Joensuu

Joensuu
Jovensuu (Karelian)
City
Joensuun kaupunki
Joensuu stad
City of Joensuu
Clockwise from top-left: the Joensuu Arena, the North Karelia Central Hospital, the Joensuu Airport, the Joensuu Railway Station, and the fountain in the park; in the middle from top to bottom: the Joensuu City Hall, The Gate of Joensuu (Joensuun portti) near the market square, and the Statue of Liberty in the Park of Liberty
Clockwise from top-left: the Joensuu Arena, the North Karelia Central Hospital, the Joensuu Airport, the Joensuu Railway Station, and the fountain in the park; in the middle from top to bottom: the Joensuu City Hall, The Gate of Joensuu (Joensuun portti) near the market square, and the Statue of Liberty in the Park of Liberty
Flag of Joensuu
Coat of arms of Joensuu
Nickname(s): 
Jönssi,[1] Jenssi[2]
Location of Joensuu in Finland
Location of Joensuu in Finland
Coordinates: 62°36′N 029°45′E / 62.600°N 29.750°E / 62.600; 29.750
Country Finland
Region North Karelia
Sub-regionJoensuu
Charter1848
Government
 • City managerJere Penttilä
Area
 (2018-01-01)[3]
 • Total
2,751.07 km2 (1,062.19 sq mi)
 • Land2,381.79 km2 (919.61 sq mi)
 • Water369.31 km2 (142.59 sq mi)
 • Rank26th largest in Finland
Population
 (2024-10-31)[4]
 • Total
78,764
 • Rank11th largest in Finland
 • Density33.07/km2 (85.7/sq mi)
Demonymjoensuulainen (Finnish)
Population by native language
 • Finnish92.5% (official)
 • Swedish0.1%
 • Others7.4%
Population by age
 • 0 to 1413.5%
 • 15 to 6464.1%
 • 65 or older22.5%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Unemployment rate14.5%
Websitewww.joensuu.fi

Joensuu (Finnish: [ˈjoensuː] ; Karelian: Jovensuu; lit.'river's mouth') is a city in Finland and the regional capital of North Karelia. It is located in the eastern interior of the country and in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Joensuu is approximately 79,000, while the sub-region has a population of approximately 128,000. It is the 11th most populous municipality in Finland, and the ninth most populous urban area in the country.

Joensuu was founded in 1848 by the Russian Emperor Nicholas I. The city is located on the northern shore of Lake Pyhäselkä, the northern part of Lake Saimaa, at the mouth of the River Pielinen. The nearest major city, Kuopio in North Savonia, is located 136 kilometres (85 mi) to the west. From Joensuu, the distance to Lappeenranta, the capital of South Karelia, is 233 kilometres (145 mi) along Highway 6.

As is typical of cities in Eastern Finland, Joensuu is monolingually Finnish. Along with Kuopio, Joensuu is one of major urban, economic, and cultural hubs of Eastern Finland. Joensuu is a student city with a subsidiary of the University of Eastern Finland, which has over 20,000 enrolled students,[8] and a further 4,000 students at the Karelia University of Applied Sciences.[9]

  1. ^ Jönssi – Urbaani Sanakirja (in Finnish)
  2. ^ Jenssi – Urbaani Sanakirja (in Finnish)
  3. ^ "Area of Finnish Municipalities 1.1.2018" (PDF). National Land Survey of Finland. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Finland's preliminary population figure was 5,635,560 at the end of October 2024". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-11-19. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  5. ^ "Population growth biggest in nearly 70 years". Population structure. Statistics Finland. 2024-04-26. ISSN 1797-5395. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
  6. ^ "Population according to age (1-year) and sex by area and the regional division of each statistical reference year, 2003–2020". StatFin. Statistics Finland. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Luettelo kuntien ja seurakuntien tuloveroprosenteista vuonna 2023". Tax Administration of Finland. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. ^ The City of Joensuu – An oasis of modern educationGlobal Education Park Finland
  9. ^ "North Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Pohjois-Karjalan ammattikorkeakoulu". Archived from the original on 2010-04-17. Retrieved 2010-01-15.