Nesna: population and statistics
Nesna has a population of 1,796 (2026) across 181.0 km², or 9.9 people per km². It ranks 296 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −2.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 1,796 residents
- 181.0 km²
- 10 people/km²
- 280 m
Key points
Among the 41 municipalities in Nordland - Nordlánnda, Nesna ranks No. 27 by population.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: 21.7 per 1,000 inh. in Nesna, compared with an average of 0.1 per 1,000 inh. in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 4.0 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: 60.1% in Nesna, compared with an average of 67.7% in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 68.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 25.0% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 49° generates about 870 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 25,350 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Leirfjord, 16.7 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Alstahaug (7,489 residents), 39 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,480 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Nesna in numbers
All indicators for Nesna
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 | Nesna | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 21.7 per 1,000 inh. | 0.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 13 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 22.9% | 22.9% | 23.7% | ranked 205 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.4% | 18.4% | 18.7% | ranked 193 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Nesna | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 1,292 | 132,814 | 2,760,619 | ranked 273 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 11.7% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 255 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 15.9% | 19.9% | 21.8% | ranked 248 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 68.6% | 81.1% | 89.9% | ranked 332 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 22.8% | 12.9% | 4.4% | ranked 18 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 148.1 per 1,000 inh. | 119.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 182 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Nesna | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 216 | 27,283 | 656,492 | ranked 327 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 120.3 per 1,000 inh. | 112.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 207 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 461,900 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 310 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 278 per 1,000 inh. | 33,457 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 315 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 154.8 per 1,000 inh. | 137.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 211 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 11.1 per 1,000 inh. | 10.8 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 210 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Nesna | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 60.1% | 67.7% | 67.5% | ranked 339 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.9% | ranked 268 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Nesna | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 498 per 1,000 inh. | 565 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 322 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 16.0% | 21.5% | 19.7% | ranked 238 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Nesna | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 25.1% | 14.0% | 15.2% | ranked 29 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Nesna | 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 | Nesna | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 33.8% | 30.9% | 27.5% | ranked 55 of 351 |
Population of Nesna over time
Nesna had 1,838 residents in 2016 and 1,796 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,701 |
| 2022 | 1,698 |
| 2023 | 1,783 |
| 2024 | 1,808 |
| 2025 | 1,770 |
| 2026 | 1,796 |
Where is Nesna?
Business sectors: Nesna
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing25.0% ×2.4
- Health and social work9.0% ×0.9
- Construction8.0% ×0.7
- Wholesale and retail trade7.5% ×0.7
- Real estate6.6% ×0.6
- Accommodation and food services6.1% ×2.0
- Professional, scientific and technical6.1% ×0.5
- Manufacturing5.7% ×1.7
Sunshine and temperatures: Nesna
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nesna?
Nesna has 1,796 residents (2026), ranking 296 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Nesna?
Nesna covers 181.0 km², with a density of 10 people per km².
Is the population of Nesna growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Nesna went from 1,838 to 1,796, a change of −2.3%.
Where is Nesna?
Nesna is in Nordland - Nordlánnda. Latitude 66.258, longitude 13.035.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Nesna?
In Nesna, “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 21.7 per 1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 13 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 4.1 per 1,000 inh..
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Nesna?
In Nesna, “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74” stands at 60.1% (2025), ranking 339 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 67.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Nesna?
In Nesna, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 49° produces about 870 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Nesna?
The nearest to Nesna are Leirfjord (17 km), Lurøy (21 km), Dønna (30 km), Rødøy (39 km), Alstahaug (39 km).