Finland expecting more babies this year, Kela says
Year-on-year, applications for baby boxes grew during the first eight months of the year, the benefits agency reports.
Finland anticipates a rise in births in 2026, according to Kela, the nation's social insurance agency. The organization reported that applications for maternity grants between January and August were about 11 percent higher compared to the same period last year. Maternity grants, offered by Kela, provide either a box of useful baby items or a lump sum of money to people who are expecting or adopting a child in Finland.
As of August, there were 33,567 applications for maternity grants, a significant increase from 30,151 the previous year. This suggests that more children will be born this year than in the past, Anneli Miettinen, Kela's research chief, stated in a statement. Applications for maternity grants can be submitted after a pregnancy has lasted around five months, with a requirement of at least two months' notice before the expected birth date.
Finland has been grappling with a low birth rate and an aging population, a situation that poses challenges to the country's welfare system and future workforce.
Written by urgent.news from Yle News Finland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
