Population decline to begin later than expected
Government needs to make changes to report on future
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The population of Finland is expected to begin to decline later than previously expected.
A largely overlooked population forecast put out in the early autumn by Statistics Finland suggests that the Finnish population will begin to decline in 2028.
Just three years earlier Statistics Finland predicted that the turnaround in the population in 2023.
When the population peaks, in 2028, Finland is expected to have 5.45 million inhabitants.
Yesterday afternoon the Finnish population was estimated at 5,235,841.
The revised estimate is attributed to three different factors: Finns are having more babies, they are living longer, and immigration is increasing.
The new estimate differs from the old one so much, that it has forced experts to revise parts of the report on the future, which goes to the government for approval today, Thursday.
The changes do not alter the fact that the average age of the Finnish population is rising.
According to Vesa Vihriälä, one of the officials preparing the report, the new population forecast indicates an increase in children born in Finland, and in immigration by foreigners of working age. This benefits the national economy by improving the ratio between the working age population and retirees.
The impact of longer life expectancy depends largely on whether or not people will also postpone their retirement.
According to Vihriälä, the figures put out by Statistics Finland show that population trends are not as straightforward and static as people tend to think, and that this needs to be taken into account in drawing up calculations that extend over several decades.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 18.11.2004 - TODAY |
 Population decline to begin later than expected |
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