Region
South Karelia: municipalities in numbers
South Karelia (region) has 9 municipalities and 124,238 residents across 5,328 km², or 23 people per km². Population: −5.3% between 2015 and 2025.
- 124,238 residents
- 9 municipalities
- 5,328 km²
- 23 people/km²
Map and records: South Karelia
Population change over 10 years
All municipalities in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lappeenranta | 73,241 | +0.5% | 51.1 people/km² | 1,434 km² | 12.3% | 25.7% |
| Imatra | 24,345 | −12.5% | 157.0 people/km² | 155.0 km² | 10.8% | 33.9% |
| Ruokolahti | 4,679 | −11.9% | 5.0 people/km² | 942.2 km² | 10.4% | 38.3% |
| Taipalsaari | 4,574 | −5.0% | 13.3 people/km² | 345.0 km² | 13.6% | 30.8% |
| Luumäki | 4,304 | −11.4% | 5.7 people/km² | 750.2 km² | 10.9% | 37.6% |
| Parikkala | 4,235 | −19.1% | 7.2 people/km² | 592.2 km² | 9.2% | 44.6% |
| Savitaipale | 3,094 | −14.4% | 5.7 people/km² | 539.6 km² | 10.2% | 41.7% |
| Rautjärvi | 2,888 | −18.3% | 8.2 people/km² | 351.5 km² | 8.1% | 43.8% |
| Lemi | 2,878 | −6.3% | 13.2 people/km² | 218.0 km² | 15.7% | 27.4% |
South Karelia compared with the national figures
Population-weighted averages for rates; totals for counts.
| Indicator | South Karelia | Finland |
|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged under 15 | 11.8% | 14.3% |
| Share of people aged 65 and over | 29.9% | 23.8% |
| Mean age of the population | 47.8 years | 44.1 years |
| Share of Swedish speakers | 0.2% | 5.0% |
| Share of foreign nationals | 6.7% | 7.7% |
| Total dwellings | 77,224 no. | 3,258,449 no. |
| Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants | 161.6 /1,000 inh. | 85.9 /1,000 inh. |
| Business establishments | 12,571 no. | 600,547 no. |
| Business establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 100.4 /1,000 inh. | 106.4 /1,000 inh. |
| Persons employed in the area (jobs) | 46,362 no. | 2,423,433 no. |
| Unemployed as a share of the labour force | 14.5% | 11.7% |
| Employment rate (aged 20–64) | 69.0% | 73.7% |
| At-risk-of-poverty rate | 17.6% | 14.2% |
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a tertiary-level qualification | 29.4% | 34.2% |
| Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants | 53.3 /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) | 5,249 per 1,000 inh. | 335,854 per 1,000 inh. |
| Active companies in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (excluding sole traders) | 42.3 per 1,000 inh. | 59.4 per 1,000 inh. |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants | 2.4 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. |
Frequently asked questions
How many municipalities are there in South Karelia?
South Karelia has 9 municipalities. The most populous is Lappeenranta, with 73,241 residents.
What is the population of South Karelia?
South Karelia has 124,238 residents (2025), or 23 people per km².
Which municipality in South Karelia is growing fastest?
Lappeenranta has the fastest growth in South Karelia over 10 years: +0.5%.
Other regions
Coat of arms: Regional Council of South Karelia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons · Flag: Regional Council of South Karelia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
