Ähtäri: population and statistics
Ähtäri has a population of 5,121 (2025) across 805.7 km², or 6.4 people per km². It ranks 163 of 308 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −15.6% between 2015 and 2025.
- 5,121 residents
- 805.7 km²
- 6 people/km²
- 160 m
Ähtäri in numbers
Key points
Among the 18 municipalities in South Ostrobothnia, Ähtäri ranks No. 9 by population.
Share of Swedish speakers: 0.1% in Ähtäri, compared with an average of 0.3% in South Ostrobothnia and 5.0% nationally.
Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants: 1.6 per 1,000 inh. in Ähtäri, compared with an average of 2.8 per 1,000 inh. in South Ostrobothnia and 4.1 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Health and social work, with 22.2% of the area's jobs.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 833 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in South Ostrobothnia for “Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Share of Swedish speakers”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 112,842 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.9 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Alavus (10,634 residents), 23 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,332 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Population of Ähtäri over time
Ähtäri had 6,068 residents in 2015 and 5,121 in 2025.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5,522 |
| 2021 | 5,484 |
| 2022 | 5,406 |
| 2023 | 5,316 |
| 2024 | 5,220 |
| 2025 | 5,121 |
All indicators for Ähtäri
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 | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged under 15 (2025) | 11.8% | 14.9% | 13.3% | ranked 209 of 302 | |
| Share of people aged 65 and over (2025) | 36.9% | 27.7% | 31.2% | ranked 87 of 302 | |
| Mean age of the population (2025) | 50.9 years | 45.7 | 48.5 | ranked 92 of 302 | |
| Share of Swedish speakers (2025) | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.3% | ranked 222 of 302 | |
| Share of foreign nationals (2025) | 2.8% | 3.9% | 3.4% | ranked 183 of 302 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (2025) | 3,388 no. | 109,577 no. | 3,258,449 no. | ranked 153 of 308 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1940 (2025) | 9.1% | – | 8.2% | ranked 123 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2025) | 12.0% | – | 14.5% | ranked 190 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached and semi-detached houses (2025) | 60.0% | – | 64.5% | ranked 191 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2025) | 11.2% | – | 11.1% | ranked 151 of 302 | |
| Share of dwellings not permanently occupied (2025) | 22.3% | – | 16.9% | ranked 68 of 302 | |
| Free-time residential buildings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 246.8 /1,000 inh. | 67.9 /1,000 inh. | 186.3 /1,000 inh. | ranked 121 of 302 |
Energy
| Indicator | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of residential buildings heated with district heating (2025) | 5.9% | – | 3.9% | ranked 105 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with electricity (2025) | 42.6% | – | 39.8% | ranked 112 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with geothermal heat (2025) | 3.9% | – | 5.5% | ranked 206 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with oil or gas (2025) | 16.2% | – | 17.1% | ranked 168 of 302 | |
| Share of residential buildings heated with wood or peat (2025) | 31.5% | – | 29.1% | ranked 121 of 302 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business establishments (2024) | 844 no. | 26,415 no. | 600,547 no. | ranked 150 of 308 | |
| Business establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 161.7 /1,000 inh. | 138.9 /1,000 inh. | 141.7 /1,000 inh. | ranked 95 of 302 | |
| Median disposable cash income per consumption unit (2024) | 27,506 €/year | – | 29,044 €/year | ranked 244 of 302 | |
| Price per m² of old dwellings in housing companies (2025) | 879 €/m² | – | 1,110 €/m² | ranked 145 of 220 | |
| Active companies in the business register (excluding sole traders) (2026) | 353 per 1,000 inh. | 11,080 per 1,000 inh. | 335,854 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 142 of 308 | |
| Active companies in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (excluding sole traders) (2026) | 68.9 per 1,000 inh. | 58.5 per 1,000 inh. | 53.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 56 of 302 | |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1.6 per 1,000 inh. | 2.8 per 1,000 inh. | 2.7 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 249 of 302 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persons employed in the area (jobs) (2024) | 1,864 no. | 76,800 no. | 2,423,433 no. | ranked 152 of 308 | |
| Unemployed as a share of the labour force (2024) | 10.7% | 8.8% | 10.8% | ranked 153 of 302 | |
| Employment rate (aged 20–64) (2024) | 74.5% | 77.3% | 75.4% | ranked 171 of 302 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beds in accommodation establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 129.9 /1,000 inh. | 27.5 /1,000 inh. | 36.4 /1,000 inh. | ranked 28 of 136 |
Transport
| Indicator | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 588 /1,000 inh. | 596 /1,000 inh. | 580 /1,000 inh. | ranked 125 of 302 |
Society
| Indicator | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At-risk-of-poverty rate (2024) | 15.8% | 13.7% | 14.3% | ranked 108 of 302 |
Education
| Indicator | Ähtäri | South Ostrobothnia | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of people aged 15 and over with a tertiary-level qualification (2024) | 22.9% | 27.7% | 24.1% | ranked 180 of 302 |
Business sectors: Ähtäri
Share of each sector in total jobs; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Health and social work22.2% ×1.2
- Manufacturing19.2% ×1.5
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing11.2% ×4.6
- Wholesale and retail trade8.0% ×0.7
- Public administration and defence7.4% ×1.5
- Education7.4% ×1.0
- Construction4.5% ×0.7
- Administrative and support services4.1% ×0.6
Sunshine and temperatures: Ähtäri
Where is Ähtäri?
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ähtäri?
Ähtäri has 5,121 residents (2025), ranking 163 of 308 municipalities.
How big is Ähtäri?
Ähtäri covers 805.7 km², with a density of 6 people per km².
Is the population of Ähtäri growing?
Between 2015 and 2025, the population of Ähtäri went from 6,068 to 5,121, a change of −15.6%.
Where is Ähtäri?
Ähtäri is in South Ostrobothnia. Latitude 62.550, longitude 24.067.
Share of Swedish speakers: what is the figure for Ähtäri?
In Ähtäri, “Share of Swedish speakers” stands at 0.1% (2025), ranking 222 of 302 municipalities; the national median is 0.3%.
Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Ähtäri?
In Ähtäri, “Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 1.6 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 249 of 302 municipalities; the national median is 2.7 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ähtäri?
In Ähtäri, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 833 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ähtäri?
The nearest to Ähtäri are Alavus (23 km), Soini (37 km), Virrat (38 km), Kuortane (40 km), Multia (41 km).
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