Gildeskål: population and statistics
Gildeskål has a population of 2,024 (2026) across 622.0 km², or 3.3 people per km². It ranks 280 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −0.9% between 2016 and 2026.
- 2,024 residents
- 622.0 km²
- 3 people/km²
- 200 m
Key points
Among the 41 municipalities in Nordland - Nordlánnda, Gildeskål ranks No. 21 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 18: 15.2% in Gildeskål, compared with an average of 18.4% in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 19.6% nationally.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: 62.9% in Gildeskål, compared with an average of 67.7% in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 68.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 20.3% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 49° generates about 860 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants under 18”: lower than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 87,115 football pitches.
- Its population density is 5.6 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Beiarn, 30.7 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Meløy (6,074 residents), 31 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,440 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Gildeskål in numbers
All indicators for Gildeskål
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 | Gildeskål | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 11.4 per 1,000 inh. | 0.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 60 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 29.4% | 22.9% | 23.7% | ranked 33 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 15.2% | 18.4% | 18.7% | ranked 320 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Gildeskål | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 1,231 | 132,814 | 2,760,619 | ranked 279 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 17.1% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 162 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 24.4% | 19.9% | 21.8% | ranked 133 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 88.5% | 81.1% | 89.9% | ranked 196 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 3.4% | 12.9% | 4.4% | ranked 202 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 484.2 per 1,000 inh. | 119.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 58 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Gildeskål | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 308 | 27,283 | 656,492 | ranked 288 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 152.2 per 1,000 inh. | 112.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 119 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 475,700 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 285 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 338 per 1,000 inh. | 33,457 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 294 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 167.0 per 1,000 inh. | 137.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 177 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 10.9 per 1,000 inh. | 10.8 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 224 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Gildeskål | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 62.9% | 67.7% | 67.5% | ranked 307 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.3% | 0.7% | 0.9% | ranked 43 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Gildeskål | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 581 per 1,000 inh. | 565 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 195 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 17.4% | 21.5% | 19.7% | ranked 217 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Gildeskål | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 18.4% | 14.0% | 15.2% | ranked 93 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Gildeskål | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.6 years | 82.6 | 82.8 | ranked 221 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Gildeskål | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 28.2% | 30.9% | 27.5% | ranked 155 of 351 |
Population of Gildeskål over time
Gildeskål had 2,043 residents in 2016 and 2,024 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,920 |
| 2022 | 1,894 |
| 2023 | 1,928 |
| 2024 | 1,958 |
| 2025 | 2,003 |
| 2026 | 2,024 |
Where is Gildeskål?
Business sectors: Gildeskål
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing20.3% ×2.0
- Construction13.4% ×1.3
- Real estate11.1% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical8.9% ×0.8
- Health and social work8.9% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade6.6% ×0.6
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4.6% ×0.8
- Education4.3% ×1.2
Sunshine and temperatures: Gildeskål
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gildeskål?
Gildeskål has 2,024 residents (2026), ranking 280 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Gildeskål?
Gildeskål covers 622.0 km², with a density of 3 people per km².
Is the population of Gildeskål growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Gildeskål went from 2,043 to 2,024, a change of −0.9%.
Where is Gildeskål?
Gildeskål is in Nordland - Nordlánnda. Latitude 67.033, longitude 14.033.
Share of inhabitants under 18: what is the figure for Gildeskål?
In Gildeskål, “Share of inhabitants under 18” stands at 15.2% (2026), ranking 320 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 18.7%.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Gildeskål?
In Gildeskål, “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74” stands at 62.9% (2025), ranking 307 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 67.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Gildeskål?
In Gildeskål, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 49° produces about 860 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Gildeskål?
The nearest to Gildeskål are Beiarn (31 km), Meløy (31 km), Bodø (32 km), Rødøy (58 km), Fauske - Fuossko (64 km).