Avoidable deaths cost Finland €8.35 billion annually – drugs, alcohol, and suicides are leading causes

26.05.2025 - Alcohol, drugs, and suicides account for a vast number of premature deaths in Finland, with around 230,000 potential years of life lost each year.

The annual financial loss from avoidable deaths in Finland is estimated at €8.35 billion. Of the 230,000 years of life lost prematurely, about 74 percent—roughly 170,000 years—could be avoided. The majority of these lost years continue to be caused by premature deaths related to alcohol, drugs, and suicide.

This information comes from the updated PYLL report by FCG Finnish Consulting Group, which examines years of life lost due to premature death. PYLL (Potential Years of Life Lost) is an internationally recognized indicator that measures how many years of life are lost compared to the expected lifespan (75 years).

“In Finland, we have become used to thinking that premature and avoidable deaths are on the decline as overall safety improves. However, when you look at it from the perspective of lost years of life, the trend is actually increasing. No birth rate initiative can compensate for this human and economic loss when a young person’s life ends prematurely,” says Emma Kajander, business director and specialist physician at FCG.

Alcohol is the biggest cause of losses, drug impact rising

Alcohol-related deaths remain the single largest avoidable cause of premature years of life lost in Finland. The annual PYLL figure for alcohol deaths is 428 years per 100,000 residents, meaning that each year, about 24,000 years of life are lost due to alcohol—equivalent to over 300 full 75-year lifespans.

The total annual economic value of avoidable losses is estimated at €8.35 billion, based on lost labor and human potential compared to the population’s average GDP. Losses attributed to alcohol alone cost Finland over €1.2 billion a year, while drugs account for €910 million and suicides nearly €1 billion.

Men’s PYLL index is more than twice as high as women’s, a gap especially pronounced in heart disease and traffic accidents.

“In many respects, it is dangerous to be a man in Finland. For example, men lose over five times as many years of life to ischemic heart disease compared to women, and nearly four times as many in traffic accidents,” Kajander explains.

Regional disparities are significant – worst figures in Kainuu, Kymenlaakso, and South Savo

There are major differences between welfare regions. Kainuu, Kymenlaakso, and South Savo have the highest rates of avoidable premature deaths, while Ostrobothnia and Åland perform significantly better than average.

Kajander emphasizes that every welfare region, as well as larger municipalities and cities, should be aware of their own situation.

“We know where the years of life are lost—now determined action is needed. Preventive substance abuse work, strengthening mental health, and clear regional situation assessments are crucial,” Kajander summarizes.

• PYLL (Potential Years of Life Lost) is a way to examine mortality by considering the age at death and calculating years lost relative to a full life. For example, the death of a 25-year-old equals 50 years of life lost prematurely, while the death of a 70-year-old equals 5 years lost.

  
  

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FCG Finnish Consulting Group is a Finnish company specializing in planning and consulting services. Our mission is to solve the unsolved and to improve the building blocks that create a good life. Our unique understanding of the future is shaped by our people, our clients, and technology. Knowledge-based planning and a strong commitment to responsibility enhance our ability to find solutions and help us create better lives in Finland and beyond. In our daily work, we provide consulting, training, and solutions aimed at building a sustainable future.