People from Sortavalsky District

Armi Maria Ratia née Airaksinen (13 July 1912 – 3 October 1979) was the co-founder of the Finnish textile and clothing company Marimekko Oy. She is among Finland's most famous female entrepreneurs. She was born in Pälkjärvi in Ladoga Karelia. For a detailed biographical article in the context of her Marimekko company, see The National Biography of Finland entry.

Rauni-Leena Tellervo Luukanen-Kilde née Valve (15 November 1939 – 8 February 2015) was a Finnish physician who wrote and lectured on parapsychology, ufology and mind control.

Yrjö Ilmari Keinonen (31 August 1912, in Ruskeala – 29 October 1977, in Nurmijärvi) was a Finnish General of the Infantry and Knight of the Mannerheim Cross. He was the Chief of Defence of the Finnish Defence Forces between 1965 and 1969.

Benjam "Benjamin" Vanninen (29 June 1921 – 22 July 1975) was a Finnish cross-country skier. He won a bronze medal in the 50 km event at the 1948 Winter Olympics, 20 seconds ahead of his elder brother Pekka. Vanninen never won a Finnish title, but won the 50 km race at the Lahti Ski Games in 1946 and 1948 and at Ounasvaara in 1946 and 1947. After retiring from competitions he worked as a customs officer, merchant, and manufacturer of skating equipment and ski wax.

Teuvo Ensio Aura (28 December 1912 in Ruskeala – 11 January 1999 in Helsinki) was a Finnish politician of the Liberal People's Party. He served as Mayor of Helsinki and interim Prime Minister of Finland twice, in 1970 and 1971–72.

Jaakko Nousiainen (born 20 December 1931, in Pälkjärvi) is a professor of Finnish political science, and has served as a chancellor of the University of Turku. He graduated as a student in the Joensuu lyseon, in 1950. He was a doctoral student at the University of Helsinki, in 1959. In his doctoral dissertation, he studied Communist support in the municipality of Kuopio. An expert in Finland politics and government, Nousiainen analyzed the basis of Communism's support and distinguished Communism between Communist rural and Communist urban areas.

Antti Juutilainen (15 January 1882, Ruskeala - 18 July 1951) was a Finnish farmer and politician. He was a member of the Parliament of Finland from 1916 to 1930, representing the Agrarian League.

Matti Pitkänen (22 November 1885, Sortavalan maalaiskunta - 11 June 1958) was a Finnish farmer and politician. He was a member of the Parliament of Finland from 1922 to 1936 and again from 1939 to 1945, representing the Agrarian League.

Pekka Vanninen (29 January 1911 – 13 February 1970) was a Finnish cross-country skier who won six national titles over 50 km, in 1937–38, 1946 and 1948–50. He competed in this event at the 1948 Winter Olympics and finished fourth, 20 seconds behind his younger brother Benjamin. Pekka served as the Finnish flag bearer at those Olympics.

Adolf (Aatto) Suppanen (born 15 April 1855 in then-Finnish Ruskeala, d. 3 February 1898 in Helsinki) was a Finnish writer, journalist and translator. He used the nom de plume of Aatto S.