Finland's ranking in a new Unicef comparison of child wellbeing in wealthy countries has dropped sharply to 17th place, down from fifth in the agency's previous report published in 2020.
The latest study highlights significant declines in several key indicators, including youth suicide rates, childhood obesity, and academic performance.
Finland was among the three lowest-ranked countries when it came to the suicide rate among 15 to 19-year-olds, reporting 10.5 suicides per 100,000 in that age group.
The Netherlands, Denmark, and France claimed the top spots in the table, while Turkey and Chile ranked at the bottom.
The UN report warned that many countries experienced sharp declines in children's academic skills following the pandemic, especially in reading and math.
"Prior to the pandemic, children were already struggling on multiple fronts, and didn't have access to adequate support — even in wealthy countries," Bo Viktor Nylund of UNICEF said in a statement.
"Now, in the face of rising economic uncertainty, countries need to prioritise children's education, health and wellbeing to secure their lifetime prospects and happiness, as well as our societies' economic security."
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