Kuopio

Several explanations are behind the name Kuopio. The first is that in the 16th century, a certain influential person named Kauhanen in Tavinsalmi changed his name to Skopa and the people's pronunciation was Coopia and finally Cuopio. The second explanation is that it comes from the verb kuopia, meaning "paw", as when a horse paws the ground with its hoof. A third explanation is that it came from a certain Karelian man's name Prokopij, from Ruokolahti in the Middle Ages.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kuopio.fi/net.nsf/TD/091003151756754?OpenDocument|title=Kuopion kaupunki|date=26 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126150207/http://www.kuopio.fi/net.nsf/TD/091003151756754?OpenDocument |access-date=30 June 2022|archive-date=26 January 2010 }} This explanation is the most likely, and is supported by the Research Institute for the Languages of Finland.{{Cite journal| last= Raatikainen| first= Riitta | title= Varkaudesta Puutokseen | journal= Savon Sanomat| date= December 16, 2007 | number = 344 | page= 38 | language = fi}}{{Cite book| author= Pekka Lappalainen | title= Kuopion historia 1 | year = 1982 | pages = 35–36 | publisher= Kustannuskiila | isbn= 951-657-097-6 | language = fi}}

File:Kuopio vaakuna 1823.jpg

The coat of arms of Kuopio was designed in 1823 based on a drawing by the town councilor Karl Hårdh{{cite web | url = http://www.genealogia.fi/genos/55/55_105.htm | title = Karl Mikael Hårdh | work = Genos | publisher = Suomen sukututkimusseura | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070809094555/http://www.genealogia.fi/genos/55/55_105.htm | access-date = 26 March 2021 | archive-date = 9 August 2007 | language = fi }} or possibly his artist son, Adolf Hårdh.{{cite magazine | author = Professor Jussi T. Lappalainen | title = Vanhassa vara parempi? | magazine = Savon Sanomat | date = 23 December 2009 | page = 2 | language = fi }} The coat of arms was approved for use in 1823 by the Kuopio Magistrate in accordance with the order of Alexander I of Russia.Бойко Дм. А. Геральдика Великого Княжества Финляндского. – Запорожье, 2013.{{cite web | url = http://www.kuopio.fi/net.nsf/TD/200104141631461?OpenDocument | title = Kuopion vaakuna | publisher = City of Kuopio | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071119044550/http://www.kuopio.fi/net.nsf/TD/200104141631461?OpenDocument | access-date = 26 March 2021 | archive-date = 19 November 2007 | language = fi }} The coat of arms building, which represents Kuopio Cathedral, has often been mistakenly considered to be Kuopio City Hall, completed in 1886.

The current design of the coat of arms is the work of architect Seppo Ruotsalainen. The coat of arms in its current form was approved at a meeting of Kuopio City Council on 25 November 1957, and the Ministry of the Interior confirmed the coat of arms and its explanation on 12 June 1958.{{cite web | title = Ennen 8.4.1949 annettua kunnanvaakunalakia vahvistetut vaakunat ja vahvistamispäätökset I:10 Kuopio | url = http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=1536948 | work = Kansallisarkiston digitaaliarkisto | access-date = 26 March 2021 | language = fi }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In the 1550s, under the influence of Mikael Agricola, a church and a parish were founded in Kuopionniemi. Governor Per Brahe the Younger founded the city of Kuopio in 1653, but the official date is recognized as 17 November 1775, when King Gustav III of Sweden ordered the formal establishment of the city.{{cite web |url= https://www.kuopio.fi/web/information-about-kuopio/history-and-basic-data |title= History and basic data |website= Kuopio in Brief |access-date= 2 November 2016 |publisher= City of Kuopio |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161104050751/https://www.kuopio.fi/web/information-about-kuopio/history-and-basic-data |archive-date= 4 November 2016 |df= dmy-all }}

The period of Grand Duchy (1809–1917) brought notable transportation development within Eastern Finland. The Saimaa Canal (1856) opened up a summer route towards the Baltic Sea, and the Savonia railway (1889) improved transport in winter.

File:Kuopion asema.jpg

After World War II, the city's population grew significantly, due in part to the settlement of Karelian evacuees and the high birth rate. The rapid growth of the population forced the expansion of schools; at the end of the 1940s, support was also provided for school transports{{Cite web |url=http://www.koulut.kuopio.fi/Koulu125/1947/ELA1947.HTM |title=Kaupungin elämää 1947 |access-date=12 June 2020 |archive-date=27 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227145707/http://www.koulut.kuopio.fi/Koulu125/1947/ELA1947.HTM |url-status=dead }} and the provision of free school meals (the poor people had received it in Kuopio since 1902).{{Cite web |url=http://www.koulut.kuopio.fi/Koulu125/1872/ka1872.htm |title=Koulun arkea 1872 |access-date=12 June 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807202537/http://koulut.kuopio.fi/koulu125/1872/ka1872.htm |url-status=dead }} In the 1960s, the first construction of the actual suburb, Puijonlaakso, began. Since then, the new areas have each grown in turn: in the 1960s, Puijonlaakso and Tiihotar (as part of Saarijärvi); In the 1970s Saarijärvi, Kelloniemi and Levänen; In the 1980s, Jynkkä and Neulamäki.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The municipality of Maaninka joined the city of Kuopio in 2015, the town of Nilsiä in 2013, and Karttula{{Cite news | title = Karttula sulautuu Kuopioon" & "Karttula ja Kuopio yhteen | work= Myöhänen, Pentti & Manner, Matias & Hartikainen, Jarno; Savon Sanomat | pages = 1 and 3 |date = 1 July 2008 }} in 2011, as did Vehmersalmi in 2005, Riistavesi in 1973, and Kuopion maalaiskunta in 1969.

File:Kallavesi.png.]]

The city is surrounded by Lake Kallavesi,{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/themes/themes/travel/1996-a-city-in-the-heart-of-savo.html|title=A city in the heart of Savo|first=Craig|last=Houston|work=Helsinki Times|date=19 April 2012|access-date=2 November 2022}} and several parts of it are built on islands. With an area of {{convert|472.76|km2|sqmi}} Lake Kallavesi is the tenth largest lake in Finland. In the wake of the Yoldia Sea, which followed the Weichselian glaciation and preceded the Baltic Sea, there are ancient beaches up to 140 m above the current sea level, of which the current Lake Kallavesi is 82 m above sea level.{{cite magazine| last= Katainen |first= Milla| title= Huipulla, vaikka oikeasti joen pohjalla | magazine= Sunnuntaisuomalainen | date= 8 June 2008 | page= 38 | language=fi}} Kuopio's ample waterfronts and islands are also used in the Saaristokaupunki (lit. Archipelago city) -project, the biggest residential area currently being built in Finland.{{Cite news | title = Kuopion korkein asuinkerrostalo nousi harjakorkeuteen | newspaper = Suomen Kiinteistölehti | page = 14 | date = 16 October 2008 | url = http://www.kiinteistolehti.fi/uutiset.php?id=4289 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090224224620/http://www.kiinteistolehti.fi/uutiset.php?id=4289 | archive-date = 24 February 2009}} Saaristokaupunki will accommodate a total of 14,000 inhabitants in 2015. All houses will be situated no more than {{convert|500|m}} from the nearest lakeshore.{{cite web|url= http://www.saaristokaupunki.fi/index.php?id=5|title= Kallaveden syleilyssä|access-date= 7 January 2009|work= Saaristokaupunki|publisher= Kuopio|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090129162820/http://saaristokaupunki.fi/index.php?id=5|archive-date= 29 January 2009|df= dmy-all}}

Kuopio Market Square is the undisputed center of the city and the city center follows a densely built grid pattern with several parks and narrow gutter streets.{{Cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/kuopion_rannikaduista_tehdaan_nykyaikaa_mennytta_kunnioittaen/5892052|title=Kuopion rännikaduista tehdään nykyaikaa mennyttä kunnioittaen|date=2 October 2009|website=Yle.fi|access-date=30 June 2022}} The environment of the city is quite distinctive; the surface shapes of the waterfront-lined center are so variable that a flat property is a desired rarity.Kuopion kaupungin tekninen virasto: Kuopio 2009 suunnittelee ja rakentaa (2009) The settlement has spread outside the center of Kuopio according to a dense and sparse finger model that is affordable for public transport,{{cite web|url=http://www.siseministeerium.ee/public/kuopion_1.pdf|title=Kuopion Saaristokaupunki – kasvusuuntana täydennysrakentaminen|website=Siseministeerium.ee|access-date=3 June 2020|archive-date=20 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720131020/http://www.siseministeerium.ee/public/kuopion_1.pdf|url-status=dead}} and the new districts have been built in a municipal drive at once; for example, the Saaristokaupunki was banned for building for the previous 25 years,[http://lehti.kuntatekniikka.fi/download/?f=157379&m=33768&a=82320&c=4941&x=0] {{dead link|date=June 2022}} and this Kuopio zoning tradition has a long history. Due to the above-mentioned factors, the population density of the Kuopio city center is the highest in Finland.Leo Kosonen: Kuopio 2015: Jalankulku-, joukkoliikenne- ja autokaupunki. Ympäristöministeriö, 2007. {{ISBN|978-952-11-2852-3}}

With the surrounding lakes, the shoreline in Kuopio is 4,760 kilometers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kuopio.fi/web/kaupunkitietoa/kuopio-esittely|title=Kuopio-esittely - Kuopion kaupunki|date=7 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107212847/https://www.kuopio.fi/web/kaupunkitietoa/kuopio-esittely |access-date=30 June 2022|archive-date=7 January 2015 }} The terrain is also characterized by rich forests, and the clear center of the Kuopio's lund forest is mainly located in the area between Kuopio, Nilsiä and Siilinjärvi.{{cite book | title= Pohjois-Savon metsä- ja ympäristökertomus 2007 | year= 2008| page= 9| publisher= Metsäkeskus| language= fi }}{{cite web| url= http://www.savonsanomat.fi/mielipide/mielipidekirjoitukset/l%C3%A4hes-kaikki-kuopion-lehtotyypit-luokiteltiin-uhanalaisiksi/146257| title= Lähes kaikki Kuopion lehtotyypit luokiteltiin uhanalaisiksi| last= Ihantola| first= Anna-Riikka| work= Savon Sanomat| date= 15 June 2008| access-date= 17 January 2021| language= fi}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Of the Finnish municipalities, Kuopio has the second largest number of summer cottages and holiday homes. In 2013, the number of summer cottages was 8,684. The number of summer homes in Kuopio has increased in recent years due to municipal associations.{{Cite web |url=http://kuopio.fi/web/kaupunkitietoa/asuminen |title=Asuminen - Kuopion kaupunki |access-date=19 June 2020 |archive-date=6 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106064344/https://www.kuopio.fi/web/kaupunkitietoa/asuminen |url-status=dead }} Due to the abundance of water bodies, Kuopio also has a remarkably favorable climate compared to the latitude. The annual sum of the effective temperature is about as high in Kuopio as in places further south than it, for example, Tampere and Lahti.Spectrum tietokeskus (1978), p. 185 (in Finnish)

File:Kuopio aerial 6.jpg

File:Rönön asutusalue Kuopiossa.jpg.]]

There are more than 50 districts and villages in Kuopio.

{{Div col|colwidth=14em}}

1. Väinölänniemi
2. Vahtivuori
3. Maljalahti
4. Multimäki
5. Kuopionlahti
6. Hatsala
7. Niirala
8. Haapaniemi
9. Itkonniemi
10. Männistö
11. Linnanpelto
12. Saarijärvi
13. Puijonlaakso
14. Savilahti
15. Peipposenrinne
16. Inkilänmäki
17. Särkiniemi
18. Kettulanlahti
19. Rahusenkangas
20. Rönö
21. Rypysuo
22. Päiväranta
23. Julkula
24. Sorsasalo
25. Kelloniemi
26. Levänen
27. Jynkkä
28. Neulamäki
29. Puijo
30. Niuva
31. Neulaniemi
32. Kolmisoppi
33. Neulalampi
34. Petonen
35. Litmanen
36. Pirtti
37. Pitkälahti
38. Saaristokaupunki
39. Lehtoniemi
40. Rautaniemi
41. Hiltulanlahti
42. Kiviharju
43. Vanuvuori
44. Melalahti
45. Kurkimäki
46. Vehmersalmi
47. Karttula
48. Nilsiä
49. Tahko
50. Maaninka
51. Keskisaari
52. Juankoski
53. Säyneinen
54. Puutossalmi
55. Pellesmäki

{{Div col end}}

{{climate chart

|Kuopio

|-11.2|-5.2|41

|-11.8|-4.9|35

|-7.6|0.2|31

|-1.7|6.7|29

|4.6|14.2|49

|10.6|19.1|71

|13.7|21.8|85

|12.2|19.5|66

|7.6|13.5|55

|2.1|6.3|55

|-3.0|0.8|51

|-7.6|-2.6|51

|float =

|clear =

|units = metric

}}

Kuopio falls in the continental climate zone (Köppen climate classification Dfb), bordering on subarctic climate zone (Köppen "Dfc"). Winters are long and cold, with average highs staying below freezing from November until March, and summers are short and relatively mild. Most precipitation occurs in the late summer and early fall. The summers are relatively warm for its latitude, especially the lows. This is due to influence from the lake, making it much warmer on summer nights than in areas away from water. In winter, maritime moderation is eliminated as the lake freezes over. Average temperatures for all seasons have warmed in recent decades.

{{Weather box

|location = Kuopio Airport (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1940–present)

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|Jan record high C = 7.9

|Feb record high C = 9.2

|Mar record high C = 13.3

|Apr record high C = 21.9

|May record high C = 28.6

|Jun record high C = 31.1

|Jul record high C = 33.8

|Aug record high C = 33.2

|Sep record high C = 25.8

|Oct record high C = 16.0

|Nov record high C = 11.1

|Dec record high C = 8.6

| Jan high C = -5.2

| Feb high C = -4.9

| Mar high C = -0.2

| Apr high C = 6.7

| May high C = 14.2

| Jun high C = 19.1

| Jul high C = 21.8

| Aug high C = 19.5

| Sep high C = 13.5

| Oct high C = 6.3

| Nov high C = 0.8

| Dec high C = -2.6

|Jan mean C = -8.1

|Feb mean C = -8.3

|Mar mean C = -3.7

|Apr mean C = 2.4

|May mean C = 9.3

|Jun mean C = 14.7

|Jul mean C = 17.6

|Aug mean C = 15.6

|Sep mean C = 10.3

|Oct mean C = 4.1

|Nov mean C = -1.0

|Dec mean C = -5

| Jan low C = -11.2

| Feb low C = -11.8

| Mar low C = -7.6

| Apr low C = -1.7

| May low C = 4.6

| Jun low C = 10.6

| Jul low C = 13.7

| Aug low C = 12.2

| Sep low C = 7.6

| Oct low C = 2.1

| Nov low C = -3.0

| Dec low C = -7.6

|Jan record low C = -39.3

|Feb record low C = -37.0

|Mar record low C = -33.0

|Apr record low C = -20.9

|May record low C = -8.2

|Jun record low C = 0.1

|Jul record low C = 4.7

|Aug record low C = 2.7

|Sep record low C = -4.9

|Oct record low C = -15.0

|Nov record low C = -27.6

|Dec record low C = -41.1

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 41

| Feb precipitation mm = 35

| Mar precipitation mm = 31

| Apr precipitation mm = 29

| May precipitation mm = 49

| Jun precipitation mm = 71

| Jul precipitation mm = 85

| Aug precipitation mm = 66

| Sep precipitation mm = 55

| Oct precipitation mm = 55

| Nov precipitation mm = 51

| Dec precipitation mm = 51

| Jan precipitation days = 11

| Feb precipitation days = 9

| Mar precipitation days = 9

| Apr precipitation days = 7

| May precipitation days = 9

| Jun precipitation days = 10

| Jul precipitation days = 11

| Aug precipitation days = 11

| Sep precipitation days = 10

| Oct precipitation days = 11

| Nov precipitation days = 11

| Dec precipitation days = 11

|source 1 = Finnish Meteorological Institute{{cite book

| url = http://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/35880

| title = Tilastoja Suomen ilmastosta 1991 - 2020

| date = 14 August 2012

| publisher = Finnish Meteorological Institute

| isbn = 9789516977655

| access-date = 3 January 2013

| archive-date = 20 March 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210320150526/https://helda.helsinki.fi/handle/10138/35880

| url-status = dead

}}

FMI(record highs and lows 1940-1961){{cite web|url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/15734/2009nro8.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|format=PDF|title=SUOMEN MAAKUNTIEN ILMASTO|website=Helda.helsinki.fi|access-date=30 June 2022}}

|date=January 2011

}}{{Weatherbox

| single line = Y

| location = Kuopio Maaninka (normals 1991-2020, extremes 1959-present)

| source = FMI normals 1991-2020{{cite web

|url = https://helda.helsinki.fi/items/d7ce3a4f-bf47-4453-be76-2a0de738c59a

|title = FMI normals 1991-2020

|publisher= FMI

|access-date = 22 May 2025}}

| collapsed = Y

| Jan low C = -11.6

| Jan mean C = -8.2

| Jan high C = -5.1

| Feb low C = -12.2

| Feb mean C = -8.4

| Feb high C = -4.8

| Dec low C = -7.9

| Dec mean C = -5.1

| Dec high C = -2.6

| metric first = Y

| Mar low C = -8.1

| Mar mean C = -3.8

| Mar high C = 0.4

| Apr low C = -2.1

| Apr mean C = 2.2

| Apr high C = 6.7

| May low C = 3.8

| May mean C = 9.1

| May high C = 14.1

| Nov high C = 0.8

| Nov low C = -3.1

| Nov mean C = -1.1

| Oct low C = 1.6

| Oct mean C = 3.9

| Oct high C = 6.2

| Sep low C = 6.5

| Sep mean C = 10.0

| Sep high C = 13.7

| Jun low C = 9.5

| Jun mean C = 14.4

| Jun high C = 19.1

| Aug low C = 10.7

| Aug mean C = 15.1

| Aug high C = 19.5

| Jul low C = 12.4

| Jul mean C = 17.1

| Jul high C = 21.8

| Jan record low C = -40.2

| Feb record low C = -41.2

| Dec record low C = -35.0

| Jan record high C = 8.0

| Feb record high C = 9.2

| Mar record high C = 13.2

| Apr record high C = 21.2

| Mar record low C = -35.4

| Apr record low C = -21.8

| May record low C = -8.4

| May record high C = 28.4

| Jun record low C = -2.7

| Jun record high C = 32.6

| Jul record low C = 1.6

| Jul record high C = 35.0

| Aug record low C = -2.2

| Aug record high C = 32.9

| Sep record low C = -6.1

| Sep record high C = 26.0

| Oct record high C = 18.4

| Oct record low C = -21.0

| Nov record low C = -32.3

| Nov record high C = 11.0

| Dec record high C = 8.5

| Jan precipitation mm = 41

| precipitation color = green

| Feb precipitation mm = 35

| Mar precipitation mm = 31

| Apr precipitation mm = 29

| May precipitation mm = 49

| Jun precipitation mm = 71

| Jul precipitation mm = 85

| Aug precipitation mm = 66

| Sep precipitation mm = 55

| Oct precipitation mm = 55

| Nov precipitation mm = 51

| Dec precipitation mm = 51

| Jan precipitation days = 21

| Feb precipitation days = 17

| Mar precipitation days = 15

| Apr precipitation days = 12

| May precipitation days = 14

| Jun precipitation days = 15

| Jul precipitation days = 15

| Aug precipitation days = 16

| Sep precipitation days = 17

| Oct precipitation days = 19

| Nov precipitation days = 21

| Dec precipitation days = 21

| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

| Jan avg record low C = -27.5

| Feb avg record low C = -27.3

| Mar avg record low C = -20.9

| Apr avg record low C = -11.0

| May avg record low C = -3.0

| Jun avg record low C = 2.5

| Jul avg record low C = 6.0

| Aug avg record low C = 4.1

| Sep avg record low C = -0.8

| Oct avg record low C = -6.8

| Nov avg record low C = -13.6

| Dec avg record low C = -21.9

| year avg record low C = -30.7

| Jan avg record high C = 3.2

| Feb avg record high C = 3.2

| Mar avg record high C = 7.7

| Apr avg record high C = 15.4

| May avg record high C = 23.5

| Jun avg record high C = 26.5

| Jul avg record high C = 27.7

| Aug avg record high C = 25.7

| Sep avg record high C = 20.1

| Oct avg record high C = 12.7

| Nov avg record high C = 7.2

| Dec avg record high C = 3.7

| year avg record high C = 28.9

| source 2 = Record highs and lows{{cite web

|url= https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=101572

|title = FMI open data

|publisher = FMI

|access-date = 22 May 2025}}

}}

{{Historical populations

| title= Historical population

| percentages = pagr

|type= none

|state = collapsed

|1815|1087

|1840|2071

|1850|2849

|1860|4066

|1870|5639

|1880|6871

|1890|8882

|1900|11723

|1910|15845

|1920|18725

|1930|24082

|1940|25157

|1950|33353

|1960|44911

|1970|63766

|1972|96443

|1980|99687

|1990|104675

|2000|108890

|2010|112336

|2020|120210

|footnote=Source: Tilastollinen päätoimisto,{{Cite web | url=https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/69230/stv_1940.pdf | title=Suomen tilastollinen vuosikirja 1940 | date=1941 | publisher=Tilastollinen päätoimisto | access-date=5 January 2025 | language=fi }} Statistics Finland (1972-2020)

}}

The city of Kuopio has {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kuopio }}}} inhabitants, making it the {{ordinal|{{Data Finland municipality/population count sequence|Kuopio}}}} most populous municipality in Finland. The region of Kuopio is the 7th largest in Finland, after the regions of Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä and Lahti. Kuopio is home to 2% of Finland's population. 7% of the population has a foreign background, which is below the national average.

{{Bar chart

| title = Population size of Kuopio (and merged municipalities) 1980–2020{{Cite web | url=https://stat.fi/en/publication/cl8lprraorrr20dut5a0tywm5 | title=Number of foreign-language speakers grew by nearly 38,000 persons | date=31 May 2023 | publisher=Statistics Finland | access-date=12 September 2023 | language=en }}

| label_type = Year

| data_type = Population

| bar_width = 47

| width_units = em

| label1 = 1980

| label2 = 1985

| label3 = 1990

| label4 = 1995

| label5 = 2000

| label6 = 2005

| label7 = 2010

| label8 = 2015

| label9 = 2020

| data_max = 125000

| data1 = 99687

| data2 = 102686

| data3 = 104675

| data4 = 108199

| data5 = 108890

| data6 = 110208

| data7 = 112336

| data8 = 116921

| data9 = 120210

|footnote=Source: Tilastollinen päätoimisto,{{Cite web | url=https://www.doria.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/69230/stv_1940.pdf | title=Suomen tilastollinen vuosikirja 1940 | date=1941 | publisher=Tilastollinen päätoimisto | access-date=5 January 2024 | language=fi }} Statistics Finland

}}

{{Pie chart

|thumb = left

|direction=row

|caption = Population by
mother tongue (2024){{cite web |url= https://stat.fi/en/publication/cm1jg8tr20lco07vwvoif9s6i |title= Number of foreign-language speakers exceeded 600,000 during 2024 |date= 2025-04-04 |series= Population structure |publisher= Statistics Finland |issn= 1797-5395 |access-date=2025-04-10 }}

|label1 = Finnish

|value1 = 92.4

|color1 = #002F6C

|label2 = Russian

|value2 = 1.5

|color2 = #D52B1E

|label3 = Arabic

|value3 = 0.7

|color3 = #165D31

|label4 = Ukrainian

|value4 = 0.6

|color4 = #0057B7

|label5 = English

|value5 = 0.5

|color5 = #FFFFFF

|label6 = Bengali

|value6 = 0.3

|color6 = #006A4E

|label7 = Estonian

|value7 = 0.2

|color7 = #0072CE

|label8 = Other

|value8 = 3.8

|color8 = #C5C5C5

}}

Kuopio is a monolingual Finnish-speaking municipality. {{As of|2024}}, the majority of the population, {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Kuopio}}}} persons ({{Percentage|sigfig = 3|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Kuopio}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Kuopio}}}}), spoke Finnish as their first language. In addition, the number of Swedish speakers was {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Kuopio }}}} persons ({{Percentage|sigfig = 1|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Kuopio}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Kuopio}}}}) of the population. Foreign languages were spoken by {{Formatnum: {{pct|{{Data Finland municipality/native language other|Kuopio}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Kuopio}}|1}}}} of the population. As English and Swedish are compulsory school subjects, functional bilingualism or trilingualism acquired through language studies is not uncommon.

At least 100 different languages are spoken in Kuopio. The most common foreign languages are Russian (1.5%), Arabic (0.7%), Ukrainian (0.6%), English (0.5%) and Bengali (0.3%).

{{As of|2024}}, 8,517 people with a foreign background lived in Kuopio, representing 7% of the population.{{refn|Statistics Finland classifies a person as having a "foreign background" if both parents or the only known parent were born abroad.{{cite web |access-date=18 September 2023 |title=Persons with foreign background |publisher=Statistics Finland |url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset_en.html |archive-date=5 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105084300/https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset_en.html |url-status=dead }}|group=note}} There are 8,269 residents who were born abroad, which makes up 7% of the population. The number of foreign citizens in Kuopio is 5,980. Most foreign-born citizens come from the former Soviet Union, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Niger and Syria.

The relative proportion of immigrants in Kuopio's population is below the national average. It is lower than in the major Finnish cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Tampere, Vantaa or Turku. Nevertheless, Kuopio's new residents are increasingly of foreign origin. This will increase the proportion of foreign residents in the coming years.

In 2023, the Evangelical Lutheran Church was the largest religious group with 65.6% of the population of Kuopio. Other religious groups accounted for 3.8% of the population. 30.6% of the population had no religious affiliation.[https://pxdata.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px Key figures on population by region, 1990-2023] Statistics Finland

File:Kuopio, Kuopio Cathedral.JPG]]

The largest church denomination in Finland, Lutheran Church has a diocese in Kuopio, which is shepherded by bishop Jari Jolkkonen.{{cite news|last=Koskinen|first=Jerri|title=Jari Jolkkonen vihittiin Kuopion piispan virkaan|url=http://www.savonsanomat.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/jari-jolkkonen-vihittiin-kuopion-piispan-virkaan/1192715|access-date=11 May 2012|newspaper=Savon Sanomat|date=6 May 2012|archive-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018033455/http://www.savonsanomat.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/jari-jolkkonen-vihittiin-kuopion-piispan-virkaan/1192715|url-status=dead}} One of the most significant Lutheran churches in the city is the Kuopio Cathedral, completed in 1816.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kuopioinfo.fi/english/perussivut/vierailukohteet/kirkot.php|title=Charming beauty of churches|date=12 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412061519/http://www.kuopioinfo.fi/english/perussivut/vierailukohteet/kirkot.php |access-date=30 June 2022|archive-date=12 April 2011 }}

Until 2018, Kuopio was home to primate of the Finnish Orthodox Church, the called Archbishop of Karelia and all Finland. Since 2018, the primate is seated in Helsinki and Kuopio became the seat of the Diocese of Kuopio and Karelia. The late Archbishop Paul had been successful in producing literature of popular Orthodox theology. The city is also the location of RIISA- Orthodox Church Museum of Finland.

Kuopio also has an Islamic mosque.{{Cite web|url=https://www.islamicfinder.org/|title=Savon Islamilainen Yhdyskunta|website=IslamicFinder.org|access-date=30 June 2022}} Muslims from various parts of the world and certain Finnish Muslims live in Kuopio.

The town is also home to the first Burmese Buddhist monastery in Finland, named the Buddha Dhamma Ramsi Monastery.{{cite web|url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,7596,0,0,1,0 |title=Buddhist Channel | Buddhism News, Headlines | World | Burmese Buddhist monastery opens in Finland |publisher=Buddhistchannel.tv |date=5 January 2009 |access-date=16 September 2011}}{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10883754|title=Burmalaiset keräsivät vuosikausia rahaa buddhalaisluostarin perustamiseksi Savoon – munkki Ven Pannasami: "Me tavoittelemme myös suomalaisia"|date=20 July 2019|website=Yle.fi|access-date=30 June 2022}}

File:Kauppakeskus Matkus - C-sisäänkäynti - Hiltulanlahti - Kuopio - m.jpg, Kuopio]]

Kuopio's economic structure is very diverse. In 2008, there were about 4,200 enterprises in Kuopio,{{cite book | title = Kuopion työpaikat ja elinkeinorakenne 1.1.2008 | publisher = Kuopion kaupungin yrityspalvelu | year = 2008 | url = http://www.kuopio.fi/attachments.nsf/Files/040607115432639/$File/elinkeinorakenne.pdf?OpenElement | pages = 1–2 | access-date = 9 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101207084221/http://www.kuopio.fi/attachments.nsf/Files/040607115432639/$File/elinkeinorakenne.pdf?OpenElement | archive-date = 7 December 2010 | url-status = dead }} of which approximately 180 were export companies.{{cite web|url= http://www.kuopio.fi/net.nsf/TD/131103132915063?OpenDocument|title= Elinkeinoelämä|access-date= 9 January 2009|publisher= City of Kuopio|date= 7 October 2008|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090226005047/http://www.kuopio.fi/net.nsf/TD/131103132915063?OpenDocument|archive-date= 26 February 2009|df= dmy-all}} These provided about 45,000 jobs. In 2016, this grew to a total of about 5,050 companies, of which more than 190 also trade abroad. There are a total of 50,877 jobs. The business service of the City of Kuopio plays a significant role in the development of Kuopio's business life. The business service promotes the development of companies operating in Kuopio and improves the operating environments of companies. The most important thing in developing operating environments is to improve the supply of estate and business premises. The Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) is Kuopio's second largest employer after the City of Kuopio; in 2011, KUH employed a total of 4,113 people.{{cite web| url= https://www.kuopio.fi/documents/731621/732627/tyopaikat_ja_elinkeinorakenne.pdf| title= Suurimmat työnantajat Kuopiossa 1.1.2011| publisher= City of Kuopio| access-date= 2022-01-20| language= fi| archive-date= 19 September 2016| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160919212450/https://www.kuopio.fi/documents/731621/732627/tyopaikat_ja_elinkeinorakenne.pdf| url-status= dead}}

Tourism is of great importance to Kuopio's business life;{{Cite web |url=http://kuopio.fi/web/kaupunkitietoa/elinkeinoelama |title=Elinkeinoelämä - Kuopion kaupunki |access-date=23 January 2021 |archive-date=28 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140628033603/http://www.kuopio.fi/web/kaupunkitietoa/elinkeinoelama |url-status=dead }} the Rauhalahti camping site is one indication of Kuopio's expertise, as it is the only five-star camping site in Finland. The city has also a comprehensive hotel offer for tourism, one of the most notable is Hotel Savonia, part of the Best Western hotel chain, in the Puijonlaakso district. Arranging accommodation and program services gives many jobs. Kuopio's Entrepreneurs (Kuopion Yrittäjät), the local association of Savonia Entrepreneurs (Savon Yrittäjät), operates in Kuopio.

File:Technology Centre Teknia Ltd Microteknia area.jpg.]]

The most significant recent business projects are the centralization of Honeywell's Finnish operations in Kuopio, the completion of Ark Therapeutics' gene medicine plant, the marine industry concentration built by Bella Boats at the Marine Park in Haapaniemi's Siikaniemi and the construction of Junttan's EUR 15 million assembly plant at Kylmämäki at the end of 2008. The site of Junttan's current factory in Särkilahti will have space for a large shopping center. The 9.7-hectare plot purchased by Savocon and TKD Finland for EUR 11 million has a building right for 58,500 square meters. The two companies plan to invest a total of about 40 million euros in the project.{{cite magazine| last= Juutilainen |first= Jouko | title= "Junttanin tiloihin kauppajätti" ja "Moottoritien varteen uusi kauppajätti". | magazine= Savon Sanomat | date= 19 January 2008 | number= 18 | language = fi}} A significant industrial player is also Savon Sello company in Sorsasalo, which is currently owned by Powerflute Oyj. One of the biggest projects and investments of recent years is the preparation of the construction of Finnpulp's largest and most modern softwood pulp mill in Kuopio.{{cite web|url=http://www.finnpulp.fi/finnpulp-tausta.html|title=Finnpulp - Finnpulp Oy|website=Finnpulp.fi|access-date=23 January 2021|language=fi|archive-date=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911191843/http://www.finnpulp.fi/finnpulp-tausta.html|url-status=dead}} The most significant retail investments are the Prisma hypermarket completed in December 2007 and the Päiväranta's K-Citymarket completed in August 2008. A hardware store Kodin Terra was opened in Pitkälahti, as well as the Ikano Group's Matkus Shopping Center in the Hiltulanlahti area in November 2012{{cite web| url= http://karttapalvelu.kuopio.fi/| title= Kuopion karttapalvelu | publisher= City of Kuopio|access-date= 23 January 2021 | language = fi}} and an IKEA department store in May 2013.{{cite web| url= http://www.ikanofastigheter.se/fi/Retail-centres/Kauppakeskukset/Suomi/Kuopio/ | title= Kuopio | work= Ikano Retail Centres Finland Oy | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131110065834/http://www.ikanofastigheter.se/fi/Retail-centres/Kauppakeskukset/Suomi/Kuopio/ | access-date= 23 January 2021 | archive-date= 10 November 2013 | language = fi}}

File:Kuopion museo 2012.jpg in a National Romantic style building]]

File:J.V. Snellmanin rintakuva.jpg in Snellman Park (Snellmaninpuisto)]]

Kuopio is known as the cultural center of Eastern Finland. One of Kuopio's most important cultural venues are the Kuopio Museum, the Kuopio Art Museum and the Kuopio City Theatre in the city center. A wide range of musical (from kindergarten to doctorate-level studies) and dance education is available and the cultural life is active. Notable events include ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival, Kuopio Dance Festival, Kuopio Rockcock, Kuopio Wine Festival, Kuopio Marathon and Finland Ice Marathon in winter. A notable place, however, to enjoy the local flavor of Kuopio life and food is Sampo, a fish restaurant loved by locals and tourists as well.

Kuopio is known for its association with a national delicacy, Finnish fish pastry (Kalakukko), and the dialect of Savo, as well as the hill of Puijo and the Puijo tower. Besides being a very popular outdoor recreation area, Puijo serves also as a stage for a yearly World Cup ski jumping competition.

In inhabitants of Kuopio have a special reputation: they are known as jovial and verbally joking.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} Within the Savo culture, the onus is placed on the listener to interpret the story. People of the Kuopio region and Eastern Finland have always had many health problems and the mortality has been higher than on an average in Finland. Because of this, Eastern Finland has been a hotspot for Public Health studies. The North Karelia Project by the University of Kuopio in coordination with the National Public Health Institute and the World Health Organization, beginning in the 1970s was one of its first steps towards world class research.{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/kuukausiliite/art-2000010366308.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1kwU97ZyXf01JcaKQHRMQxSnG8JdjNcBpKBuzY0xya_TFI4ebC1u_cJQw_aem_AX8RowBrkP32pp69PvHgy8do-zSHeEB_lk_972H7FcxIl98lHhJAu0alVJd7KPD0zIgR-B4czeAAr8W5AQfAcJTf|title=Kaikkien aikojen projekti|first=Katja|last=Martelius|work=Helsingin Sanomat|date=24 April 2024|access-date=29 September 2024|language=fi|url-access=subscription}} Niuvanniemi a historical psychiatric hospital is also located in the western part of the city in the Niuva district.{{Cite web|url=http://www.niuva.fi/english/index_en.htm|title=Official website of Niuvanniemi hospital|website=Niuva.fi|access-date=30 June 2022|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028212023/http://www.niuva.fi/english/index_en.htm|url-status=dead}}

During the 2000s, Kuopio has placed very well in a number of image, popularity and city-attractiveness surveys. In 2007 it was placed third, behind Tampere and Oulu.

File:Kuopio Market Square2.jpg with the Market Hall in foreground and the City Hall in the background]]

File:Kuopio PuijoTower 01.jpg

File:Lusty looks KuPS HJK 03 08.jpg vs HJK at Magnum Areena, Kuopio. Finnish League Cup, March 11, 2008.]]

Kuopio bid for the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics, a youth sports festival in the tradition of the Olympics. It became a finalist in November 2008, but ultimately lost to Innsbruck, Austria. Kuopio's image as a small city with a large University and many active young people was considered a model of what the International Olympic Committee seeks for the Games.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/youth_olympic_bids/youth_winter_2012/1216133865.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108183633/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/youth_olympic_bids/youth_winter_2012/1216133865.html|url-status=dead|title=Innsbruck and Kuopio Make Final Shortlist For 2012 Youth Olympic Winter Games|archive-date=8 January 2012|access-date=30 June 2022}}

• KalPa (ice hockey)
• KuPS (football)
• Kuopion Taitoluistelijat (figure skating)
• Puijon Hiihtoseura (skiing, ski jumping, nordic combined, biathlon)
• Puijon Pesis (pesäpallo)
• Kuopion Reippaan voimistelijat (gymnastics)
• Finland Ice Marathon (ice skating event)
• Kuopio Steelers (american football)
• Kuopio Skating club, Kuopion Luisteluseura KuLs (figure skating)
• Welhot (floorball)
• Linkki (basketball)

File:EFKU check-in 20081109.jpg]]

The city has a nationally unique feature in its street network, where every other street is reserved for pedestrian and cycle traffic,{{cite book | title = WP2: Accessibility, Synthesis Report | publisher = Universell utforming | page = 14 | url = http://www.universell-utforming.miljo.no/file_upload/wp2_accessibility_synthesis.pdf | date = 26 March 2004 | access-date = 7 January 2009 | archive-date = 25 March 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090325031655/http://www.universell-utforming.miljo.no/file_upload/wp2_accessibility_synthesis.pdf | url-status = dead }} so-called "rännikatu" (derived from the Swedish gränd, alley). These streets provide pedestrians a calm environment away from vehicular traffic.{{cite book | title = Description of the Case Areas| publisher = VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland | page = 8 | url = http://virtual.vtt.fi/virtual/prompt/case%20areas.pdf | date =2 May 2002 }} This setup dates back to Kuopio's first town plan by Pehr Kjellman in 1776. Originally, rännikadut were created as a fire barrier to prevent a possible fire escalating in a mainly wood-constructed city.{{cite web|url= http://www.pohjois-savonmuisti.fi/verkko_nayttelyt/napoleon_ja_kuopio/kustaa_III.htm|title= Napoleon ja Kuopio: Kuninkaiden Kuopio|access-date= 11 January 2009|work= Memory of Northern Savonia|publisher= Museums of Northern Savonia|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090225174518/http://www.pohjois-savonmuisti.fi/verkko_nayttelyt/napoleon_ja_kuopio/kustaa_III.htm|archive-date= 25 February 2009|df= dmy-all}}

Two Finnish highways cross Kuopio: Finnish national road 5 (Vt 5; part of E63 in the northern side of city), which extends south to Helsinki and north to Sodankylä, and Finnish national road 9 (Vt 9; part of E63 in the western side of city), which extends west to Turku and east to the Niirala checkpoint on the Finnish-Russian border. The Blue Highway passes through Kuopio. It is an international tourist route from Mo i Rana, Norway to Pudozh, Russia via Sweden and Finland.

Long-distance transport connections from Kuopio include Pendolino and InterCity trains from Kuopio railway station to several destinations around Finland, operated by VR, as well as multiple daily departures from Kuopio Airport on Finnair to Helsinki. The passenger harbour of the port of Kuopio, located on the shore of Lake Kallavesi, is the busiest port for passenger traffic in the Vuoksi drainage basin and the Finnish Lakeland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kuopio.fi/matkustajasatama|title=Matkustajasatama | Kuopio|website=Kuopio.fi|access-date=30 June 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.visit-plus.com/node/6978|title=Kuopio - information for tourists | Finland travel destinations|website=Visit-plus.com|access-date=30 June 2022}}

Kuopio has always been a city of education. Some of the first schools offering education in Finnish (such as the School for the Blind in 1871, and the Trade School in 1887) were established in Kuopio. Currently the most important institutions are the University of Eastern Finland, the Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Vocational College of Northern Savonia and the Kuopio department of the Sibelius Academy. One of the oldest schools in the city is Kuopio Lyceum High School, which was officially established in 1872, but was originally built in 1826 and designed by Carl Ludvig Engel.

Kuopio is known as a strong center of health (e.g. it has the biggest yearly enrollment rate of medical students in Finland), pharmacy, environment, food & nutrition (all legalized Clinical and Public Health Nutritionists in Finland graduate from the University of Eastern Finland), safety (education in Emergency Services is centered in Kuopio{{Cite web|url=https://www.pelastusopisto.fi/|title=Pelastusopisto - Tutustu toimintaamme|website=Pelastusopisto.fi|access-date=30 June 2022}}) and welfare professions, as the major organisations University of Kuopio (now part of the University of Eastern Finland since January 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.uef.fi/uef/historiaa|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227111005/http://www.uef.fi/uef/historiaa|url-status=dead|title=Steps leading to the establishment of the UEF|archive-date=27 February 2013|access-date=30 June 2022}}), Savonia University of Applied Sciences and Technopolis Kuopio are particularly oriented to those areas.

File:Minna Canth.jpg, a writer and a social activist]]

{{columns-list|colwidth=18em|

• Juhani Aho
• Pertti Ahokas
• Martti Ahtisaari
• Minna Canth
• Pekka Halonen
• Janne Happonen
• Matti Hautamäki
• Marko Hietala
• Zachary Hietala
• Olli Jokinen
• Kasperi Kapanen
• Sami Kapanen
• Elina Karjalainen
• Mika Kojonkoski
• H. Olliver Twisted
• Hannes Kolehmainen
• Lasse Lehtinen
• Paavo Lipponen
• Paavo Lötjönen
• Emmi Mäkelin
• Archbishop Leo
• Iivo Niskanen
• Martti Nissinen
• Petri Partanen
• Pertti "Spede" Pasanen
• Paavo Ruotsalainen
• Aarno Ruusuvuori
• Aulis Rytkönen
• Tuomo Saikkonen
• Päivi Setälä
• Sanna Sillanpää
• Alma (Finnish singer)
• Johan Vilhelm Snellman
• Leena Suhl
• Samuli Suhonen
• Robert Taylor
• Kimmo Timonen
• Janne Tolsa
• Jenni Vartiainen
• Brothers von Wright: Magnus, Wilhelm and Ferdinand
• Ilpo Väisänen

}}

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland}}

Kuopio is twinned with 15 cities around the world. It also has one twin county, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia.{{Cite web |title=Twin cities |publisher=City of Kuopio |access-date=21 August 2019 |url= https://www.kuopio.fi/en/ystavyyskaupungit }}

Kuopio is twinned with:

{{Portal|Finland|Europe|Geography|Cities}}

• Finnish national road 5
• Kauppakatu
• Kuopio Battalion
• Kuopio Football Club
• The Kuopio Province
• The Kuopio school stabbing
• Kuopio Senior High of Music and Dance
• Nilsiä
• The Puijo Hill
• Siilinjärvi
• University of Eastern Finland

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category-inline|Kuopio}}

{{wikivoyage-inline|Kuopio}}

• [https://www.kuopio.fi/en/ Kuopio] – Official website {{in lang|fi|sv|en|de|fr|es|ru}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111012201006/http://w3.kuopio.fi/englishhome.nsf City of Kuopio] – Another official website {{in lang|fi|sv|en|de}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100306180633/http://www.kuopioinfo.fi/ KuopioInfo] – Various resources about different areas of interest related to Kuopio History and Life {{in lang|fi|en|de|ru|zh}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110720175253/http://360panorama.fi/vrj/kuopiontori_out.swf 360° panorama of Kuopio Marketplace]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110104180411/http://portal.savonia.fi/amk/english Savonia University of Applied Sciences] {{in lang|en}}
• [http://www.uef.fi University of Eastern Finland] {{in lang|en}}
• [https://www.novapolis.fi/ KPY Novapolis Kuopio] {{in lang|fi}}
• [http://www.investinkuopio.fi Invest in Kuopio -factsheet] {{in lang|en}}
• [http://www.islamicfinder.org/getitWorld.php?id=22039 Kuopio Mosque]
• [https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=62.896729,27.610016&spn=0.151270,0.468361&t=k&hl=en Satellite picture by Google Maps]

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Kuopio
{{Nobold|(nearly surrounds Siilinjärvi)}}

| N = Iisalmi, Lapinlahti, Rautavaara

| NE = Juuka (North Karelia)

| E = Kaavi
Tuusniemi

| S = Suonenjoki, Leppävirta

| W = Tervo

| NW = Pielavesi

}}

{{NorthernSavonia}}

{{50 most populous Nordic urban settlements}}

{{50 most populous Finnish municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities and towns in Finland

Category:Inland port cities and towns in Finland

Category:Grand Duchy of Finland

Category:Populated places established in 1653

Category:Populated lakeshore places in Finland