According to preliminary data from Statistics Finland, 47,307 births were recording in the country last year, a good 3,000 fewer than in 2017. This was the eighth year in a row that the number of babies born in Finland fell.
Finland's total population stood at 5,521,773 at the end of last year.
During 2018 the population increased by 8,643 persons, which is 2,780 less than in 2017. The reason for the population increase was migration gain from abroad. The number of immigrants was 15,631 higher than that of emigrants.
According to preliminary data by region, the population grew last year only in Uusimaa, Pirkanmaa, Varsinais-Suomi, North Ostrobothnia and Åland.
The national fertility rate, at 1.40, was the lowest ever recorded and marked a decline from 1.50 in 2017.
A report by top civil servants published on Monday named the declining birth rate as one of the most urgent issues that the next post-election government will have to deal with.
