Finland’s shortest life expectancy for women in Lapland
Life expectancy in Finland has risen to the highest level in statistical history, according to figures published on Friday by Statistics Finland.
The life expectancy for girls born in Finland last year is 84.8 years, while for boys it is 79.6 years.
The latest figures mark a steep increase in life expectancy in Finland compared to the mid-1970s, when the equivalent rates were 75.4 for girls and 66.9 for boys.
Breaking down the latest life expectancy rates by region, Statistics Finland notes that the highest rate is for children born in Åland, where it is 81.4 for boys and 86.1 for girls. The autonomous islands off Finland’s southwest coast have long topped the charts for life expectancy.
The shortest life expectancies, on the other hand, were Kainuu in the east for boys (77.2 years) and Lapland in the north for girls (83.2 years).
The data also revealed that women live longer than men in every region across the country, but the largest gender gap was in Kainuu.
In addition, Statistics Finland noted that married people tend to live significantly longer than unmarried people — for women, the difference was almost six years, for men it can be as much as eight years.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Survey highlights healthcare gaps for Indigenous people, importance of wellness, Eye on the Arctic
Finland : Finland’s elder care needs funding boost to meet Nordic standards: researcher, Yle News
Sweden: Giving birth in a car: a real rural problem in Sweden, Radio Sweden
United States: Alarming number of patients at Alaskan psychiatric emergency room, Alaska Public Media
