Smøla: population and statistics
Smøla has a population of 2,141 (2026) across 261.0 km², or 8.2 people per km². It ranks 275 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is stable: 0.0% between 2016 and 2026.
- 2,141 residents
- 261.0 km²
- 8 people/km²
- 30 m
Key points
Among the 27 municipalities in Møre og Romsdal, Smøla ranks No. 27 by population.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: 0.3% in Smøla, compared with an average of 0.9% in Møre og Romsdal and 1.2% nationally.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: 235.9 per 1,000 inh. in Smøla, compared with an average of 141.5 per 1,000 inh. in Møre og Romsdal and 162.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 35.6% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 43° generates about 801 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Møre og Romsdal for “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- Number 1 in Møre og Romsdal for “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 36,555 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.3 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Aure (3,371 residents), 32 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,204 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Smøla in numbers
All indicators for Smøla
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 | Smøla | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −2.3 per 1,000 inh. | 2.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 286 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 27.3% | 21.9% | 23.7% | ranked 65 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 17.0% | 19.7% | 18.7% | ranked 266 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Smøla | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 1,231 | 138,587 | 2,760,619 | ranked 279 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 23.8% | 15.2% | 16.4% | ranked 56 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 18.4% | 24.0% | 21.8% | ranked 216 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 92.6% | 82.9% | 89.9% | ranked 104 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 1.2% | 11.2% | 4.4% | ranked 281 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 177.5 per 1,000 inh. | 66.5 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 161 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Smøla | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 421 | 30,396 | 656,492 | ranked 247 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 196.6 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 52 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 495,700 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 200 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 505 per 1,000 inh. | 38,655 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 248 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 235.9 per 1,000 inh. | 141.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 47 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 14.0 per 1,000 inh. | 10.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 75 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Smøla | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 69.1% | 68.8% | 67.5% | ranked 121 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.3% | 0.9% | 0.9% | ranked 334 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Smøla | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 559 per 1,000 inh. | 582 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 248 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 19.7% | 27.5% | 19.7% | ranked 176 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Smøla | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 17.0% | 16.7% | 15.2% | ranked 129 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Smøla | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 83.6 years | 83.6 | 82.8 | ranked 64 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Smøla | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 23.5% | 32.4% | 27.5% | ranked 295 of 351 |
Population of Smøla over time
Smøla had 2,141 residents in 2016 and 2,141 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,128 |
| 2022 | 2,120 |
| 2023 | 2,158 |
| 2024 | 2,159 |
| 2025 | 2,168 |
| 2026 | 2,141 |
Where is Smøla?
Business sectors: Smøla
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing35.6% ×3.5
- Real estate11.9% ×1.1
- Health and social work6.9% ×0.7
- Construction5.7% ×0.5
- Wholesale and retail trade5.7% ×0.5
- Administrative and support services5.2% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services4.9% ×1.6
- Professional, scientific and technical4.9% ×0.4
Sunshine and temperatures: Smøla
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Smøla?
Smøla has 2,141 residents (2026), ranking 275 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Smøla?
Smøla covers 261.0 km², with a density of 8 people per km².
Is the population of Smøla growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Smøla went from 2,141 to 2,141, a change of 0.0%.
Where is Smøla?
Smøla is in Møre og Romsdal. Latitude 63.402, longitude 8.029.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Smøla?
In Smøla, “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74” stands at 0.3% (2025), ranking 334 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 0.9%.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Smøla?
In Smøla, “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 235.9 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 47 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 167.1 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Smøla?
In Smøla, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 43° produces about 801 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Smøla?
The nearest to Smøla are Aure (32 km), Kristiansund (36 km), Hitra (44 km), Frøya (50 km), Averøy (51 km).