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Published: 21 December 2012

Alcohol mortality decreased further in 2011

According to Statistics Finland's statistics on causes of death, alcohol mortality decreased by four per cent in 2011 from the previous year. The fall is mainly caused by decreasing alcohol mortality among men. A total of 1,890 persons died from alcohol-related causes, 1,450 men and 440 women. Deaths from alcohol-related causes are considerably more common among men than women. They are also the most common cause of death for persons of working age.

Over the past twenty years, the alcohol mortality of men aged 65 or over has doubled. The growth has been faster than for all men in total. Nevertheless, the largest share of those dying from alcohol-related causes were of working age and only 23 per cent were aged 65 or over. The share is unchanged from the year before.

Mortality from alcohol-related diseases and accidental poisoning by alcohol in 1991 to 2011

Mortality from alcohol-related diseases and accidental poisoning by alcohol in 1991 to 2011

Altogether 50,568 persons died in 2011. The figure was just short of one per cent smaller than in the previous year. The longer life expectancy can be seen in the age distribution of deaths: over the past twenty years the share of deaths of those aged 85 or over has increased, while the share of those aged 65 to 79 has decreased. This is particularly true for women, who, on average, live longer than men and thus also die at an older age. Increased mortality of aged people is visible in causes of death primarily as the growing number of deaths from dementia and diseases of the circulatory system.

Forty per cent of deaths in 2011 were caused by diseases of the circulatory system. The second highest number of deaths, 24 per cent, were caused by neoplasms. Dementia (inclusive of Alzheimer's disease) caused 12 per cent of deaths in 2011.

Causes of death in 2011 (54-group classification)

  Total Males Females Total Males Females
Number Number Number % % %
Diseases of the circulatory system 20 157 9 791 10 366 39,9 38,7 41,1
Neoplasms 11 897 6 224 5 673 23,5 24,6 22,5
Dementia, Alzheimer's disease 6 200 1 892 4 308 12,3 7,5 17,1
Accidents 2 383 1 536 847 4,7 6,1 3,4
Disease of the respiratory system 2 034 1 263 771 4,0 5,0 3,1
Alcohol related diseases and accidental poisoning by alcohol 1 889 1 447 442 3,7 5,7 1,8
Suicides 912 710 202 1,8 2,8 0,8
Other causes of death 5 096 2 464 2 632 10,1 9,7 10,4
Deaths total 50 568 25 327 25 241 100,0 100,0 100,0

Source: Causes of death, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Marja-Liisa Helminen 09 1734 3273, Airi Pajunen 09 1734 3605, kuolemansyyt@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

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Updated 21.12.2012

Referencing instructions:

Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Causes of death [e-publication].
ISSN=1799-5078. 2011. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 29.3.2024].
Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ksyyt/2011/ksyyt_2011_2012-12-21_tie_001_en.html