Rural Policy
in Finland

Making rural areas visible in decision making

tyttö kirjastossa
95 %

of Finland's land area is rural.

1,4 milj.

people live in rural areas.

40 %

of all companies in Finland are situated in rural areas.

2,4 milj.

people are part-time residents in rural areas.

Finnish National Rural Policy in a nutshell

Rural policy is made by everyone who makes decisions that affects daily life and entrepreneurship in rural areas.


Making good rural policy requires the recognition of the diversity of rural areas. Rural areas are a mosaic of different areas, places, environments and communities.


The National Rural Policy Council, its Secretariat and thematic networks produce tools and information through research and development in order to enhance the presence of and increasing attention to rural-specific issues in political decision making.

The future is built in partnerships

A network structure is at the core of rural policy. Partnership is the key to advancing good rural policy. The national Rural Policy Council is appointed by the Government, with people (civil society), private and public representation.


The work within rural policy is based on place-based strategy. Rural policy emphasises civil society and bolstering of civil society participation in decision making.


Thematic networks are essential to the implementation of the duties appointed to the Rural Policy Council.

Knowledge through research and development

The Rural Policy Council publishes reports, blogs and policy briefs that aim to broaden public knowledge of rural-specific questions.


The Rural Policy Council finances research and development pertaining to national rural development. The funding is national and is disbursed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland.


Many research and development projects have published scholarly peer reviewed articles in international research journals.