The number of Finns retiring on disability pensions in 2024 was the lowest in statistical history, according to data from the Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK).

In 2024, 17,500 people retired on disability pensions from Finland’s earnings-related pension system, a 1 per cent decrease from the previous year.

Although the number of new disability pensioners in Finland has remained constant this decade, several factors, including the ageing population, have caused significant long-term changes.

“In the early 2000s, many new retirees on disability pensions were from the baby boomer generation. Now, these individuals are on old-age pensions, and those retiring on disability pensions come from smaller age groups," ETK statistics planner, Joonas Hautamäki, explained.

“Changes in the population structure are evident, particularly in the retirement rates of middle-aged people. Among the workforce under 60, the number of those retiring on disability pensions has dropped to less than half of what was in the 2000s,” he continued.

“This significant decline contributes to the overall smaller numbers. Last year saw a record-low number of Finns retiring on disability pensions. The difference from recent years, however, is minimal.”

One notable trend in the statistics was the annual increase in people over 60 retiring on disability pensions.

The main reason for this was the rise in the retirement age, suggested Hautamäki.

“In 2024, more than 6,900 people over 60 retired on disability pensions, a 50-per-cent increase since 2017. Last year, a few thousand people aged 63 retired on disability pensions. Previously, they would have been granted old-age pensions,” Hautamäki said.

The data also revealed that the risk of disability has decreased since the turn of the millennium.

“In the early 2000s, the incidence rate of disability pensions among the working population was over 1 per cent. Now, the risk of disability has halved. This means that the working-age population’s ability to work has improved,” added ETK development manager, Jari Kannisto.

---