Central Ostrobothnia: municipalities in numbers
Central Ostrobothnia (region) has 8 municipalities and 67,498 residents across 5,021 km², or 13 people per km². Population: −2.2% between 2015 and 2025.
- 67,498 residents
- 8 municipalities
- 5,021 km²
- 13 people/km²
Map and records: Central Ostrobothnia
Population change over 10 years
All municipalities in Central Ostrobothnia
Click a column heading to sort the table.
| Municipality | Population | Population change over 10 years | Population density | Area | Share of people aged under 15 | Share of people aged 65 and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokkola | 48,338 | +1.6% | 33.4 people/km² | 1,446 km² | 17.2% | 23.5% |
| Kannus | 5,246 | −6.2% | 11.2 people/km² | 468.0 km² | 16.9% | 27.7% |
| Kaustinen | 4,074 | −5.4% | 11.5 people/km² | 353.9 km² | 16.4% | 27.0% |
| Veteli | 2,912 | −11.8% | 5.8 people/km² | 502.9 km² | 12.7% | 33.9% |
| Toholampi | 2,750 | −16.9% | 4.5 people/km² | 609.1 km² | 15.9% | 32.4% |
| Perho | 2,547 | −13.1% | 3.4 people/km² | 747.9 km² | 22.7% | 26.8% |
| Halsua | 975 | −20.4% | 2.4 people/km² | 413.0 km² | 12.9% | 38.2% |
| Lestijärvi | 656 | −17.8% | 1.4 people/km² | 480.1 km² | 14.5% | 37.0% |
Central Ostrobothnia compared with the national figures
Population-weighted averages for rates; totals for counts.
| Indicator | Central Ostrobothnia | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged under 15 | 17.0% | 14.3% |
| Share of people aged 65 and over | 25.3% | 23.8% |
| Mean age of the population | 43.9 years | 44.1 years |
| Share of Swedish speakers | 8.6% | 5.0% |
| Share of foreign nationals | 4.0% | 7.7% |
| Total dwellings | 35,784 no. | 3,258,449 no. |
| Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants | 62.4 /1,000 inh. | 85.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Business establishments | 7,851 no. | 600,547 no. |
| Business establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 115.8 /1,000 inh. | 106.4 /1,000 inh. |
| Persons employed in the area (jobs) | 28,357 no. | 2,423,433 no. |
| Unemployed as a share of the labour force | 9.2% | 11.7% |
| Employment rate (aged 20–64) | 77.5% | 73.7% |
| At-risk-of-poverty rate | 12.2% | 14.2% |
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a tertiary-level qualification | 27.7% | 34.2% |
| Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 17.7 /1,000 inh. | 38.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants | 537 /1,000 inh. | 480 /1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the business register (excluding sole traders) | 3,471 per 1,000 inh. | 335,854 per 1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (excluding sole traders) | 51.5 per 1,000 inh. | 59.4 per 1,000 inh. |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants | 2.5 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. |
Frequently asked questions
How many municipalities are there in Central Ostrobothnia?
Central Ostrobothnia has 8 municipalities. The most populous is Kokkola, with 48,338 residents.
What is the population of Central Ostrobothnia?
Central Ostrobothnia has 67,498 residents (2025), or 13 people per km².
Which municipality in Central Ostrobothnia is growing fastest?
Kokkola has the fastest growth in Central Ostrobothnia over 10 years: +1.6%.
Other regions
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