On this page you will find information about Oulu, such as the city of Oulu’s statistical yearbook that offers diverse perspectives regarding Oulu’s statistics. Additionally, you will find statistics of the city’s population by age group and by area, links to data sources and general information about Oulu.
Region: Oulu, Finland
Coordinates: 65°01' N, 25°28' E
Altitude: 0 meters (0 feet)
Time zone: (GMT + 2:00)
Area: 3 818 km² (December 31, 2024)
Land 2 973 m²
Water 645 m²
Statistical yearbook 2023 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2022 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2021 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2020 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2019 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2018 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2017 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2016 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2015 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2014 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2013 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2012 (pdf)
Statistical yearbook 2011 (pdf)
Oulu is located by the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, in the Oulujoki River delta. The mouth of the Oulujoki River is an ancient centre of trade. The name “Oulu” is derived from a Sámi language word meaning floodwater.
Oulu’s official plant is the rock cress, also known by its Latin name Cardaminopsis arenosa.
Oulu’s official plant was chosen during the city’s 400th anniversary celebration in 2005. The choice was made by the Environment Committee of the Oulu Region.
Rock cress is believed to have come to Finland in the early 1900s, so it is a newcomer to our flora. During the second world war, the plant started taking over Northern Finland as it was introduced to harbors and railway stations along German troops. German military camps spread dozens of plants around them, but only the rock cress managed to spread widely, mostly along railways and main roads.
Rock cress is still rare in Southern Finland. It is possible that the rock cress variety found in Northern Finland is different from the variety found in Southern Finland.
The more-or-less reddish, multi-stemmed and branching plant grows 15–30 cm tall. The lowest leaves are lobed, winged and pilous. Rock cress blooms already in May, surrounding Oulu’s railways in places with hundreds of meters of white and reddish flowers. The flowers have four petals. The siliques are four or five times longer than the silique base. Some scattered late blooming often remains through the fall.
Rock cress is not as common and abundant in any other Finnish city as it is in Oulu, but it is rare in the scarcely populated eastern parts of Oulu. On top of railways, the most popular habitats of rock cress are the sides of roads, gravel pitches, yards, harbors and loading bays.
Rock cress is a cultural companion and an interesting part of cultural history.
Oulu’s official animal is salmon.
