Field distribution between rural enterprises

In 2023, there were approximately 119,000 enterprises operating in rural areas and their number of employees was 246,000. There were about a thousand fewer enterprises in rural areas than in 2022. The number of personnel decreased about 3,400 from the previous year. Approximately 116,000 enterprises operated in rural areas of Mainland Finland in 2023. The number of personnel of enterprises in all regions increased slightly, even though there were slightly fewer enterprises than in 2022. 

There were just over 83,000 service enterprises in rural areas in 2023. For example, construction and wholesale and retail trade were major industries for businesses in rural areas. 

The numbers of enterprises before 2018 are not fully comparable with the later data, because from 2018 onwards the numbers of small enterprises are also included.

The indicator measures the distribution of rural enterprises into statistical fields by rural typology. The indicator helps to analyse changes in the business structure of enterprises in rural areas.

Statistics Finland produces information about the number of rural enterprises by urban-rural typology.

This is one of the national impact indicators of the 2014–2020 Rural Development Programme for Mainland Finland.

The indicator will next be updated in spring 2026.