Municipalities of Åland

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Map of Åland's municipalities

The municipalities of Åland (Swedish: Ålands kommuner) are the sixteen local government units that administer the Åland Islands. Despite being a part of Finland, Åland has a high degree of self-government under the Act on the Autonomy of Åland, with its municipalities managing a wide range of local public services. Swedish is the sole official language in both regional and municipal administration. All public services, including education, are conducted exclusively in Swedish.[1]

The size of Åland’s municipalities varies significantly. Mariehamn, the largest, has a population of 11,898, accounting for over 40% of Åland’s total population, while Sottunga is the smallest in both Åland and in all of Finland with just 103 residents.[2]

Municipal Elections

Each municipality is governed by an elected municipal council, which serves a four-year term. To vote in these elections you must, be at least 18 years old, have the right of domicile, and have been a resident of Åland for the previous year.[2]

Municipal Responsibilities

Municipalities in Åland maintain a wide range of responsibilities, many of which have been regionalised elsewhere in Finland. These include, but not limited to: public buildings and facilities, public transport, economic development, environmental protection, waste management, land use, local infrastructure, and primary, secondary, and adult education.[3]

Inter-Municipal Cooperation

Municipalities cooperate in several areas through municipal associations and jointly owned corporations.

Associations

  • Ålands kommunförbund - Association of Åland Municipalities[4]
  • Miljöservice (Mise) - Waste management
  • De Gamlas Hem - Old people's home
  • Ålands omsorgsförbund - Åland Care Association
  • Södra Ålands högstadiedistrikt - South Åland high school
  • Norra Ålands högstadiedistrikt - North Åland high school

Corporations

  • Mariehamns Centralantenn Ab - TV and broadband company
  • Mariehamns Telefon Ab - Telecom company
  • Ålands vatten Ab - Produces drinking water
  • Ålands Problemavfall Ab - Handles hazardous waste
  • Svinryggens deponi Ab - Landfill
  • Fastighets Ab Marstad - Real estate company

Sub-regions

The 16 municipalities are informally grouped into three sub-regions:

  • Mariehamn - The capital and only city in Åland.
  • The Countryside - Rural municipalities on the main island (Fasta Åland)
  • The Archipelago - Municipalities that make up the other islands.

Municipalities


Coat of Arms Municipality Code Sub-region Population Land area Population density
Mariehamn MH Mariehamn 11,957 11.81 km24.6 sq mi 1,012/km22,622/sq mi
Jomala JM Countryside 5,817 142.73 km255.1 sq mi 41/km2106/sq mi
Finström FN Countryside 2,625 123.43 km247.7 sq mi 21/km255/sq mi
Lemland LE Countryside 2,139 113.21 km243.7 sq mi 19/km249/sq mi
Saltvik SV Countryside 1,802 152.25 km258.8 sq mi 12/km231/sq mi
Hammarland HM Countryside 1,644 138.55 km253.5 sq mi 12/km231/sq mi
Sund SD Countryside 1,018 108.21 km241.8 sq mi 9/km224/sq mi
Eckerö EC Countryside 961 107.72 km241.6 sq mi 9/km223/sq mi
Föglö FG Archipelago 512 134.77 km252.0 sq mi 4/km210/sq mi
Brändö BR Archipelago 430 108.18 km241.8 sq mi 4/km210/sq mi
Geta GT Countryside 512 84.55 km232.6 sq mi 6/km216/sq mi
Vårdö VR Archipelago 465 101.75 km239.3 sq mi 5/km212/sq mi
Lumparland LU Countryside 371 36.35 km214.0 sq mi 10/km226/sq mi
Kumlinge KM Archipelago 271 99.06 km238.2 sq mi 3/km27/sq mi
Kökar KK Archipelago 211 63.58 km224.5 sq mi 3/km29/sq mi
Sottunga ST Archipelago 101 28.03 km210.8 sq mi 4/km29/sq mi
Population data as of: December 31, 2025
Area data as of: January 1, 2018

See also

References

  1. "Åland and its special status". Ålands Fredsinstitut (in Swedish). 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  2. "Facts about Åland". Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  3. "Country and territory profiles - SNG-WOFI - FINLAND - EUROPE". www.sng-wofi.org. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  4. "Ålands kommunförbund | Ålands kommunförbund". www.kommunforbundet.ax (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 2025-07-26. Retrieved 2025-08-25.

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