Finland has started looking for a way out of the low fertility crisis
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Executive of Pere Sihtkapital Foundation
In 2011, Finland’s total fertility rate was 1.87 children per woman, but it has been falling steadily and was only 1.26 children per woman last year – fewer than ever recorded. If the fertility rate is between 1.7 and 2.0, the population would decline relatively slowly, but if it falls to between 1.0 and 1.4 for a longer period of time, the functioning of society will face major difficulties.
In June 2024, Minister of Social Security of Finland Sanni Grahn-Laasonen appointed a working group to prepare a Population Policy Programme that should also support fertility. The programme is expected to be ready in 2025. In October 2024, a report titled “20 proposals to support people in achieving their fertility ideals. Report on the declining birth rate in Finland” was completed.
So far, lagging behind other Nordic Countries in terms of gender equality was considered the main reason for Finland’s low birth rate, and policies were developed accordingly. However, contrary to expectations, the birth rate in the Nordic Countries also started to fall in the last decade, which shows that new factors have emerged that had not been taken into account before.
The report finds that the main causes of the birth rate decline in Finland during the last decade are the rise in the average age of becoming a mother to over 30 and the increase in childlessness. The childlessness rate in Finland is one of the highest in the world. Two times more people remain childless than would have wished to. In order to improve the situation, the report suggests informing, educating and providing counselling services through the education and health systems. This is expected to improve the young people’s skills in family planning, besides planning a career, and to raise awareness how fertility changes with age. It is also proposed to consider financial incentives that would encourage having the first child before the age of 30.
Decreasing partnership stability is also seen as a major problem. Earlier, most children in Finland were born in the first co-residential partnerships, but now the probability of separation is higher than that of first births. The children born in the next partnerships do not wholly compensate for that. Improving the availability of counselling and mental health services, as well as reducing screen time are seen as solutions to better support couples.
Immigration is often proposed as a substitute for low fertility, but the report explains why it can only be a short-term and limited solution.
Several recommendations in the report are connected with showing more appreciation for raising children. Investments in childcare and early childhood education, adequate parental leave and financial support to compensate expenses relating to children are known to support fertility but also the welfare of families.
There are still no clear and tested ways of stopping the birth rate decline, let alone increasing it. The report nevertheless encourages to discuss this issue courageously and openly, and to hear the opinion of young people in particular.