Finland: Dramatic drop in childbirths
Nyfødte barn på nordkalotten er i langt større grad enn ellers i verden blitt utsatt for miljøgifter gjennom svangerskapet. Foto: Ernest F/Wikimedia
The number of births in Finland has dropped by almost 8 percent in two years. - We'll have to increase immigration considerably, with the birth rate dropping so sharply, says Esa Iivonen, a senior expert at the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL).
The number of births in Finland has dropped by almost 8 percent in two years. - We'll have to increase immigration considerably, with the birth rate dropping so sharply, says Esa Iivonen, a senior expert at the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL).
- The question then becomes, is the country willing to increase immigration, Iivonen asks in a news article published by The Helsinki Times.
- How will we be able to pay pensions in the future, if the generations in employment are notably smaller? Where will we find the employees and taxpayers? The Ministry of Finance should really be concerned about the development, the senior expert continues.
Fewer than 50.000 children were born in Finland between January and November of 2016, according to preliminary data released by Statistics Finland.
Last month Statistics Finland reported that a total of 48.810 birth were registered in the period mentioned, representing a decline of almost 2.500 from the corresponding period in 2015 and one of 4.000 from the corresponding period in 2014.
- It's terribly lot, especially because it has taken place in two years, states Iivonen.
The decrease in the number of births is attributable primarily to three factors, he estimates: the difficulty of finding a suitable partner, the deteriorating labour market position of young people and political decisions.
Nevertheless, the Finnish population is growing. Preliminary data from Statistics Finland also indicate that the population grew by 16.039 over the first eleven months of last year to 5.503.347.