Kuopio is growing strongly, but its current success cannot be taken for granted

Kuopio has strengthened its position among Finland’s growing cities. At the same time, demographic changes are underway that no city can avoid: the number of children is declining, the population is ageing, the number of working-age residents is shrinking, and growth is becoming increasingly linked to international migration. According to Rasmus Aro, Lead Expert in Regional and Population Development at MDI, Kuopio is starting from a strong position, but future growth is not guaranteed.

Kuopio continues to grow. At the end of September 2026, the city had 127 259 residents, compared with 126 572 residents at the end of 2025. In 2024, Kuopio had a total of 55 759 jobs. The city serves as a strong regional employment hub.

Current figures reflect a strong and thriving city. But when we look toward 2050, the question becomes more challenging: what will drive Kuopio’s growth in the future, and where will its new residents come from?

Differences between municipalities are growing

According to Rasmus Aro, Finland’s municipalities have already undergone a major demographic transformation, and the change is set to continue.

“Regional disparities are increasing, the number of growing municipalities is shrinking and the gap between municipalities that are growing and those that are losing population is widening. As many as 80% of Finland’s municipalities are experiencing population decline. Unless there is a major structural shift in development trends, this trajectory is likely to continue.”

At the same time, several nationwide demographic changes are taking place. The number of children is decreasing and school-age cohorts are becoming smaller even in large cities. The population is ageing, and the number of working-age residents is declining. Meanwhile, internationalisation is progressing at different rates across municipalities, but in an increasing number of them, population growth is linked specifically to immigration.

All of these inevitable trends also affect Kuopio.

Aro particularly highlights changes that will occur regardless of the city’s attractiveness or competitiveness. The number of school-age children is expected to decline at least into the 2030s. Therefore, he argues that it is not realistic to base future service planning on the assumption that the number of schoolchildren will remain at current levels.

At the same time, the number of very elderly residents is increasing rapidly. In addition to affecting the wellbeing services counties, this development has implications for housing, mobility, and access to services. It also increases the need to address social risks such as loneliness and poverty.

Population growth does not eliminate the need to adapt to changes in the population structure.

Kuopio has grown stronger, but its future also depends on the attractiveness of Eastern Finland

According to Rasmus Aro, Kuopio has strengthened its position among Finland’s growing cities during the 2010s and 2020s, much like the country’s other major university cities. Even so, there is uncertainty about the city’s future trajectory.

Based on the national population forecast, Kuopio’s growth would gradually slow and could even turn negative by 2040 if the city’s attractiveness remains at its current level. However, Aro argues that there are also grounds for a more optimistic scenario in which Kuopio continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace.

Kuopio is in a good position to achieve this. One of the city’s strengths, according to Aro, is its size: Kuopio is large enough to offer the services and opportunities of a major city, yet small enough to avoid many of the everyday challenges associated with Finland’s largest urban centres. He also considers Kuopio’s overall reputation and image to be relatively strong.

“However, Kuopio must further increase its attractiveness across Finland, particularly in the Helsinki, Tampere and Turku regions,” Aro says.

What matters is not only who comes, but who stays

According to the City of Kuopio’s statistics, net migration to Kuopio has increased significantly during the 2020s, with growth relying increasingly on immigration. At the end of 2025, the city had 6 666 foreign nationals, accounting for 5.3% of the population. The number of residents with a foreign language as their mother tongue stood at 9 208.

According to Rasmus Aro, internationalisation will continue in the years ahead. This will also be reflected in municipal services and schools, where student populations are becoming increasingly diverse. At the same time, it is important to recognise the risks of social segregation, although Aro notes that these remain relatively limited in Kuopio at present.

“Looking ahead, the key issue is not only attracting new residents but also ensuring that they stay. Kuopio’s retention rate among students is not poor. In fact, it is stronger than that of cities such as Joensuu and Jyväskylä. Nevertheless, a significant proportion of graduates leave the city after completing their studies. The challenge is even greater when it comes to international students.”

One of the most decisive factors is securing a first job in one’s field of study. Internships and summer jobs already help students build connections with the local labour market during their studies. As a result, local businesses and organisations play a crucial role in the city’s ability to retain residents. According to Aro, one of Kuopio’s strengths is its relatively diverse economic structure. This raises an important question for the future: how will Kuopio’s labour market develop, and will there be enough entry-level career opportunities for highly educated young people to encourage them to build their future in the city?

Language skills remain a key factor in the employment of international experts

International students present a particular challenge, and Aro strongly emphasises the importance of language skills. In his view, greater emphasis should be placed on teaching Finnish already during the study period, and international students should not be separated from Finnish-speaking students and study programmes as extensively as they are today.

At the same time, it is important to assess what level of Finnish language proficiency is actually required in different occupations. According to Aro, employers’ language requirements may be unnecessarily strict in some roles. This can make it more difficult for international talent to find employment and may encourage them to seek opportunities in larger labour markets. Kuopio loses immigrants to the Helsinki metropolitan area through internal migration within Finland.

On the other hand, a growing international population can gradually strengthen the communities and networks that help newcomers integrate into local society. In this way, the city’s ability to retain residents can also become a source of new attractiveness, helping to draw even more international talent to Kuopio.

Building retention together

The city cannot strengthen resident retention on its own. Success requires collaboration between the city, businesses, the University of Eastern Finland, Savonia University of Applied Sciences, other educational institutions, and employers across the region. A key priority is creating a seamless pathway from education to employment already during students’ studies.

“The city can play a concrete role by offering internship opportunities and facilitating dialogue with employers. At the same time, Kuopio should continue to support its diverse university and university of applied sciences education offering, as a broad range of study programmes is an important factor in the city’s attractiveness.”

Housing is another factor that influences the city’s growth prospects. Aro identifies a potential risk in a prolonged downturn in the construction sector, which could result in an insufficient supply of suitable housing for new residents. In 2025, a total of 310 new housing units were completed in Kuopio. In a student city, the availability of new rental and student housing is particularly important. At the other end of the demographic spectrum, the rapidly growing elderly population requires housing that meets their specific needs. In this way, housing policy is directly linked to population policy.

The current situation will not sustain itself

Kuopio’s starting point is strong. The city is growing, offers a diverse range of educational opportunities, and provides more than 55 000 jobs. However, a strong position today does not guarantee a strong position in 2050.

Some of the changes shaping the future will occur regardless of local actions. The number of children will continue to decline, the population of very elderly residents will increase and Kuopio will become more international. These developments must already be taken into account in service planning, housing policy, and the city’s internal development efforts.

“This is ultimately about Kuopio’s national position. The city’s growth does not happen in isolation from the rest of Eastern Finland. Kuopio needs a vibrant and prosperous Eastern Finland, but at the same time Eastern Finland needs a strong regional centre that can compete for future residents, students, skilled professionals and jobs in the competition between Finland’s growth centres,” Aro says.