The city of Tampere has inhabitants, making it the most populous municipality in Finland and the tenth in the Nordics. The Tampere region, with people, is the second largest after the Helsinki metropolitan area. Tampere is home to 5% of Finland's population. 12% of the population has a foreign background, which is above the national average. However, it is lower than in the major Finnish cities of Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa or Turku.

The demographic structure of Tampere shows that the city is a very popular place to study, as the number of young adults is significantly higher than in other municipalities in the region. At the end of 2012, the old-age dependency ratio was 45. 19.2% of the population was over the age of 64 in 2024.

|-\

! Country of birth !! Population !! %

|-

| || 233,290 || 88.6

|-

| || 2,750 || 1.0

|-

| || 1,385 || 0.5

|-

| || 1,261 || 0.5

|-

| || 1,245 || 0.5

|-

| || 1,239 || 0.5

|-

| || 1,176 || 0.4

|-

| || 1,152 || 0.4

|-

| || 1,135 || 0.4

|-

| || 1,128 || 0.4

|-

| Other || 17,556 || 6.7

|}

, there were 29,841 people with a foreign background living in Tampere, or 12% of the population. There were 28,352 residents who were born abroad, or 11% of the population. The number of foreign citizens in Tampere was 19,576.

Education

thumb|left|[[Tampere University, Festia building]]

The comprehensive education is given mainly in Finnish but the city has special bilingual groups where students study in Finnish and a second language (English, French or German).

thumb|right|The campus building of the [[Police University College (Finland)|Police University College]]

There are three institutions of higher education in the Tampere area totaling 40,000 students: the university and two polytechnic institutions (). Tampere University (TUNI) has over 20,000 students and two campuses, one in the Kalevanharju district, close to the city centre, and one in Hervanta, in the southern part of the city. The institution was formed in 2019 as a result of the merge of University of Tampere (UTA) and Tampere University of Technology (TUT). TUNI is also the major shareholder of the Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu, TAMK), a polytechnic with about 10,000 students.

Today, Yle operates as a tenant in its old premises, which in 2013 was transformed into a hub for visual media production companies and training institutes called Mediapolis.

The Ruutu+ streaming service's popular crime drama television series Lakeside Murders (), based on the Koskinen book series by Seppo Jokinen, is also produced and filmed in Tampere. and the 2022 American sci-fi film Dual.

In 2014, Aamulehti, which was published in Tampere and was founded in 1881, Cities: Skylines II also features the city's geography as an in-game map for those who pre-ordered the game. Iceflake Studios, the studio working on Cities: Skylines II since 2026, is also headquartered in Tampere.

Food

alt=|thumb|[[Mustamakkara ("black sausage"), a speciality food from Tampere, is typically consumed with lingonberry jam.]]

thumb|right|Tampere claims to be the "wings capital of Finland", consuming almost half of the [[hot wings in Finland. The restaurant chain Siipiweikot originates from Tampere. Almost half of the chicken wings sold in Finland are eaten exclusively in Pirkanmaa. the first capital of Finland, and they tend to compete for the title of being the "second grand city of Finland" after Helsinki.

Main sights

right|thumb|[[Tammerkoski and Näsijärvi seen from Näsinneula]]

alt=|thumb|222x222px|The [[Kaleva Church, designed by Reima and Raili Pietilä, in Liisankallio]]

right|thumb|Interior of the [[Tampere Market Hall]]

One of the main tourist attractions is the Särkänniemi amusement park, which includes the landmark Näsinneula tower, topped by a revolving restaurant. In addition to these, it used to house an aquarium. Other sites of interest are Tampere Cathedral, Tampere City Hall, Tampere Central Library Metso ("Capercaillie"), Kaleva Church (both designed by Reima Pietilä), the Tampere Hall for conferences and concerts, the Tampere Market Hall (along Hämeenkatu) and historical Pyynikki observation tower. Construction of a new main ice hockey arena, Tampere Deck Arena,

Football

Like ice hockey, football is also a popular sport in Tampere. Ilves, the professional football club of Tampere, and was an important venue for competitions, hosting the Nordic Final as part of the qualifying for the Speedway World Championship and the Scandinavian round of the Speedway World Team Cup. In addition, it hosted the final of the Finnish Individual Speedway Championship. When it closed the speedway moved to the Kaanaa track, out of the city to the village of Velaatta by Teisko Airfield. More recently the Ratina Stadium held various speedway meetings from 1995 to 2015, including the Speedway Grand Prix of Finland in 2014 and 2015.

Gymnastics

Tampere has long tradition in various fields of gymnastics. Finnish Gymnastics Federation office is located in Kauppi Sports Centre. Local clubs include Tampereen Voimistelijat, Elixiria Sport, Rantaperkiön Isku, TTNV. Ikuri Gymnatics centre is the main training location. Large competitions are organized in Tampere Fair Centre. Gymnaestrada Finland was held in Tampere in 2022.

Other sports

In addition to all of the above, volleyball, wrestling and boxing are also among Tampere's best-known sports. and the 2010 World Ringette Championships on 1–6 November at Hakametsä arena.

Tampere hosted the 2023 European Masters Games from 26 June to 9 July.

Transport

thumb|Train from [[Helsinki to Kolari stopping at Tampere]]

thumb|[[Tampere–Pirkkala Airport. This photo was taken during COVID-19 pandemic, when the airport was nearly empty.]]

thumb|Bus terminals at the [[Tampere Central Square ()]]

thumb|[[Tram in Hämeenkatu, Tampere]]

Roads

To the south of Tampere, there is the Tampere Ring Road, which is important for car traffic and which is part of Finnish highways number 3 (on the west side) and number 9 (on the east side). The main stretch of the ring road sees over 50,000 vehicles per day,

Notable people

Born before 1900

thumb|upright|[[James Finlayson (industrialist)|James Finlayson, Scottish Quaker and industrialist best known for founding the Finlayson company]]

thumb|170px|[[J. K. Paasikivi, the Prime Minister of Finland and later the 7th President of Finland]]

  • Emil Aaltonen (1869–1949), industrialist and philanthropist
  • Emanuel Aromaa (1873–1933), politician
  • Eero Berg (1898–1969), long-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist
  • Minna Canth (1844–1897), author and social activist
  • Rosa Clay (1875–1959), a Namibian-born Finnish American teacher, singer and choral conductor
  • Minna Craucher (1891–1932), socialite and spy
  • James Finlayson (1772–1852), Scottish Quaker and industrialist
  • Väinö Hakkila (1882–1958), politician
  • Gustaf Idman (1885–1961), diplomat and a non-partisan Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Alma Jokinen (1882–1939), politician
  • Feliks Kellosalmi (1877–1939), politician
  • Augusta Laine (1867–1949), teacher of home economics and politician
  • Frans Oskar Lilius (1871–1928), politician
  • Wivi Lönn (1872–1966), architect
  • Kaapo Murros (1875–1951), journalist, lawyer, writer and politician
  • Juho Kusti Paasikivi (1870–1956), the Prime Minister of Finland and the 7th President of Finland
  • Aaro Pajari (1897–1949), Major General and the Knight of the Mannerheim Cross
  • Arvo Pohjannoro (1893–1963), Lutheran clergyman and politician
  • Anders Rajala (1891–1957), wrestler
  • Julius Saaristo (1891–1969) track and field athlete and Olympic gold medalist
  • Matti Schreck (1897–1946), banker and film producer
  • Frans Eemil Sillanpää (1888–1964), author and Nobel laureate
  • Bertel Strömmer (1890–1962), architect
  • Vilho Tuulos (1895–1967), triple jumper, long jumper and Olympic gold medalist
  • August Wesley (1887–?), journalist, trade unionist and revolutionary

Born after 1900

thumb|upright|[[Aleksander Barkov, ice hockey player]]

thumb|upright|[[Väinö Linna, author of The Unknown Soldier and Under the North Star trilogy]]

thumb|upright|[[Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland from 2019 to 2023.]]

  • Jonne Aaron (born 1983), singer
  • Sinikka Antila (born 1960), lawyer and diplomat
  • Aleksander Barkov (born 1995), Finnish-Russian professional ice hockey player
  • Anu Bradford (born 1975), Finnish-American author and law professor
  • Johanna Debreczeni (born 1980), singer
  • Henrik Otto Donner (1939–2013), composer and music personality
  • Anna Falchi (born 1972), Finnish-Italian model and film actress
  • Mauri Favén (1920–2006), painter
  • Matti Haahti (born 1936), footballer
  • Jussi Halla-aho (born 1971), politician and former leader of the Finns Party
  • Roope Hintz (born 1996), professional ice hockey player
  • Anja Ignatius (1911–1995), violinist and music educator
  • Seppo Jokinen (born 1949), author
  • Viljo Kajava (1909–1998), author and poet
  • Tapani Kalliomäki (born 1970), stage and film actor
  • Glen Kamara (born 1995), professional footballer
  • Jorma Karhunen (1913–2002), Finnish Air Force ace and the Knight of the Mannerheim Cross
  • Leo Kinnunen (1943–2017), Formula One driver
  • Urpo Lahtinen (1931–1994), journalist and magazine publisher, founder of Tamperelainen
  • Kimmo Leinonen (born 1949), ice hockey executive and writer
  • Mika Koivuniemi (born 1967), bowling coach and professional ten-pin bowler
  • Kiira Korpi (born 1988), figure skater
  • Patrik Laine (born 1998), professional ice hockey player
  • Väinö Linna (1920–1992), author
  • Jyrki Lumme (born 1966), professional hockey player
  • Tiina Lymi (born 1971), actress, director, screenwriter and author
  • Taru Mäkelä (born 1959), film director and screenwriter
  • Eeva-Liisa Manner (1921–1995), poet, playwright and translator
  • Sanna Marin (born 1985), Prime Minister of Finland (2019–2023)
  • Sakari Mattila (born 1989), professional footballer
  • Matthau Mikojan (born 1982), rock musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter
  • Pate Mustajärvi (1956–2025), rock singer
  • Mikko Nousiainen (born 1975), actor
  • Teppo Numminen (born 1968), professional ice hockey player
  • Luka Nurmi (born 2004), racing driver
  • Erno Paasilinna (1935–2000), author and journalist
  • Pekka Paavola (1933–2023), politician and Minister of Justice
  • Tero Palmroth (born 1953), racing driver
  • Oiva Paloheimo (1910–1973), author, poet and aphorist
  • Veijo Pasanen (1930–1988), actor
  • Aku Pellinen (born 1993), racing driver
  • Sakari Puisto (born 1976), politician
  • Raisa Räisänen (1983–?), still missing 16-year-old girl, who was declared dead in absentia in 2007
  • Matti Ranin (1926–2013), actor
  • Leo Riuttu (1913–1989), actor
  • Seela Sella (born 1936), actress
  • Heikki Silvennoinen (1954-2024), musician and actor
  • Kikka (1964–2005), pop and schlager singer
  • Jukka Tapanimäki (1961–2000), software developer and game programmer
  • Armi Toivanen (born 1980), actress
  • Jussi Välimäki (born 1974), rally driver
  • Lauri Viita (1916–1965), poet
  • Erika Vikman (born 1993), singer
  • Sofia Vikman (born 1983), politician
  • Olavi Virta (1915–1972), singer
  • Hans Wind (1919–1995), fighter pilot, flying ace and the Knight of the Mannerheim Cross
  • Aki Yli-Salomäki (born 1972), composer, music critic and music journalist

International relations

Tampere is twinned with:

  • Chemnitz, Germany

Tampere has two additional "friendship cities":

  • León, Nicaragua

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Further reading

  • Visit Tampere – The official Tampere Region visitor website
  • Virtual City Guide: VirtualTampere.com
  • Tampere – so much more than the sauna capital of the world – Visit Finland
  • Megan Starr: 15 Quirky and Alternative Things to Do in Tampere, Finland. – Megan & Aram (Meganstarr.com), 1 December 2021.
  • 1952 Summer Olympics official report pp.&nbsp;62–3.
  • Tammerkoski Heritage – Town's Industrial Heritage Portal
  • CSSA Tampere Ry