Sortland - Suortá: population and statistics
Sortland - Suortá has a population of 10,748 (2026) across 697.0 km², or 15.4 people per km². It ranks 109 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 10,748 residents
- 697.0 km²
- 15 people/km²
- 0 m
Key points
Among the 41 municipalities in Nordland - Nordlánnda, Sortland - Suortá ranks No. 6 by population.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: −3.2 per 1,000 inh. in Sortland - Suortá, compared with an average of 0.1 per 1,000 inh. in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 4.0 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Share of dwellings built before 1946: 9.8% in Sortland - Suortá, compared with an average of 11.1% in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 15.9% nationally.
Largest business sector: Real estate, with 15.1% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 50° generates about 816 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 97,619 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Øksnes, 23.3 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Harstad - Hárstták (25,204 residents), 47 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,264 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Sortland - Suortá in numbers
All indicators for Sortland - Suortá
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 | Sortland - Suortá | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −3.2 per 1,000 inh. | 0.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 298 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 20.9% | 22.9% | 23.7% | ranked 262 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 20.2% | 18.4% | 18.7% | ranked 98 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sortland - Suortá | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 5,495 | 132,814 | 2,760,619 | ranked 107 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 9.8% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 282 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 24.6% | 19.9% | 21.8% | ranked 130 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 80.6% | 81.1% | 89.9% | ranked 273 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 11.4% | 12.9% | 4.4% | ranked 80 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 57.2 per 1,000 inh. | 119.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 279 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sortland - Suortá | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 1,272 | 27,283 | 656,492 | ranked 109 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 118.3 per 1,000 inh. | 112.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 215 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 510,000 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 141 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,569 per 1,000 inh. | 33,457 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 117 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 146.0 per 1,000 inh. | 137.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 241 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 10.5 per 1,000 inh. | 10.8 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 246 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sortland - Suortá | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 68.0% | 67.7% | 67.5% | ranked 157 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | ranked 198 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Sortland - Suortá | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 591 per 1,000 inh. | 565 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 174 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 21.1% | 21.5% | 19.7% | ranked 147 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Sortland - Suortá | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 14.9% | 14.0% | 15.2% | ranked 190 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Sortland - Suortá | 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 | Sortland - Suortá | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 29.1% | 30.9% | 27.5% | ranked 130 of 351 |
Population of Sortland - Suortá over time
Sortland - Suortá had 10,214 residents in 2016 and 10,748 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 10,514 |
| 2022 | 10,468 |
| 2023 | 10,561 |
| 2024 | 10,618 |
| 2025 | 10,781 |
| 2026 | 10,748 |
Where is Sortland - Suortá?
Business sectors: Sortland - Suortá
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Real estate15.1% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade13.7% ×1.2
- Construction11.2% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.7% ×0.9
- Health and social work8.5% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical6.7% ×0.6
- Administrative and support services5.1% ×1.1
- Other service activities5.0% ×1.3
Sunshine and temperatures: Sortland - Suortá
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sortland - Suortá?
Sortland - Suortá has 10,748 residents (2026), ranking 109 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Sortland - Suortá?
Sortland - Suortá covers 697.0 km², with a density of 15 people per km².
Is the population of Sortland - Suortá growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Sortland - Suortá went from 10,214 to 10,748, a change of +5.2%.
Where is Sortland - Suortá?
Sortland - Suortá is in Nordland - Nordlánnda. Latitude 68.696, longitude 15.413.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Sortland - Suortá?
In Sortland - Suortá, “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at −3.2 per 1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 298 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 4.1 per 1,000 inh..
Share of dwellings built before 1946: what is the figure for Sortland - Suortá?
In Sortland - Suortá, “Share of dwellings built before 1946” stands at 9.8% (2026), ranking 282 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 16.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sortland - Suortá?
In Sortland - Suortá, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 50° produces about 816 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sortland - Suortá?
The nearest to Sortland - Suortá are Øksnes (23 km), Kvæfjord (30 km), Hadsel (30 km), Lødingen (33 km), Bø (34 km).