Religious Affiliation and Mortality in Finland

Julia Karhunen , Åbo Akademi University
Martin Kolk, Stockholm University
Jan Saarela, Åbo Akademi University

Religion and religiosity are known as important determinants of health and mortality. We have previously found differences in life expectancy of up to six years between Finns belonging to different religious affiliations. This study additionally takes ethnolinguistic affiliation into account, i.e. distinguishes between Finns who have Finnish and Swedish as their mother tongue. The Swedish speakers have a higher life expectancy than Finnish speakers, a higher percentage of membership with the Lutheran Church and a lower percentage of not belonging to any religious association. Using register data for the entire country of Finland for the years 1972–2020, we calculate life tables for ten-year intervals for the three biggest groups of religious affiliation (Lutheran Church, no affiliation, other affiliation), by sex, mother tongue, and additionally region. The overall difference in life expectancy between Finnish- and Swedish-speaking Finns is three years for men and one year for women. This pattern can be retrieved among members of the Lutheran Church. Among the non-affiliated and those with other affiliations, the advantage among Swedish speakers decreases from five years in the 1970s to two years in the 2010s. Regional differences for the period 2011–2020 for the above-mentioned groups will be presented as well. Religious affiliation as measured by population register data is an important determinant of life expectancy, even in a secular country like Finland. This is the first study of this kind conducted in a context with two distinct ethnolinguistic groups, and in which the minority group is not in a marginalized position.

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 Presented in Session P5. Health, Mortality, and Ageing 1