Home > Statistics > Buildings and free-time residences > 2020 > Kuopio is still the municipality with the highest number of free-time residences in Finland

Published: 27 May 2021

Kuopio is still the municipality with the highest number of free-time residences in Finland

Corrected on 3 June 2021. The corrections are indicated in red.

According to Statistics Finland, there were 508,000 free-time residences in Finland at the end of 2020. Since 2020, the stock of free-time residences also includes rental holiday cottages and the detached houses that have been reported to be in leisure-time use are no longer included as free-time residential buildings. Kuopio remained the municipality with the highest number of free-time residences in Finland despite changes in the compilation of statistics. New free-time residences are on average bigger than old ones. The largest free-time residences completed in 2010 and after were built in South Karelia.

Municipalities with the highest number of free-time residences in Finland in 2020, free-time residential buildings (including rental holiday cottages).

From 2020 onwards, the detached houses that have been reported to be in leisure-time use are no longer included in the stock of free-time residences. By contrast, rental holiday cottages are included in the new stock of free-time residences. In the new Classification of Buildings, rental holiday cottages no longer have their own purpose of use category but they are classified in the same category as other free-time residential buildings. These holiday cottages with rental holiday cottage as the former purpose of use account for around three per cent of the stock of free-time residences in 2020. At the end of 2020, there were 508,000 free-time residences in Finland.

Despite the changes in the statistical method, the municipalities with the highest number of free-time residences in Finland remained unchanged, although small changes took place in their mutual order. Kuopio and Mikkeli have the highest numbers of free-time residences, both over 10,000. Savonlinna rises on the list of municipalities with the highest number of free-time residences to fourth, due to the high number of free-time residences. Kuusamo has the highest number of rental holiday cottages and shares.

Biggest new free-time residences are located in South Karelia

The average floor area of free-time residences has grown and new free-time residences are on average larger than old ones. The average floor area of free-time residences completed before 2010 is 47 square metres and 72 square metres of those completed later than that.

Average floor area of free-time residences according to year of completion by region in 2020, square metres.

Since 2010, the largest free-time residences have been built in South Karelia, where the average floor area of the completed free-time residences is 90 square metres. The average floor area of the free-time residences completed in 2010 and after that in South Karelia is 51 square metres larger than that of the free-time residences built in the region before 2010.

Large rental cottages, which may include several apartments, contribute to increasing the average floor area of the free-time residences in South Karelia. The average size of rental cottages in the whole country is larger than that of other free-time residences. The average floor area of all rental cottages is 72 square metres, while the average floor area of other free-time residences is 48 square metres.

Since 2010, the highest numbers of free-time residences have been built in Lapland. Prior to this, the number of free-time residences completed was highest in Southwest Finland and Pirkanmaa.

Source: Buildings and Free-time Residences, Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Mika Ronkainen 029 551 3425, Anu Rämö 029 551 3450, info@stat.fi

Head of Department in charge: Hannele Orjala

Publication in pdf-format (316.1 kB)

Reviews

• Free-time Residences 2020 (27.5.2021)
• Building stock 2020 (Corrected on 3 June 2021) (27.5.2021)

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Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Number of buildings, dwellings and persons by type of building and number of storeys 31 Dec. 2020 (Corrected on 3 June 2021) (27.5.2021)
• Appendix table 2. Number of buildings by heating fuel 1970-2020 (27.5.2021)
• Appendix table 3 . Number of buildings by construction material 1960-2020 (Corrected on 3 June 2021) (27.5.2021)

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Updated 27.5.2021