Sauda: population and statistics
Sauda has a population of 4,603 (2026) across 508.0 km², or 9.1 people per km². It ranks 190 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −2.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 4,603 residents
- 508.0 km²
- 9 people/km²
- 528 m
Key points
Among the 23 municipalities in Rogaland, Sauda ranks No. 15 by population.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: 0.5% in Sauda, compared with an average of 1.1% in Rogaland and 1.2% nationally.
Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants: 506 per 1,000 inh. in Sauda, compared with an average of 510 per 1,000 inh. in Rogaland and 505 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 14.9% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 42° generates about 833 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74”: lower than in 92% of municipalities.
- “Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 71,148 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.0 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Etne, 21.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Kvinnherad (13,236 residents), 35 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,332 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Sauda in numbers
All indicators for Sauda
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 | Sauda | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 0.2 per 1,000 inh. | 4.7 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 253 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.1% | 16.9% | 23.7% | ranked 198 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 20.3% | 22.0% | 18.7% | ranked 94 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sauda | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 2,551 | 228,912 | 2,760,619 | ranked 192 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 22.8% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 69 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 13.9% | 33.5% | 21.8% | ranked 282 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 92.2% | 76.9% | 89.9% | ranked 118 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 2.7% | 18.9% | 4.4% | ranked 225 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 282.0 per 1,000 inh. | 37.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 107 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sauda | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 509 | 52,915 | 656,492 | ranked 219 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 110.6 per 1,000 inh. | 104.0 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 255 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 522,700 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 90 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 614 per 1,000 inh. | 72,613 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 222 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 133.4 per 1,000 inh. | 142.7 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 294 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 8.7 per 1,000 inh. | 12.2 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 309 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sauda | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 67.2% | 70.0% | 67.5% | ranked 185 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.5% | 1.1% | 0.9% | ranked 306 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Sauda | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 506 per 1,000 inh. | 510 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 314 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 17.8% | 34.2% | 19.7% | ranked 212 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Sauda | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 13.4% | 22.0% | 15.2% | ranked 238 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Sauda | 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 | Sauda | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 26.8% | 36.8% | 27.5% | ranked 196 of 351 |
Population of Sauda over time
Sauda had 4,710 residents in 2016 and 4,603 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,561 |
| 2022 | 4,525 |
| 2023 | 4,543 |
| 2024 | 4,572 |
| 2025 | 4,600 |
| 2026 | 4,603 |
Where is Sauda?
Business sectors: Sauda
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing14.9% ×1.4
- Construction12.1% ×1.1
- Real estate10.1% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade9.9% ×0.9
- Health and social work9.1% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical8.0% ×0.7
- Administrative and support services5.0% ×1.1
- Accommodation and food services4.8% ×1.6
Sunshine and temperatures: Sauda
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sauda?
Sauda has 4,603 residents (2026), ranking 190 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Sauda?
Sauda covers 508.0 km², with a density of 9 people per km².
Is the population of Sauda growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Sauda went from 4,710 to 4,603, a change of −2.3%.
Where is Sauda?
Sauda is in Rogaland. Latitude 59.688, longitude 6.437.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Sauda?
In Sauda, “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74” stands at 0.5% (2025), ranking 306 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 0.9%.
Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Sauda?
In Sauda, “Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 506 per 1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 314 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 591 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sauda?
In Sauda, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 42° produces about 833 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sauda?
The nearest to Sauda are Etne (22 km), Suldal (25 km), Kvinnherad (35 km), Vindafjord (38 km), Ullensvang (43 km).