Breast cancer screening programme: annual statistics

Screening programme overview

– The national screening program for breast cancer has been operating since 1992.

– The program’s target population consists of women aged 50–69. In 2016, full coverage in all age groups was achieved. Additionally, gender minority individuals at risk of breast cancer are eligible for screening. The screening method is mammography and the screening interval is two years.

– 344 851 persons were picked from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency database for screening invitation as of year 2024. The invitation can be left unsent, for example due to non-disclosure for personal safety reasons or missing address details. The Åland Islands are excluded from the 2024 screening statistics.

– In 2024, 82 % of invitees participated in the screening program. Of attendees, 2.9 % were invited to diagnostic examinations.

– Within the screening program, a total of 1904 breast cancer cases were found.

Whole country

Screening process

2024

Age group	Invited	Attended (of invited)		Invitation to diagnostic examinations (of attendees)		Referral to specialized healthcare (of examined)
	N	N	%	N	%	N	%
50	32142	26560	82.6	1681	6.3	257	15.3
52	29997	24261	80.9	703	2.9	161	22.9
54	32100	26257	81.8	731	2.8	192	26.3
56	34929	28181	80.7	709	2.5	186	26.2
58	35869	29372	81.9	759	2.6	215	28.3
60	36564	29718	81.3	730	2.5	242	33.2
62	36370	29690	81.6	713	2.4	253	35.5
64	36072	29457	81.7	742	2.5	304	41.0
66	34403	28061	81.6	732	2.6	297	40.6
68	36405	29812	81.9	776	2.6	351	45.2
Total	344851	281369	81.6	8276	2.9	2458	29.7

2023

Age group	Invited	Attended (of invited)		Invitation to diagnostic examinations (of attendees)		Referral to specialized healthcare (of examined)
	N	N	%	N	%	N	%
50	29034	23865	82.2	1611	6.8	270	16.8
52	31232	25237	80.8	856	3.4	168	19.6
54	32594	26418	81.1	820	3.1	188	22.9
56	35850	28857	80.5	771	2.7	195	25.3
58	36173	29421	81.3	777	2.6	219	28.2
60	37143	30156	81.2	786	2.6	238	30.3
62	36496	29827	81.7	772	2.6	265	34.3
64	35965	29596	82.3	803	2.7	319	39.7
66	36077	29509	81.8	802	2.7	306	38.2
68	36240	29627	81.8	810	2.7	336	41.5
Total	346804	282513	81.5	8808	3.1	2504	28.4

2022

Age group	Invited	Attended (of invited)		Invitation to diagnostic examinations (of attendees)		Referral to specialized healthcare (of examined)
	N	N	%	N	%	N	%
50	29962	24772	82.7	1545	6.2	215	13.9
52	32196	25836	80.2	747	2.9	160	21.4
54	35114	28505	81.2	814	2.9	167	20.5
56	36137	29187	80.8	711	2.4	194	27.3
58	36875	30038	81.5	698	2.3	212	30.4
60	36745	30025	81.7	714	2.4	251	35.2
62	36547	29883	81.8	683	2.3	255	37.3
64	35006	28812	82.3	655	2.3	253	38.6
66	37341	30671	82.1	710	2.3	294	41.4
68	37159	30344	81.7	795	2.6	332	41.8
Total	353082	288073	81.6	8072	2.8	2333	28.9

2021

Age group	Invited	Attended (of invited)		Invitation to diagnostic examinations (of attendees)		Referral to specialized healthcare (of examined)
	N	N	%	N	%	N	%
50	31199	26076	83.6	1657	6.4	221	13.3
52	32607	26586	81.5	839	3.2	144	17.2
54	35926	29428	81.9	753	2.6	162	21.5
56	36301	29522	81.3	619	2.1	167	27.0
58	37338	30676	82.2	709	2.3	191	26.9
60	36756	30237	82.3	675	2.2	222	32.9
62	36315	29958	82.5	674	2.2	238	35.3
64	36538	30236	82.8	730	2.4	258	35.3
66	36789	30149	82.0	705	2.3	300	42.6
68	36824	30225	82.1	706	2.3	288	40.8
Total	356593	293093	82.2	8067	2.8	2191	27.2