HELSINKI ALUEITTAIN

PREFACE
Helsinki has been the capital of Finland since 1812.
During these two hundred years, the city has grown
from a small town of 4,000 people to a city of 620,000,
which together with the surrounding municipalities
forms a city region of 1.4 million residents – of importance
even by European standards. Helsinki is
a vibrant city with many historical strata. It consists
of many characteristic districts each of which has a
history and a profile of their own. Also, the city is in
a process of constant change, and for many districts,
there are great plans for the future.
The publication Helsinki by District describes this
pluralism and development. It is a book for anyone
taking an interest in Helsinki at district level: policy
makers, planners and researchers, students, companies
and associations, media and, of course, the inhabitants
themselves.
The book begins with an overview of the city’s
development, and a comparison of districts. Each
of Helsinki’s eight major districts and 34 districts is
described on four pages. The essentials of the history
of each district – and a glimpse into future – are given
in Finnish, Swedish and English. Land use and service
in the districts are described on detailed maps.
The statistical profile of each district is drawn in
terms of eight characteristics, and comparisons with
the whole city and other areas are made. Statistics
and graphs have been updated with freshest data on
population, education and income level, housing,
employment and jobs as well as education, social,
health and other public services. Translations into
Swedish and English of key words in the statistics
section can be found at the end of the publication.
Helsinki by District can be studied on the website of
City of Helsinki Urban Facts Department www.hel.
fi/tietokeskus. Most of the basic statistics included
in the book can also be found at subdistrict level on
www.aluesarjat.fi, (the Helsinki Region Database).
The database also contains comparisons with districts
in Helsinki’s neighbour cities Espoo and Vantaa.
The publication was compiled by Researcher Tea
Tikkanen at City of Helsinki Urban Facts´s Division
for Statistics and Information Services. The section
on Helsinki in 2015 was written by Systems Manager
Pekka Vuori. Contributions to the work were also
made by statistics clerk Petri Berglund and translator
Magnus Gräsbeck. Many experts within the
city administration contributed with material for
the publication. Many thanks indeed to all who helped
us in our work!
Helsinki, April 2016
Ari Jaakola
Statistics and Information Services Manager