Ulstein: population and statistics
Ulstein has a population of 8,958 (2026) across 95.0 km², or 94.3 people per km². It ranks 125 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 8,958 residents
- 95.0 km²
- 94 people/km²
- 280 m
Key points
Among the 27 municipalities in Møre og Romsdal, Ulstein ranks No. 10 by population.
Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants: 7.9 per 1,000 inh. in Ulstein, compared with an average of 10.5 per 1,000 inh. in Møre og Romsdal and 13.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Share with university or university college education: 36.6% in Ulstein, compared with an average of 32.4% in Møre og Romsdal and 38.3% nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 14.6% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 698 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 93% of municipalities.
- “Share with university or university college education”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 13,305 football pitches.
- Its population density is 5.1 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Hareid, 7.7 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Ålesund (59,663 residents), 20 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 2,792 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Ulstein in numbers
All indicators for Ulstein
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 | Ulstein | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 7.9 per 1,000 inh. | 2.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 92 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 19.0% | 21.9% | 23.7% | ranked 295 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 21.3% | 19.7% | 18.7% | ranked 56 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ulstein | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 4,194 | 138,587 | 2,760,619 | ranked 129 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 8.3% | 15.2% | 16.4% | ranked 296 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 35.9% | 24.0% | 21.8% | ranked 40 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 83.6% | 82.9% | 89.9% | ranked 257 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 9.0% | 11.2% | 4.4% | ranked 98 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 25.1 per 1,000 inh. | 66.5 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 312 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ulstein | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 919 | 30,396 | 656,492 | ranked 141 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 102.6 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 287 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 521,500 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 95 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,174 per 1,000 inh. | 38,655 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 145 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 131.1 per 1,000 inh. | 141.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 300 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 7.9 per 1,000 inh. | 10.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 326 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ulstein | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 68.3% | 68.8% | 67.5% | ranked 147 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.7% | 0.9% | 0.9% | ranked 238 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Ulstein | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 574 per 1,000 inh. | 582 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 212 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 33.7% | 27.5% | 19.7% | ranked 40 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Ulstein | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 18.5% | 16.7% | 15.2% | ranked 90 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Ulstein | 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 | Ulstein | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 36.6% | 32.4% | 27.5% | ranked 35 of 351 |
Population of Ulstein over time
Ulstein had 8,430 residents in 2016 and 8,958 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,575 |
| 2022 | 8,557 |
| 2023 | 8,797 |
| 2024 | 8,861 |
| 2025 | 8,862 |
| 2026 | 8,958 |
Where is Ulstein?
Business sectors: Ulstein
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical14.6% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade14.1% ×1.3
- Real estate11.9% ×1.1
- Health and social work10.4% ×1.1
- Construction8.1% ×0.7
- Manufacturing6.7% ×2.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing5.7% ×0.6
- Administrative and support services4.7% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Ulstein
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ulstein?
Ulstein has 8,958 residents (2026), ranking 125 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Ulstein?
Ulstein covers 95.0 km², with a density of 94 people per km².
Is the population of Ulstein growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Ulstein went from 8,430 to 8,958, a change of +6.3%.
Where is Ulstein?
Ulstein is in Møre og Romsdal. Latitude 62.356, longitude 5.854.
Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Ulstein?
In Ulstein, “Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 7.9 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 326 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 11.9 per 1,000 inh..
Share with university or university college education: what is the figure for Ulstein?
In Ulstein, “Share with university or university college education” stands at 36.6% (2025), ranking 35 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 27.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ulstein?
In Ulstein, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 698 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ulstein?
The nearest to Ulstein are Hareid (7.7 km), Herøy (Møre og Romsdal) (16 km), Sula (20 km), Ålesund (20 km), Ørsta (23 km).