Region
North Karelia: municipalities in numbers
North Karelia (region) has 13 municipalities and 161,418 residents across 18,794 km², or 9 people per km². Population: −4.1% between 2015 and 2025.
- 161,418 residents
- 13 municipalities
- 18,794 km²
- 9 people/km²
Map and records: North Karelia
Population change over 10 years
All municipalities in North Karelia
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joensuu | 79,129 | +4.8% | 33.2 people/km² | 2,382 km² | 12.4% | 23.9% |
| Kontiolahti | 15,060 | +1.6% | 18.8 people/km² | 799.8 km² | 19.3% | 20.0% |
| Liperi | 11,980 | −2.9% | 16.5 people/km² | 727.5 km² | 16.2% | 25.4% |
| Lieksa | 9,846 | −16.4% | 2.9 people/km² | 3,418 km² | 9.0% | 43.4% |
| Kitee | 9,397 | −13.2% | 7.5 people/km² | 1,254 km² | 9.9% | 42.5% |
| Nurmes | 8,760 | −15.1% | 3.6 people/km² | 2,402 km² | 10.9% | 39.5% |
| Outokumpu | 6,365 | −10.8% | 14.3 people/km² | 446.2 km² | 12.0% | 35.7% |
| Ilomantsi | 4,293 | −19.5% | 1.6 people/km² | 2,763 km² | 7.8% | 48.4% |
| Juuka | 4,059 | −19.4% | 2.7 people/km² | 1,502 km² | 7.6% | 43.9% |
| Polvijärvi | 3,942 | −13.5% | 4.9 people/km² | 804.7 km² | 12.5% | 38.5% |
| Tohmajärvi | 3,869 | −18.3% | 4.6 people/km² | 837.8 km² | 11.9% | 38.3% |
| Heinävesi | 2,888 | −19.2% | 2.8 people/km² | 1,030 km² | 7.9% | 44.4% |
| Rääkkylä | 1,830 | −22.1% | 4.3 people/km² | 428.2 km² | 6.5% | 49.5% |
North Karelia compared with the national figures
Population-weighted averages for rates; totals for counts.
| Indicator | North Karelia | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged under 15 | 12.5% | 14.3% |
| Share of people aged 65 and over | 29.7% | 23.8% |
| Mean age of the population | 46.9 years | 44.1 years |
| Share of Swedish speakers | 0.1% | 5.0% |
| Share of foreign nationals | 5.2% | 7.7% |
| Total dwellings | 100,662 no. | 3,258,449 no. |
| Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants | 146.1 /1,000 inh. | 85.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Business establishments | 17,600 no. | 600,547 no. |
| Business establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 108.3 /1,000 inh. | 106.4 /1,000 inh. |
| Persons employed in the area (jobs) | 59,750 no. | 2,423,433 no. |
| Unemployed as a share of the labour force | 15.9% | 11.7% |
| Employment rate (aged 20–64) | 68.0% | 73.7% |
| At-risk-of-poverty rate | 18.9% | 14.2% |
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a tertiary-level qualification | 28.9% | 34.2% |
| Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 35.8 /1,000 inh. | 38.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants | 514 /1,000 inh. | 480 /1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the business register (excluding sole traders) | 6,685 per 1,000 inh. | 335,854 per 1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (excluding sole traders) | 41.4 per 1,000 inh. | 59.4 per 1,000 inh. |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants | 2.0 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. |
Frequently asked questions
How many municipalities are there in North Karelia?
North Karelia has 13 municipalities. The most populous is Joensuu, with 79,129 residents.
What is the population of North Karelia?
North Karelia has 161,418 residents (2025), or 9 people per km².
Which municipality in North Karelia is growing fastest?
Joensuu has the fastest growth in North Karelia over 10 years: +4.8%.
Other regions
Coat of arms: Regional Council of North Karelia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: Regional Council of North Karelia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
