Vestvågøy: population and statistics
Vestvågøy has a population of 11,606 (2026) across 407.0 km², or 28.5 people per km². It ranks 102 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 11,606 residents
- 407.0 km²
- 28 people/km²
- 200 m
Key points
Among the 41 municipalities in Nordland - Nordlánnda, Vestvågøy ranks No. 5 by population.
Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses: 94.0% in Vestvågøy, compared with an average of 81.1% in Nordland - Nordlánnda and 67.9% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 18.2% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 48° generates about 875 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
Vestvågøy in numbers
All indicators for Vestvågøy
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 | Vestvågøy | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 3.4 per 1,000 inh. | 0.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 188 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 21.5% | 22.9% | 23.7% | ranked 250 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 20.2% | 18.4% | 18.7% | ranked 98 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Vestvågøy | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 6,252 | 132,814 | 2,760,619 | ranked 98 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) | 22.7% | 19.9% | 21.8% | ranked 157 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 94.0% | 81.1% | 89.9% | ranked 72 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 2.9% | 12.9% | 4.4% | ranked 219 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 76.1 per 1,000 inh. | 119.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 254 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Vestvågøy | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 1,551 | 27,283 | 656,492 | ranked 88 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 133.6 per 1,000 inh. | 112.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 165 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 503,300 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 162 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,947 per 1,000 inh. | 33,457 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 91 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 167.8 per 1,000 inh. | 137.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 173 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 11.7 per 1,000 inh. | 10.8 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 181 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Vestvågøy | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 69.0% | 67.7% | 67.5% | ranked 124 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.8% | 0.7% | 0.9% | ranked 198 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Vestvågøy | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 103,475 | – | 112,411 | ranked 56 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Vestvågøy | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 595 per 1,000 inh. | 565 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 162 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 14.7% | 21.5% | 19.7% | ranked 252 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Vestvågøy | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 13.3% | 14.0% | 15.2% | ranked 244 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Vestvågøy | 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 | Vestvågøy | Nordland - Nordlánnda | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 29.4% | 30.9% | 27.5% | ranked 126 of 351 |
Population of Vestvågøy over time
Vestvågøy had 11,198 residents in 2016 and 11,606 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,521 |
| 2022 | 11,566 |
| 2023 | 11,551 |
| 2024 | 11,619 |
| 2025 | 11,582 |
| 2026 | 11,606 |
Where is Vestvågøy?
Business sectors: Vestvågøy
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing18.2% ×1.8
- Construction12.7% ×1.2
- Real estate11.7% ×1.1
- Wholesale and retail trade10.5% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical7.9% ×0.7
- Health and social work7.7% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services5.1% ×1.1
- Manufacturing4.8% ×1.4
Sunshine and temperatures: Vestvågøy
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Vestvågøy?
Vestvågøy has 11,606 residents (2026), ranking 102 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Vestvågøy?
Vestvågøy covers 407.0 km², with a density of 28 people per km².
Is the population of Vestvågøy growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Vestvågøy went from 11,198 to 11,606, a change of +3.6%.
Where is Vestvågøy?
Vestvågøy is in Nordland - Nordlánnda. Latitude 68.221, longitude 13.784.
Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses: what is the figure for Vestvågøy?
In Vestvågøy, “Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses” stands at 94.0% (2026), ranking 72 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 89.9%.
Establishments: what is the figure for Vestvågøy?
In Vestvågøy, “Establishments” stands at 1,551 (2026), ranking 88 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Vestvågøy?
In Vestvågøy, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 48° produces about 875 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Vestvågøy?
The nearest to Vestvågøy are Flakstad (26 km), Vågan (31 km), Moskenes (48 km), Hadsel (55 km), Bø (62 km).