How Big Is Helsinki? Area & Population

Helsinki (city proper):

• Area: 213.75 km² (82.5 sq mi) — land 186 km², water 27.75 km².
• Population: 675,000 (2024) — Finland's largest city.
• Density: ~3,150/km² (8,160/sq mi).

Greater Helsinki (Helsinki Metropolitan Area / Helsinki-Uusimaa):

• Area: **6,615 km² (2,554 sq mi)** — includes Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniainen, and 10 surrounding municipalities.
• Population: **1.58 million** (2024) — ~28% of Finland's population.
• Core cities: Espoo (315k), Vantaa (245k), Kauniainen (10k).

Geographic Context

• Southern coast, Gulf of Finland (Baltic Sea).
• Peninsula + 315 islands (archipelago).
• 60°10′N — same latitude as Anchorage, Whitehorse, Oslo, Stockholm.

Comparison

• City proper ≈ **Washington, DC** (177 km²) or **Tulsa** (196 km²).
• Metro ≈ **Phoenix** (1.6M) or **Seattle** (4M but larger area).

Compact, coastal, island-studded — Helsinki punches above its weight.