Alavus

Alavus
Alavo
Town
Alavuden kaupunki
Alavo stad
Former Alavus city hall, demolished in 2021
Location of Alavus in Finland
Coordinates: 62°35.5′N 023°37′E / 62.5917°N 23.617°E / 62.5917; 23.617
Country Finland
RegionSouthern Ostrobothnia
Sub-regionKuusiokunnat
Charter1865
Market town1974
Town privileges1977
Government
  Town managerLiisa Heinämäki
Area
 (2018-01-01)
  Total
1,151.46 km2 (444.58 sq mi)
  Land1,087.23 km2 (419.78 sq mi)
  Water52.31 km2 (20.20 sq mi)
  Rank71st largest in Finland
Population
 (2025-03-31)
  Total
10,763
  Rank90th largest in Finland
  Density9.9/km2 (26/sq mi)
Population by native language
  Finnish97.2% (official)
  Swedish0.1%
  Others2.7%
Population by age
  0 to 1416.7%
  15 to 6454.6%
  65 or older28.7%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitewww.alavus.fi

Alavus (Swedish: Alavo) is a town and municipality of Finland in the province of Western Finland. Part of the Southern Ostrobothnia region, it is located 52 kilometres (32 mi) southeast of Seinäjoki, 138 kilometres (86 mi) north of Tampere and 319 kilometres (198 mi) north of Helsinki. The town has a population of 10,763 (31 March 2025) and covers an area of 1,151.46 square kilometres (444.58 sq mi) of which 52.31 km2 (20.20 sq mi) is water. The population density is 9.9 inhabitants per square kilometre (26/sq mi). Neighbouring municipalities are Alajärvi, Kuortane, Seinäjoki, Virrat and Ähtäri.

Agriculture and forestry employ a significant share of the population. Most of the industry in Alavus is related to construction: materials, design and contractors. Alavus has 60 lakes with 324 kilometres (201 mi) of shoreline. The town is unilingually Finnish.