North Karelia (Norra Karelen)
- 🏛️ Administrative centre: Joensuu
- 🌍 Region: eastern Finland,
the easternmost region - 📍 Location: borders South Savo, South Karelia, North Savo and Kainuu;
the Russian border to the east - 📐 Area: 18,794 km² (land area)
- 👥 Population: 161,418 (Dec 31, 2025)
- ⛰️ Relief: Lake Pielinen, the Koli hills, extensive forests
- 🗣️ Official language: Finnish
- ⏰ Time zone: EET (UTC +2, DST EEST +3)
- 💰 Currency: Euro (EUR)
- 🌧️ Climate: continental (Dfb/Dfc), snowy winters
Cities and municipalities in the region
Answers to frequently asked questions
What is the population of North Karelia?
The population of North Karelia was 161,418 on Dec 31, 2025 (Statistics Finland), a change of -1.3% since 2020.
What is the largest city in North Karelia?
The largest municipality is Joensuu with 79,129 residents (Dec 31, 2025), followed by Kontiolahti (15,060) and Liperi (11,980).
How many municipalities are there in North Karelia?
North Karelia has 13 municipalities (as of Jan 1, 2026), 5 of which have city status: Joensuu, Lieksa, Kitee, Nurmes, Outokumpu.
What is the administrative centre of North Karelia?
The regional centre is Joensuu.
How many businesses are there in North Karelia?
North Karelia had 17,600 business establishments in 2024 (Statistics Finland), including 909 retail outlets.
How large is North Karelia?
The land area is 18,794 km² and the population density 8.6 residents per km² (Dec 31, 2025).