Sources and Databases on Mortality and Morbidity in Finland, 1750–1950

This paper examines both the use and untapped potential of historical sources on mortality and morbidity in Finland. From the late 1600s, Lutheran priests recorded individual deaths, while causes of death were added on the historical sources from the mid-1700s. The Tabulation office compiled annual aggregate statistics on deaths by age, sex and cause of death based on priests' reports from the mid-1700s until 1900s. These records constitute one of the world's earliest national statistics. After the introduction of mandatory medical death examinations in 1936, causes of death were classified using national codes and later the International Classification of Diseases. In addition to mortality, various sources describe morbidity and epidemics. Annual reports from physicians and hospitals include patient statistics, individual observations, and epidemic analyses. Additionally, forensic materials, such as autopsy reports, detail unnatural deaths. Most burial records before the mid-1900s have been transcribed into accessible databases such as HisKi and Katiha. However, the multilingual nature and evolving understanding and terminology in causes of death pose classification challenges. To address this issue, this study discusses on the first attempt to apply the Historical International Classification of Diseases (ICD10h) to Finnish- and Swedish-language records, facilitating comparisons of causes of death before the 1900s. Although Finnish mortality sources have been used to some extent in historical and population studies, they remain an underutilized resource for comparative research. This article aims to raise awareness of these rich sources, exploring their origins, structure, and content, advocating for their broader application in historical, demographic, and epidemiological studies.