Morbidity remains most common in Eastern and Northern Finland
The morbidity index is highest in the wellbeing services counties of North Savo and North Ostrobothnia. North Karelia and Lapland are also regions with high morbidity.
The lowest levels of morbidity are found in Ostrobothnia, the wellbeing services counties of Uusimaa, and Helsinki across all disease groups except cancers and injuries.
Regional differences are greatest in alcohol-related diseases and severe mental disorders. Regional patterns in morbidity are similar for both men and women.
Cardiovascular diseases are decreasing, while diabetes and chronic lung diseases are increasing
The prevalence of coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disorders has decreased across the country.
A decline is also observed in the mental health index reflecting severe mental disorders, largely due to a reduction in disability pension decisions granted on mental disorders.
Among the disease groups included in the statistics, chronic lung diseases and diabetes have increased the most. The lung disease index reflects the number of people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or sleep apnea, and the increase is mainly driven by a rise in sleep apnea diagnoses in the population.
The increase in diabetes is visible in both age-standardized and non-age-standardized indices.
The rise in both diabetes and sleep apnea is largely due to increasing obesity among the working-age population.
Obesity and physical inactivity are also linked to many other diseases and may, over the long term, increase, for example, mental health problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. If the rise in obesity cannot be prevented, it may also increase work disability in the future.
Work disability is most common in Eastern Finland and least common in Uusimaa
The situation of work disability among Finns shows regional divergence: in Uusimaa it has decreased slightly further, while in the rest of the country it has mostly remained unchanged or increased.
The work disability index measures granted disability pensions, longer sickness allowance periods, and decisions granting vocational rehabilitation.
Disability pensions are most paid in Kainuu and North Savo, and least commonly in Western Uusimaa and Helsinki.
Sickness allowance periods exceeding 90 days are most common in Kainuu and Lapland, and least common in Helsinki, Western Uusimaa, and the Vantaa and Kerava wellbeing services county.
Regional differences are greatest in decisions granting vocational rehabilitation: it is granted most frequently in North Karelia and South Savo, and least frequently in Western and Eastern Uusimaa.
About the data in more detail
Read the entire statistical report (Julkari)
Reporting services
- Indicator data in Sotkanet - morbidity index and disease group-specific subindices
- Indicator data on Kela's Info Tray - work disability index
Background information
Sources
National Health Index 2024. Statistical report 22/2026.
Regional health differences. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Kela, Finnish Centre for Pensions, Statistics Finland.
Description of the statistics
The statistics on regional health differences describe regional differences in morbidity and disability among adults living in Finland.
The statistics are produced based on the National Health Index of THL and Kela, which contains data on the prevalence of key national diseases and work disability in the population of welfare areas and municipalities. The National Health Index is available from 2017 to 2024 for welfare areas, municipalities and cooperation areas.
The indicators included in the statistics are presented as index figures that describe the morbidity and work disability of the population of welfare areas and municipalities relative to the level of the whole country (whole country = 100). The value of the index is higher the more common the morbidity or disability among the population of the area. Both age-standardized and non-standardized versions of the indices are published.
In addition to the age structure, regional differences in morbidity and disability are due to many factors, such as lifestyle, unemployment, economic situation, education, cultural and genetic factors, and the functioning of social and health services. In addition, there may be regional differences in data coverage and transfer to registers.
Update schedule
The National Health Index is updated annually in the spring to THL's Sotkanet and Kela's Information tray. The next update will take place in the spring of 2027.
