Ostrobothnia (Österbotten)
- 🏛️ Administrative centre: Vaasa
- 🌍 Region: western Finland,
Kvarken coast - 📍 Location: borders Satakunta, South Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia;
the Kvarken strait and the Bothnian Sea to the west - 📐 Area: 7,403 km² (land area)
- 👥 Population: 179,555 (Dec 31, 2025)
- ⛰️ Relief: low coast and archipelago (the Kvarken Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site)
- 🗣️ Official language: Finnish and Swedish (13 bilingual municipalities)
- ⏰ Time zone: EET (UTC +2, DST EEST +3)
- 💰 Currency: Euro (EUR)
- 🌧️ Climate: humid continental, moderated by the sea (Dfb)
Answers to frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ostrobothnia?
The population of Ostrobothnia was 179,555 on Dec 31, 2025 (Statistics Finland), a change of +2.1% since 2020.
What is the largest city in Ostrobothnia?
The largest municipality is Vaasa with 71,209 residents (Dec 31, 2025), followed by Korsholm (19,792) and Jakobstad (19,657).
How many municipalities are there in Ostrobothnia?
Ostrobothnia has 14 municipalities (as of Jan 1, 2026), 6 of which have city status: Vaasa, Jakobstad, Närpes, Nykarleby, Kristinestad, Kaskinen.
What is the administrative centre of Ostrobothnia?
The regional centre is Vaasa.
How many businesses are there in Ostrobothnia?
Ostrobothnia had 21,770 business establishments in 2024 (Statistics Finland), including 1,303 retail outlets.
How large is Ostrobothnia?
The land area is 7,403 km² and the population density 24.3 residents per km² (Dec 31, 2025).
Is Swedish spoken in Ostrobothnia?
Yes: 49.1% of residents are Swedish speakers (Dec 31, 2025).