Sexual and reproductive health a key component of human health and wellbeing
Sexual and reproductive health covers a wide range of themes, such as pregnancy, childbirth and birth rate, contraception and family planning, fertility, sexuality and gynaecological health.
THL produces regular information for the promotion and monitoring of sexual and reproductive health and research on them.
More than one fifth of births result in caesarean section
In 2024, 43,883 children were born in Finland, 0.4 per cent (175 children) more than in 2023. Some of the increase is explained by the fact that year 2024 was a leap year. The mean age of parturients has been rising gradually. In 2024, the mean age of all parturients was 31.9 years and the average age of primiparas was 30.3 years.
The share of caesarean sections was 20.3% of all deliveries in 2024. The share is greater than ever before. Ten years ago, the share was 16.7%.
Read more about parturients, deliveries and newborns
The proportion of small premature infants in all children born is stable
In 2024, 397 small premature infants were born in Finland (the duration of pregnancy at birth is less than 32+0 weeks or the child’s birth weight is less than 1 501 grams), which corresponds to 0.9 per cent of all children born.
The number of small premature infants has declined slightly in the past few years, but their proportion in all children born has remained at the same level.
The survival of small premature infants has improved significantly over the past few decades.
Read more about small premature infants
Number of fertility treatments has remained stable
In 2023, approximately 14,500 fertility treatments were started. According to preliminary data, approximately 14,300 treatments were started in 2024, a decline of 1.6 per cent from the previous year. Donated gametes were used in 23.4 per cent of all treatments.
A total of 19.9 per cent of all fertility treatments in 2023 resulted in the birth of a child. The proportion is slightly higher than in 2022. The treatments led to 2,920 children being born, which is an estimated 6.71 per cent of all children born (5.9% in 2022).
Read more about assisted fertility treatments
Childbearing plans have shifted to a later age
Over the years, the age of parturients has risen and having children has been postponed further. According to the Healthy Finland Survey, three out of four women (73%) aged 20–34 had not given birth in 2023. The number of women of childbearing age who had not given birth increased by 8 per cent between 2017 and 2023.
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 20–39 years | 57,9 | 51,1 |
| 40–49 years | 22,8 | 17,2 |
The results concerning sexual and reproductive health in the 2023 Healthy Finland Survey can be found in the phenomenon reports.
Read more in the Healthy Finland 2023 phenomenon reports (in Finnish)
In 2024, 46 per cent of men and 39 per cent of women (20–49 years) hoped to have more children in the future. Postponing the wishes to have children to a later age increases the number of those experiencing involuntary childlessness. Approximately one in ten men (11.5%) aged 30–54 and one in five of women (20.4%) had experienced involuntary childlessness (attempting pregnancy for more than 12 months).
The Healthy Finland Survey 2024 included questions about wishes to have children and childlessness. The results have been reported as indicator tables.
Indicator tables of the Healthy Finland 2024 questionnaire section (in Finnish)
One in ten upper secondary school students who had sexual intercourse did not use contraception during their latest sexual intercourse
According to the School Health Promotion study, 16 per cent of students in grades 8 and 9, 34 per cent of students in general upper secondary education and 50 per cent of students of vocational institutions have had sexual intercourse. When they last had sexual intercourse, contraception was not used by 21 per cent of students in grades 8 and 9, 11 per cent of students in general upper secondary education and 14 per cent of students in vocational education and training.
During the year, 31–32 per cent of girls in grades 8 and 9 and girls in upper secondary schools, 36 per cent of girls in vocational education and training and 7–12 per cent of boys had experienced sexual harassment. During the year, 9–14 per cent of girls and 4–7 per cent of boys had experienced sexual violence.
According to most indicators, the wellbeing of young people belonging to gender and sexual minorities is lower than the wellbeing of other young people.
Information on the sexual behaviour, sexual harassment and violence of young people as well as the wellbeing of gender and sexual minorities is obtained from the School Health Promotion study, which is conducted every two years. The School Health Promotion study provides an extensive description of students’ experiences of health, wellbeing, school attendance, studies and lifestyles.
Read more about the School Health Promotion study
No significant variation in the prevalence of congenital anomalies
In 2022, 2,373 children born were diagnosed with significant anomalies. Anomalies were diagnosed in 4.6 per cent of live born and 11.6 per cent of stillborn infants. A total of 364 pregnancies were terminated because of a foetal anomaly.
The prevalence of congenital anomalies has remained stable. In 2022, the total prevalence (per births and terminations of pregnancy performed for foetal indications) was 543 per 10,000 children born, compared to an average of 538 per 10,000 children born in 2014–2022.
Read more about congenital anomalies
Number of induced abortions continued to increase
In 2024, almost 8,650 abortions, or 7.3 abortions per 1,000 women of childbearing age (aged 15–49) were performed. In 2024, 3.4 per cent more abortions were performed than in 2023.
The updated Act on Induced Abortion entered into force in September 2023. As of 1 September 2023, the grounds for abortion are always a request from the pregnant person if the gestation has lasted 12+0 weeks or less. There is no need to provide a justification for the request.
The number of gonorrhoea cases continued its increase
In 2025, 11,712 new cases of chlamydia, 2,097 cases of gonorrhoea and 327 cases of syphilis were reported. The number of gonorrhoea cases increased and was the highest ever reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register. Chlamydia infections continued to decline, and the number of syphilis cases remained at the same level as in the previous year.
In gonorrhoea and syphilis, the emphasis was on men (66% and 67%), whereas in chlamydia, the proportion of women was higher, 56 per cent. The average age of those infected was 34 years in gonorrhoea, 39 years in syphilis and 27 years in chlamydia.
Read more about sexually transmitted diseases
The number of sterilisations continues to decrease
According to the notifications made to the THL’s sterilisation register, approximately 2,300 sterilisations were carried out in 2024, a decrease of 20.4 per cent from 2023.
There has been a clear decline in female sterilisations in the 21st century, and their number also decreased (-12.6%) from the previous year in 2024. The number of sterilisations carried out on men also decreased (-22.9%).
Read more about sterilisations
Contact information
Chief Specialist
tel. 029 524 7177
[email protected]