Lestijärvi is located in the province of Western Finland and is part of the Central Ostrobothnia region.

[1] The population density is 1.39 inhabitants per square kilometre (3.6/sq mi).

Neighbouring municipalities are Halsua, Kinnula, Kokkola, Perho, Reisjärvi, Sievi and Toholampi.

This small, isolated rural area suffers from depopulation as in many other similar parts of Finland.

Other areas of Finland have similar schemes, such as providing very cheap land.