Kalajoki: population and statistics
Kalajoki has a population of 12,155 (2025) across 923.5 km², or 13.2 people per km². It ranks 84 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −3.7% between 2015 and 2025.
- 12,155 residents
- 923.5 km²
- 13 people/km²
- 17 m
Kalajoki in numbers
Key points
Among the 30 municipalities in North Ostrobothnia, Kalajoki ranks No. 6 by population.
Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: 241.9 /1,000 inh. in Kalajoki, compared with an average of 49.4 /1,000 inh. in North Ostrobothnia and 38.9 /1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Manufacturing, with 17.0% of the area's jobs.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 46° generates about 904 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in North Ostrobothnia for “Share of Swedish speakers”.
- “Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 129,335 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Alavieska, 20.3 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Raahe (23,413 residents), 54 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,616 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Population of Kalajoki over time
Kalajoki had 12,621 residents in 2015 and 12,155 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 12,400 |
| 2021 | 12,412 |
| 2022 | 12,335 |
| 2023 | 12,372 |
| 2024 | 12,271 |
| 2025 | 12,155 |
All indicators for Kalajoki
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged under 15 (2025) | 16.4% | 16.6% | 13.3% | ranked 53 of 302 | |
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 28.9% | 21.9% | 31.2% | ranked 184 of 302 | |
| Mean age of the population (2025) | 46.0 years | 42.0 | 48.5 | ranked 212 of 302 | |
| Share of Swedish speakers (2025) | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.3% | ranked 103 of 302 | |
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 3.1% | 3.6% | 3.4% | ranked 165 of 302 |
Housing
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (2025) | 6,272 no. | 228,549 no. | 3,258,449 no. | ranked 89 of 308 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1940 (2025) | 10.1% | – | 8.2% | ranked 104 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2025) | 26.2% | – | 14.5% | ranked 58 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached and semi-detached houses (2025) | 73.1% | – | 64.5% | ranked 61 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2025) | 6.4% | – | 11.1% | ranked 203 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings not permanently occupied (2025) | 13.0% | – | 16.9% | ranked 215 of 302 | |
| Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 170.6 /1,000 inh. | 75.4 /1,000 inh. | 186.3 /1,000 inh. | ranked 160 of 302 |
Energy
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residential buildings heated with district heating (2025) | 12.6% | – | 3.9% | ranked 40 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with electricity (2025) | 38.7% | – | 39.8% | ranked 178 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with geothermal heat (2025) | 6.9% | – | 5.5% | ranked 108 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with oil or gas (2025) | 14.6% | – | 17.1% | ranked 192 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with wood or peat (2025) | 27.2% | – | 29.1% | ranked 163 of 302 |
Economy
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business establishments (2024) | 1,754 no. | 40,555 no. | 600,547 no. | ranked 72 of 308 | |
| Business establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 142.9 /1,000 inh. | 96.8 /1,000 inh. | 141.7 /1,000 inh. | ranked 146 of 302 | |
| Median disposable cash income per consumption unit (2024) | 28,564 €/year | – | 29,044 €/year | ranked 179 of 302 | |
| Price per m² of old dwellings in housing companies (2025) | 1,521 €/m² | – | 1,110 €/m² | ranked 58 of 220 | |
| Active companies in the business register (excluding sole traders) (2026) | 825 per 1,000 inh. | 19,646 per 1,000 inh. | 335,854 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 72 of 308 | |
| Active companies in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (excluding sole traders) (2026) | 67.9 per 1,000 inh. | 47.0 per 1,000 inh. | 53.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 60 of 302 | |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 3.5 per 1,000 inh. | 3.5 per 1,000 inh. | 2.7 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 72 of 302 |
Employment
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons employed in the area (jobs) (2024) | 4,421 no. | 170,344 no. | 2,423,433 no. | ranked 84 of 308 | |
| Unemployed as a share of the labour force (2024) | 8.9% | 12.5% | 10.8% | ranked 210 of 302 | |
| Employment rate (aged 20–64) (2024) | 77.6% | 72.6% | 75.4% | ranked 101 of 302 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 241.9 /1,000 inh. | 49.4 /1,000 inh. | 36.4 /1,000 inh. | ranked 14 of 136 |
Transport
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 566 /1,000 inh. | 482 /1,000 inh. | 580 /1,000 inh. | ranked 179 of 302 |
Society
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At-risk-of-poverty rate (2024) | 12.4% | 14.8% | 14.3% | ranked 199 of 302 |
Education
| Indicator | Kalajoki | North Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a tertiary-level qualification (2024) | 23.5% | 32.1% | 24.1% | ranked 170 of 302 |
Business sectors: Kalajoki
Share of each sector in total jobs; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Manufacturing17.0% ×1.4
- Health and social work15.2% ×0.8
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing10.8% ×4.4
- Construction8.8% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade8.6% ×0.8
- Education7.4% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services5.6% ×1.5
- Transport and storage5.1% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Kalajoki
Where is Kalajoki?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kalajoki?
Kalajoki has 12,155 residents (2025), ranking 84 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Kalajoki?
Kalajoki covers 923.5 km², with a density of 13 people per km².
Is the population of Kalajoki growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Kalajoki went from 12,621 to 12,155, a change of −3.7%.
Where is Kalajoki?
Kalajoki is in North Ostrobothnia. Latitude 64.260, longitude 23.949.
Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Kalajoki?
In Kalajoki, “Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 241.9 /1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 14 of 136 municipalities; the national median is 36.4 /1,000 inh..
Share of residential buildings heated with district heating: what is the figure for Kalajoki?
In Kalajoki, “Share of residential buildings heated with district heating” stands at 12.6% (2025), ranking 40 of 302 municipalities; the national median is 3.9%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Kalajoki?
In Kalajoki, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 46° produces about 904 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Kalajoki?
The nearest to Kalajoki are Alavieska (20 km), Merijärvi (24 km), Pyhäjoki (27 km), Ylivieska (35 km), Kannus (40 km).
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