Vestnes: population and statistics
Vestnes has a population of 7,315 (2026) across 399.0 km², or 18.3 people per km². It ranks 141 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +10.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 7,315 residents
- 399.0 km²
- 18 people/km²
- 818 m
Key points
Among the 27 municipalities in Møre og Romsdal, Vestnes ranks No. 13 by population.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: 13.4 per 1,000 inh. in Vestnes, compared with an average of 2.1 per 1,000 inh. in Møre og Romsdal and 4.0 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Share with university or university college education: 24.1% in Vestnes, compared with an average of 32.4% in Møre og Romsdal and 38.3% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 19.3% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 42° generates about 702 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Møre og Romsdal for “Population change over 10 years”.
- Its area is roughly equal to 55,882 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Molde (33,291 residents), 19 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 2,808 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Vestnes in numbers
All indicators for Vestnes
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 | Vestnes | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 13.4 per 1,000 inh. | 2.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 40 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.9% | 21.9% | 23.7% | ranked 166 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.9% | 19.7% | 18.7% | ranked 159 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Vestnes | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 3,756 | 138,587 | 2,760,619 | ranked 141 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 16.3% | 15.2% | 16.4% | ranked 178 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 18.2% | 24.0% | 21.8% | ranked 219 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 88.6% | 82.9% | 89.9% | ranked 195 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 7.0% | 11.2% | 4.4% | ranked 121 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 100.5 per 1,000 inh. | 66.5 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 229 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Vestnes | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 912 | 30,396 | 656,492 | ranked 144 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 124.7 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 189 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 488,700 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 229 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,181 per 1,000 inh. | 38,655 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 143 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 161.4 per 1,000 inh. | 141.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 191 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 13.3 per 1,000 inh. | 10.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 99 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Vestnes | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 66.3% | 68.8% | 67.5% | ranked 214 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.9% | ranked 97 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Vestnes | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 625 per 1,000 inh. | 582 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 83 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 21.8% | 27.5% | 19.7% | ranked 137 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Vestnes | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 18.1% | 16.7% | 15.2% | ranked 101 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Vestnes | 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 | Vestnes | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 24.1% | 32.4% | 27.5% | ranked 278 of 351 |
Population of Vestnes over time
Vestnes had 6,611 residents in 2016 and 7,315 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,958 |
| 2022 | 6,936 |
| 2023 | 7,051 |
| 2024 | 7,147 |
| 2025 | 7,242 |
| 2026 | 7,315 |
Where is Vestnes?
Business sectors: Vestnes
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing19.3% ×1.9
- Construction11.4% ×1.1
- Real estate11.3% ×1.0
- Wholesale and retail trade9.2% ×0.8
- Manufacturing8.6% ×2.5
- Health and social work7.3% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical7.2% ×0.6
- Administrative and support services4.6% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Vestnes
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Vestnes?
Vestnes has 7,315 residents (2026), ranking 141 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Vestnes?
Vestnes covers 399.0 km², with a density of 18 people per km².
Is the population of Vestnes growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Vestnes went from 6,611 to 7,315, a change of +10.6%.
Where is Vestnes?
Vestnes is in Møre og Romsdal. Latitude 62.584, longitude 7.018.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Vestnes?
In Vestnes, “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 13.4 per 1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 40 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 4.1 per 1,000 inh..
Share with university or university college education: what is the figure for Vestnes?
In Vestnes, “Share with university or university college education” stands at 24.1% (2025), ranking 278 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 27.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Vestnes?
In Vestnes, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 42° produces about 702 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Vestnes?
The nearest to Vestnes are Molde (19 km), Aukra (25 km), Sykkylven (30 km), Haram (33 km), Fjord (34 km).