Chlamydia infections in Finland have dropped for the first time in almost 30 years. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) released new data showing 14,350 recorded cases in 2024, which is 20 percent fewer than the previous year.
This ends a long-term trend of increasing infections since 1995.
Eija Hiltunen-Back, a specialist in dermatology and sexually transmitted infections, said no single factor explains the decline. “We are seeing this shift not only in Finland but internationally,” she said.
Despite the fall in chlamydia infections in Finland, gonorrhoea cases have increased. There were 1,850 cases in 2024 compared to 1,300 in 2023, with a more notable rise among women. Both infections are detected using the same testing methods, making the differing trends notable.
The data on chlamydia infections in Finland may indicate shifting transmission patterns of STIs. Experts warn that more research is needed to confirm whether this decline represents a long-term trend or a short-term change.
