Difference in male and female life expectancy in Finland
Finland: Difference in male and female life expectancy was 5.48 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
5.48
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
83rd
of 236 countries
All-time high
25.89
in 1941
All-time low
0.91
in 1887
Years of data
146
1878–2023
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Finland, 1878–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Finland recorded 5.48 for difference in male and female life expectancy in 2023.
That represents a change of down 5.4% on the previous year and down 7.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, difference in male and female life expectancy in Finland peaked at 25.89 in 1941 and was at its lowest, 0.91, in 1887.
Finland ranks 83rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Difference in male and female life expectancy in Finland, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1878 | 1.99 | — |
| 1879 | 2.02 | +1.5% |
| 1880 | 1.83 | -9.4% |
| 1881 | 1.93 | +5.5% |
| 1882 | 1.97 | +2.1% |
| 1883 | 1.55 | -21.3% |
| 1884 | 1.83 | +18.1% |
| 1885 | 1.73 | -5.5% |
| 1886 | 1.42 | -17.9% |
| 1887 | 0.91 | -35.9% |
| 1888 | 1.4 | +53.8% |
| 1889 | 1.94 | +38.6% |
| 1890 | 2.15 | +10.8% |
| 1891 | 1.85 | -14.0% |
| 1892 | 1.81 | -2.2% |
| 1893 | 2.32 | +28.2% |
| 1894 | 2.03 | -12.5% |
| 1895 | 2.16 | +6.4% |
| 1896 | 1.89 | -12.5% |
| 1897 | 1.94 | +2.6% |
| 1898 | 1.82 | -6.2% |
| 1899 | 1.86 | +2.2% |
| 1900 | 2.25 | +21.0% |
| 1901 | 1.52 | -32.4% |
| 1902 | 1.93 | +27.0% |
| 1903 | 2.39 | +23.8% |
| 1904 | 2.09 | -12.6% |
| 1905 | 2.59 | +23.9% |
| 1906 | 3.1 | +19.7% |
| 1907 | 2.92 | -5.8% |
| 1908 | 2.39 | -18.2% |
| 1909 | 2.9 | +21.3% |
| 1910 | 2.76 | -4.8% |
| 1911 | 3.06 | +10.9% |
| 1912 | 3.01 | -1.6% |
| 1913 | 3.07 | +2.0% |
| 1914 | 2.95 | -3.9% |
| 1915 | 2.88 | -2.4% |
| 1916 | 3.21 | +11.5% |
| 1917 | 3.54 | +10.3% |
| 1918 | 22.61 | +538.7% |
| 1919 | 5.46 | -75.9% |
| 1920 | 5.01 | -8.2% |
| 1921 | 4.41 | -12.0% |
| 1922 | 4.15 | -5.9% |
| 1923 | 4.91 | +18.3% |
| 1924 | 4.2 | -14.5% |
| 1925 | 4.91 | +16.9% |
| 1926 | 4.5 | -8.4% |
| 1927 | 4.73 | +5.1% |
| 1928 | 4.6 | -2.7% |
| 1929 | 4.22 | -8.3% |
| 1930 | 4.69 | +11.1% |
| 1931 | 4.45 | -5.1% |
| 1932 | 4.8 | +7.9% |
| 1933 | 5.1 | +6.2% |
| 1934 | 4.66 | -8.6% |
| 1935 | 4.83 | +3.6% |
| 1936 | 4.32 | -10.6% |
| 1937 | 4.93 | +14.1% |
| 1938 | 4.75 | -3.7% |
| 1939 | 9.66 | +103.4% |
| 1940 | 20.9 | +116.4% |
| 1941 | 25.89 | +23.9% |
| 1942 | 14.26 | -44.9% |
| 1943 | 10.69 | -25.0% |
| 1944 | 21.51 | +101.2% |
| 1945 | 7.84 | -63.6% |
| 1946 | 7.88 | +0.5% |
| 1947 | 7.7 | -2.3% |
| 1948 | 7.37 | -4.3% |
| 1949 | 8.12 | +10.2% |
| 1950 | 7.03 | -13.4% |
| 1951 | 6.13 | -12.8% |
| 1952 | 5.79 | -5.6% |
| 1953 | 5.86 | +1.2% |
| 1954 | 5.69 | -2.8% |
| 1955 | 6.23 | +9.4% |
| 1956 | 6.23 | -0.0% |
| 1957 | 6.17 | -0.8% |
| 1958 | 6.13 | -0.8% |
| 1959 | 6.34 | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 6.55 | +3.3% |
| 1961 | 6.34 | -3.2% |
| 1962 | 6.71 | +5.9% |
| 1963 | 6.86 | +2.1% |
| 1964 | 6.83 | -0.4% |
| 1965 | 7.15 | +4.6% |
| 1966 | 7.01 | -1.9% |
| 1967 | 7.44 | +6.1% |
| 1968 | 7.39 | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 7.64 | +3.5% |
| 1970 | 7.94 | +3.9% |
| 1971 | 8.12 | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 8.08 | -0.5% |
| 1973 | 8.45 | +4.6% |
| 1974 | 8.45 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 8.46 | +0.1% |
| 1976 | 8.58 | +1.4% |
| 1977 | 8.8 | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 8.67 | -1.5% |
| 1979 | 8.45 | -2.5% |
| 1980 | 8.46 | +0.1% |
| 1981 | 8.27 | -2.2% |
| 1982 | 8.26 | -0.2% |
| 1983 | 8.05 | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 8.18 | +1.6% |
| 1985 | 8.28 | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 8.01 | -3.3% |
| 1987 | 7.91 | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 7.99 | +1.0% |
| 1989 | 7.93 | -0.7% |
| 1990 | 7.91 | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 7.94 | +0.3% |
| 1992 | 7.74 | -2.5% |
| 1993 | 7.26 | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 7.32 | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 7.35 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 7.45 | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 7.02 | -5.9% |
| 1998 | 7.28 | +3.8% |
| 1999 | 7.27 | -0.2% |
| 2000 | 6.81 | -6.3% |
| 2001 | 6.79 | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 6.62 | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 6.59 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 6.84 | +3.9% |
| 2005 | 6.73 | -1.7% |
| 2006 | 6.97 | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 6.96 | -0.0% |
| 2008 | 6.59 | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 6.67 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 6.49 | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 6.31 | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 5.93 | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 5.93 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 5.68 | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 5.61 | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 5.66 | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 5.49 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 5.41 | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 5.3 | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 5.54 | +4.4% |
| 2021 | 5.34 | -3.6% |
| 2022 | 5.79 | +8.4% |
| 2023 | 5.48 | -5.4% |
Finland compared with similar countries
- Finland's 5.48 is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.91, 1.1× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Finland's 5.48 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.35, 1.0× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Difference in male and female life expectancy in Finland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1918 | +538.7% | 3.54 | 22.61 |
| 1940 | +116.4% | 9.66 | 20.9 |
| 1939 | +103.4% | 4.75 | 9.66 |
| 1944 | +101.2% | 10.69 | 21.51 |
| 1919 | -75.9% | 22.61 | 5.46 |
| 1945 | -63.6% | 21.51 | 7.84 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1870s | 2 | 1.99 | 2.02 | 2 |
| 1880s | 1.65 | 0.91 | 1.97 | 10 |
| 1890s | 1.98 | 1.81 | 2.32 | 10 |
| 1900s | 2.41 | 1.52 | 3.1 | 10 |
| 1910s | 5.25 | 2.76 | 22.61 | 10 |
| 1920s | 4.56 | 4.15 | 5.01 | 10 |
| 1930s | 5.22 | 4.32 | 9.66 | 10 |
| 1940s | 13.22 | 7.37 | 25.89 | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.16 | 5.69 | 7.03 | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.99 | 6.34 | 7.64 | 10 |
| 1970s | 8.4 | 7.94 | 8.8 | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.13 | 7.91 | 8.46 | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.45 | 7.02 | 7.94 | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.76 | 6.59 | 6.97 | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.78 | 5.3 | 6.49 | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.53 | 5.34 | 5.79 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Finland
- 80 American Samoa 5.57 compare
- 81 Ethiopia 5.54 compare
- 82 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 5.51 compare
- 84 French Guiana 5.45 compare
- 85 Belize 5.44 compare
- 86 Uganda 5.44 compare
More health data for Finland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4544 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 11 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.4631 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0202 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.1502 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0212 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is difference in male and female life expectancy in Finland?
- Difference in male and female life expectancy in Finland was 5.48 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Finland?
- The highest recorded value was 25.89 in 1941.
- What is the lowest difference in male and female life expectancy recorded in Finland?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.91 in 1887.
- How does Finland rank for difference in male and female life expectancy?
- Finland ranks 83rd out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is difference in male and female life expectancy rising or falling in Finland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Finland data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Difference in male and female life expectancy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 146 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).