Agricultural land prices declined, rental prices remained stable
Prices of agricultural land declined in 2025, while rental prices remained largely unchanged. At the same time, the importance of rented farmland is increasing: around 40% of agricultural land is already rented, and the majority of farms rely on leased land.
A total of 644 agricultural land transactions were recorded in 2025. The average price was highest in Helsinki-Uusimaa at €10,135 per hectare and lowest in Northern and Eastern Finland at €5,739 per hectare. These figures exclude transactions between relatives, as no price data are available from the National Land Survey. In 2024, the average rental price ranged from €271 per hectare in Helsinki-Uusimaa to €161 in Northern and Eastern Finland.
The role of rented land is growing
In 2024, Finland had approximately 2.3 million hectares of agricultural land, of which just under 40% (865,000 hectares) was rented. A total of 64% of farms cultivated rented land.
The average rental price was €234 per hectare in 2024. Changes between years are minor, as rental agreements are multi-year and prices mainly adjust when contracts are renewed.
Rental levels vary
Rental prices are influenced by factors such as location, soil quality, supply and demand, and the intended use of the land. In the current economic situation, high purchase prices are increasingly steering farmers toward renting. For fields well suited to a farm’s own production, tenants are willing to pay above-average rents.
In some cases, however, the need is less demanding: land may be required, for example, for manure spreading, where soil quality is less critical than in the cultivation of specialised crops.
Regional differences in rented land
The share of rented land is highest in Åland, Lapland and Kainuu. In Åland, the high share is explained by high land prices, limited land availability and a shortage of land suitable for specialised cultivation. In Lapland and Kainuu, different regional factors are likely at play. In particular, Kainuu has seen the largest relative decline in the number of farms, releasing land to the rental market.
Prices vary widely
Agricultural land prices vary significantly. At the lower end, land was sold for around €1,000 per hectare, while at the upper end prices reached €20,000–23,000 per hectare. The size of the properties sold ranged from two hectares to over 80 hectares.
In total, about 5,000 hectares of agricultural land changed ownership in 2025, representing only 0.2% of all agricultural land. Most land transfers take place through generational changes or farm sales, which are not included in this dataset.
Solar power is increasing competition for land
Agricultural land may also be leased for non-agricultural use. In particular, solar power projects compete for land in areas with sufficient grid capacity to transmit electricity.
– Based on media reports, lease periods for solar power are long and rental levels are higher than in agriculture. In such cases, rents can rise to several thousand euros per hectare. These agreements are long-term, and the land often loses its eligibility for agricultural subsidies, says Senior Statistician Anna‑Kaisa Jaakkonen from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
Background to the statistics
The statistics on purchase prices are based on the National Land Survey’s transaction data. They include confirmed transactions of undeveloped agricultural land with a minimum size of two hectares. Family transactions are excluded.
The statistics on rental prices are based on Luke’s farm accountancy data. The latest purchase price data are from 2025 and rental data from 2024. Data on rented land are based on Luke’s farm structure statistics.
