Finland’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—is currently negative, reflecting a demographic trend of more deaths than births each year. As of recent years, Finland’s RNI has hovered around -0.3% per year, indicating a shrinking population in the absence of immigration. This pattern is similar to neighboring countries such as Estonia and Russia, which also experience low or negative RNIs due to aging populations and low fertility rates. In contrast, Sweden and Norway have slightly higher, though still modest, RNIs; both countries benefit from higher fertility rates and, in Sweden’s case, a relatively younger population structure. However, even in these countries, the RNI remains low compared to global averages, highlighting a broader regional challenge of population aging and potential decline in Northern Europe.
| Year | Rate of Natural Increase | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 0.27 | 5,104,654 |
| 2000 | 0.143 | 5,168,595 |
| 2005 | 0.187 | 5,238,011 |
| 2010 | 0.189 | 5,354,669 |
| 2015 | 0.098 | 5,477,371 |
| 2020 | 0.023 | 5,572,355 |
| 2024 | -0.016 | 5,626,414 |
| 2025 | -0.029 | 5,636,997 |
| 2026 | -0.045 | 5,646,225 |
| 2030 | -0.109 | 5,668,706 |
| 2035 | -0.178 | 5,671,447 |
| 2040 | -0.214 | 5,659,269 |
| 2045 | -0.228 | 5,640,640 |
| 2050 | -0.23 | 5,620,077 |
| 2055 | -0.226 | 5,600,359 |
| 2060 | -0.227 | 5,581,304 |
| 2065 | -0.237 | 5,560,892 |
| 2070 | -0.256 | 5,536,918 |
| 2075 | -0.284 | 5,506,881 |
| 2080 | -0.312 | 5,468,983 |
| 2085 | -0.329 | 5,425,535 |
| 2090 | -0.337 | 5,379,712 |
| 2095 | -0.34 | 5,333,140 |
| 2100 | -0.345 | 5,286,529 |
Data from US Census International Database