Education Studio (2010) Dossier
Families
The family is still the dominant social unit in Finland; however, contemporary family life has changed from the traditional nuclear family model.
There are 1.4 million families in Finland
- 38.3% of the population is married
- 42% of families include at least one child under the age eighteen
In size of families is shrinking
- In 2008, the average family size was 2.81 down from 3.72 in 1950
- 24% of children under the age eighteen are only children
The single-child family is becoming more common
Family structure in Finland has changed over the past century, with an increase in divorce
- In 2008, there were 31,000 marriages and 13,400 divorces
- 20% of families with children under the age eighteen are single-
parent homes - There are 54,000 “reconstituted” or combined families in Finland
10% of all children under the age eighteen belong to a “reconstituted
family” - Finland supports working parents with maternity/paternity leave
benefits and childcare allowances. - More young children are spending more time in childcare settings.
- In 2008, 63% of all one to six year-olds are enrolled in daycare, and
56,600 children, nearly the entire eligible age group, are enrolled in pre-primary education
