Life Expectancy in Finland reached new heights in 2024, marking the sharpest rise seen in years. Final data released by Statistics Finland shows that both men and women are now living longer than ever before. The increase in longevity was seen across the country, with the Åland Islands standing out once again as the region where people live the longest.
According to the data, boys born in Finland in 2024 are expected to live 79.6 years on average, while girls can expect 84.8 years. Compared to the previous year, that means life expectancy rose by 0.7 years for boys and 0.6 years for girls. These results confirm the preliminary estimates released earlier in April.
Åland continued to hold its top position for the highest life expectancy in Finland. Between 2022 and 2024, newborn boys in Åland were projected to live up to 81.4 years, while girls reached an average of 86.1 years. The region has consistently performed better than the national average, maintaining its reputation for long and healthy living.
At the lower end of the range, Kainuu recorded the shortest life expectancy for men at 77.2 years, while the lowest for women was in Lapland at 83.2 years. According to Joni Rantakari, a senior actuary at Statistics Finland, smaller regions tend to show more year-to-year variation than larger ones due to population size and demographic factors.
Women continued to live longer than men in all regions of the country. The widest gender gap was observed in Kainuu, where women outlived men by 6.3 years. The smallest difference appeared in Central Ostrobothnia at 3.4 years. Regional differences were more pronounced among men than among women.
The data also highlighted a strong relationship between marital status and life expectancy. Married individuals live significantly longer than those who are single. In 2024, married men lived on average eight years longer than unmarried men, while married women lived nearly six years longer. These patterns have remained stable over time, apart from a brief narrowing in 2023.
Rantakari explained that the statistics only consider marital status and do not include other forms of partnerships, which limits broader comparisons.
Life expectancy figures are age-standardized to reflect actual mortality levels during the given period. This indicator does not forecast future lifespans but shows how long a newborn would live on average if mortality rates stayed the same throughout their life.
The steady increase in life expectancy in Finland signals improved health outcomes, lifestyle factors, and living conditions nationwide. With the Åland Islands setting the benchmark for longevity, Finland continues to demonstrate one of the highest life expectancies in Europe.
