Nesbyen: population and statistics
Nesbyen has a population of 3,234 (2026) across 772.0 km², or 4.2 people per km². It ranks 223 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −5.5% between 2016 and 2026.
- 3,234 residents
- 772.0 km²
- 4 people/km²
- 310 m
Key points
Among the 18 municipalities in Buskerud, Nesbyen ranks No. 12 by population.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: 1,245 per 1,000 inh. in Nesbyen, compared with an average of 179.8 per 1,000 inh. in Buskerud and 80.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: 0.5% in Nesbyen, compared with an average of 1.3% in Buskerud and 1.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 25.0% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 43° generates about 873 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74”: lower than in 92% of municipalities.
- “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 108,123 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.4 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Gol (4,902 residents), 22 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,492 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Nesbyen in numbers
All indicators for Nesbyen
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 | Nesbyen | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −3.1 per 1,000 inh. | 6.4 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 297 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 28.7% | 20.5% | 23.7% | ranked 42 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 15.5% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 315 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Nesbyen | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 1,974 | 132,645 | 2,760,619 | ranked 216 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 21.6% | 16.4% | 16.4% | ranked 90 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 15.8% | 25.9% | 21.8% | ranked 249 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 91.6% | 74.5% | 89.9% | ranked 129 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 3.2% | 20.5% | 4.4% | ranked 206 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,245 per 1,000 inh. | 179.8 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 21 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Nesbyen | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 667 | 33,324 | 656,492 | ranked 187 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 206.2 per 1,000 inh. | 122.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 38 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 500,100 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 179 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 813 per 1,000 inh. | 45,107 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 193 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 251.4 per 1,000 inh. | 165.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 33 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 14.5 per 1,000 inh. | 12.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 59 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Nesbyen | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 68.9% | 66.8% | 67.5% | ranked 128 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.5% | 1.3% | 0.9% | ranked 306 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Nesbyen | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 621 per 1,000 inh. | 547 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 94 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 18.5% | 27.6% | 19.7% | ranked 199 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Nesbyen | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 17.3% | 25.8% | 15.2% | ranked 121 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Nesbyen | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.7 years | 82.7 | 82.8 | ranked 203 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Nesbyen | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 27.2% | 33.7% | 27.5% | ranked 188 of 351 |
Population of Nesbyen over time
Nesbyen had 3,422 residents in 2016 and 3,234 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,262 |
| 2022 | 3,273 |
| 2023 | 3,299 |
| 2024 | 3,301 |
| 2025 | 3,266 |
| 2026 | 3,234 |
Where is Nesbyen?
Business sectors: Nesbyen
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing25.0% ×2.4
- Construction18.9% ×1.8
- Real estate9.7% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade7.3% ×0.6
- Health and social work5.4% ×0.6
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.3% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical4.5% ×0.4
- Administrative and support services4.2% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Nesbyen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nesbyen?
Nesbyen has 3,234 residents (2026), ranking 223 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Nesbyen?
Nesbyen covers 772.0 km², with a density of 4 people per km².
Is the population of Nesbyen growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Nesbyen went from 3,422 to 3,234, a change of −5.5%.
Where is Nesbyen?
Nesbyen is in Buskerud. Latitude 60.558, longitude 9.101.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Nesbyen?
In Nesbyen, “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 1,245 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 21 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 153.1 per 1,000 inh..
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Nesbyen?
In Nesbyen, “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74” stands at 0.5% (2025), ranking 306 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 0.9%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Nesbyen?
In Nesbyen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 43° produces about 873 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Nesbyen?
The nearest to Nesbyen are Gol (22 km), Flå (27 km), Ål (31 km), Nore og Uvdal (32 km), Sør-Aurdal (34 km).