Finnish Cancer Registry

What Finnish Cancer Registry does

The Finnish Cancer Registry (Syöpärekisteri) is Finland's statutory national cancer registry, founded in 1952, with nationwide registration commencing in 1953 and mandatory cancer case notifications mandated since 1961. It is maintained under the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), with the Cancer Society of Finland acting as the data processor. The registry operates a national cancer database covering every diagnosed cancer case in Finland, manages the Mass Screening Registry (operating since 1968, with cervical screening data from 1963, breast from 1987, and colorectal from 2022), and conducts population-based epidemiological research. In 2024 alone, the registry recorded 38,853 new cancer cases and 13,490 cancer deaths.

The core technology is a population-based cancer registry database with over 70 years of continuous data, supplemented by mass screening registries for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer, an interactive web-based statistics application, an electronic Cancer Information Notification Service for healthcare organizations, and integration with Statistics Finland for mortality and socioeconomic data, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency for population data, and Findata for secondary-use health data permits. The registry is recognized internationally as a forerunner in cancer screening research, with cervical cancer incidence and mortality reduced to roughly one-fifth of 1960s levels and screening avoiding more than 250 cancer deaths annually in Finland.

The business model is hybrid: most operations are funded through the Finnish state via THL appropriations, while a freemium commercial layer offers free public statistics and annual publications alongside paid custom data extraction (163 EUR/hour, minimum 2.5 hours), training, and consultancy. Customer segments are primarily decision-makers and healthcare professionals, researchers and specialists, and the general public, with named counterparts including the Finnish Healthcare System, Research Institutions, and Municipalities that organize local screening programs.

Name

Finnish Cancer Registry

Legal name

Finnish Cancer Registry

Website

https://cancerregistry.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Finnish Cancer Registry is Finland's statutory national cancer registry (founded 1952), maintaining nationwide cancer case records, mass screening programmes, and epidemiological research under the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Registry & Cancer Epidemiology Services

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (92312)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease Registries (Cancer, Immunization, Rare Disease, etc.) (HLAJAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Patient Registries & Chronic Disease Registry Analytics (HLACAHAH), Data Linkage, Registries & Longitudinal Cohort Surveillance (HLAJANAM), Health Data, Vital Statistics & Population Health Informatics (BPAIAJAM), Public Health Reporting, Dashboards & KPI Performance Management (HLAJANAO), Pathology Reporting, Synoptic Templates & Cancer Registry Interfaces (HLACAMAJ)

Keywords

• Cancer epidemiology research
• Population health registries
• Cancer screening programs
• Statistical cancer reporting
• Public health surveillance

Headquarters

HQ city

Helsinki

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Statistical Information: Free statistical information products and services for general public use
2. Custom Data Extraction Services: Paid tailor-made custom information extraction from the database for researchers and organizations. Charged at hourly rate of 163€ with minimum 2.5 hours
3. Training and Consultancy Services: Paid training and consultancy services for specialized needs

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Finnish Cancer Registry maintains the national registry of all diagnosed cancer cases in Finland since 1953, operates the Mass Screening Registry evaluating nationwide cancer screening programmes, and delivers statistical and epidemiological research on cancer incidence, mortality, survival, and prevention. It provides free public cancer statistics, an interactive statistics application, annual reports on cancer in Finland, tailor-made data extraction services for researchers, and electronic cancer case notification for healthcare providers.

Product overview

The Finnish Cancer Registry is a national cancer registry maintained by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), with the Cancer Society of Finland as the processor. It operates as a statistical and epidemiological research institute offering multiple integrated services: the core Cancer Registry (collecting all diagnosed cancer cases since 1953), the Mass Screening Registry (evaluating screening programmes since 1968), three national cancer screening programmes (cervical since 1963, breast since 1987, and colorectal since 2022), interactive statistics applications, information request services for researchers, and annual publication reports on cancer in Finland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Finnish Cancer Registry (Core Registry) National registry of all diagnosed cancer cases in Finland since 1953, maintained for the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Provides statistical and epidemiological research data on cancer occurrence, prevention, early detection, treatment, and medical rehabilitation.
• Mass Screening Registry Component of the Finnish Cancer Registry that regulates implementation and evaluates nationwide cancer screening programmes, operating since 1968.
• Cervical Cancer Screening Programme National screening programme for women aged 30-65 (every 5 years), with cervical cancer screening data collected since 1963.
• Breast Cancer Screening Programme National mammography screening programme for women aged 50-69 (every 2 years), with breast cancer screening data collected since 1987.
• Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme National screening programme launched in 2022, applying to people aged 60-70 and expanding to ages 56-74 by 2031, using immunochemical fecal test (FIT).
• Cancer in Finland Annual Report Annual statistical publication providing comprehensive data on cancer burden in Finland, including new cancer cases, deaths, prevalence, and patient survival.
• Cancer Screening Programme Annual Reports Annual reports providing comprehensive overview of Finnish cancer screening programmes including participation rates, screening outcomes, and incidence changes.
• Information Requests Service Service for submitting data requests for cancer registry information, processed through Findata or the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare; paid tailor-made custom information extraction at €163/hour with a minimum 2.5-hour charge.
• Interactive Cancer Statistics Application Interactive web application allowing users to generate graphs and tables on cancer incidence, mortality, and survival rates for Finland.
• Cancer Information Notification Service Electronic notification system used by healthcare organizations to report detected cancer cases to the Cancer Registry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Breast cancer mortality reduced by 22% among invited women during 1992-2003 screening period
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cancer Society of FinlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cancer Society of Finland processes personal data contained in the Cancer Registry on behalf of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The society is responsible for maintaining the register under THL's direction.
• Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is the controller of the Cancer Registry and decides on the processing of personal data. THL's duties are defined in the Act on the National Institute for Health and Welfare (668/2008).
• Findata (Data Permit Authority)coreTechnology or IntegrationFindata is responsible for decisions regarding permits for personal data as defined in the Act on the Secondary Use of Health and Social Data (552/2019). Findata processes applications for combining data from multiple controllers.
• Digital and Population Data Services AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides population information system data including municipality of residence, emigration and immigration data, and target population data for mass screenings.
• Statistics FinlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides data on causes of death and information on socioeconomic status, occupation, and education for registry purposes.
• Finnish Cancer Centre (FICAN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFICAN's Cancer Screening Steering Group published national quality manuals for screening programs in April 2024 to support decision-making for cancer screening organizers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW Cancer): AIHW compiles Australia's national cancer statistics and screening monitoring, drawing on state registries. Comparable role in producing national cancer data products, but in a different geography and federation.

Direct peers

• SEER Program (US National Cancer Institute): US NCI's population-based cancer surveillance programme covering incidence, mortality, and survival across US registry regions. Directly comparable as the principal population-based cancer statistics infrastructure, though US rather than Nordic and at significantly larger scale.
• Belgian Cancer Registry (Stichting Kankerregister): Belgium's population-based cancer registry mandated to monitor cancer incidence and support screening programmes. Directly comparable in role, statutory basis, and European public-health context, though at smaller scale.
• Cancer Registry of Norway (Kreftregisteret): Norway's national population-based cancer registry, mandated to collect cancer incidence, run organized screening programmes (breast, cervical, colorectal), and produce statistics. Closely comparable to the Finnish Cancer Registry on mandate, Nordic policy context, statutory notification, and screening evaluation role.
• National Disease Registration Service (NCRAS / NHS England): England's national cancer registration service covering incidence, staging, treatment and survival for the English population. Comparable as a national, statutory, disease-specific registry operating on behalf of a public health system, though at a larger population scale.
• Swedish National Cancer Register (Socialstyrelsen): Sweden's national cancer registry maintained by the National Board of Health and Welfare, with statutory notification and incidence/mortality reporting. Directly analogous in structure, Nordic public-health setting, and role within a national statistical authority.
• Danish Cancer Registry (Statens Serum Institut): Denmark's national cancer registry managed at Statens Serum Institut with mandatory reporting and screening data integration. Highly comparable Nordic peer with similar data collection, screening evaluation remit, and public-institute governance.
• Dutch Cancer Registry (IKNL / NKR): Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation maintains a population-based cancer registry for clinical and epidemiological use across the Dutch population. Comparable mandate, statutory notification model, and screening evaluation role.

Emerging players

• Nordcan (IARC Nordic Cancer Statistics): Joint Nordic/European cancer statistics platform presenting comparable data from the Nordic cancer registries. Closely related as a downstream product that surfaces Finnish Cancer Registry data alongside peer registries and reinforces cross-Nordic comparability.

Broad incumbents

• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC / WHO): WHO agency that coordinates global cancer surveillance (Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, IARC monographs) and operates Nordcan. Comparable mission of producing cancer statistics and supporting screening research, but at an international rather than national level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/finnish-cancer-registry

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Finnish Cancer Registry