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National Health Index

Edited 17.9.2025

National Health Index gathers  data on the health, work capacity and functional ability of the Finnish population. The data behind the index are produced jointly by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Kela, the Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK) and Statistics Finland.

National Health Index data are based on register data for the years 2020–2022. The indices and their various subcategories offer a wide view of the prevalence of illness and work disability in the individual wellbeing services counties relative to the Finnish population as a whole.

Go to the Work Disability Index data application (tilastot.kela.fi)

National Health Index on other websites:

Data on morbidity and work disability in the Finnish population

The National Health Index contains several indicators of morbidity and work disability in the Finnish population. It includes an index of morbidity and disease-specific subindices as well as a work disability index and related subindices.

The index of morbidity consists of 10 disease categories. Its subindices portray the prevalence of cancers, coronary disease, cerebrovascular diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, severe mental disorders, accidents, memory disorders, pulmonary diseases, diabetes and alcohol-related diseases. In the index of morbidity, the prevalence of each disease category is weighted by the relevance of the disease category to the population’s mortality, disability and quality of life as well as the costs arising from the use of social and health services.

The Work Disability Index consists of three components focusing respectively on

  • work disability pensions
  • sickness allowances
  • favourable decisions on rehabilitation applications.

The index allows users to look at disability in the population as an aggregate measure comprising all three components. Each component can also be viewed separately as a subindex.

The Work Disability Index data is updated annually on the 1st of April. The data for the statistical years 2020–2022 will be updated in spring 2024.

How are the data used and interpreted?

The National Health Index describes the health and work ability of the population of wellbeing services counties and municipalities in relation to Finland’s entire population (entire population = 100). The higher the incidence of morbidity or work disability in a region, the higher the index score.

The National Health Index comes in both age-standardised and non-standardised versions. The age-standardised version eliminates the impact of age structure on the results, thus making them suitable for cross-regional comparison, while the non-age-standardised index describes the actual disease burden in the region.

Along with the population age structure, the regional differences in morbidity and work disability are influenced by many other factors. Lifestyle habits, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, sleep, and eating habits have an impact on the statistics, but those habits are in turn the result of many different factors. Unemployment, personal finances and education are all reflected in the health and work ability of the population. Access to functioning social welfare and healthcare services is also important, as are cultural and genetic factors.

When comparing the index values, it is important to note that a well-functioning healthcare system may manifest as higher morbidity, given its more efficient diagnosis, detection and treatment processes. Similarly, work disability is linked to the availability of health services, which depends on such factors as the extent and coverage of occupational health services. The regional differences seen in the index of morbidity may also be associated with differences in data collection between wellbeing services counties and the transfer of such data to the THL’s Care Register for Health Care.

We recommend visitors accessing the disability index to use data visualisation only on a computer monitor. Data visualisation does not work on mobile devices and works only partially with screen reader software for the time being.

Instructions for using the Work Disability Index

National Health Index data

The data for the National Health Index may be downloaded from the THL website.

Data for the Morbidity Index (sotkanet.fi)

Data for the Work Disability Index (sotkanet.fi)

Press releases

Previous publications

Contact information

Päivikki Koponen
Tel. 029 524 8868

Elsi Lindell
Tel. 029 524 7989

Email: etunimi.sukunimi@thl.fi

Kati Sarnola
Tel. 020 635 7885
kati.sarnola@kela.fi

Documentation

National Health Index documentation

Edited 7.12.2023

Data for the National Health Index is available from 2017 to 2021. Results were first compiled for all wellbeing services counties, and starting in autumn 2023, for municipalities and the areas of cooperation of the wellbeing services counties. The data will be updated yearly.

A quality description, appendix tables and a description of the statistics are available in Finnish on the THL website: Kansallinen terveysindeksi 2019–2021 (thl.fi).

Project web pages

Project-related web pages at Kela: Information package: National Health Index

Project-related web pages at THL: National Health Index (thl.fi)

Background and authors

The National Health Index is produced jointly by Kela, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK) and Statistics Finland.

The National Health Index is a successor to THL’s Morbidity Index and Kela’s Health Barometer.

THL’s Morbidity Index (updated until 2019): THL’s Morbidity Index 2019 (thl.fi)

Design of the Work Disability Index

Edited 7.12.2023

The Work Disability Index and its subindices portray the incidence of disability among the working-age population of individual municipalities and regions relative to the whole-country level. The Index takes into account three different groups of individuals. Each individual is included in one group only, based on the following rules sequence:

  • recipients of work disability pension in December:
    • recipients of a full work disability pension
    • recipients of a partial work disability pension
  • persons having spent a consecutive period of at least three months on sickness allowance during the year
  • persons having received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation during the year.

Calculation of the Work Disability Index and its subindices:

  • Each person between ages 16 and 64 who is part of any of the above three groups is included in the Index: Recipients of a partial work disability pension and those having received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation are given a weight of 0.5.
  • The average number of persons is calculated for the index year and the two preceding years. The average population between ages 16 and 64 is calculated for each year in the corresponding period. The index for 2019, for instance, consists of data for the years 2017–2019.
  • The average number of persons relative to the average for the general population is calculated for each region and for the country as a whole.
  • The average population shares are adjusted to the corresponding figure for the country as a whole. The index value for the country as a whole is always 100.

Both age-standardised and non-standardised data are produced.

As the largest group, recipients of a disability pension have the largest weight in the index. Because there are fewer recipients of sickness allowance than of work disability pensions, they are assigned a 0.5 weight in the index. The number of persons having received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation is by far the smallest, so they too are assigned a 0.5 weight.

Regional data are based on the recipients’ municipality of residence. Persons who did not live permanently in Finland in the year studied are not included in the index. In the case of a merger between two or more municipalities, the municipality of residence is that of the index year.

The standarisations for population and age are based on data in Kela’s population statistics. The standardisation for age is done in five-year age groups.

Work Disability Index in the wellbeing services counties

Edited 4.2.2025

Work Disability index

The Wellbeing Services County > Work Disability tab for the wellbeing services county can be used to study the Work Disability Index in selected wellbeing services counties.

From the menu, select the wellbeing services county you are interested in. Its data will be highlighted on the map and in the bar chart. If you select (by pressing down ctrl) more than one county, the data for all of the selected counties will be highlighted. The bar chart shows the index value for the country as a whole (100). As a default, all wellbeing services counties are shown.

You can select a time period from the menu. Indices for that period will be shown on the map and in the bar chart. The latest time period is shown as a default.

You can switch to show index figures that are not standardised for age by selecting No in the Standardised for age menu. Age-standardised figures are shown as a default.

You can select a gender from the menu. Data for that gender will be shown on the map and in the bar chart. Both genders are shown as a default.

Subindices of the Work Disability Index

The subindices Work Disability pension, Sickness allowances and Vocational rehabilitation are available for selected wellbeing services counties in the Wellbeing Services County > Subindices of the Work Disability Index tab. The bar chart shows the Work Disability Index subindices for the latest time period.

In the menu, you can select the wellbeing services county whose data you wish to highlight in the bar charts. If you select (by pressing down ctrl) more than one county, the data for all of the selected counties will be highlighted. The bar chart shows the index value for the country as a whole (100). As a default, all wellbeing services counties are shown.

You can select a different time period from the menu. Indices for that period will be shown in the bar chart. The latest time period is shown as a default.

You can switch to show index figures that are not standardised for age by selecting No in the Standardised for age menu. Age-standardised figures are shown as a default.

You can select a gender from the menu. Data for that gender will be shown in the bar chart. Both genders are shown as a default.

Variables and classifications

  • Work Disability Index: The index depicts work disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. The following three groups are included:
    • recipients of a work disability pension in December (ETK statistics on earnings-related pension recipients in Finland)
    • persons having spent a consecutive period of at least three months on sickness allowance over the course of the year (Kela statistics on sickness allowance)
    • persons having received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation during the year (Kela statistics on the rehabilitation benefits and services provided by Kela).
  • Work Disability pension subindex: The index depicts work disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. It covers all recipients of a work disability pension as of December. (ETK statistics on earnings-related pension recipients in Finland).
  • Sickness allowances subindex: The index depicts disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. It covers all persons having spent a consecutive period of at least three months on sickness allowance over the course of the year. (Kela: Statistics on sickness allowance).
  • Vocational rehabilitation subindex: The index depicts disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. The index covers all persons who received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation over the course of the year. Kela: Statistics on the rehabilitation benefits and services provided by Kela).
  • Time period: Index year (incl. the statistical reference year and the two preceding years).
  • Wellbeing services county: The wellbeing services counties, Helsinki and the Åland Islands.
  • Standardised for age: Yes or no, standardised for age in five-year age groups.
  • Gender: Separate totals for men and women or both combined.
  • Time comparison: The index years of the Work Disability Index, consisting of data for three years, are compared against other index years. Possibility to compare data for several wellbeing services counties.
  • Index comparison: Possibility to perform a time comparison between the index values of the general Work Disability Index and its subindices and a comparison among the wellbeing services counties both at the same time.

Note
The standardisations for age and population structure have been performed on the basis of the data in Kela’s population statistics.

Statistical reference period

Data are available from 2019 onward. The index year consists of three years (the current and two preceding years).

Updating frequency

Updated at the beginning of each year with a two-year lag.

Data source

Contact information

Kati Sarnola, Senior Researcher
kati.sarnola@kela.fi

The Work Disability Index in the collaborative areas

Edited 4.2.2025

Work Disability Index

In the Wellbeing Services Counties > Work Disability Index tab, users can examine the Work Disability Index in selected collaborative areas.

Select a collaborative area in the menu. The data for the selected area will be highlighted on the map and in the bar charts. If you select (by pressing down ctrl) more than one collaborative area, the data for all of the selected areas will be highlighted. The bar chart shows the index value for the country as a whole (100). The default selection is to show all collaborative areas.

You can select a time period from the menu. Indices for that period will be shown on the map and in the bar chart. The latest time period is shown as a default.

You can switch to show index figures that are not standardised for age by selecting No in the Standardised for age menu. Age-standardised figures are shown as a default.

You can select a gender from the menu. Data for that gender will be shown on the map and in the bar chart. Both genders are shown as a default.

Subindices of the Work Disability Index

The subindices Work Disability pension, Sickness allowances and Vocational rehabilitation are available for selected wellbeing services counties in the Collaborative Area > Subindices of the Work Disability Index tab. The bar charts show the Work Disability Index subindices for the latest time period and for the selected collaborative area.

In the menu, you can select a collaborative area. Data for that area will be highlighted in the bar charts. If you select (by pressing down ctrl) more than one collaborative area, the data for all of the selected areas will be highlighted. The index value for the country as a whole is 100. The default selection is to show all collaborative areas.

You can select a different time period from the menu. Indices for that period will be shown in the bar chart. The latest time period is shown as a default.

You can switch to show index figures that are not standardised for age by selecting No in the Standardised for age menu. Age-standardised figures are shown as a default.

You can select a gender from the menu. Data for that gender will be shown in the bar chart. Both genders are shown as a default.

Variables and classifications

  • Work Disability Index: The index depicts work disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. The following three groups are included:
    • recipients of a work disability pension in December (ETK statistics on earnings-related pension recipients in Finland)
    • persons having spent a consecutive period of at least three months on sickness allowance over the course of the year (Kela statistics on sickness allowance)
    • persons having received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation during the year (Kela statistics on the rehabilitation benefits and services provided by Kela).
  • Work Disability pension subindex: The index depicts work disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. It covers all recipients of a work disability pension as of December (ETK statistics on earnings-related pension recipients in Finland).
  • Sickness allowances subindex: The index depicts disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. It covers all persons having spent a consecutive period of at least three months on sickness allowance over the course of the year (Kela: Statistics on sickness allowance).
  • Vocational rehabilitation subindex: The index depicts work disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. It covers all persons who received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation during the year (Kela: Statistics on the rehabilitation benefits and services provided by Kela).
  • Time period: Index year (incl. the statistical reference year and the two preceding years).
  • Wellbeing services county: The wellbeing services counties, Helsinki and the Åland Islands.
  • Standardised for age: Yes or no, standardised for age in five-year age groups.
  • Gender: Separate totals for men and women or both combined.
  • Time comparison: The index years of the Work Disability Index, consisting of data for three years, are compared against other index years. Possibility to compare data for several collaborative areas.
  • Index comparison: Possibility to perform a time comparison between the index values of the general Work Disability Index and its subindices and a comparison among the collaborative areas both at the same time.

Note
The standardisations for age and population structure have been performed on the basis of the data in Kela’s population statistics.

Statistical reference period

Data are available from 2019 onward. The index year consists of three years (the current and two preceding years).

Updating frequency

Updated at the beginning of each year with a two-year lag.

Data source

Contact information

Kati Sarnola, Senior Researcher
kati.sarnola@kela.fi

Work Disability Index by municipality

Edited 4.2.2025

Work Disability Index

In the Municipality Work Disability Index tab, you can view the Work Disability Index and its subindices Work Disability pension, Sickness allowances and Vocational training for the municipalities in a selected wellbeing services county and for the latest time period.

You can select a wellbeing services county from the menu. The municipalities in that county will be shown on the map and in the table. The table shows the municipalities according to the selected time period. The map always shows the municipalities according to the most recent time period. The default selection is South Karelia.

You can select a time period from the menu. Indices for that period will be shown on the map and in the table. The latest time period is shown as a default.

You can switch to show index figures that are not standardised for age by selecting No standardisation for age. Age-standardised figures are shown as a default.

You can select a gender from the menu. Indices for that gender will be shown on the map and in the table. Both genders are shown as a default.

Index comparison

In the Index comparison tab, you can compare the index values of individual municipalities. The table shows the Work Disability Index and its subindices for the municipalities.

You can use search to select the municipalities whose indices are shown in the table. The default selection is Kuusikkokunnat (The six largest Finnish municipalities).

You can select a different time period from the menu. Indices for that period will be shown in the table. The latest time period is shown as a default.

You can switch to show index figures that are not standardised for age by selecting No standardisation for age. Age-standardised figures are shown as a default.

You can select a gender from the menu. Indices for that gender will be shown in the table. Both genders are shown as a default.

Variables and classifications

  • Work Disability Index: The index depicts disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. The following three groups are included:
    • recipients of a work disability pension in December (ETK statistics on earnings-related pension recipients in Finland)
    • persons having spent a consecutive period of at least three months on sickness allowance over the course of the year (Kela statistics on sickness allowance)
    • persons having received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation during the year (Kela statistics on the rehabilitation benefits and services provided by Kela).
  • Work Disability pension subindex: The index depicts work disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. It covers all recipients of a work disability pension as of December (ETK statistics on earnings-related pension recipients in Finland).
  • Sickness allowances subindex: The index depicts disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. It covers all persons having spent a consecutive period of at least three months on sickness allowance over the course of the year (Kela: Statistics on sickness allowance).
  • Vocational rehabilitation subindex: The index depicts work disability in regional working-age populations relative to the whole-country level. It covers all persons who received a decision on an application for vocational rehabilitation during the year (Kela: Statistics on the rehabilitation benefits and services provided by Kela).
  • Time period: Index year (incl. the statistical reference year and the two preceding years).
  • Wellbeing services county: The wellbeing services counties, Helsinki and the Åland Islands.
  • Municipality: Municipalities.
  • Standardised for age: Yes or no, standardised for age in five-year age groups.
  • Gender: Separate totals for men and women or both combined.

Note
The standardisations for age and population structure have been performed on the basis of the data in Kela’s population statistics.
Indices with source data consisting of fewer than 15 persons over any period of three years are not released to the public. These obscured indices are presented as two dashes (--).

Statistical reference period

Data are available from 2019 onward. The index year consists of three years (the current and two preceding years).

Updating frequency

Updated at the beginning of each year with a two-year lag.

Data source

Contact information

Kati Sarnola, Senior Researcher
kati.sarnola@kela.fi

More statistical data

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