View source for Mikkeli

{{Short description|Town in South Savo, Finland}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Mikkeli
| official_name      = {{Lang|fi|Mikkelin kaupunki}}<br />{{Lang|sv|S:t Michels stad}}
| other_name         = S:t Michel
| settlement_type    = City
| image_skyline      = Mikkelin keskusta Naisvuorelta.JPG
| imagesize          = 300px
| image_alt          = Mikkeli
| image_shield       = Mikkeli.vaakuna.svg
| image_map          = {{Infobox mapframe|wikidata=yes|point=on|geomask=Q5693|switcher=zooms|width=300|height=300|shape-fill=#bda150|shape-fill-opacity=0.75|stroke-width=4|marker=town|marker-color=#122f57|geomask-stroke-color=#555|geomask-stroke-width=3|geomask-fill-opacity=0|zoom=7|frame-coordinates={{Coord|61.779|27.272}}}}
| map_caption        = Mikkeli within Etelä-Savo, Finland and Eurasia
| coordinates        = {{Coord|61.689|27.272|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Finland]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Regions of Finland|Region]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[South Savo]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Sub-regions of Finland|Sub-region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Mikkeli sub-region|Mikkeli]]
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council-manager]]
| governing_body     = City Council
| leader_name        = Oskari Valtola
| leader_party       = [[National Coalition Party|NCP]]
| leader_title       = Chairman
| leader_name1       = Pirjo Siiskonen
| leader_title1      = City Board Chairwoman
| leader_name2       = Janne Kinnunen
| leader_title2      = Mayor
| established_title  = [[Charter]]
| established_date   = 1838
| area_footnotes     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_footnotes|Mikkeli}}
| area_total_km2     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_total_km2|Mikkeli}}
| area_land_km2      = {{Data Finland municipality|area_land_km2|Mikkeli}}
| area_water_km2     = {{Data Finland municipality|area_water_km2|Mikkeli}}
| area_rank          = {{Data Finland municipality|area_rank|Mikkeli}}
| population_as_of   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_as_of|Mikkeli}}
| population_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Mikkeli}}
| population_total   = {{Data Finland municipality|population_total|Mikkeli}}
| population_density_km2 = {{Data Finland municipality|population_density_km2|Mikkeli}}
| population_rank    = {{Data Finland municipality|population_rank|Mikkeli}}
| demographics_type1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type1|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|population_footnotes|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title1|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info1|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title2|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info2|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title3|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info3|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_title4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_title4|Mikkeli}}
| demographics1_info4 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics1_info4|Mikkeli}}
| demographics_type2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics_type2|Mikkeli}}
| demographics2_footnotes = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_footnotes|Mikkeli}}
| demographics2_title1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title1|Mikkeli}}
| demographics2_info1 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info1|Mikkeli}}
| demographics2_title2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title2|Mikkeli}}
| demographics2_info2 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info2|Mikkeli}}
| demographics2_title3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_title3|Mikkeli}}
| demographics2_info3 = {{Data Finland municipality|demographics2_info3|Mikkeli}}
| blank_name         = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_name|Mikkeli}}
| blank_info         = {{Data Finland municipality|blank_info|Mikkeli}}
| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +02:00
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +03:00
| website            = [https://www.mikkeli.fi/ www.mikkeli.fi]
}}
'''Mikkeli''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈmikːeli|lang}}; {{langx|sv|S:t Michel}}; {{langx|la|Michaelia}}; {{langx|ru|Миккели}}) is a [[List of cities and towns in Finland|city]] in, and the regional capital of, [[South Savo]], [[Finland]], located in the [[Finnish Lakeland]]. The population is approximately {{formatnum:{{#expr:{{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mikkeli}}round -3}}}}, while the [[Mikkeli sub-region]] of South Savo has a population of approximately {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mikkeli}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hirvensalmi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kangasniemi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mäntyharju}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Puumala}}round -3}}}}. Mikkeli is the {{ordinal|{{Data Finland municipality/population count sequence|Mikkeli}}}} most-populous [[Municipalities of Finland|municipality of Finland]] and the 19th most-populous [[List of urban areas in Finland by population|urban area in the country]].

Mikkeli is located on the shores of [[Saimaa|Lake Saimaa]], the largest [[List of lakes of Finland|lake in the country]], and [[List of largest lakes of Europe|Europe's fourth largest]]. Prior to being located within South Savo, the city was in [[Mikkeli Province]] (until 1997), before becoming part of [[Eastern Finland Province]] (1997-2009). The city covers an area of {{Convert|{{Data Finland municipality/total area|Mikkeli}}|km2}}, of which {{Convert|{{Data Finland municipality/waters area|Mikkeli}}|km2|abbr=on}} is water. Mikkeli is one of the largest towns in the South Savo region, and one of the main hubs in the region's [[Healthcare in Finland|hospital districts]], along with [[Savonlinna]].<ref name="grasten">{{Cite news|last=Gråsten|first=Hanna|date=2019-10-17|title=Näkökulma: Keskustan 18 maakunnan unelma säröilee – Ministeritkin hääräävät savolaisten herruustaistelussa|language=fi|trans-title=Perspective: The Centre's dream of 18 provinces is shattered, ministers battle over Savonian autonomy|work=[[Iltalehti]]|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/13f222cd-df38-490c-841c-2a9f641dd538|url-status=live|access-date=2023-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208201916if_/https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/13f222cd-df38-490c-841c-2a9f641dd538|archive-date=2022-12-08|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Mikkeli served as the headquarters for the [[Finnish Defence Forces]], thus the town's [[Coat of arms of Finland|coat of arms]] features a pair of crossed Marshal [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|C. G. E. Mannerheim]] batons in honour of the armed forces. The town was awarded the [[Order of the Cross of Liberty|Cross of Liberty]], {{Ordinal|4}} Class, which is displayed alongside the coat of arms.<ref name="iltanen">{{Cite book|last=Iltanen|first=Jussi|title=Suomen kuntavaakunat. Kommunvapnen i Finland|publisher=Karttakeskus|year=2013|isbn=9789522660923|location=Helsinki|pages=133–134|language=fi|trans-title=Finnish municipal coats of arms|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Moresources|section|date=June 2023}}
[[File:Astuvansalmi rock paintings detail 1.jpg|thumb|left|Astuvansalmi rock paintings]]
The earliest signs of human life in Mikkeli are the [[Astuvansalmi rock paintings]] in [[Ristiina]], dating back to 4100-2000 BCE.<ref name="seitsonen">{{Cite journal|last=Seitsonen|first=Oula|date=January 2005|title=Shoreline displacement chronology of rock paintings at Lake Saimaa, eastern Finland|url=http://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/bfarm.2005.1.4|url-status=live|journal=Before Farming|language=en|volume=2005|issue=1|page=6|doi=10.3828/bfarm.2005.1.4|issn=1476-4253|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230914135612if_/https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/bfarm.2005.1.4|archive-date=2023-09-14|access-date=2023-09-14|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Astuvansalmi is the largest rock painting site in the Nordic countries.<ref name="astuvansalmi">{{Cite web|title=Astuvansalmi leads you to the ancient mysteries of Lake Saimaa|url=https://www.visitmikkeli.fi/en/teema/astuvansalmi-leads-you-to-the-ancient-mysteries-of-lake-saimaa|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604100315if_/https://www.visitmikkeli.fi/en/teema/astuvansalmi-leads-you-to-the-ancient-mysteries-of-lake-saimaa|archive-date=2023-06-04|access-date=2023-09-14|website=Visit Mikkeli|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The peace [[treaty of Nöteborg]] in 1323, with which the [[pogost]] (church parish) of [[Mikkelin maalaiskunta|Savilahti]] was transferred from the control of [[Novgorod]] to [[Sweden]], is the oldest written record of the settlement in the present region of Mikkeli. The locality received its present name Mikkeli after [[Archangel]] [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]] by the early 16th century at the latest.<ref name="twl">{{Cite book|last=Korpela|first=Jukka|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tm-feqIHevYC&dq=treaty%20of%20N%C3%B6teborg%201323%20Mikkeli&pg=PA85|title=The world of Ladoga: society, trade, transformation and state building in the eastern Fennoscandian forest zone c. 1000-1555|date=2008|publisher=[[LIT Verlag]]|isbn=978-3-8258-1633-9|series=Nordische Geschichte|location=[[Münster]]|page=85|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On 23 January 1597, more than 200 peasant rebels were killed in the parsonage of Kenkävero in part of the larger [[Cudgel War]]. In the war waged by King [[Gustav III of Sweden]] against Russia, the [[Battle of Porrassalmi]] took place a few miles south of Mikkeli on 13 June 1789. In the battle the Swedes (Finns) victoriously defended their positions against superior numbers of Russians.

Mikkeli was granted town rights in 1838.<ref name="pauginc">{{Cite book|last=Hall|first=Thomas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H2eQAgAAQBAJ&q=mikkeli%201838|title=Planning and Urban Growth in Nordic Countries|date=2003-12-16|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=978-1-1358-2987-2|page=71|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The provincial government of the province of Mikkeli that had been established in 1831, moved from [[Heinola]] to Mikkeli in 1843.
[[File:Mikkeli ca 1900-1910..jpg|thumb|left|[[Mikkeli railway station]] in the early 20th century]]
In 1918, during the [[Finnish Civil War|Civil War]], the headquarters of the [[White Guard (Finland)|White Army]] were established in Mikkeli.<ref name="tfr">{{Cite book|last=Upton|first=Anthony F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-iTqvnpRXDEC&dq=mikkeli%20white%20army%201918&pg=PA489|title=The Finnish Revolution: 1917-1918|date=1980|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-1-4529-1239-4|page=489|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Mikkeli was located in a conservative farming area and it was a White stronghold, but elements of the Russian Army garrison in the area supported the Reds. A major engagement was fought around the railway station at Mäntyharju, about {{Convert|20|km|abbr=on}} to the south of Mikkeli, when the Whites blocked a Red thrust coming north out of [[Kouvola]]. During the [[Winter War]] and [[Continuation War]], the headquarters of the Finnish Army was located in Mikkeli.<ref name="carruthers">{{Cite book|last=Carruthers|first=Bob|title=Hitler's Forgotten Armies: Combat in Norway and Finland|date=May 2012|publisher=Bookzine Company Limited|isbn=978-1-7815-8099-8|language=en|chapter=10|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QBYdmzFyFyAC&dq=headquarters%20mikkeli%20Winter%20War&pg=PT90|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Army staff made their base in a local secondary school. At the site of that school is the small {{Language with name/for|fi|Päämajamuseo|Headquarters Museum}} containing photographs and memorabilia of the era. As a result of serving as the headquarters of the army that was based there, Mikkeli was bombed heavily, but since there was almost no high-rise development at the time the damage was quickly repaired. Architecturally, most of pre-war Mikkeli doesn't exist anymore.
[[File:Ryti and Rangell's visit to marshal Mannerheim at headquarters 1941 (JOKAOM13HeV mae-3).tif|thumb|right|President [[Risto Ryti]] (left) and prime minister [[Johan Wilhelm Rangell|J. W. Rangell]] (behind Ryti) on their first visit to Marshal Mannerheim (center) at headquarters in Mikkeli in 1941]]
Wartime Mikkeli is identified with [[Marshal of Finland|Marshal]] [[Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim|C. G. E. Mannerheim]], the supreme commander of the [[Finnish Defence Forces]] and later President of Finland. His personal railway carriage, which he used as a command post during the war, is parked in a siding at Mikkeli Station. It is possible to look inside the carriage through its windows at any time, but public entry to the carriage is permitted only once a year, on Mannerheim's birthday (4 June). The carriage was the venue of Mannerheim's famous 1942 meeting with [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]] near [[Immola Airfield|Immola]], during which their private conversation was secretly recorded; photographs of this meeting are on display in the carriage. Mannerheim was a regular diner at the Mikkelin Klubi, where his favourite drink was [[Marskin ryyppy|schnapps]].

One of the main museums in the town is the {{Language with name/for|fi|Jalkaväkimuseo|Infantry Museum}}, located in one of the former army barracks, close to the University of Applied Sciences.<ref name="infantry">{{Cite web|title=Museum Exhibitions|url=https://jalkavakimuseo.fi/?page_id=1830&lang=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416201355if_/https://jalkavakimuseo.fi/?page_id=1830&lang=en|archive-date=2021-04-16|access-date=2023-09-14|website=Jalkaväkimuseo|language=en-GB|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It contains exhibits from the four wars in Finland's modern history – the Civil, Winter, Continuation and [[Lapland War]]s. The museum also contains an exhibit dedicated to Finnish war hero [[Lauri Törni]].<ref name="nargele">{{Cite book|last=Nargele|first=Dominik George, Lt. Col., USMC (Ret.)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-GNNnwEACAAJ|title=Terror Survivors and Freedom Fighters|publisher=AuthorHouse|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4678-3743-9|location=[[Bloomington, Illinois|Bloomington, IL]]|page=35|language=en|access-date=2023-09-14|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 1986, there was a [[1986 Mikkeli hostage crisis|hostage crisis]] in Mikkeli when a bank robber drove from [[Helsinki]] with three hostages and parked there. When the police shot at the hostage taker's car he detonated explosives contained inside, killing himself and one hostage.

In 1997, there was a province reform, which made Mikkeli the capital of the new province of [[Eastern Finland]]. In a separate reform, the [[Mikkelin maalaiskunta|rural municipality of Mikkeli]] which had surrounded the town and the municipality of [[Anttola]] were consolidated into Mikkeli in early 2001. The municipality of [[Haukivuori]] was consolidated with Mikkeli on 1 January 2007, and likewise with [[Ristiina]] and [[Suomenniemi]] in 2013.

In 2024, there were plans to establish a sub-staff of [[Finnish Army|ground forces]] working under the military alliance in Mikkeli following Finland's admission into [[NATO]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/politiikka/a/056ca27a-d30e-4202-bf61-5a551a882050|title=IL:n tiedot: Mikkeli on saamassa Nato-alaesikunnan|first=Lauri|last=Nurmi|work=[[Iltalehti]]|date=9 April 2024|access-date=10 April 2024|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/ulkomaat/a/1914b237-842a-4ba0-acc1-3a04894e2003|title=Venäjän media havahtui Mikkeliin perustettavaan Nato–pisteeseen: "Korkean valmiuden päämaja"|first=Mikael|last=Shepelenko|work=[[Iltalehti]]|date=10 April 2024|access-date=10 April 2024|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.nv.ua/amp/nato-will-establish-a-headquarters-just-140-km-from-russia-in-mikkeli-finland-50408681.html|title=NATO to establish new HQ in southern Finland — 140 km from Russia|first=Alona|last=Sonko|work=[[The New Voice of Ukraine]]|date=10 April 2024|access-date=10 April 2024}}</ref> NATO's Multi-Corps Land Component Command (MCLCC) began operations on 1 September 2025 and its official opening ceremony was held on 3 October 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mikkeli.fi/en/2025/10/03/natos-multi-corps-land-component-command-officially-opened-in-mikkeli/|title=NATO's Multi-Corps Land Component Command officially opened in Mikkeli|publisher=City of Mikkeli|date=3 October 2025|access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://maavoimat.fi/en/-/nato-s-multi-corps-land-component-command-northwest-official-inauguration-holds-in-mikkeli|title=The official inauguration of NATO's Multi-Corps Land Component Command Northwest is held in Mikkeli|publisher=[[Finnish Army]] ([[Finnish Defence Forces]])|date=3 October 2025|access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Mikkelin keskusta-alueen kartta.svg|thumb|right|Map of urban Mikkeli]]
The centre of Mikkeli is located on a low rise, near the shore of a [[bay]] of Lake [[Saimaa]].<ref name="lonelyplanet">{{Cite book|last1=Symington|first1=Andy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SNatbAr2SFgC|title=Finland|last2=Dunford|first2=George|publisher=[[Lonely Planet]]|year=2009|isbn=978-1-74104-771-4|edition=6th|location=[[Footscray, Victoria|Footscray, Vic.]]|page=145|language=en|access-date=2023-09-14|df=mdy-all}}</ref> There are several smaller lakes in and around the town; the lakes to the east of town belong to the [[River Vuoksi]] system, while to the west, the town reaches [[Puula|Lake Puula]], which belongs to the system of the [[Kymi River|River Kymijoki]].

=== Climate ===
Mikkeli has a [[subarctic climate]] (''Dfc''), bordering on [[humid continental]] (''Dfb''), as May and September average just slightly below 10˚C (50˚F).
{{Weather box
| location = [[Mikkeli Airport]] (1991–2020, extremes 1959–present)
| width = auto
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 7.1
| Feb record high C = 8.5
| Mar record high C = 15.0
| Apr record high C = 23.8
| May record high C = 30.2
| Jun record high C = 33.1
| Jul record high C = 32.7
| Aug record high C = 33.2
| Sep record high C = 27.0
| Oct record high C = 19.9
| Nov record high C = 11.8
| Dec record high C = 9.7
| year record high C = 33.2
| Jan high C = -4.3
| Feb high C = -3.9
| Mar high C = 1.0
| Apr high C = 8.0
| May high C = 15.5
| Jun high C = 19.8
| Jul high C = 22.3
| Aug high C = 20.3
| Sep high C = 14.4
| Oct high C = 7.0
| Nov high C = 1.4
| Dec high C = -2.3
| year high C = 8.3
| Jan mean C = -7.2
| Feb mean C = -7.3
| Mar mean C = -3.1
| Apr mean C = 3.0
| May mean C = 9.7
| Jun mean C = 14.4
| Jul mean C = 17.0
| Aug mean C = 14.9
| Sep mean C = 9.8
| Oct mean C = 4.0
| Nov mean C = -0.5
| Dec mean C = -4.3
| year mean C = 4.2
| Jan low C = -10.5
| Feb low C = -11.0
| Mar low C = -7.7
| Apr low C = -1.8
| May low C = 3.3
| Jun low C = 8.5
| Jul low C = 11.4
| Aug low C = 9.8
| Sep low C = 5.5
| Oct low C = 1.1
| Nov low C = -2.9
| Dec low C = -7.5
| year low C = -0.2
| Jan record low C = -37.1
| Feb record low C = -37.5
| Mar record low C = -36.3
| Apr record low C = -24.4
| May record low C = -8.3
| Jun record low C = -4.9
| Jul record low C = 0.0
| Aug record low C = -3.1
| Sep record low C = -6.8
| Oct record low C = -16.3
| Nov record low C = -26.5
| Dec record low C = -33.0
| year record low C = -37.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 48
| Feb precipitation mm = 37
| Mar precipitation mm = 35
| Apr precipitation mm = 33
| May precipitation mm = 42
| Jun precipitation mm = 69
| Jul precipitation mm = 78
| Aug precipitation mm = 70
| Sep precipitation mm = 54
| Oct precipitation mm = 64
| Nov precipitation mm = 56
| Dec precipitation mm = 54
| year precipitation mm = 639
| Jan precipitation days = 12
| Feb precipitation days = 10
| Mar precipitation days = 9
| Apr precipitation days = 7
| May precipitation days = 8
| Jun precipitation days = 11
| Jul precipitation days = 11
| Aug precipitation days = 10
| Sep precipitation days = 9
| Oct precipitation days = 12
| Nov precipitation days = 12
| Dec precipitation days = 13
| source 2 = Record highs and lows<ref name="FMI open data">{{cite web
| url = https://kilotavu.com/asema-taulukko.php?asema=101398
| title = FMI open data
| publisher = FMI
| access-date = 18 January 2025}}</ref>
| source = FMI normals 1991-2020<ref name="FMI">{{cite web|url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/items/d7ce3a4f-bf47-4453-be76-2a0de738c59a |title=FMI normals 1991-2020|publisher=fmi.fi |access-date=11 July 2025}}</ref>
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan avg record low C = -25.8
| Feb avg record low C = -25.1
| Mar avg record low C = -19.4
| Dec avg record low C = -20.1
| Apr avg record low C = -10.2
| May avg record low C = -4.1
| Jun avg record low C = 0.8
| Jul avg record low C = 5.1
| Aug avg record low C = 2.9
| Sep avg record low C = -2.0
| Oct avg record low C = -8.2
| Nov avg record low C = -13.7
| year avg record low C = -29.0
| Jan avg record high C = 3.0
| Feb avg record high C = 3.0
| Mar avg record high C = 8.6
| Apr avg record high C = 17.3
| May avg record high C = 24.6
| Jun avg record high C = 26.9
| Jul avg record high C = 28.1
| Aug avg record high C = 26.7
| Sep avg record high C = 21.0
| Oct avg record high C = 13.4
| Nov avg record high C = 7.8
| Dec avg record high C = 4.0
| year avg record high C = 29.2
}}

==Economy==
[[File:Stella Shopping center.jpg|thumb|Entrance of the {{ill|Stella shopping centre|fi|Kauppakeskus Stella}}]]
In 2022, in addition to educational institutions, Mikkeli's largest employers are the Suur-Savo Cooperative, [[Rejlers]] and [[Savonlinja]], and among the companies with the largest turnover are also the subsidiaries of {{ill|Suur-Savon Sähkö|fi}}, Järvi-Suomen Energia and Lumme Energia.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.finder.fi/kunta/Mikkeli | title = Mikkeli | website = finder.fi | access-date = 5 October 2025 | language = fi }}</ref> Mikkeli's development company Miksei Oy is responsible for the development of business and industry in Mikkeli.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mikseimikkeli.fi/en/?lang=en|title=Miksei Mikkeli|access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref>

The city also operates the {{ill|Central Archives for Finnish Business Records'|fi|Suomen Elinkeinoelämän Keskusarkisto}} (ELKA).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://elka.fi/en/contact/|title=ELKA|access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref>

==Demographics==

===Population===

The city of Mikkeli has {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mikkeli}}}} inhabitants, making it the {{ordinal|{{Data Finland municipality/population count sequence|Mikkeli}}}} most populous municipality in Finland. The [[Mikkeli sub-region|Mikkeli region]] has a population of {{formatnum: {{#expr: {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mikkeli}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Hirvensalmi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Kangasniemi}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Mäntyharju}} + {{Data Finland municipality/population count|Puumala}}}}}}. The city's [[population density]] is {{Convert|{{Data Finland municipality/population density|Mikkeli|round=2}}|PD/km2}}.<ref name="population_count" />

{{Bar chart
| title   = Population size of Mikkeli (and merged municipalities) 1990–2020<ref name="Stat-finland-population-38,000-persons">{{Cite web | url=https://stat.fi/en/publication/cl8lprraorrr20dut5a0tywm5 | title=Number of foreign-language speakers grew by nearly 38,000 persons | date=31 May 2023 | publisher=Statistics Finland | access-date=12 September 2023 | language=en }}</ref>
| label_type  = Year
| data_type   = Population
| bar_width = 47
| width_units = em
| label3  = 1990
| label4  = 1995
| label5  = 2000
| label6  = 2005
| label7  = 2010
| label8  = 2015
| label9  = 2020 
| data_max = 57000
| data3  = 54404
| data4  = 55563
| data5  = 55222
| data6  = 54728
| data7  = 54455
| data8  = 54665
| data9  = 52583
}}

=== Languages ===

{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|direction=row
|caption = Population by<br/>mother tongue (2024)<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final">{{cite web |url= https://stat.fi/en/publication/cm1jg8tr20lco07vwvoif9s6i |title= Number of foreign-language speakers exceeded 600,000 during 2024  |date= 2025-04-04 |series= Population structure |publisher= Statistics Finland |issn= 1797-5395  |access-date=2025-04-12 }}</ref>
|label1 = Finnish
|value1 = 93.6
|color1 = #002F6C
|label2 = Russian
|value2 = 1.4
|color2 = #D52B1E
|label3 = Ukrainian
|value3 = 1.1
|color3 = #FFD800
|label4 = Arabic
|value4 = 0.4
|color4 = #165D31
|label5 = Estonian
|value5 = 0.3
|color5 = #0072CE
|label6 = Persian
|value6 = 0.3
|color6 = #239F40
|label7 = English
|value7 = 0.3
|color7 = #FFFFFF
|label8 = Other
|value8 = 2.6
|color8 = #C5C5C5
}}
Mikkeli is a monolingual [[Finnish language|Finnish-speaking]] municipality. {{As of|2024}}, the majority of the population, {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Mikkeli}}}} persons ({{Percentage|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Finnish|Mikkeli}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Mikkeli}}|1}}), spoke Finnish as their first language. In addition, the number of [[Swedish-speaking population of Finland|Swedish speakers]] was {{formatnum: {{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Mikkeli }}}} persons ({{Percentage|{{Data Finland municipality/native language Swedish|Mikkeli}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Mikkeli}}|1}}) of the population. Foreign languages were spoken by {{Formatnum: {{Percentage|{{Data Finland municipality/native language other|Mikkeli}}|{{Data Finland municipality/native language total|Mikkeli}}|1}}}} of the population.<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/> As [[English language|English]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]] are compulsory school subjects, functional bilingualism or trilingualism acquired through language studies is not uncommon.

At least 30 different languages are spoken in Mikkeli. The most common foreign languages are [[Russian language|Russian]] (1.4%), [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]] (1.1%), [[Arabic]] (0.4%) and [[Estonian language|Estonian]] (0.3%).<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

=== Immigration ===

{|class="wikitable" style="float:right;" 
|colspan="3"|'''Population by country of birth (2024)'''<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>
|-\
! Nationality || Population || %
|-
|{{flag|Finland}} || 48,656 || 93.8
|-
|{{flag|Soviet Union}} || 723 || 1.4
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}} || 298 || 0.6
|-
|{{flag|Russia}} || 238 || 0.5
|-
|{{flag|Philippines}} || 152 || 0.3
|-
|{{flag|Estonia}} || 137 || 0.3
|-
|{{flag|Sweden}} || 106 || 0.2
|-
|{{flag|Thailand}} || 102 || 0.2
|-
|{{flag|Afghanistan}} || 91 || 0.2
|-
|{{flag|Syria}} || 90 || 0.2
|-
|{{flag|Vietnam}} || 84 || 0.2
|- 
|Other || 1,213 || 2.3
|- 
|}
{{As of|2024}}, there were 3,302 persons with a foreign background living in Mikkeli, or 6% of the population.{{refn|Statistics Finland classifies a person as having a "foreign background" if both parents or the only known parent were born abroad.<ref name="statistics-finland-persons-with-foreign-background">{{cite web |access-date=18 September 2023 |title=Persons with foreign background |publisher=Statistics Finland | url=https://www.stat.fi/tup/maahanmuutto/maahanmuuttajat-vaestossa/ulkomaalaistaustaiset_en.html}}</ref>|group=note}} The number of residents who were born abroad was 3,234, or 6% of the population. The number of persons with foreign citizenship living in Mikkeli was 2,356. Most foreign-born citizens came from the former [[Soviet Union]], [[Russia]], [[Estonia]] and [[Thailand]].<ref name="statistics-finland-population-2024-final"/>

The relative share of immigrants in Mikkeli's population is below to the national average. However, the city's new residents are increasingly of foreign origin. This will increase the proportion of foreign residents in the coming years.

=== Urban areas ===
In 2023, out of the total population of 51,919; 41,929 people lived in [[Urban areas in Finland|urban areas]] and 9,524 in sparsely populated areas, while the coordinates of 466 people were unknown. The urban population in the municipality was divided between six statistical urban areas as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pxdata.stat.fi/PxWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_14x4.px/table/tableViewLayout1/|title=Taajama- ja haja-asutusalueväestö iän ja sukupuolen mukaan kunnittain, 2023|publisher=[[Statistics Finland]]|access-date=5 October 2025|language=fi}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
 ! # !! Urban area !! Population
 |-
 | align="center" | 1 || '''[[Mikkeli urban area]]''' || align="right" | 36,807
 |-
 | align="center" | 2 || [[Ristiina|Ristiina church village]] ||align="right"| 2,030
 |-
 | align="center" | 3 || [[Otava (village)|Otava]] ||align="right"| 1,413
 |-
 | align="center" | 2 || [[Anttola|Anttolankylä]] ||align="right"| 767
 |-
 | align="center" | 3 || [[Haukivuori|Haukivuori station area]] ||align="right"| 678
 |-
 | align="center" | 3 || [[Pellosniemi]] ||align="right"| 234
 |}

=== Religion ===
[[File:Mikkelin tuomiokirkko 11.JPG|thumb|[[Mikkeli Cathedral]]]]
In 2023, the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland|Evangelical Lutheran Church]] was the largest religious group with 71.4% of the population of Mikkeli. Other religious groups accounted for 1.9% of the population. 26.7% of the population had no religious affiliation.<ref>[https://pxdata.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/en/StatFin/StatFin__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_11ra.px Key figures on population by region, 1990-2023] Statistics Finland</ref>

== Education ==
[[File:Xamk Mikpoli.jpg|thumb|left|South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences]]
A central campus of [[South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences]] (Xamk) is located in Mikkeli and is a major employer in the city. Its history dates back to 1965, when Mikkeli was selected as the site for a new higher education college specializing in professional, engineering and vocational studies, enrolling its first class of students in 1969 while situated in an old Russian Army barracks on the outskirts of town. Purpose-built accommodations have since been added, but the old buildings are still in use, with the student union located in the "Officers' Club" building. The Polytechnic changed its name to [[Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences]] in 2006 and merged in the beginning of 2017 with [[Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences]] to constitute a new university: [[South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences]] (Xamk).

Several other universities also have operations in Mikkeli. The Mikkeli University Consortium includes units from [[University of Helsinki]], [[Aalto University]] (formerly Helsinki School of Economics), [[University of Eastern Finland]] and [[Lappeenranta University of Technology]].<ref name="lut">{{Cite web|title=LUT University|url=https://muc.fi/en/research-and-development/sustainability-change/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924164732if_/https://muc.fi/en/research-and-development/sustainability-change/|archive-date=2020-09-24|access-date=2023-09-14|website=MUC|language=en-GB|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Aalto offers a highly ranked Bachelor of Science degree in international business, taught in English, which draws students and faculty from around the world.<ref name="aalto">{{Cite web|date=2018-08-17|title=International Business, Bachelor (BScBA, Mikkeli) and Master of Science (Otaniemi) in Economics and Business Administration|url=https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/bachelors-programme-in-international-business-mikkeli-campus|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919123913if_/https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/bachelors-programme-in-international-business-mikkeli-campus|archive-date=2020-09-19|access-date=2023-09-14|website=[[Aalto University]]|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

== Traffic ==
[[File:Mikkeli Mannerheims railway carriage 01 2009-10-02.jpg|thumb|right|Mannerheim's carriage]]
Mikkeli has a fast road connection to the [[Helsinki metropolitan area]] through [[Finnish national road 5]] and [[Finnish national road 4]], which is a four lane highway. Mikkeli has a [[Mikkeli railway station|railway station]] on the [[Savo railway]] with five trains to and from Helsinki, daily. There are also bus connections to neighboring cities and municipalities and a small local bus transit network within the city limits. Mikkeli also has its own [[Mikkeli Airport|airport]], which however has had no scheduled commercial flights since 2005.

== Culture ==
Mikkeli boasts its own concert hall, which is a world class facility built in 1988 to commemorate Mikkeli's 150th anniversary as a town. The concert hall is the home of [[St. Michel Strings]] chamber orchestra, and also provides the main venue for the annual Mikkeli Music Festival, which attracts musicians and audiences from across Europe.<ref name="mmf">{{Cite web|title=Mikkeli Music Festival in brief|url=https://mikkelinmusiikkijuhlat.fi/en/mikkeli-music-festival|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129130626if_/https://mikkelinmusiikkijuhlat.fi/en/mikkeli-music-festival|archive-date=2023-01-29|access-date=2023-09-14|website=Mikkelin Musiikkijuhlat|language=en|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The [[Mariinsky Opera]], led by [[Valery Gergiev]], performs there regularly.<ref name="mmf" />

== Tourism ==
[[File:Dinosauria water slides.jpg|thumb|right|A swimming pools and water slides in [[Visulahti]]]]
Mikkeli is a major holiday resort within the [[Finnish lakeland]] area. A well-known and popular [[Travel center|travel centre]] and [[theme park]] ''[[Visulahti]]'' is in Mikkeli, located in the shores of Lake Saimaa.<ref>[https://www.discoveringfinland.com/destination/visulahti-travel-centre-theme-park/ Visulahti Travel Centre & Theme Park]</ref> Mikkeli is a popular area for summerhouses due to its vast amount of lakes; in 2020, there were over 10,000 summer houses in Mikkeli, the second most in Finland increasing the population during the summer months.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Katso lista! Nämä ovat suomalaisten 15 suosituinta mökkipaikkakuntaa|url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/mokkiextra/a/3ab9b802-2317-4ee2-8d72-7c7729086a7b|access-date=2020-08-06|website=www.iltalehti.fi|language=fi}}</ref> A major part of tourism is based on nature and especially lakes.

Due to Mikkeli's role as the headquarter city in [[Finland in World War II|World War II]], the town has several museums dedicated to that period of time. These museums include the Infantry museum, the Lokki Communications Center, and the Headquarters museum.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Museums - Visitmikkeli|url=https://www.visitmikkeli.fi/museums|access-date=2020-08-06|website=www.visitmikkeli.fi}}</ref>

The annual trotting event St Michel ravit is Mikkeli's largest event with approximately 20 000 spectators.

Hotels are concentrated in the center of Mikkeli. In other areas, there are rental cottages scattered in the smaller villages and countryside.

== Sport ==
[[File:2016 12 24 Suomi (14).jpg|thumb|right|[[Jukurit]] ice hockey match at [[Ikioma Areena]].]]
[[Jukurit]] is an ice hockey team from Mikkeli, which competes in the Finnish premier league, [[Liiga]]. The team has won six [[Mestis]] (second highest league) championships (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2013 and 2015).<ref>{{cite web|title=Jukurit HC Oy |url=http://www.mestis.fi/index.php/jukurit.html |publisher=[[Mestis]] |access-date=1 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208020910/http://mestis.fi/index.php/jukurit.html |archive-date=February 8, 2014 }}</ref>

[[Mikkelin Kampparit]] plays in the highest [[bandy]] division.<ref>{{cite web|title=Suomen jääpalloliitto|url=http://www.finbandy.fi/fi/|publisher=[[Finland's Bandy Association]]|access-date=1 June 2014}}</ref> In 2012, they became Finnish champions for the first time.<ref>[http://worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=122&title=Kampparit%20new%20Finnish%20Champions%20in%20bandy Kampparit new Finnish Champions in bandy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419190030/http://worldbandy.com/news.asp?newsid=122&title=Kampparit%20new%20Finnish%20Champions%20in%20bandy |date=April 19, 2014 }}</ref>

Mikkeli has two major football teams, [[Mikkelin Palloilijat]] (MP) and [[Mikkelin Kissat|Mikkelin Pallo-Kissat]] (MiPK). Both of them have played in the Finnish premier league, currently MP is playing on the second highest level and MiPK on the third highest. The former EU commissioner [[Olli Rehn]] used to play for MP for 13 years (youth teams 1968–78, first team 1979–82).<ref name="Olli Rehn">{{cite web|title=Olli Rehn - Personal Profile|url=http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/rehn/about/cv/index_en.htm|work=[[European Commission]]|access-date=28 April 2014}}</ref>

== Government ==
[[File:Mikkelin kaupungintalo 2.JPG|thumb|The {{ill|Mikkeli City Hall|fi|Mikkelin kaupungintalo}}]]
The {{ill|City Council of Mikkeli|fi|Mikkelin kaupunginvaltuusto|lt=Mikkeli City Council}} consists of 51 councillors. The current chairman of the council is Oskari Valtola ([[National Coalition Party|NCP]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mikkeli.fi/en/decision-making/city-council/|title=City Council|website=Mikkeli.fi|access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref> The City Board consists of 11 members and is chaired by Pekka Pöyry ([[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mikkeli.fi/en/decision-making/city-board/|title=City Board|website=Mikkeli.fi|access-date=5 October 2025}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
{{Div col}}
*[[Manuela Bosco]] (born 1982), actress and hurdler
*[[Jussi Jääskeläinen]] (born 1975), professional footballer and football coach
*[[Jari Ketomaa]] (born 1979), rally driver
*[[Harri Kirvesniemi]] (1958), cross-country skier<ref name="Kirvesniemi">{{cite web |title=Harri Kirvesniemi|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ki/harri-kirvesniemi-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417115955/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ki/harri-kirvesniemi-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|work=Sports Reference|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref>
*[[Mikko Kolehmainen]] (born 1964), canoe sprinter<ref name="Mikko Kolehmainen">{{cite web |title=Mikko Kolehmainen|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/mikko-kolehmainen-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417053946/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/mikko-kolehmainen-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|work=Sports Reference|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref> 
*[[Olli Kolehmainen]] (born 1967), canoe sprinter<ref name="Olli Kolehmainen">{{cite web |title=Olli Kolehmainen|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/olli-kolehmainen-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417180028/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ko/olli-kolehmainen-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|work=Sports Reference|access-date=15 February 2018}}</ref> 
*[[Shefki Kuqi]] (born 1976), Kosovan-born professional footballer and football manager
*[[Erkki Liikanen]] (born 1950), politician<ref name=Bank>{{cite web|title=BANK OF FINLAND - Erkki Liikanen|url=http://www.suomenpankki.fi/en/suomen_pankki/organisaatio/johtokunta/Pages/liikanen.aspx|publisher=[[Bank of Finland]]|access-date=27 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428031711/http://www.suomenpankki.fi/en/suomen_pankki/organisaatio/johtokunta/Pages/liikanen.aspx|archive-date=April 28, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> 
*[[Otto Manninen]] (1872–1950) writer, poet and translator
*[[Mikko Tarmia]] (born 1978), video game music composer
*[[Arja Saijonmaa]] (born 1944), singer, actress and political activist
*[[Olli Rehn]] (born 1962), politician<ref>{{cite web|publisher=EC webpage|url= http://ec.europa.eu/archives/commission_2004-2009/rehn/profile/cv_en.htm|title=Olli Rehn CV}}</ref>
{{Div col end}}

== International relations ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Finland}}

=== Twin towns and sister cities ===
Mikkeli is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
* {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Békéscsaba]], Hungary<ref name=sister>{{cite web|title=Ystävyyskaupungit ja -kunnat|url=http://www.mikkeli.fi/sisalto/ystavyyskaupungit-ja-kunnat|work=mikkeli.fi|access-date=28 April 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429051741/http://www.mikkeli.fi/sisalto/ystavyyskaupungit-ja-kunnat|archive-date=April 29, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> 
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Luga, Leningrad Oblast|Luga]], Russia<ref name=sister/>
* {{flagicon|EST}} [[Mõisaküla]], Estonia<ref name=sister/>
||
* {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Vejle]], Denmark<ref name=sister/>
* {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Molde Municipality|Molde]], Norway<ref name=sister/><ref>{{cite web|title=Vennskapsbyer|url=http://www.molde.kommune.no/vennskapsbyer.263537.no.html|work=kommune.no|access-date=26 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052427/http://www.molde.kommune.no/vennskapsbyer.263537.no.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Borås]], Sweden<ref name=sister/>
|}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|auto=yes|d=yes}}
* [https://mikkeli.fi/en/ Official Site]
* [https://www.visitmikkeli.fi/en Visit Mikkeli website]
* [https://www.xamk.fi/en/frontpage/ South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences website]

{{Geographic location
 | Centre = Mikkeli
 | N  = [[Pieksämäki]]
 | E  = [[Juva]]<br/>[[Puumala]]
 | S  = [[Savitaipale]] ([[South Karelia]])
 | W  = [[Hirvensalmi]]<br/>[[Mäntyharju]]
 | NW = [[Kangasniemi]]
}}
{{SouthernSavonia}}
{{50 most populous Finnish municipalities}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Mikkeli| ]]
[[Category:1838 establishments in Finland]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Finland]]
[[Category:Grand Duchy of Finland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of South Savo]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1838]]