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Published: 22 April 2009

Number of births increased

According to Statistics Finland’s data on population changes, 59,530 children were born in Finland in 2008, which is 801 children more than in the year before.

At the fertility rate of 2008, a woman would give birth to 1.85 children during her reproductive period. This indicator of fertility is known as the total fertility rate. In 2007, it was 1.83 children per one woman. The previous year in which total fertility rate was as high as in 2008 was in 1994.

In order for the population to renew itself in the long term, the total fertility rate should be approximately 2.1. In 2008, total fertility rate was above this limit in four regions: North Ostrobothnia, 2.38, Central Ostrobothnia, 2.25, South Ostrobothnia, 2.18 and Ostrobotnia, 2.10. The total fertility rate was lowest in the region of Varsinais-Suomi, 1.68. The region of Uusimaa had the second lowest total fertility rate of 1.69.

On the average, the women who gave birth in 2008 were little older than in the previous year. The mean age of all women at confinement rose by one tenth to 30.1 years. Women’s mean age at first confinement was 28.2 years in 2008, having been 28.1 years in the year before. Mean age at time of first confinement has risen by 0.6 years in the 2000s.

Number of live births, total fertility rate and mother's mean age by live births 1999–2008

Year	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Number of live births	57 574	56 742	56 189	55 555	56 630	57 758	57 745	58 840	58 729	59 530
Total fertility rate	1,73	1,73	1,73	1,72	1,76	1,80	1,80	1,84	1,83	1,85
Mother's mean age by all live births	29,9	29,9	29,9	29,9	30,0	30,0	30,0	30,0	30,0	30,1
Mother's mean age by first live birth	27,6	27,6	27,6	27,7	27,9	27,8	27,9	28,0	28,1	28,2

Source: Population and Cause of Death Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Timo Nikander (09) 1734 3250

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Tables

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Appendix tables

• Total fertility rate by region 1997 - 2008 (22.4.2009)

Figures

• Live births 1971 - 2008 (22.4.2009)
• Total fertility rate 1900 - 2008 (22.4.2009)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description, births (22.4.2009)

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Updated 22.4.2009