Region
Kainuu: municipalities in numbers
Kainuu (region) has 8 municipalities and 69,193 residents across 20,200 km², or 3 people per km². Population: −8.1% between 2015 and 2025.
- 69,193 residents
- 8 municipalities
- 20,200 km²
- 3 people/km²
Map and records: Kainuu
Population change over 10 years
All municipalities in Kainuu
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kajaani | 36,370 | −3.3% | 19.8 people/km² | 1,835 km² | 14.1% | 25.6% |
| Sotkamo | 10,161 | −3.4% | 3.8 people/km² | 2,649 km² | 13.7% | 29.4% |
| Kuhmo | 7,300 | −17.1% | 1.5 people/km² | 4,808 km² | 9.0% | 42.0% |
| Suomussalmi | 6,957 | −16.5% | 1.3 people/km² | 5,270 km² | 9.1% | 43.3% |
| Paltamo | 2,941 | −15.7% | 3.2 people/km² | 918.8 km² | 10.6% | 38.1% |
| Puolanka | 2,322 | −16.4% | 0.9 people/km² | 2,461 km² | 8.6% | 44.8% |
| Hyrynsalmi | 1,984 | −18.1% | 1.4 people/km² | 1,422 km² | 8.6% | 47.0% |
| Ristijärvi | 1,158 | −14.3% | 1.4 people/km² | 835.9 km² | 10.5% | 44.0% |
Kainuu compared with the national figures
Population-weighted averages for rates; totals for counts.
| Indicator | Kainuu | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged under 15 | 12.4% | 14.3% |
| Share of people aged 65 and over | 31.8% | 23.8% |
| Mean age of the population | 48.4 years | 44.1 years |
| Share of Swedish speakers | 0.1% | 5.0% |
| Share of foreign nationals | 5.2% | 7.7% |
| Total dwellings | 43,053 no. | 3,258,449 no. |
| Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants | 169.3 /1,000 inh. | 85.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Business establishments | 7,427 no. | 600,547 no. |
| Business establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 106.5 /1,000 inh. | 106.4 /1,000 inh. |
| Persons employed in the area (jobs) | 27,030 no. | 2,423,433 no. |
| Unemployed as a share of the labour force | 12.1% | 11.7% |
| Employment rate (aged 20–64) | 72.1% | 73.7% |
| At-risk-of-poverty rate | 15.4% | 14.2% |
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a tertiary-level qualification | 26.9% | 34.2% |
| Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 119.0 /1,000 inh. | 38.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants | 538 /1,000 inh. | 480 /1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the business register (excluding sole traders) | 2,662 per 1,000 inh. | 335,854 per 1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (excluding sole traders) | 38.5 per 1,000 inh. | 59.4 per 1,000 inh. |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants | 2.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. |
Frequently asked questions
How many municipalities are there in Kainuu?
Kainuu has 8 municipalities. The most populous is Kajaani, with 36,370 residents.
What is the population of Kainuu?
Kainuu has 69,193 residents (2025), or 3 people per km².
Which municipality in Kainuu is growing fastest?
Kajaani has the fastest growth in Kainuu over 10 years: −3.3%.
Other regions
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