Bygland: population and statistics
Bygland has a population of 1,167 (2026) across 1,150.0 km², or 1.0 people per km². It ranks 323 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −3.1% between 2016 and 2026.
- 1,167 residents
- 1,150.0 km²
- 1 people/km²
- 257 m
Key points
Among the 25 municipalities in Agder, Bygland ranks No. 23 by population.
Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: 233.1 per 1,000 inh. in Bygland, compared with an average of 118.3 per 1,000 inh. in Agder and 116.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Share of dwellings built before 1946: 27.8% in Bygland, compared with an average of 15.9% in Agder and 15.9% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 34.8% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 38° generates about 849 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Agder for “Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Share of dwellings built before 1946”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 161,064 football pitches.
- Its population density is 18.5 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Evje og Hornnes (3,842 residents), 26 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,396 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Bygland in numbers
All indicators for Bygland
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Bygland | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 8.6 per 1,000 inh. | 3.8 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 83 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 26.7% | 19.6% | 23.7% | ranked 83 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 16.9% | 20.5% | 18.7% | ranked 273 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Bygland | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 862 | 159,432 | 2,760,619 | ranked 313 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 27.8% | 15.9% | 16.4% | ranked 23 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 21.8% | 31.1% | 21.8% | ranked 173 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 83.2% | 77.3% | 89.9% | ranked 259 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 3.1% | 16.1% | 4.4% | ranked 209 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 725.8 per 1,000 inh. | 123.1 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 36 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Bygland | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 272 | 38,330 | 656,492 | ranked 298 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 233.1 per 1,000 inh. | 118.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 12 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 484,100 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 256 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 331 per 1,000 inh. | 51,828 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 297 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 283.6 per 1,000 inh. | 160.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 12 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 10.3 per 1,000 inh. | 13.3 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 253 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Bygland | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 64.9% | 65.2% | 67.5% | ranked 257 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.8% | 1.1% | 0.9% | ranked 198 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Bygland | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 655 per 1,000 inh. | 527 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 43 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 13.1% | 29.3% | 19.7% | ranked 283 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Bygland | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 12.3% | 17.9% | 15.2% | ranked 278 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Bygland | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.8 years | 82.8 | 82.8 | ranked 151 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Bygland | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 31.5% | 33.9% | 27.5% | ranked 82 of 351 |
Population of Bygland over time
Bygland had 1,204 residents in 2016 and 1,167 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,142 |
| 2022 | 1,134 |
| 2023 | 1,136 |
| 2024 | 1,180 |
| 2025 | 1,162 |
| 2026 | 1,167 |
Where is Bygland?
Business sectors: Bygland
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing34.8% ×3.4
- Construction9.6% ×0.9
- Health and social work8.5% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical8.1% ×0.7
- Manufacturing7.0% ×2.1
- Real estate6.3% ×0.6
- Accommodation and food services4.4% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade4.1% ×0.4
Sunshine and temperatures: Bygland
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bygland?
Bygland has 1,167 residents (2026), ranking 323 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Bygland?
Bygland covers 1,150.0 km², with a density of 1 people per km².
Is the population of Bygland growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Bygland went from 1,204 to 1,167, a change of −3.1%.
Where is Bygland?
Bygland is in Agder. Latitude 58.824, longitude 7.802.
Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Bygland?
In Bygland, “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 233.1 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 12 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 129.8 per 1,000 inh..
Share of dwellings built before 1946: what is the figure for Bygland?
In Bygland, “Share of dwellings built before 1946” stands at 27.8% (2026), ranking 23 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 16.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Bygland?
In Bygland, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 38° produces about 849 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Bygland?
The nearest to Bygland are Evje og Hornnes (26 km), Åseral (27 km), Åmli (40 km), Fyresdal (40 km), Valle (42 km).