The 8 municipalities of the Kainuu Region (Swedish: Kajanaland) in Finland are divided into two sub-regions.

Kajaani sub-region

• Kajaani (Kajana)
• Paltamo
• Ristijärvi
• Sotkamo

Kehys-Kainuu sub-region

• Hyrynsalmi
• Kuhmo
• Puolanka
• Suomussalmi

Former municipalities

• Kajaanin maalaiskunta (merged with Kajaani in 1977)
• Säräisniemi (formed Vaala with a part of Utajärvi in 1954)
• Vuolijoki (merged with Kajaani in 2007)
• Vaala (moved to North Ostrobothnia region in 2016)