Saltdal: population and statistics
Saltdal has a population of 4,865 (2026) across 2,084.0 km², or 2.3 people per km². It ranks 186 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.5% between 2016 and 2026.
- 4,865 residents
- 2,084.0 km²
- 2 people/km²
- 773 m
Key points
Among the 41 municipalities in Nordland - Nordlánnda, Saltdal ranks No. 13 by population.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: 108.7 per 1,000 inh. in Saltdal, compared with an average of 137.5 per 1,000 inh. in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 162.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: 15.2 per 1,000 inh. in Saltdal, compared with an average of 0.1 per 1,000 inh. in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 4.0 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 18.8% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 665 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 291,877 football pitches.
- Its population density is 8.0 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Fauske - Fuossko (9,707 residents), 38 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 2,660 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Saltdal in numbers
All indicators for Saltdal
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 | Saltdal | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 15.2 per 1,000 inh. | 0.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 32 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 24.9% | 22.9% | 23.7% | ranked 130 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.6% | 18.4% | 18.7% | ranked 180 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Saltdal | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 2,547 | 132,814 | 2,760,619 | ranked 193 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 14.4% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 214 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 13.0% | 19.9% | 21.8% | ranked 295 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 91.6% | 81.1% | 89.9% | ranked 129 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 4.6% | 12.9% | 4.4% | ranked 165 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 271.1 per 1,000 inh. | 119.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 111 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Saltdal | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 430 | 27,283 | 656,492 | ranked 244 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 88.4 per 1,000 inh. | 112.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 334 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 472,800 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 291 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 529 per 1,000 inh. | 33,457 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 241 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 108.7 per 1,000 inh. | 137.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 344 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 6.8 per 1,000 inh. | 10.8 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 340 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Saltdal | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 63.0% | 67.7% | 67.5% | ranked 305 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 | Saltdal | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 601 per 1,000 inh. | 565 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 142 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 11.4% | 21.5% | 19.7% | ranked 308 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Saltdal | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 15.1% | 14.0% | 15.2% | ranked 180 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Saltdal | 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 | Saltdal | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 26.2% | 30.9% | 27.5% | ranked 215 of 351 |
Population of Saltdal over time
Saltdal had 4,700 residents in 2016 and 4,865 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,632 |
| 2022 | 4,617 |
| 2023 | 4,650 |
| 2024 | 4,880 |
| 2025 | 4,822 |
| 2026 | 4,865 |
Where is Saltdal?
Business sectors: Saltdal
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing18.8% ×1.8
- Health and social work12.0% ×1.3
- Real estate11.0% ×1.0
- Construction9.4% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade9.2% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical7.3% ×0.6
- Manufacturing5.4% ×1.6
- Accommodation and food services5.4% ×1.8
Sunshine and temperatures: Saltdal
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Saltdal?
Saltdal has 4,865 residents (2026), ranking 186 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Saltdal?
Saltdal covers 2,084.0 km², with a density of 2 people per km².
Is the population of Saltdal growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Saltdal went from 4,700 to 4,865, a change of +3.5%.
Where is Saltdal?
Saltdal is in Nordland - Nordlánnda. Latitude 66.920, longitude 15.560.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Saltdal?
In Saltdal, “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 108.7 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 344 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 167.1 per 1,000 inh..
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Saltdal?
In Saltdal, “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 15.2 per 1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 32 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 4.1 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Saltdal?
In Saltdal, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 665 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Saltdal?
The nearest to Saltdal are Fauske - Fuossko (38 km), Beiarn (39 km), Sørfold - Fuolldá (48 km), Bodø (65 km), Gildeskål (68 km).