Child welfare – Child welfare notifications

A child welfare notification was made for 11% of children

In 2025, a child welfare notification was made for 117,000 children, corresponding to 10.9% of all children.

The share of children subject to a notification by age group was as follows:

• Ages 0–2: 6.7%
• Ages 3–6: 8.7%
• Ages 7–12: 10.6%
• Ages 13–15: 16.4%
• Ages 16–17: 14.7%

 

The number of child welfare notifications continues to increase

A total of 246,000 child welfare notifications were made in 2025. This represents an increase of 7% (+16,000) compared to 2024. Since 2010, the number of notifications has tripled.
 

The growth in the number of children subject to notifications has levelled off

The number of children subject to child welfare notifications has doubled since 2010.
However, the growth appears to have stabilised. In 2025, the number of children remained at approximately the same level as in the previous year (+1,500 children, +1%).

“When the number of notifications increases but the number of children does not, it indicates that notifications are accumulating for the same children. More comprehensive data to be introduced in the autumn will help to better understand this phenomenon,” says Martta Forsell, Chief Specialist at THL.

Regional differences are substantial

There are significant regional differences in the share of children subject to child welfare notifications.

The highest share was recorded in Kymenlaakso (13.4%), and the lowest in Ostrobothnia (6.8%), relative to the population aged 0–17.

“Differences between regions may reflect variations in how services are organised, but also differences in population wellbeing and socio-economic factors,” notes Johanna Hedman, Development Manager at THL.

About the data in more detail

• Read the entire statistical report (Julkari)
• Compilation view of the statistics (in Finnish)
• Indicator data in Sotkanet

Background information

• Data description (Data resources catalogue)
• Statistical quality report
• Instructions for submitting data (in Finnish)

Source

Child welfare notifications 2025
Statistical report 13/2026, 19.5.2026.
Official Statistics of Finland, Child welfare. THL.

Description of the statistics

The statistics include information on the number of child‑welfare notifications. The data is based on municipality‑specific information submitted annually by the wellbeing services counties.

The statistics may be further developed in 2027, when detailed information on notifications will become available through the Social Welfare Monitoring Register and Kanta records, replacing the current aggregate‑level counts.

Update schedule

The next statistical release will take place in April–May 2027.

The publication date for new data can be found in THL’s statistics publication calendar.
Statistics publication calender