Regions of Finland

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox subdivision type

Finland is divided into 19 regions (Template:Langx; Template:Langx)Template:Efn which are governed by regional councils that serve as forums of cooperation for the 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2022, new 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ÅlandEdit

One region, Åland, has a special status and has a much higher degree of autonomy than the others, with its own Parliament and local laws, due to its unique history and the fact that the overwhelming majority of its people are Finland Swedes. The sole language of Åland is Swedish/Finland Swedish, unlike the rest of the country where Finnish and Swedish share official status. It has its own elected head of government who carries the title of Premier and heads the Lantråd, the regional executive. Most powers that would be exercised by the 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 legislature, while the Government of Finland appoints a Governor to represent the national government on Åland. Åland is a demilitarized zone and Åland islanders are exempt from conscription.

Representation of the stateEdit

In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, which is the responsibility of regional councils, there are 15 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 regionsEdit

Template:Finnish Regions

Flag	Coat of arms	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Finnish name	Swedish name	ISO	Capital	Area (km²)	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Density (per km²)
	Lapland	Lapland	lang}}	lang}}	FI-10	Rovaniemi	92,674	176,494	1.90
	North Ostrobothnia	North Ostrobothnia	lang}}	lang}}	FI-14	Oulu	36,815	415,603	11.29
Kainuu	Kainuu	Kainuu	lang}}	lang}}	FI-05	Kajaani	20,197	71,255	3.53
North Karelia	North Karelia	North Karelia	lang}}	lang}}	FI-13	Joensuu	17,761	163,281	9.19
North Savonia	North Savonia	North Savo	{{#invoke:Lang\|lang}}	lang}}	FI-15	Kuopio	16,768	248,363	14.81
File:Flag of South Savonia.svg	Etelä-Savo	South Savo	lang}}	lang}}	FI-04	Mikkeli	14,257	131,688	9.24
	South Karelia	South Karelia	lang}}	lang}}	FI-02	Lappeenranta	5,327	126,107	23.67
Central Finland	Central Finland	Central Finland	lang}}	lang}}	FI-08	Jyväskylä	16,703	272,683	16.33
South Ostrobothnia	South Ostrobothnia	South Ostrobothnia	lang}}	lang}}	FI-03	Seinäjoki	13,444	191,762	14.26
	Ostrobothnia	Ostrobothnia	lang}}	lang}}	FI-12	Vaasa	7,753	176,041	22.71
Central Ostrobothnia	Central Ostrobothnia	Central Ostrobothnia	lang}}	lang}}	FI-07	Kokkola	5,020	67,915	13.53
Pirkanmaa	Pirkanmaa	Pirkanmaa	lang}}	lang}}	FI-11	Tampere	12,585	527,478	41.91
Satakunta	Satakunta	Satakunta	lang}}	lang}}	FI-17	Pori	7,820	214,281	27.40
Päijät-Häme	Päijät-Häme	Päijät-Häme	lang}}	lang}}	FI-16	Lahti	5,125	205,124	40.02
Kanta-Häme	Kanta-Häme	Kanta-Häme	lang}}	lang}}	FI-06	Hämeenlinna	5,199	170,213	32.74
	Kymenlaakso	Kymenlaakso	lang}}	lang}}	FI-09	Kotka and Kouvola Template:Efn	5,149	161,391	31.34
Uusimaa	Uusimaa	Uusimaa	lang}}	lang}}	FI-18	Helsinki	9,097	1,714,741	188.50
	Southwest Finland	Southwest Finland	lang}}	lang}}	FI-19	Turku	10,663	483,477	45.34
Åland	Åland	Åland	lang}}	lang}}	AX and FI-01	Mariehamn	1,553	30,344	19.54

Former regionEdit

File:Finland.regions.2000.svg

Regions of Finland in 2000.

Coat of arms	Name	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Finnish name	Swedish name	Capital	Dissolution (date)
File:Itä-Uusimaa.vaakuna.svg	Eastern Uusimaa	Itä-Uusimaa	lang}}<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	lang}}	Porvoo	1 January 2011

Regional border changesEdit

Border changes between the regions:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

1997Edit

Kiikoinen transferred from Pirkanmaa to Satakunta.

2001Edit

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

2002Edit

Kangaslampi transferred from South Savo to North Savo.

2005Edit

Punkalaidun transferred from Satakunta to Pirkanmaa.

2007Edit

Längelmäki merged with Orivesi in Pirkanmaa and Jämsä in Central Finland.

2010Edit

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

2013Edit

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