Birth rate lower than death rate in Jan-Aug

The birth rate remained lower than the death rate in the country in the first eight months this year.

The number of births was 1,585 lower than that of deaths in January to August, said the Statistics Finland.

According to the preliminary data of the Statistics Finland, the country’s population was 5,509,717 at the end of August.

The total population, however, increased by 6,420 persons in January-August.

The reason for the increase was migration gain from abroad, since immigration exceeded emigration by 8,005.

In January-August this year, 34,117 children were born, which is 1,859 fewer than in the corresponding period of 2016. The number of deaths was 35,702, which is 15 deaths lower than one year earlier.

A total of 17,561 persons immigrated to Finland from abroad and 9,556 persons emigrated from Finland. The number of immigrants was 4,262 lower and the number of emigrants 1,959 lower than in the corresponding period of the previous year. In all, 5,550 of the immigrants and 6,484 of the emigrants were Finnish citizens.