asuinpaikkakunta

Asuinpaikkakunta, meaning residence municipality, is a formal term used in Finland to denote the municipality where a person is registered as living. It is the official place of residence recorded in the Population Information System and is used as the basis for national and local statistics, administration, and service planning.

Determination and updating: A person’s asuinpaikkakunta is determined by the registered address in the Population Information System. When a person moves to another municipality, they are required to update their registered address, and the asuinpaikkakunta changes accordingly. For families with children, the address of the guardian is typically used for registration. Even if a person spends substantial time in another place, the registered address remains the official asuinpaikkakunta unless updated.

Uses and implications: The concept underpins population statistics published by Statistics Finland and informs municipal planning and funding allocations. It affects the distribution of services such as schooling, social and health care planning, and local infrastructure. In electoral administration, eligibility and the electoral district for municipal elections are linked to the person’s asuinpaikkakunta.

Relation to everyday terminology: In everyday language, many Finns refer to their home municipality as their kotikunta. In official contexts, however, asuinpaikkakunta is the precise term, and the two ideas generally correspond to where a person is registered to reside. Situations such as temporary residence, student housing, or cross-border work can complicate everyday descriptions, but the registered asuinpaikkakunta remains the authoritative residence.