Premature Death Rate Twice as High for Finnish Men
Image: Kuva: Tuula Nyberg
Finnish men under the age of 60 are more likely to die prematurely than most other European men. The higher-than-average death rate is on par with Albanian men, and twice as high as the rate for Finnish women, reports the medical journal Lancet.
Demographics expert at Helsinki University Pekka Martikainen says that the huge difference between male and female fatalities is the result of a variety of factors, including alcohol use, violence, and accidents. Finnish women are also generally healthier, while more men suffer from heart and cardiovascular disease.
"Health problems in particular are seen more often among unemployed men who live alone," says Martikainen.
The vastly different fatality rate of Finnish men and women is even more pronounced in younger demographics.
"The difference is especially big among young adults between the ages of 15 and 24, but it never really evens out in any age group," adds Martikainen.
The premature fatality rate of Finnish women is around the average for Western Europe. On average, 54 women out of a thousand die between the ages of 15 and 60, where the figure for men is 124.
Longevity High in Iceland and Cyprus
The Lancet publication studied the mortality rates of 187 countries.
The lowest rate of premature death was found in Iceland and Cyprus. In Iceland, for example, only 44 women and 65 men out of a thousand die before they reach their 60th birthday.
The highest mortality rates are found in Africa and many of the former Soviet states.
Duodecim, YLE