The birth rate in Finland is lowest in large cities, such as Helsinki, where family housing also accounts for the smallest share of the housing stock. Fewer than one in five apartments have at least four rooms in Helsinki, Tampere and Turku. Birth rates have declined dramatically in many of Finland’s control countries since 2010, but the development has been especially rapid in Finland.
Significant differences in birth rates between residential areas
There are significant differences in birth rates between residential areas in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Women living in Helsinki usually only have one child in their lifetime when measured by total fertility rate, but in some areas, such as Paloheinä in Helsinki, the corresponding number is closer to two. The share of family housing of the housing stock in residential areas also shows significant fluctuation. A large share of family housing often coincides with high birth rates.
Families with children will often move when the children are small. Families look for housing that is more suitable for their needs. The fact that homes like this are difficult to find and that it is challenging to become a homeowner due to high prices is reflected in the timing of having children and the total number of children. In international comparison, homes in Scandinavian cities are often larger than in Finnish cities, meaning that they have more homes available for families with children.
Fertile population increasingly concentrated in large cities
Half of fertile Finns already live in cities with a population of at least 100,000, and this share has increased steadily for several decades. Sweden, Norway and Denmark are also heading in the same direction, but the urbanisation rate in Scandinavia is not yet as high as in Finland.
The concentration of the fertile population in large cities may be reflected in national fertility rates, as fertility in cities is lower than in rural areas. In cities, the difference between the actual and ideal number of children is greater than in rural areas.
Although increasing the share of family homes in cities may not directly affect fertility, it may help some people in finding family homes. Those who have children rarely stay in apartments with one or two rooms, leading to areas that consist of small apartments like this having low regional fertility. More information is needed on the connection between the housing structure and fertility, and further research could help us understand this issue better.
