Services for older people – Informal care

Of the adult population, 1.3% served as an informal carer in 2024

In 2024, according to the national Incomes Register, 62,000 people were working as informal carers, corresponding to 1.3% of the adult population.

The number of informal carers decreased by one per cent compared to the previous year.

A total of EUR 328 million was paid in compensation for informal care, which is around two per cent more than in 2023.

Significant increase in the number of informal care recipients since 2012

According to THL’s aggregate statistics on social services, the number of informal carer recipients has increased significantly over the past decade. The number of informal carer recipients has increased across all age groups.

The strongest increase has occurred in the group of 0–17-year-olds, where the number of informal care recipients increased by 87% between the years 2012 and 2024.

There has also been a significant increase in the age group of 75–79-year-olds (39%). The third largest increase in the number of informal care recipients is found in the group of 80–84-year-olds.

Women account for 70% of informal carers

In 2024, 70% of informal carers, including substitute carers, were women and 30% were men. The data are based on Statistics Finland’s experimental monthly statistics on the main activity of the population

Of the carers, 53% were retired, and 32% were employed. Broken down by age groups, 50% of informal carers belonged to the group of 15–64-year-olds, and 50% were 65 years old or older.

The majority of informal carers (56%) received a monthly carer’s allowance of EUR 400–500. Of the carer’s allowances, 32% were exactly equal to the minimum allowance, which was EUR 472.15 in 2024.

Clear regional variation was observed in the number of informal carers. In some wellbeing services counties, the number of informal carers per 1,000 inhabitants was more than 50% higher than in the regions with the lowest numbers. The number of informal carers per 1,000 inhabitants was the highest in the Kainuu Wellbeing Services County (17) and the lowest in the Päijät-Häme Wellbeing Services County (6).

Two different figures used for the number of informal carers, depending on the statistical method used

THL produces an informal carers statistics based on data from the Incomes Register. In addition to this, information on the number of informal carers is also collected as part of the aggregate statistics on social services. The definitions and data sources of these two datasets differ from each other, and therefore the statistics obtained on the number of informal carers differ slightly.

The statistics based on the Incomes Register, on which the informal carers statistics and the content of this page are based, include all informal carers who have received the carer’s allowance, as well as substitute carers. In the aggregate statistics on social services, the data received from wellbeing services counties only cover informal carers and exclude substitute carers, and the figures are reported at the aggregate level.

This key difference is due to the fact that the Incomes Register data covers substitute carers, but does not allow them to be distinguished as a separate group. Meanwhile, the aggregate statistics do not include substitute carers at all. This affects the comparability of total numbers and explains the minor differences in the statistics.

According to the 2024 aggregate statistics, there was a slight increase in the number of informal carers, excluding substitute carers, compared to the previous year, whereas the statistics based on the Incomes Register, which also includes substitute carers, showed a slight decline.

About the data in more detail

• Read the entire Informal Carers statistical report (Julkari) (in Finnish)
• Indicator data on informal care in Sotkanet (aggregate statistics on social services)

Background information

• Quality report (Informal Carers)
• Quality report (Aggregate statistics on social services)

Source

Informal carers 2024
Statistical Report 49/2025, 23 October 2025. Informal Carers. THL.
Aggregate Statistics on Social Services 4/2024. THL.

Description of the statistics

This statistics page on informal care contains information from two separate datasets: the Informal Carers statistics based on the Incomes Register and the aggregate statistics on social services, which are collected at an aggregate level.

The Informal Carers Statistics contain annual data on the number of informal carers and substitute carers, and the carer’s allowances paid to them. The statistics also include data on informal carers’ main activity, gender, age group and allowance category for one month (May 2025).

The Informal Carers statistical report covers informal carers who, based on Incomes Register data, have received an informal carer’s allowance (income code 319) in the statistical year. The statistics include persons who have received a carer’s allowance for informal care paid by a wellbeing services county or a municipality.

The statistics are produced from register data. The data are based on Incomes Register data and the experimental monthly statistics on the main activity of the population. Statistics Finland has combined and processed the data to meet THL’s needs for statistics.

The aggregate statistics on social services are statistics published annually by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) on social services paid for by wellbeing services counties, the City of Helsinki and the Åland Islands, i.e. services that the wellbeing services county has either produced or purchased for its residents from other public organisations or private service providers. The statistics are published once a year, and the latest statistics cover the calendar year preceding the publication.

The aggregate statistics contain data on the number of social welfare clients in those social services not covered by other THL data collections. The purpose of the statistics is to produce extensive data on the key figures of different types of social services and comparable data on services in different counties.

Update schedule

The aggregate statistics on social services are updated annually in the spring.

The Informal Carers statistics are updated annually in October.

The date of publication of new data can be found in the THL statistics publication calendar.

Statistics publication calendar