in nearly 150 years, well below the European average
The Finnish government is increasingly concerned about the country’s falling birth rate, which is at its lowest for nearly 150 years.
The number of babies being born has fallen steadily over the last six years and is now considerably lower than neighbouring Sweden and Norway and well below the European average.
In recent months, the birth rate has declined so sharply researchers have begun to question the accuracy of their data, Finland’s national broadcaster reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
If the trend continues for the remainder of the year, the number of births will drop below the 50,000 mark for the first time since a nationwide famine ended in 1868.
Finland’s minister for family affairs, Annika Saarikko, admitted that the government is alarmed by the statistics.
“One of the underlying factors that may be of importance is the general feeling of [economic] insecurity,” she told the Helsinki Times, citing the high cost of living in urban centres and uncertainties in the labour markets.
Demographics are a concern across the developed world, says Bloomberg, but they are “particularly problematic for countries with a generous welfare state, since they endanger its long-term survival”.
Heidi Schauman, chief economist at Aktia Bank in Helsinki, said the figures were concerning.
“They show how fast our society is changing, and we don’t have solutions ready to stop the development,” she said. “We have a large public sector and the system needs taxpayers in the future.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 cleverly clashing cartoons about the presidential debate
Cartoons Artists take on a deepfake debate, winners and losers, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Pélicot case: a horror exposed
Talking Point This case is unusually horrifying, but the misogyny that enabled is chillingly common
By The Week UK Published
-
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice: pure 'nostalgia bait'
Talking Point Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder return for sequel to the 1988 cult classic
By The Week UK Published
-
A brief history of third parties in the US
In Depth Though none of America's third parties have won a presidential election, they have nonetheless had a large impact on the country's politics
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Modern royal scandals from around the world
The Explainer From Spain to the UAE, royal families have often been besieged by negative events
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Zelenskyy says 31,000 troops dead in 2 years of war
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a rare official military death toll
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published