Maakunta

Maakunta is the Finnish term for a regional administrative and geographic subdivision used in Finland. A maakunta groups several municipalities (kunta) to enable regional planning, development and cooperation across local governments. Finland is divided into 19 maakunta. Each maakunta has a regional council (maakuntavaltuusto) elected by the municipal councils, and an umbrella body known as a regional association (maakuntaliitto) that coordinates cooperation among the municipalities within the region.

Functions and governance. The maakunta is a forum for regional planning and development, handling tasks that require cross-municipal coordination and alignment with national and European policy. It serves as a channel between municipalities and the central government and can oversee regional strategies on transport, economy, culture, and education to varying extents depending on the reform era and legal framework. The exact responsibilities of maakuntat authorities have evolved over time, especially with reforms aimed at reorganizing health and social services at the national level.

Reforms and contemporary role. In the 2010s and 2020s, Finland restructured some public service responsibilities, notably transferring health and social services to newly established wellbeing services counties (hyvinvointialueet). This reform reduced the health- and social-services role of the traditional maakunta, while regional coordination for other functions remains and continues to be conducted at the maakunta level.

Etymology and context. The term maakunta derives from Finnish words meaning “land” and “municipality,” reflecting its role as a land-based regional unit. Åland, an autonomous region, is not part of any maakunta and has its own administration.

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