Birth rate showed a slight growth in 2020

Corrected on 19 March 2021. The correction is indicated in red.

According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, Finland's population at the end of December was 5,536,146. During 2020 Finland's population increased by 10,854 persons. The reason for the population increase was migration gain from abroad: the number of immigrants was 19,378 higher than that of emigrants. The number of births was 8,491 lower than that of deaths.

The preliminary total fertility rate grew slightly from the previous year, being 1.37 in 2020 (1.35 children in 2019). The total fertility rate indicates how many children a woman would give birth to, on average, during her life time if the birth rate remained the same as in the year on which the calculation is based.

Population increase by month 2017–2020*

According to the preliminary statistics in 2020 a total of 46,452 children were born, which is 839 more than in 2019. The number of deaths was 54,943 which is 994 higher than one year earlier.

In 2020, 30,987 persons moved to Finland from abroad and 11,609 persons moved abroad from Finland. The effects of the restrictions due to the corona virus are visible in these figures on international migration. The number of immigrants was 1,771 lower and the number of emigrants 5,654 lower than in the previous year. The number of emigrants in one year has last been under 12,000 in the end of 1990s and in 2010. In all, 9,281 of the immigrants and 7,624 of the emigrants were Finnish citizens.

According to the preliminary data, the number of inter-municipal migrations totalled 297,776 by the end of 2020. Compared with the previous year, the increase was 11,076 migrations according to the municipal division of 2020.

Same-sex marriages took legal effect in March 2017. In 2020, same-sex partners entered into 397 marriages of which 273 were between two women and 124 between two men.

According to preliminary data by region, the population grew in Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, Southwest Finland, North Ostrobothnia and Åland in 2020.

The population grew most in absolute numbers in Uusimaa, where it grew by 13,908 persons. The next largest increase in population was seen in Pirkanmaa, 3,481 persons. Relative to the population, population growth was highest in Uusimaa, 8.2 per mil, in Åland, 7.8 per mil and in Pirkanmaa, 6.7 per mil. Population loss was highest in absolute numbers in the region of South-Savo that lost 1,725 persons of its population. The population of Kymenlaakso decreased by 1,656 persons, which was the second biggest population loss. Relative to the population, the biggest population loss was found in South Savo and Kymenlaakso, in South Savo 12.2 per mil and Kymenlaakso 9.7 per mil.

Most migration gain from intramunicipal and international migration was collected by Uusimaa, 10,712 persons and Pirkanmaa, 3,900 persons. Most migration gain in relative terms based on total net migration was attained by Pirkanmaa, 7.5 per mil and Åland, 7.4 per mil.

In absolute numbers, migration loss from total net migration was biggest in the region of South-Savon, 405 persons. In the region of Kymenlaakso the loss was 372 persons. In relative terms, the biggest migration loss from total net migration was found in South-Savo, 2.9 per mil of the population.

In 2020, migration between regions numbered 135,852. The positive gain from migration between regions was seen in Pirkanmaa, Uusimaa, Southwest Finland, Kanta-Häme, Päijät-Häme and Åland. In absolute numbers, the highest gain from migration between regions was received by Pirkanmaa, 2,520 persons. Also, the relative migration gain was highest in Pirkanmaa, 4.9 per mil of the population.

Migration loss from migration between regions was biggest in absolute numbers in the region of Ostrobothnia, 879 persons. Migration loss from migration between regions was biggest in relative terms in the region of South-Savo, 5.1 per mil of the population.

Source: Preliminary population statistics, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Joni Rantakari 029 551 3249, Juhana Nordberg 029 551 3051, Joonas Toivola 029 551 3355, info@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

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Updated 21.01.2021

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Preliminary population statistics [e-publication].
ISSN=2243-3627. December 2020. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 28.12.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/vamuu/2020/12/vamuu_2020_12_2021-01-21_tie_001_en.html