Child welfare – Compilation

Child welfare statistics to be reformed in 2026–2028 – thematic summary views and new content in the statistical report

In the future, the basic statistics for the preceding year will continue to be published in the spring, but as separate statistical reports. 

As a major reform, thematic electronic summary views will be introduced, enabling more detailed examination of the data than before, for example by age group, wellbeing services county and developments over time, using charts and tables. 

The child welfare summary report will be published in the autumn 

Previously, the child welfare statistical report was published annually in May. In the future, the summary report will be published in the autumn. 

The report compiles data on children placed outside the home, open care clients and child welfare notifications. In addition, it has included previously published data on processing times, staffing levels and costs in child welfare services. 

The report published in the autumn will also include new information related to child welfare. With the reform of social welfare registers and the introduction of the Kanta services, statistics can in the future be produced on new contents, such as reasons for service needs and service pathways. 

The summary statistics bring together information previously published in different statistical outputs as well as more detailed analyses of special issues. 

Child welfare costs amounted to EUR 1.6 billion in 2024 

In 2024, the total costs of child welfare and social services for families with children amounted to EUR 2.1 billion. The costs increased by 5 per cent compared to 2023. 

Out-of-home care accounts for more than half of the total costs of child welfare and social services for families with children (55%). The share of institutional placements has increased, while the share of professional family care has decreased. 

Explore the statistical data in more detail

• Read the full statistical report (Julkari) (In Finnish)
• Child welfare indicators in Sotkanet

Source

Child welfare 2024
Statistical Report 23/2025, 29 April 2025.
Official Statistics of Finland, Child Welfare. THL.

Description of statistics

The child welfare statistics, published annually in the autumn, bring together information previously published in separate statistical outputs, as well as more detailed analyses of specific topics.

In the future, the statistics will be published annually in the autumn.

Background information

• Quality report of the statistics
• Data description of the Child Welfare Register (Data Catalogue)
• Data description of the statistical material on child welfare open care

 Update schedule

The next statistical release will be published in autumn 2026.

The more exact publication time can be found in the publication calendar.
Publication calendar for statistics