"On a clear but chilly autumn day, Poa Pohjola and her partner Wilhelm Blomberg are relaxing in their Helsinki apartment while their baby naps outside on the balcony, in traditional Finnish style. "They sleep very well outside, in colder degrees, I think," Pohjola said with a laugh. "Or, that's how I grew up thinking." Pohjola is 38 and Blomberg is 35. They've been together for about three years, and they started talking about having a baby early on - even though Pohjola had once thought she might never have kids."
"Researchers say Finnish people are increasingly delaying having children, or not having them at all. The nation's "total fertility rate" a technical term used by demographers has fallen to historic lows in recent years. Although there have been some signs of a possible rebound in recent months, the number remains less than 1.3 children per woman well below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to maintain a steady population. That's despite the Nordic region's reputation for providing paid time off for both mothers and fathers, a"
Families in the U.S. and around the world are having fewer children as people make profoundly different decisions about work, relationships, and life plans. In Finland, many adults are delaying childbearing or choosing to remain childfree. Finland's total fertility rate has fallen to under 1.3 children per woman, well below the 2.1 replacement level needed for a steady population. Couples sometimes decide to have children after years of personal freedom and experience. Nordic countries provide paid parental leave for both mothers and fathers, yet low fertility rates persist with broad social implications.
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