South Karelia (Södra Karelen)
- 🏛️ Administrative centre: Lappeenranta
- 🌍 Region: south-eastern Finland,
southern shores of Lake Saimaa - 📍 Location: borders Kymenlaakso, South Savo and North Karelia;
the Russian border to the east - 📐 Area: 5,328 km² (land area)
- 👥 Population: 124,238 (Dec 31, 2025)
- ⛰️ Relief: the Saimaa lake district and Salpausselkä ridges
- 🗣️ Official language: Finnish
- ⏰ Time zone: EET (UTC +2, DST EEST +3)
- 💰 Currency: Euro (EUR)
- 🌧️ Climate: humid continental (Dfb)
Cities and municipalities in the region
Answers to frequently asked questions
What is the population of South Karelia?
The population of South Karelia was 124,238 on Dec 31, 2025 (Statistics Finland), a change of -2.1% since 2020.
What is the largest city in South Karelia?
The largest municipality is Lappeenranta with 73,241 residents (Dec 31, 2025), followed by Imatra (24,345) and Ruokolahti (4,679).
How many municipalities are there in South Karelia?
South Karelia has 9 municipalities (as of Jan 1, 2026), 2 of which have city status: Lappeenranta, Imatra.
What is the administrative centre of South Karelia?
The regional centre is Lappeenranta.
How many businesses are there in South Karelia?
South Karelia had 12,571 business establishments in 2024 (Statistics Finland), including 731 retail outlets.
How large is South Karelia?
The land area is 5,328 km² and the population density 23.3 residents per km² (Dec 31, 2025).