Municipalities 2003

The purpose of regional classifications used in statistics is to describe regional variations of various phenomena and regional structure. As most regional classifications, the municipal division is based on the administrative regional division.

Municipality is the basic regional unit for most statistics. In addition to statistics compilation, the classification system of municipalities is suitable for use in other information systems as well. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency issues numerical codes for municipalities according to the public administration recommendation. In 2003, the number of municipalities in Finland is 446.

Municipalities, sub-regional units, regions and the statistical grouping of municipalities are the primary regional classifications used in Finland's statistical system. Other municipality-based regional classifications used in statistics are major regions, Regional State Administrative Agencies (AVI) and Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY centres). Types of municipalities include the cost-of-living classification, financial capacity classification, language distribution classification and municipality form classification.

The municipal division is a classification compiled for national needs.