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South Ostrobothnia

South Ostrobothnia had 189,929 residents at the end of 2024, in 18 municipalities. Median disposable income of adults was €25,048 in 2024, 5% below the national level. The population has fallen by 3.8% since 2015.

Region · Code 14 · in Swedish Södra Österbotten · Statistics Finland · Updated 24 October 2026
189,929residents31 December 2024
€25,048median incomeadults, 2024
27%of households rentingtenure
22%green within 500 maverage
South Ostrobothnia by postcode area
Map of South Ostrobothnia: Share of land within 500 m that is green space
0%30%+
Share of land within 500 m that is green space

Sources: Statistics Finland, Paavo open data by postal code area 2026 (CC BY 4.0) · Statistics Finland, municipal and regional boundaries 2026 (CC BY 4.0) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

All 18 municipalities.

Colour shows where each one sits among the others in the table, from lowest to highest.

MunicipalityResidentsMedian incomeRentingOwning65+Avg. ageUnemploymentGreen 500 mServices 15 min
Alajärvi9,078€23,15318%79%32%477.9%21%38
Alavus10,780€22,84623%75%31%4712.0%25%51
Evijärvi2,272€24,55816%82%31%485.6%19%5
Ilmajoki12,429€26,92519%80%23%436.9%25%34
Isojoki1,794€23,30720%77%36%525.9%5%12
Isokyrö4,319€25,10118%79%30%477.3%21%21
Karijoki1,159€22,89616%82%38%539.4%17%15
Kauhajoki12,518€23,52623%75%31%4810.6%15%74
Kauhava15,050€24,35021%77%31%487.7%18%42
Kuortane3,335€24,41818%81%34%505.9%17%16
Kurikka19,509€24,03821%77%33%498.4%15%25
Lappajärvi2,758€22,01017%81%39%518.0%11%14
Lapua14,028€25,90324%75%26%458.1%15%93
Seinäjoki66,611€26,63037%62%21%429.0%28%102
Soini1,800€23,01018%81%35%508.9%30%17
Teuva4,662€22,90616%82%36%5112.0%34%24
Vimpeli2,607€23,39819%80%35%507.9%1%13
Ähtäri5,220€23,42521%77%36%5110.7%26%63

Sources: Statistics Finland, Paavo open data by postal code area 2026 (CC BY 4.0) · © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

People.

Age at the end of 2024, next to the figure for Finland.

17%
aged under 16
10%
aged 16–24
22%
aged 25–44
24%
aged 45–64
27%
aged 65 and over
46
years, average age

Main activity

Employed42%
Unemployed4%
Students7%
Pensioners30%
Children aged 0–1415%
Others3%

Population at the end of each year

2015197,371
2016196,572
2017195,583
2018194,316
2019193,207
2020192,150
2021191,762
2022190,774
2023190,539
2024189,929

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo open data by postal code area 2026 (CC BY 4.0)

Income and education.

Disposable income in 2024 and education at the end of 2024.

€25,048
median income, adults
€27,816
mean income, adults
8.8%
unemployment rate

Education of adults

No qualification after basic education22%
Matriculation examination4%
Vocational qualification45%
Lower university or polytechnic degree22%
Higher university degree7%

Income is the disposable money income of residents aged 18 and over in 2024: taxable and tax-free income minus taxes and contributions. The median is the middle value, so a few high earners do not pull it up.

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo open data by postal code area 2026 (CC BY 4.0)

Homes.

92,678 households and 109,981 homes at the end of 2024.

2.0
people per household
46.3 m²
floor area per person
90.1 m²
average home size
18%
of homes in blocks of flats

Households by tenure

Owner-occupied72%
Rented27%
Other tenure1%

Households

One-person households43%
Young one-person households9%
Households with children20%
Pensioner households39%

Household groups overlap: young one-person households, for example, are also counted as one-person households.

76,800jobs located hereworkplaces
13,047summer cottages and other leisure homesleisure homes
79%of homes in housesdetached, semi-detached, terraced

Statistics Finland withholds a figure when fewer than 30 people are behind it (fewer than 10 for workplaces). Missing figures are shown as a dash and never estimated.

Source: Statistics Finland, Paavo open data by postal code area 2026 (CC BY 4.0)

Everyday life.

64 everyday shops and services within a 15-minute walk; 22% green space within 500 metres.

185schoolsOpenStreetMap
92day-care centresOpenStreetMap
13residents per km²14,353.0 km²

Services and green space are measured from each postcode area’s service centre: the point inside the area with the most shops and services within 500 metres. Municipal and regional figures are averages weighted by population.

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)

Around here.

Photographs taken near South Ostrobothnia, shared on Wikimedia Commons under free licences.

Torikeskus shopping mall Seinäjoki 2016
i
Torikeskus shopping mall Seinäjoki 2016
Photo: Santeri Viinamäki · CC BY-SA 4.0
View on Wikimedia Commons
Aluehallintovirasto Seinäjoki
i
Aluehallintovirasto Seinäjoki
Photo: Santeri Viinamäki · CC BY-SA 4.0
View on Wikimedia Commons
Epstori Seinäjoki 2016
i
Epstori Seinäjoki 2016
Photo: Santeri Viinamäki · CC BY-SA 4.0
View on Wikimedia Commons

Municipalities.