The birthrate in Finland has plummeted by nearly 33% since 2010, despite parental support policies

HR NEWS
4 min readApr 25, 2024
Photo by Tapio Haaja on Unsplash

Finland’s Plummeting Birthrate: A Symptom of a Deeper Malaise

The Nordic model, often touted as a paragon of progressive social policies, has long been the envy of many nations. Finland, in particular, has been praised for its generous parental support programs, designed to encourage and facilitate family growth. Yet, despite these well-intentioned efforts, the country has witnessed a startling decline in its birthrate, plummeting by nearly a third since 2010.

This alarming trend is not unique to Finland; Europe as a whole has experienced a significant fertility decline in the last decade. However, what makes Finland’s case particularly intriguing is the stark contrast between its progressive policies and the reality on the ground. One would expect that with the government’s unwavering commitment to supporting families, the birthrate would remain stable, if not increase. But alas, the data tells a different story.

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