Vefsn: population and statistics
Vefsn has a population of 13,481 (2026) across 1,838.0 km², or 7.3 people per km². It ranks 92 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is stable: +0.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 13,481 residents
- 1,838.0 km²
- 7 people/km²
- 140 m
Key points
Among the 41 municipalities in Nordland - Nordlánnda, Vefsn ranks No. 4 by population.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: 118.4 per 1,000 inh. in Vefsn, 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 Vefsn, compared with an average of 0.7% in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 1.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Real estate, with 12.4% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 779 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 257,423 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.5 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Leirfjord, 35.3 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Rana - Raane (25,844 residents), 80 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,116 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Vefsn in numbers
All indicators for Vefsn
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 | Vefsn | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.2 per 1,000 inh. | 0.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 214 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.2% | 22.9% | 23.7% | ranked 194 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.6% | 18.4% | 18.7% | ranked 180 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Vefsn | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 7,367 | 132,814 | 2,760,619 | ranked 83 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 9.0% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 288 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 15.6% | 19.9% | 21.8% | ranked 255 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 79.3% | 81.1% | 89.9% | ranked 285 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 10.7% | 12.9% | 4.4% | ranked 83 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 55.6 per 1,000 inh. | 119.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 281 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Vefsn | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 1,312 | 27,283 | 656,492 | ranked 106 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 97.3 per 1,000 inh. | 112.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 308 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 530,100 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 65 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,596 per 1,000 inh. | 33,457 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 114 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 118.4 per 1,000 inh. | 137.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 333 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 8.5 per 1,000 inh. | 10.8 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 314 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Vefsn | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 69.2% | 67.7% | 67.5% | ranked 118 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 | Vefsn | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 81,896 | – | 112,411 | ranked 63 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Vefsn | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 605 per 1,000 inh. | 565 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 130 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 26.3% | 21.5% | 19.7% | ranked 88 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Vefsn | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 11.3% | 14.0% | 15.2% | ranked 303 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Vefsn | 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 | Vefsn | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 28.0% | 30.9% | 27.5% | ranked 161 of 351 |
Population of Vefsn over time
Vefsn had 13,427 residents in 2016 and 13,481 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 13,268 |
| 2022 | 13,233 |
| 2023 | 13,342 |
| 2024 | 13,469 |
| 2025 | 13,475 |
| 2026 | 13,481 |
Where is Vefsn?
Business sectors: Vefsn
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Real estate12.4% ×1.1
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing12.0% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade11.9% ×1.1
- Construction10.8% ×1.0
- Health and social work10.1% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical8.4% ×0.7
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4.7% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services4.5% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Vefsn
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Vefsn?
Vefsn has 13,481 residents (2026), ranking 92 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Vefsn?
Vefsn covers 1,838.0 km², with a density of 7 people per km².
Is the population of Vefsn growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Vefsn went from 13,427 to 13,481, a change of +0.4%.
Where is Vefsn?
Vefsn is in Nordland - Nordlánnda. Latitude 65.799, longitude 13.251.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Vefsn?
In Vefsn, “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 118.4 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 333 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 Vefsn?
In Vefsn, “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 Vefsn?
In Vefsn, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 779 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Vefsn?
The nearest to Vefsn are Leirfjord (35 km), Alstahaug (35 km), Vevelstad (36 km), Hemnes (45 km), Dønna (46 km).