Region
North Ostrobothnia: municipalities in numbers
North Ostrobothnia (region) has 30 municipalities and 417,939 residents across 36,834 km², or 11 people per km². Population: +1.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 417,939 residents
- 30 municipalities
- 36,834 km²
- 11 people/km²
Map and records: North Ostrobothnia
Population change over 10 years
All municipalities in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oulu | 217,469 | +9.5% | 73.2 people/km² | 2,972 km² | 15.2% | 17.9% |
| Raahe | 23,413 | −7.0% | 23.1 people/km² | 1,014 km² | 15.4% | 28.7% |
| Kempele | 19,702 | +15.4% | 178.9 people/km² | 110.1 km² | 21.6% | 17.5% |
| Ylivieska | 15,274 | +1.6% | 26.8 people/km² | 569.8 km² | 18.9% | 23.0% |
| Kuusamo | 14,800 | −5.7% | 3.0 people/km² | 4,979 km² | 13.4% | 31.7% |
| Kalajoki | 12,155 | −3.7% | 13.2 people/km² | 923.5 km² | 16.4% | 28.9% |
| Nivala | 10,300 | −5.3% | 19.5 people/km² | 527.4 km² | 20.2% | 24.6% |
| Liminka | 10,116 | +1.8% | 15.9 people/km² | 637.4 km² | 27.7% | 11.6% |
| Ii | 9,755 | +1.0% | 6.0 people/km² | 1,616 km² | 20.1% | 23.7% |
| Muhos | 8,767 | −3.3% | 11.2 people/km² | 784.6 km² | 21.2% | 21.0% |
| Pudasjärvi | 7,168 | −13.2% | 1.3 people/km² | 5,639 km² | 14.0% | 37.5% |
| Oulainen | 6,832 | −10.2% | 11.6 people/km² | 586.6 km² | 15.4% | 30.9% |
| Tyrnävä | 6,470 | −4.8% | 13.2 people/km² | 491.8 km² | 26.4% | 16.0% |
| Haapajärvi | 6,441 | −13.4% | 8.4 people/km² | 766.5 km² | 16.3% | 29.2% |
| Haapavesi | 6,298 | −12.1% | 6.0 people/km² | 1,051 km² | 17.7% | 27.2% |
| Siikalatva | 4,861 | −14.4% | 2.2 people/km² | 2,173 km² | 13.8% | 34.1% |
| Siikajoki | 4,723 | −13.6% | 4.5 people/km² | 1,056 km² | 18.9% | 28.5% |
| Sievi | 4,585 | −10.5% | 5.8 people/km² | 786.4 km² | 20.7% | 21.7% |
| Pyhäjärvi | 4,551 | −17.3% | 3.5 people/km² | 1,311 km² | 12.7% | 39.3% |
| Taivalkoski | 3,555 | −15.3% | 1.5 people/km² | 2,438 km² | 12.4% | 35.7% |
| Pyhäjoki | 2,938 | −8.5% | 5.4 people/km² | 544.7 km² | 15.6% | 30.4% |
| Vaala | 2,544 | −17.2% | 2.0 people/km² | 1,302 km² | 10.7% | 41.7% |
| Reisjärvi | 2,476 | −14.4% | 5.2 people/km² | 474.3 km² | 17.7% | 30.4% |
| Utajärvi | 2,399 | −16.1% | 1.4 people/km² | 1,669 km² | 13.5% | 35.1% |
| Alavieska | 2,384 | −11.3% | 9.5 people/km² | 252.2 km² | 17.8% | 27.4% |
| Kärsämäki | 2,324 | −12.6% | 3.3 people/km² | 698.3 km² | 15.5% | 31.9% |
| Lumijoki | 2,018 | −2.8% | 9.4 people/km² | 214.1 km² | 22.8% | 19.9% |
| Pyhäntä | 1,678 | +5.7% | 2.1 people/km² | 810.2 km² | 21.1% | 25.1% |
| Merijärvi | 1,031 | −9.1% | 4.5 people/km² | 229.7 km² | 25.0% | 26.1% |
| Hailuoto | 912 | −8.2% | 4.4 people/km² | 205.6 km² | 10.3% | 42.9% |
North Ostrobothnia compared with the national figures
Population-weighted averages for rates; totals for counts.
| Indicator | North Ostrobothnia | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged under 15 | 16.6% | 14.3% |
| Share of people aged 65 and over | 21.9% | 23.8% |
| Mean age of the population | 42.0 years | 44.1 years |
| Share of Swedish speakers | 0.2% | 5.0% |
| Share of foreign nationals | 3.6% | 7.7% |
| Total dwellings | 228,549 no. | 3,258,449 no. |
| Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants | 75.4 /1,000 inh. | 85.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Business establishments | 40,555 no. | 600,547 no. |
| Business establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 96.8 /1,000 inh. | 106.4 /1,000 inh. |
| Persons employed in the area (jobs) | 170,344 no. | 2,423,433 no. |
| Unemployed as a share of the labour force | 12.5% | 11.7% |
| Employment rate (aged 20–64) | 72.6% | 73.7% |
| At-risk-of-poverty rate | 14.8% | 14.2% |
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a tertiary-level qualification | 32.1% | 34.2% |
| Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 49.4 /1,000 inh. | 38.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants | 482 /1,000 inh. | 480 /1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the business register (excluding sole traders) | 19,646 per 1,000 inh. | 335,854 per 1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (excluding sole traders) | 47.0 per 1,000 inh. | 59.4 per 1,000 inh. |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants | 3.5 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. |
Frequently asked questions
How many municipalities are there in North Ostrobothnia?
North Ostrobothnia has 30 municipalities. The most populous is Oulu, with 217,469 residents.
What is the population of North Ostrobothnia?
North Ostrobothnia has 417,939 residents (2025), or 11 people per km².
Which municipality in North Ostrobothnia is growing fastest?
Kempele has the fastest growth in North Ostrobothnia over 10 years: +15.4%.
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