Ruokolahti: population and statistics
Ruokolahti has a population of 4,679 (2025) across 942.2 km², or 5.0 people per km². It ranks 171 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −11.9% between 2015 and 2025.
- 4,679 residents
- 942.2 km²
- 5 people/km²
- 80 m
Ruokolahti in numbers
Key points
Among the 9 municipalities in South Karelia, Ruokolahti ranks No. 3 by population.
Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants: 754.0 /1,000 inh. in Ruokolahti, compared with an average of 161.6 /1,000 inh. in South Karelia and 85.9 /1,000 inh. nationally.
Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants: 632 /1,000 inh. in Ruokolahti, compared with an average of 538 /1,000 inh. in South Karelia and 480 /1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Health and social work, with 24.6% of the area's jobs.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 879 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South Karelia for “Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 131,964 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.7 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Imatra (24,345 residents), 11 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,516 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Population of Ruokolahti over time
Ruokolahti had 5,312 residents in 2015 and 4,679 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,922 |
| 2021 | 4,913 |
| 2022 | 4,842 |
| 2023 | 4,758 |
| 2024 | 4,733 |
| 2025 | 4,679 |
All indicators for Ruokolahti
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 | Ruokolahti | South Karelia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged under 15 (2025) | 10.4% | 11.8% | 13.3% | ranked 252 of 302 | |
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 38.3% | 29.9% | 31.2% | ranked 67 of 302 | |
| Mean age of the population (2025) | 53.4 years | 47.8 | 48.5 | ranked 48 of 302 | |
| Share of Swedish speakers (2025) | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% | ranked 154 of 302 | |
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 2.9% | 6.7% | 3.4% | ranked 176 of 302 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ruokolahti | South Karelia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (2025) | 2,883 no. | 77,224 no. | 3,258,449 no. | ranked 166 of 308 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1940 (2025) | 8.3% | – | 8.2% | ranked 149 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2025) | 14.5% | – | 14.5% | ranked 150 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached and semi-detached houses (2025) | 71.1% | – | 64.5% | ranked 78 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2025) | 10.9% | – | 11.1% | ranked 154 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings not permanently occupied (2025) | 15.8% | – | 16.9% | ranked 173 of 302 | |
| Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 754.0 /1,000 inh. | 161.6 /1,000 inh. | 186.3 /1,000 inh. | ranked 20 of 302 |
Energy
| Indicator | Ruokolahti | South Karelia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residential buildings heated with district heating (2025) | 3.6% | – | 3.9% | ranked 157 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with electricity (2025) | 39.6% | – | 39.8% | ranked 158 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with geothermal heat (2025) | 5.3% | – | 5.5% | ranked 156 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with oil or gas (2025) | 19.7% | – | 17.1% | ranked 106 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with wood or peat (2025) | 30.9% | – | 29.1% | ranked 128 of 302 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ruokolahti | South Karelia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business establishments (2024) | 679 no. | 12,571 no. | 600,547 no. | ranked 174 of 308 | |
| Business establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 143.5 /1,000 inh. | 100.4 /1,000 inh. | 141.7 /1,000 inh. | ranked 143 of 302 | |
| Median disposable cash income per consumption unit (2024) | 30,657 €/year | – | 29,044 €/year | ranked 75 of 302 | |
| Active companies in the business register (excluding sole traders) (2026) | 193 per 1,000 inh. | 5,249 per 1,000 inh. | 335,854 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 197 of 308 | |
| Active companies in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (excluding sole traders) (2026) | 41.2 per 1,000 inh. | 42.3 per 1,000 inh. | 53.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 266 of 302 | |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1.9 per 1,000 inh. | 2.4 per 1,000 inh. | 2.7 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 228 of 302 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ruokolahti | South Karelia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons employed in the area (jobs) (2024) | 976 no. | 46,362 no. | 2,423,433 no. | ranked 205 of 308 | |
| Unemployed as a share of the labour force (2024) | 14.3% | 14.5% | 10.8% | ranked 38 of 302 | |
| Employment rate (aged 20–64) (2024) | 72.0% | 69.0% | 75.4% | ranked 234 of 302 |
Transport
| Indicator | Ruokolahti | South Karelia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 632 /1,000 inh. | 538 /1,000 inh. | 580 /1,000 inh. | ranked 32 of 302 |
Society
| Indicator | Ruokolahti | South Karelia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At-risk-of-poverty rate (2024) | 13.2% | 17.6% | 14.3% | ranked 185 of 302 |
Education
| Indicator | Ruokolahti | South Karelia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a tertiary-level qualification (2024) | 24.6% | 29.4% | 24.1% | ranked 140 of 302 |
Business sectors: Ruokolahti
Share of each sector in total jobs; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Health and social work24.6% ×1.3
- Manufacturing13.7% ×1.1
- Education11.1% ×1.5
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing10.3% ×4.2
- Wholesale and retail trade6.7% ×0.6
- Administrative and support services6.7% ×0.9
- Construction5.2% ×0.8
- Transport and storage4.7% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Ruokolahti
Where is Ruokolahti?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ruokolahti?
Ruokolahti has 4,679 residents (2025), ranking 171 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Ruokolahti?
Ruokolahti covers 942.2 km², with a density of 5 people per km².
Is the population of Ruokolahti growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Ruokolahti went from 5,312 to 4,679, a change of −11.9%.
Where is Ruokolahti?
Ruokolahti is in South Karelia. Latitude 61.292, longitude 28.817.
Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Ruokolahti?
In Ruokolahti, “Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 754.0 /1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 20 of 302 municipalities; the national median is 186.3 /1,000 inh..
Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Ruokolahti?
In Ruokolahti, “Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 632 /1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 32 of 302 municipalities; the national median is 580 /1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ruokolahti?
In Ruokolahti, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 879 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ruokolahti?
The nearest to Ruokolahti are Imatra (11 km), Rautjärvi (32 km), Puumala (43 km), Lappeenranta (43 km), Taipalsaari (43 km).
Coat of arms: User:Care; Original design by Gustaf von Numers., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons. Coats of arms and flags are shown for identification only; this site is not affiliated with any public authority.
