The present-day county of Ostrobothnia, which was created by the reform of 1997, is characterised by its bilingualism, Finnish and Swedish each being the mother tongue of around half of the population. The county has around 180 000 inhabitants, spread over 15 municipalities, and its central settlement is Vaasa. Ostrobothnia has a low level of unemployment and a high employment rate, and is known for its entrepreneurial spirit.