Central Ostrobothnia (Mellersta Österbotten)
- 🏛️ Administrative centre: Kokkola
- 🌍 Region: western Finland,
Bothnian Bay coast - 📍 Location: borders Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Finland and North Ostrobothnia;
the Bothnian Bay to the west - 📐 Area: 5,021 km² (land area)
- 👥 Population: 67,498 (Dec 31, 2025)
- ⛰️ Relief: low coast, river valleys and bogs
- 🗣️ Official language: Finnish and Swedish (1 bilingual municipalities)
- ⏰ Time zone: EET (UTC +2, DST EEST +3)
- 💰 Currency: Euro (EUR)
- 🌧️ Climate: continental (Dfb/Dfc)
Answers to frequently asked questions
What is the population of Central Ostrobothnia?
The population of Central Ostrobothnia was 67,498 on Dec 31, 2025 (Statistics Finland), a change of -0.7% since 2020.
What is the largest city in Central Ostrobothnia?
The largest municipality is Kokkola with 48,338 residents (Dec 31, 2025), followed by Kannus (5,246) and Kaustinen (4,074).
How many municipalities are there in Central Ostrobothnia?
Central Ostrobothnia has 8 municipalities (as of Jan 1, 2026), 2 of which have city status: Kokkola, Kannus.
What is the administrative centre of Central Ostrobothnia?
The regional centre is Kokkola.
How many businesses are there in Central Ostrobothnia?
Central Ostrobothnia had 7,851 business establishments in 2024 (Statistics Finland), including 480 retail outlets.
How large is Central Ostrobothnia?
The land area is 5,021 km² and the population density 13.4 residents per km² (Dec 31, 2025).
Is Swedish spoken in Central Ostrobothnia?
Yes: 8.6% of residents are Swedish speakers (Dec 31, 2025).