Sterilisations

The number of sterilisations continues to decrease

According to the THL’s register on sterilisations, the total number of sterilisations in 2024 was approximately 2,300. Women sterilised are on average younger than men sterilised: in 2024, the mean age for women was 36.2 years and the mean age for men 41.0 years.

For the 2024 data, there are some known data quality issues for some hospitals, but the total number of procedures is in line with the data in THL’s Care Registers for Health Care. However, the coverage of the register should be regarded with caution.

In 2024, 20.4 per cent fewer sterilisations were performed than in 2023. In particular, 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 performed on men also decreased (-22.9%).

The proportion of male sterilisations has clearly increased during the 2000s. In 2000, only 17% of all sterilisations were performed on men, while in 2024, the share was 73%.

The sharp decline in the number of sterilisations after mid-1990’s can probably be attributed to factors such as an expanding range of contraceptives and postponing parenthood. The increase in the number of sterilisations after the year 1985 is explained by the updated, more liberal legislation adopted at the time.

Sterilisations per 1000 persons aged 25–54, 1951–2024
Year	Women	Men	Total
1951	0,9	0,0	0,5
1952	1,2	0,0	0,6
1953	1,2	0,0	0,6
1954	1,2	0,0	0,6
1955	1,4	0,0	0,7
1956	1,8	0,0	0,9
1957	1,9	0,0	1,0
1958	2,5	0,0	1,3
1959	2,9	0,1	1,5
1960	3,6	0,1	1,9
1961	3,6	0,1	1,9
1962	3,8	0,0	2,0
1963	4,0	0,0	2,1
1964	3,7	0,1	2,0
1965	3,7	0,0	1,9
1966	4,1	0,0	2,1
1967	4,6	0,0	2,4
1968	4,9	0,0	2,5
1969	6,3	0,0	3,2
1970	6,6	0,1	3,4
1971	4,5	0,3	2,5
1972	3,7	0,4	2,1
1973	3,0	0,3	1,7
1974	2,4	0,2	1,3
1975	2,3	0,2	1,3
1976	2,1	0,2	1,1
1977	2,0	0,2	1,1
1978	2,1	0,2	1,2
1979	2,2	0,2	1,2
1980	2,8	0,2	1,5
1981	3,4	0,2	1,8
1982	4,5	0,2	2,3
1983	4,8	0,2	2,5
1984	5,5	0,2	2,8
1985	8,4	0,5	4,4
1986	11,3	0,8	6,0
1987	11,5	0,6	6,0
1988	11,3	0,5	5,8
1989	11,6	0,6	6,0
1990	11,9	0,5	6,1
1991	11,7	0,5	6,0
1992	11,1	0,4	5,7
1993	10,0	0,4	5,1
1994	9,8	0,5	5,1
1995	9,4	0,7	5,0
1996	11,3	1,6	6,3
1997	9,9	1,9	5,8
1998	8,6	1,7	5,1
1999	8,1	1,6	4,8
2000	7,9	1,6	4,7
2001	6,6	1,6	4,0
2002	6,2	1,4	3,8
2003	5,5	1,5	3,5
2004	5,3	1,5	3,4
2005	4,8	1,7	3,2
2006	3,6	1,4	2,5
2007	3,2	1,3	2,2
2008	2,9	1,4	2,1
2009	2,5	1,2	1,8
2010	2,4	1,4	1,9
2011	2,5	1,8	2,1
2012	2,4	1,9	2,2
2013	2,3	1,9	2,1
2014	2,4	1,8	2,1
2015	2,5	2,3	2,4
2016	2,2	2,6	2,4
2017	1,8	2,4	2,1
2018	1,7	2,7	2,2
2019	1,5	2,8	2,2
2020	1,1	2,5	1,8
2021	1,4	2,5	2,0
2022	0,8	1,9	1,4
2023	0,7	2,0	1,4
2024	0,6	1,5	1,1

About the data in more detail

Database reports

Background information

Source

Sterilisations 2024
Statistical Report 34/2025, 28th May 2025.
Official Statistics of Finland, Sterilisations. THL.

Description of the statistics

The statistics on sterilisations include data on legally performed sterilisations. The statistics include trend data from 1951 onwards. Since 1987, the data have been kept in an electronic database.

The data reported to the Registry of Sterilisations include the outcomes of any previous pregnancies, contraceptive method in use prior to sterilisation, grounds for sterilisation, method of sterilisation and early complications.