Varkaus

Varkaus
Town
Varkauden kaupunki
Varkaus stad
Varkaus in July 2006
Location of Varkaus in Finland
Coordinates: 62°19′N 027°53.5′E / 62.317°N 27.8917°E / 62.317; 27.8917
Country Finland
RegionNorth Savo
Sub-regionVarkaus
Market town1929
City rights1961
Government
 • Town managerHannu Tsupari
Area
 (2018-01-01)
 • Total
524.48 km2 (202.50 sq mi)
 • Land385.62 km2 (148.89 sq mi)
 • Water138.45 km2 (53.46 sq mi)
 • Rank206th largest in Finland
Population
 (2025-06-30)
 • Total
19,603
 • Rank58th largest in Finland
 • Density50.84/km2 (131.7/sq mi)
Population by native language
 • Finnish93.6% (official)
 • Swedish0.2%
 • Others6.2%
Population by age
 • 0 to 1412%
 • 15 to 6456.4%
 • 65 or older31.6%
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Websitevarkaus.fi

Varkaus, before 1929 known as Warkaus, is a Middle-Savonian industrial town and municipality of Finland. It is located in the former province of Eastern Finland and is part of the North Savo region, between the city of Kuopio and the town of Savonlinna.

The municipality has a population of 19,603 (30 June 2025) and covers an area of 524.48 square kilometres (202.50 sq mi) of which 138.45 km2 (53.46 sq mi) is water. The population density is 50.84 inhabitants per square kilometre (131.7/sq mi).

The municipality is unilingually Finnish. In old Finnish 'Varkaus' meant strait, and this city is located in the lake district on straits between two parts of Lake Saimaa. An extension of the Saimaa Canal passes through the town.