One in ten children experiences material deprivation – the number has tripled rapidly. Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva
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One in ten children under the age of 16 in Finland now live in households experiencing material deprivation, according to new data from Statistics Finland. The figure has nearly tripled in three years, highlighting a sharp and rapid deterioration in child welfare linked to financial hardship.
Material deprivation refers to a household’s inability to afford goods, services, or living conditions considered standard. These include access to the internet, adequate heating, household appliances, or the financial means to cover rent, loans, or utility bills on time.
It also covers the inability to afford leisure activities, including hobbies, school trips, or birthday celebrations.
The most recent data shows that deprivation among single-adult households with children is especially high. Over 20 percent of children in such households experienced material deprivation last year.
More than half of all deprived children in Finland lacked access to activities that are considered part of a normal childhood, such as playing organised sports, hosting friends, or joining school-related events.
“These are not optional luxuries, but basic parts of a child’s social development,” said Kaisa-Mari Okkonen, Senior Statistician at Statistics Finland. “The impact of being excluded from normal daily life can have lasting effects.”
While the overall rate of material deprivation among children in Finland remains slightly below the European Union average of 14 percent, Finland recorded the second fastest increase in child deprivation in the EU between 2021 and 2023. Only Greece experienced a steeper rise.
In Greece, around one in three children now live in homes classified as materially deprived. In contrast, countries like Croatia, Slovenia, and Sweden reported deprivation rates of just a few percent.
The findings from Statistics Finland reflect broader economic pressures faced by low-income households, especially those with a single adult. Inflation, rising housing costs, and reduced social benefits have added to the strain on families already at risk of exclusion.
Among the affected children in Finland, common indicators included the lack of a car, limited heating during colder months, and absence of internet access, all of which are considered basic needs in modern life.
The trend has drawn concern from child welfare organisations, especially given the speed of the increase. In 2021, material deprivation among children in two-adult households was relatively rare. Since then, it has more than tripled, suggesting a widening gap even among families traditionally considered more stable.
Public debates around family support, income inequality, and the adequacy of Finland’s social safety net are likely to intensify as more data emerges. The statistics also challenge the image of Finland as a country with low poverty rates and high social equity.
While European comparisons suggest Finland is not alone in facing child poverty, the rapid shift underscores the need for closer monitoring and potential policy action.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
