Government and politics in Pohjois-Karjala (Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi, Finland): official figures
Health, social and rescue services in the North Karelia region have been run since 2023 by the North Karelia wellbeing services county (hyvinvointialue), governed by a 59-seat county council (aluevaltuusto) elected in the 2025 county elections.
Which party won the county election in North Karelia?
The Centre Party (KESK) became the largest group on the North Karelia county council in 2025 with 19 of the 59 seats (32%), down from 20 in 2022.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), from the election results of the Ministry of Justice · saved copyWhat is the make-up of the county council in North Karelia?
The seats on the North Karelia county council after the 2025 election were divided KESK 19, SDP 16, KOK 9, VAS 6, PS 4, VIHR 3; 7 parties or lists won representation.
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), from the election results of the Ministry of Justice · saved copyHow many women are on the county council in North Karelia?
Women won 64.4% of the county council seats in the North Karelia region in 2025, 3rd highest of the 18 areas that hold county elections (Finland: 57.4%).
Source: Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), from the election results of the Ministry of Justice · saved copyWhat was the turnout in the county elections in North Karelia?
Turnout in the 2025 county elections was 48.0% in Pohjois-Karjala (North Karelia), 3rd lowest of the 18 areas that hold county elections (Finland 51.7%), up from 44.4% in 2022.
Source: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Sotkanet · saved copyWhat is the budget of the wellbeing services county in North Karelia?
In 2025 the county services in the North Karelia region spent a net €1,184 per resident on older people, the largest social care item, and earned €63.00 per resident of state funding through the health and wellbeing promotion (HYTE) coefficient.
Source: Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Sotkanet · saved copyHow Pohjois-Karjala compares with other regions in Finland
Voter turnout in the 2025 county (wellbeing services county) elections (%) (2025)
Pohjois-Karjala ranks 16 of 18, highest first. Helsinki and Åland do not hold county elections.
| Rank | Area | Voter turnout in the 2025 county (wellbeing services county) elections (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Etelä-Savo | 50.3% |
| 13 | Päijät-Häme | 50.1% |
| 14 | Etelä-Karjala | 49.6% |
| 15 | Pohjois-Savo | 49.4% |
| 16 | Pohjois-Karjala | 48.0% |
| 17 | Kymenlaakso | 47.8% |
| 18 | Kainuu | 47.2% |
Women as a share of county councillors elected in 2025 (%) (2025)
Pohjois-Karjala ranks 3 of 18, highest first. Seats on the county councils of the wellbeing services counties in the area; Helsinki and Åland have none.
| Rank | Area | Women as a share of county councillors elected in 2025 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varsinais-Suomi | 64.6% |
| 2 | Kymenlaakso | 64.4% |
| 3 | Pohjois-Karjala | 64.4% |
| 4 | Pohjois-Savo | 63.8% |
| 5 | Helsinki-Uusimaa | 63.4% |
| 6 | Kanta-Häme | 62.7% |
| 7 | Keski-Suomi | 60.9% |
More on Pohjois-Karjala: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · Pohjois- ja Itä-Suomi · Finland
Sources
- Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), from the election results of the Ministry of Justice: Numbers and proportions of elected councillors by party, sex and wellbeing services county in County elections, 2022-2025 (table 153i, PxWeb API POST query, json-stat2), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36eb52231311…)
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Sotkanet: Sotkanet indicator bank, REST API 1.1: 32 indicators (one exact JSON response per indicator, e.g. indicator=5761, plus the region list) on morbidity, primary care, lifestyle, social assistance, homelessness, county election turnout and the net operating costs of wellbeing services counties, 2015-2025, bundled in one zip, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e5b01db4f1e9…)
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