Hadsel: population and statistics
Hadsel has a population of 8,374 (2026) across 551.0 km², or 15.2 people per km². It ranks 130 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 8,374 residents
- 551.0 km²
- 15 people/km²
- 180 m
Key points
Among the 41 municipalities in Nordland - Nordlánnda, Hadsel ranks No. 9 by population.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: 112.5 per 1,000 inh. in Hadsel, compared with an average of 137.5 per 1,000 inh. in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 162.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: 0.6% in Hadsel, compared with an average of 0.7% in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 1.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 15.5% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 51° generates about 833 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 77,171 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Bø, 20.4 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Harstad - Hárstták (25,204 residents), 75 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,332 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Hadsel in numbers
All indicators for Hadsel
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 | Hadsel | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −1.6 per 1,000 inh. | 0.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 279 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 24.0% | 22.9% | 23.7% | ranked 161 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.3% | 18.4% | 18.7% | ranked 200 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Hadsel | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 4,726 | 132,814 | 2,760,619 | ranked 118 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 15.6% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 192 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 17.1% | 19.9% | 21.8% | ranked 234 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 87.8% | 81.1% | 89.9% | ranked 211 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 5.7% | 12.9% | 4.4% | ranked 144 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 75.7 per 1,000 inh. | 119.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 256 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Hadsel | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 765 | 27,283 | 656,492 | ranked 172 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 91.4 per 1,000 inh. | 112.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 324 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 503,600 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 160 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 942 per 1,000 inh. | 33,457 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 174 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 112.5 per 1,000 inh. | 137.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 340 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 8.8 per 1,000 inh. | 10.8 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 303 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Hadsel | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 67.7% | 67.7% | 67.5% | ranked 170 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.9% | ranked 268 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Hadsel | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 58,388 | – | 112,411 | ranked 69 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Hadsel | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 575 per 1,000 inh. | 565 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 211 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 17.9% | 21.5% | 19.7% | ranked 209 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Hadsel | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 17.1% | 14.0% | 15.2% | ranked 126 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Hadsel | 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 | Hadsel | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 30.4% | 30.9% | 27.5% | ranked 100 of 351 |
Population of Hadsel over time
Hadsel had 8,082 residents in 2016 and 8,374 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,065 |
| 2022 | 8,107 |
| 2023 | 8,184 |
| 2024 | 8,236 |
| 2025 | 8,400 |
| 2026 | 8,374 |
Where is Hadsel?
Business sectors: Hadsel
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing15.5% ×1.5
- Health and social work14.5% ×1.5
- Real estate11.4% ×1.0
- Construction10.4% ×1.0
- Wholesale and retail trade8.8% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical8.4% ×0.7
- Administrative and support services5.1% ×1.1
- Transport and storage4.6% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Hadsel
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Hadsel?
Hadsel has 8,374 residents (2026), ranking 130 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Hadsel?
Hadsel covers 551.0 km², with a density of 15 people per km².
Is the population of Hadsel growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Hadsel went from 8,082 to 8,374, a change of +3.6%.
Where is Hadsel?
Hadsel is in Nordland - Nordlánnda. Latitude 68.535, longitude 14.825.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Hadsel?
In Hadsel, “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 112.5 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 340 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 167.1 per 1,000 inh..
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Hadsel?
In Hadsel, “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74” stands at 0.6% (2025), ranking 268 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 0.9%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Hadsel?
In Hadsel, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 51° produces about 833 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Hadsel?
The nearest to Hadsel are Bø (20 km), Sortland - Suortá (30 km), Vågan (31 km), Lødingen (34 km), Øksnes (42 km).