View source for Regions of Finland

{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
{{Distinguish|provinces of Finland|historical provinces of Finland|Wellbeing services counties of Finland|Regional State Administrative Agency}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox subdivision type
| name = Regions<br>{{native name|fi|maakunta}}<br/>{{native name|sv|landskap}}
| map = Regions of Finland labelled EN.svg
| category = [[Unitary state]]
| territory = [[Finland]]
| start_date = 
| current_number = 19
| number_date = 
| population_range = 30,344 ([[Åland]]) — 1,714,741 ([[Uusimaa]])
| area_range = 1,553 km<sup>2</sup> ([[Åland]]) — 92,674 km<sup>2</sup> ([[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]])
| government = Regional council
| subdivision = [[Municipalities of Finland|Municipality]]
| status = 
| exofficio = 
}}

{{Politics of Finland}}

[[Finland]] is divided into 19 regions ({{langx|fi|maakunta}}; {{langx|sv|landskap}}){{efn|{{langx|se|eanangoddi}}, {{langx|smn|eennâmkodde}}, and {{langx|sms|mäddkåʹdd}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dicts.uit.no/|title=Sátnegirjjit, ''Dictionaries of Finnish, Swedish, the Sami Languages, English and Russian''|website=dicts.uit.no|access-date=21 February 2019|archive-date=18 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218022747/http://dicts.uit.no/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
which are governed by regional councils that serve as forums of cooperation for the [[Municipalities of Finland|municipalities]] of each region. The councils are composed of delegates from the municipal councils. The main tasks of regional councils are regional planning, the development of enterprises, and education. Between 2004 and 2012, the regional council of Kainuu was elected via popular elections as part of an experimental regional administration.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-6420300|title=Historiallinen maakuntahallinto opetti valtiota|website=Yle uutiset|date=17 December 2012|access-date=22 May 2021|archive-date=10 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210193430/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-6420300|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, new [[Wellbeing services counties of Finland|Wellbeing services counties]] were established as part of a health care and social services reform. The wellbeing services counties follow the regional borders, and are governed by directly elected county councils.<ref>{{cite web |title=Health and social services reform |url=https://soteuudistus.fi/en/frontpage |publisher=Finnish Government |access-date=22 May 2021 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516155005/https://soteuudistus.fi/en/frontpage |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Åland ==
One region, [[Åland]], has a special status and has a much higher degree of autonomy than the others, with its own [[Parliament of Åland|Parliament]] and local laws, due to its [[history of Åland|unique history]] and the fact that the overwhelming majority of its people are [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Finland Swedes]]. The sole language of Åland is [[Swedish language|Swedish]]/[[Finland Swedish]], unlike the rest of the country where [[Finnish language|Finnish]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] share official status. It has its own elected [[Government of Åland#List of Premiers of Åland (since 1922)|head of government]] who carries the title of Premier and heads the [[Lantråd]], the regional executive. Most powers that would be exercised by the [[Finnish Government|Government of Finland]] on the mainland are instead exercised by Åland-specific authorities which execute independent policy in most areas. The Åland islanders elect a single representative to the national [[Parliament of Finland|legislature]], while the Government of Finland appoints a [[Provincial Governors of Finland|Governor]] to represent the national government on Åland. Åland is a [[demilitarized zone]] and Åland islanders are exempt from conscription.

== Representation of the state ==
In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, which is the responsibility of regional councils, there are 15 [[Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment|Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment]] (Finnish: ''elinkeino-, liikenne- ja ympäristökeskus'', abbreviated ''ely-keskus''), which are responsible for the local administration of labour, agriculture, fisheries, forestry and entrepreneurial affairs. They are each responsible for one or more of regions of Finland, and include offices of the Ministries of Employment and the Economy, Transport and Communications and Environment. The [[Finnish Defence Forces]] regional offices are responsible for the regional defence preparations and for the administration of conscription within the region.

== List of regions ==
{{Finnish Regions|options=float:center}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!class="unsortable"| Flag
!class=unsortable| Coat of arms
! English name<ref>{{cite web |title=Suomen hallintorakenteeseen ja maakuntauudistukseen liittyviä termejä sekä maakuntien ja kuntien nimet fi-sv-en-(ru) |url=https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/3457861/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyvi%C3%A4+termej%C3%A4+sek%C3%A4+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29/974f7fc5-1466-c667-9787-381c5bd57603/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyvi%C3%A4+termej%C3%A4+sek%C3%A4+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29.pdf |access-date=23 August 2019 |website=vnk.fi |pages=8–9 |archive-date=11 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611150344/https://vnk.fi/documents/10616/3457861/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyvi%C3%A4+termej%C3%A4+sek%C3%A4+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29/974f7fc5-1466-c667-9787-381c5bd57603/Suomen+hallintorakenteeseen+ja+maakuntauudistukseen+liittyvi%C3%A4+termej%C3%A4+sek%C3%A4+maakuntien+ja+kuntien+nimet+fi-sv-en-%28ru%29.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
! Finnish name
! Swedish name
!ISO
! Capital
! Area<br>(km<sup>2</sup>)
!Population<br>(2021)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pxdata.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/en/Kuntien_avainluvut/Kuntien_avainluvut__2021/kuntien_avainluvut_2021_viimeisin.px/|title=Municipal key figures / With the 2021 regional division / Municipal key figures|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|access-date=19 August 2023|archive-date=13 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813073706/https://pxdata.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/en/Kuntien_avainluvut/Kuntien_avainluvut__2021/kuntien_avainluvut_2021_viimeisin.px/|url-status=live}}</ref>
!Density (per km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
|
|[[File:Lapin_maakunnan_vaakuna.svg|54x54px|Lapland]]
| [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]]
| {{lang|fi|Lappi}}
| {{lang|sv|Lappland}}
|FI-10
| align="right" | [[Rovaniemi]]
|align=right| 92,674
|align=right|176,494
|1.90
|-
|
|[[File:Pohjois-Pohjanmaan_vaakuna.svg|46x46px|North Ostrobothnia]]
| [[North Ostrobothnia]]
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Österbotten}}
|FI-14
| align="right" | [[Oulu]]
|align=right| 36,815
|align=right|415,603
|11.29
|-
| [[File:Flag_of_Kainuu.svg|40x40px|Kainuu]]
|[[File:Kainuu.vaakuna.svg|47x47px|Kainuu]]
| [[Kainuu]]
| {{lang|fi|Kainuu}}
| {{lang|sv|Kajanaland}}
|FI-05
| align="right" | [[Kajaani]]
|align=right| 20,197
|align=right|71,255
|3.53
|-
| [[File:North_karelia_flag.svg|40x40px|North Karelia]]
|[[File:Pohjois-Karjala.vaakuna.svg|42x42px|North Karelia]]
| [[North Karelia]]
| {{lang|fi|Pohjois-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Karelen}}
|FI-13
| align="right" | [[Joensuu]]
|align=right| 17,761
|align=right|163,281
|9.19
|-
| [[File:Flag_of_Northern_Savonia.svg|40x40px|North Savonia]]
|[[File:Pohjois-Savo.vaakuna.svg|46x46px|North Savonia]]
| [[North Savo]]
| |{{lang|fi|Pohjois-Savo}}
| {{lang|sv|Norra Savolax}}
|FI-15
| align="right" | [[Kuopio]]
|align=right| 16,768
|align=right|248,363
|14.81
|-
| [[File:Flag_of_South_Savonia.svg|40x40px]]
|[[File:Etelä-Savo.vaakuna.svg|46x46px|Etelä-Savo]]
| [[South Savo]]
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Savo}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Savolax}}
|FI-04
| align="right" | [[Mikkeli]]
|align=right| 14,257
|align=right|131,688
|9.24
|-
|
|[[File:Etelä-Karjala.vaakuna.svg|46x46px|South Karelia]]
| [[South Karelia]]
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Karjala}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Karelen}}
|FI-02
| align="right" | [[Lappeenranta]]
|align=right| 5,327
|align=right|126,107
|23.67
|-
| [[File:Keski-suomi_lippu.svg|40x40px|Central Finland]]
|[[File:Keski-Suomi_Coat_of_Arms.svg|40x40px|Central Finland]]
| [[Central Finland]]
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta Finland}}
|FI-08
| align="right" | [[Jyväskylä]]
|align=right| 16,703
|align=right|272,683
|16.33
|-
| [[File:Flag_of_Southern_Ostrobothnia.svg|40x40px|South Ostrobothnia]]
|[[File:Etelä-Pohjanmaan_maakunnan_vaakuna.svg|56x56px|South Ostrobothnia]]
| [[South Ostrobothnia]]
| {{lang|fi|Etelä-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Södra Österbotten}}
|FI-03
| align="right" | [[Seinäjoki]]
|align=right| 13,444
|align=right|191,762
|14.26
|-
|
|[[File:Pohjanmaan_maakunnan_vaakuna.svg|47x47px|Ostrobothnia]]
| [[Ostrobothnia (administrative region)|Ostrobothnia]]
| {{lang|fi|Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Österbotten}}
|FI-12
| align="right" | [[Vaasa]]
|align=right| 7,753
|align=right|176,041
|22.71
|-
| [[File:Keski-Pohjanmaa.lippu.svg|40x40px|Central Ostrobothnia]]
|[[File:Keski-Pohjanmaa.vaakuna.svg|51x51px|Central Ostrobothnia]]
| [[Central Ostrobothnia]]
| {{lang|fi|Keski-Pohjanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Mellersta&nbsp;Österbotten}}
|FI-07
| align="right" | [[Kokkola]]
|align=right| 5,020
|align=right|67,915
|13.53
|-
| [[File:Flag_of_Pirkanmaa.svg|40x40px|Pirkanmaa]]
|[[File:Pirkanmaa.vaakuna.svg|41x41px|Pirkanmaa]]
| [[Pirkanmaa]]
| {{lang|fi|Pirkanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Birkaland}}
|FI-11
| align="right" | [[Tampere]]
|align=right| 12,585
|align=right|527,478
|41.91
|-
| [[File:Satakunta-flag.svg|40x40px|Satakunta]]
|[[File:Satakunta.vaakuna.svg|56x56px|Satakunta]]
| [[Satakunta]]
| {{lang|fi|Satakunta}}
| {{lang|sv|Satakunta}}
|FI-17
| align="right" | [[Pori]]
|align=right| 7,820
|align=right|214,281
|27.40
|-
| [[File:Päijät-Häme.lippu.svg|53x53px|Päijät-Häme]]
|[[File:Päijät-Häme.vaakuna.svg|47x47px|Päijät-Häme]]
| [[Päijät-Häme]]
| {{lang|fi|Päijät-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Päijänne-Tavastland}}
|FI-16
| align="right" | [[Lahti]]
|align=right| 5,125
|align=right|205,124
|40.02
|-
| [[File:Flag_of_Tavastia_Proper.svg|40x40px|Kanta-Häme]]
|[[File:Kanta-Häme.vaakuna.svg|48x48px|Kanta-Häme]]
| [[Kanta-Häme]]
| {{lang|fi|Kanta-Häme}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Tavastland}}
|FI-06
| align="right" | [[Hämeenlinna]]
|align=right| 5,199
|align=right|170,213
|32.74
|-
|
|[[File:Kymenlaakson_maakunnan_vaakuna.svg|44x44px|Kymenlaakso]]
| [[Kymenlaakso]]
| {{lang|fi|Kymenlaakso}}
| {{lang|sv|Kymmenedalen}}
|FI-09
| align="right" | [[Kotka]] and [[Kouvola]]{{efn|Kymenlaakso is the only region with two capitals, of which Kotka is the official regional centre and Kouvola is the administrative one.}}
|align=right| 5,149
|align=right|161,391
|31.34
|-
| [[File:Flag_of_Uusimaa.svg|40x40px|Uusimaa]]
|[[File:Uusimaa.vaakuna.svg|47x47px|Uusimaa]]
| [[Uusimaa]]
| {{lang|fi|Uusimaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Nyland}}
|FI-18
| align="right" | [[Helsinki]]
|align=right| 9,097
|align=right|1,714,741
|188.50
|-
|
|[[File:Varsinais-Suomen.vaakuna.svg|55x55px|Southwest Finland]]
| [[Southwest Finland]]
| {{lang|fi|Varsinais-Suomi}}
| {{lang|sv|Egentliga Finland}}
|FI-19
| align="right" | [[Turku]]
|align=right| 10,663
|align=right|483,477
|45.34
|-
| [[File:Flag_of_Åland.svg|40x40px|Åland]]
|[[File:Coat of arms of Åland 3.svg|55x55px|Åland]]
| [[Åland]]
| {{lang|fi|Ahvenanmaa}}
| {{lang|sv|Åland}}
|AX and<br>FI-01
| align="right" | [[Mariehamn]]
|align=right| 1,553
|align=right|30,344
|19.54
|}

=== Former region ===
[[File:Finland.regions.2000.svg|thumb|Regions of Finland in 2000.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Coat of arms
! Name
! Official English name<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stat.fi/meta/luokitukset/maakunta/001-2010/index_en.html|title=Regions of Finland 2010|website=Statistics Finland|access-date=21 February 2019|archive-date=29 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929160049/https://www.stat.fi/meta/luokitukset/maakunta/001-2010/index_en.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
! Finnish name
! Swedish name
! Capital
! Dissolution (date)
|-
| [[File:Itä-Uusimaa.vaakuna.svg|40px]]
|[[Eastern Uusimaa]]
|'''Itä-Uusimaa'''
| {{lang|fi|Itä-Uusimaa}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |title=Valtioneuvosto päätti Uudenmaan ja Itä-Uudenmaan maakuntien yhdistämisestä |date=22 October 2009 |publisher=Ministry of Finance |language=fi |access-date=30 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807084712/http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/fi.jsp?oid=274585 |archive-date=7 August 2011 }}</ref>
| {{lang|sv|Östra Nyland}}
| [[Porvoo]]
| 1 January 2011 
|}

=== Regional border changes ===
Border changes between the regions:<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Statistics Finland |url=https://www2.stat.fi/en/luokitukset/maakunta/ |access-date=2022-07-04 |website=www2.stat.fi |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807154923/https://www2.stat.fi/en/luokitukset/maakunta/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== 1997 ====

* [[Kiikoinen]] transferred from Pirkanmaa to Satakunta.

==== 2001 ====

* [[Kuorevesi]] transferred from Pirkanmaa to Central Finland by merging with [[Jämsä]].

==== 2002 ====

* [[Kangaslampi]] transferred from South Savo to North Savo.

==== 2005 ====

* [[Punkalaidun]] transferred from Satakunta to Pirkanmaa.

==== 2007 ====

* [[Längelmäki]] merged with [[Orivesi]] in Pirkanmaa and Jämsä in Central Finland.

==== 2010 ====

* [[Himanka]] transferred from Central Ostrobothnia to North Ostrobothnia by merging with [[Kalajoki]].
* Part of [[Ruotsinpyhtää]] in Eastern Uusimaa transferred to [[Pyhtää]] in Kymenlaakso.

==== 2013 ====

* [[Kiikoinen]] transferred from Satakunta to Pirkanmaa by merging with [[Sastamala]].
* [[Suomenniemi]] transferred from South Karelia to South Savo by merging with Mikkeli.

==== 2016 ====

* [[Vaala]] transferred from Kainuu to North Ostrobothnia.

==== 2021 ====

* [[Heinävesi]] transferred from South Savo to North Karelia.
* [[Iitti]] transferred from Kymenlaakso to Päijät-Häme.
* [[Isokyrö]] transferred from Ostrobothnia to South Ostrobothnia.
* [[Joroinen]] transferred from South Savo to North Savo.
* [[Kuhmoinen]] transferred from Central Finland to Pirkanmaa.
{{Subdivisions_of Finland}}

== See also ==
*[[Municipalities of Lapland]]
*[[Northern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Regions of Northern Finland]]
*[[Eastern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Regions of Eastern Finland]]
*[[Western and Central Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Regions of Western and Central Finland]]
*[[South-Western Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Regions of South-Western Finland]]
*[[Southern Finland Regional State Administrative Agency|Regions of Southern Finland]]
*[[Municipalities of Åland]]
*[[County Councils of Sweden]]
*[[Household pennants of Finland]]
*[[ISO 3166-2:FI]]
*[[Regional State Administrative Agency]]
*[[List of Finnish regions by GDP]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Regions of Finland}}
*[https://avi.fi/en/frontpage Regional State Administrative Agency]

{{Maakunta}}
{{Finland topics}}
{{Articles on first-level administrative divisions of European countries}}
{{Europe topic|Regions of}}

[[Category:Regions of Finland| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Finland]]
[[Category:Lists of subdivisions of Finland|Regions]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Europe|Finland 1]]
[[Category:First-level administrative divisions by country|Regions, Finland]]