Population wellbeing – Health and wellbeing

About one in two rate their quality of life as good

According to the Healthy Finland Survey, the quality of life among working-age people has deteriorated in recent years. In 2024, about half of adults – including those of working age – rated their quality of life as good, representing a clear decline compared with 2018 (64%). Here, quality of life refers to a person’s perception of their own situation, for example their health, wellbeing, social relationships and living environment.

Perceived health status has also worsened among working-age people. In 2024, one third of those of working age rated their health as average or worse, whereas the corresponding share in 2018 was about 28%.

Among those of retirement age (aged 65 and over), perceived quality of life and health remained almost unchanged between 2018 and 2024.

Mental health symptoms and loneliness have increased among working‑age people in the 2020s

In 2024, about one in five working‑age people experienced psychological distress, most commonly among young adults. Psychological distress increased steadily during 2018–2022, but the growth levelled off in 2024.

Among people of retirement age, about one in ten experienced psychological distress, and its prevalence remained almost unchanged during 2018–2024.
Experiences of loneliness were common among young adults, but also among the oldest age groups. About 18% of those aged 20–39 experienced loneliness, and among those aged 85 and over the figure was about 15%. Loneliness increased steadily among working‑age people during 2018–2024.

About one in ten people of retirement age experienced loneliness in 2024, and its prevalence increased somewhat during 2018–2024, especially among men.

Obesity has also become more common among working‑age people

Obesity has become more common in the population over recent decades. Nearly 30 per cent of adults have obesity, which corresponds to around 1.2 million people. Obesity was most prevalent among those aged 40–64.

Obesity has increased among working‑age people (20–64‑year‑olds). Compared with 2017, obesity has increased by 3 percentage points among men and by 4 percentage points among women. The average man’s weight has risen by 1.6 kg and the average woman’s by 1.8 kg.

The results are based on measurements of height and weight carried out in the Healthy Finland Survey 2022–2023 and in earlier health examination surveys.

There are large differences in work ability between education groups

Among working‑age men and women (20–64‑year‑olds), about one fifth perceived themselves as completely or partially unable to work. The share has remained almost unchanged in 2017, 2022 and 2024. Among those aged 65–74, the corresponding share was 42 per cent for men and 46 per cent for women.

In 2024, among men aged 20–74, the proportion perceiving themselves as completely or partially unable to work was twice as high in the lowest education group (30 per cent) as in the highest education group (16 per cent). Among women, the corresponding differences are also clear, but somewhat smaller than among men (30 per cent in the lowest vs 19 per cent in the highest education group).

The need for care and services due to reduced functional ability increases as the population ages

Nearly one million people living in Finland feel they need help with everyday tasks because of reduced functional ability. Just under one fifth of those under 65 need help; among men aged 75 and over the figure is 40 per cent, and among women one in two.

However, older people’s ability to manage basic and everyday activities appears to have improved in 2020–2024. Washing is the activity that most commonly causes major difficulties. As the number of older people, especially the oldest old, increases, the need for care and services grows.

About the data in more detail

• Read the full statistical report (Julkari)
• Indicator data in Sotkanet

Reporting services

Results of the Healthy Finland Survey (in Finnish)

Background information

• Statistical quality report
• Data description (Data resources catalogue) (in Finnish)
• Privacy notice 2025–2026
• Privacy notice 2022–2024

Sources

The adult population’s well-being and health – Healthy Finland Survey 2024. Statistical Report 40/2025.

Lehtoranta L, Kaartinen N, Jääskeläinen T, et al. Obesity. Healthy Finland Survey phenomenon report 30.11.2023 (in Finnish)

Description of the statistics

The adult population’s well-being and health statistics describes the well-being, health and experiences of health and social services of adults residing in Finland and changes that have taken place in them. The statistics are produced from the data of the sample-based Healthy Finland survey. The survey was implemented for the first time in 2022 and it combines the previous survey FinSote and the health examination study FinTerveys.

The data of the questionnaire part of the Healthy Finland survey are collected using questionnaire forms that can be answered by post or online. The respondents are at least 20 years old and have permanent residency in Finland. There is no upper age limit. In 2024, the survey was sent to 61,600 randomly selected people (total of 2,800/ wellbeing services county), based on the information of the Population Register Centre.

The results of the Healthy Finland 2024 survey are largely comparable with the results of the previous Healthy Finland 2022, FinSote 2018 and 2020 surveys, as the data collection method and several research questions have remained almost the same in the surveys.

Update schedule

The Healthy Finland Survey will be conducted every three years in the future. The next large-scale survey of the adult population will be conducted in 2028.