Poisonings cause considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, only few countries have published nationwide statistics on poisoning deaths. Based on the Official Cause-of-Death Statistics of Finland, we investigated the incidence and secular trend of poisoning deaths in Finland in 1971-2005. Alcohol poisoning deaths and other poisoning deaths were analyzed separately. During the 35-year study period, other poisoning deaths (non-alcohol) increased from 2.6/100,000 in men and 1.4/100,000 in women in 1971 to 6.8/100,000 and 3.2/100,000 in 2005, respectively. Alcohol poisoning death rates also increased from 9.6/100,000 in men and 0.7/100,000 in women in 1971 to 16.8/100,000 and 4.2/100,000 in 2005, respectively. In the early 1970s, the incidence rates of alcohol deaths were about 10 times higher in men compared with women, whereas in the last few years of observation, men's incidence rate was only about four times higher. Our study showed that alcohol and other poisoning deaths increased in Finland between 1971 and 2005. Men's risk was markedly higher than women's risk, but in the later years, women's risk was increasing. Poisoning death rates among children and adolescents were low throughout the period.