Gjesdal: population and statistics
Gjesdal has a population of 12,715 (2026) across 558.0 km², or 22.8 people per km². It ranks 95 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +7.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 12,715 residents
- 558.0 km²
- 23 people/km²
- 184 m
Key points
Among the 23 municipalities in Rogaland, Gjesdal ranks No. 11 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 18: 25.7% in Gjesdal, compared with an average of 22.0% in Rogaland and 19.6% nationally.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: 38.4% in Gjesdal, compared with an average of 33.5% in Rogaland and 27.0% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 15.2% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 35° generates about 706 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Rogaland for “Share of inhabitants under 18”.
- “Share of inhabitants under 18”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Share of dwellings built after 2000”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 91% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 78,151 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Sandnes (85,785 residents), 12 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 2,824 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Gjesdal in numbers
All indicators for Gjesdal
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 | Gjesdal | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 8.8 per 1,000 inh. | 4.7 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 81 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 13.9% | 16.9% | 23.7% | ranked 349 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 25.7% | 22.0% | 18.7% | ranked 1 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Gjesdal | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 5,126 | 228,912 | 2,760,619 | ranked 115 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 6.9% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 310 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 38.4% | 33.5% | 21.8% | ranked 24 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 85.0% | 76.9% | 89.9% | ranked 250 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 10.3% | 18.9% | 4.4% | ranked 88 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 67.6 per 1,000 inh. | 37.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 266 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Gjesdal | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 1,211 | 52,915 | 656,492 | ranked 113 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 95.2 per 1,000 inh. | 104.0 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 319 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 550,000 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 33 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,614 per 1,000 inh. | 72,613 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 112 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 126.9 per 1,000 inh. | 142.7 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 308 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 10.7 per 1,000 inh. | 12.2 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 238 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Gjesdal | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 72.4% | 70.0% | 67.5% | ranked 30 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.9% | ranked 97 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Gjesdal | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 541 per 1,000 inh. | 510 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 283 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 30.7% | 34.2% | 19.7% | ranked 55 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Gjesdal | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 20.4% | 22.0% | 15.2% | ranked 67 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Gjesdal | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 83.2 years | 83.2 | 82.8 | ranked 92 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Gjesdal | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 28.3% | 36.8% | 27.5% | ranked 149 of 351 |
Population of Gjesdal over time
Gjesdal had 11,853 residents in 2016 and 12,715 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,064 |
| 2022 | 12,131 |
| 2023 | 12,302 |
| 2024 | 12,362 |
| 2025 | 12,536 |
| 2026 | 12,715 |
Where is Gjesdal?
Business sectors: Gjesdal
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing15.2% ×1.5
- Wholesale and retail trade14.0% ×1.2
- Real estate11.8% ×1.1
- Construction11.5% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical9.2% ×0.8
- Health and social work5.9% ×0.6
- Manufacturing4.5% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services4.5% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Gjesdal
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gjesdal?
Gjesdal has 12,715 residents (2026), ranking 95 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Gjesdal?
Gjesdal covers 558.0 km², with a density of 23 people per km².
Is the population of Gjesdal growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Gjesdal went from 11,853 to 12,715, a change of +7.3%.
Where is Gjesdal?
Gjesdal is in Rogaland. Latitude 58.782, longitude 6.009.
Share of inhabitants under 18: what is the figure for Gjesdal?
In Gjesdal, “Share of inhabitants under 18” stands at 25.7% (2026), ranking 1 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 18.7%.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: what is the figure for Gjesdal?
In Gjesdal, “Share of dwellings built after 2000” stands at 38.4% (2026), ranking 24 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 21.8%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Gjesdal?
In Gjesdal, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 35° produces about 706 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Gjesdal?
The nearest to Gjesdal are Sandnes (12 km), Time (16 km), Bjerkreim (16 km), Klepp (24 km), Sola (24 km).