Finland Sees Rise in Abortions, Contraception Costs Cited
Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
News
Sources not specified
Outcome reported
- The number of abortions in Finland rose by nearly 3.8% in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 9,100 procedures.
- Experts suggest the rising cost of contraception may be a contributing factor to the increase.
- Several regions have tightened age restrictions for free contraception, prompting recommendations for long-acting methods like IUDs.
The number of abortions in Finland has seen an increase, with nearly 9,100 procedures performed in 2025. This represents a 3.8% rise from the previous year, translating to approximately 7.6 abortions per thousand women of reproductive age (15-49).
Experts like Anna Heino, a leading specialist at THL (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare), and Saara Koskinen, a specialist physician at Pirha, point to the increasing cost of contraception as a potential driver for this trend. Several regional health authorities have tightened age limits for free contraceptive services. For instance, in Pirkanmaa, the eligibility age has been lowered from under 25 to under 21.
The number of abortions has risen in Finland.
In response to these trends, THL advocates for the use of long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), which have been proven effective in reducing unintended pregnancies and subsequent abortions. The increase in procedures has been noted by healthcare professionals, including Dr. Koskinen at the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county's youth clinic.
The price of contraception is one reason for the increase.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
