Nissedal: population and statistics
Nissedal has a population of 1,509 (2026) across 786.0 km², or 1.9 people per km². It ranks 304 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 1,509 residents
- 786.0 km²
- 2 people/km²
- 246 m
Key points
Among the 17 municipalities in Telemark, Nissedal ranks No. 16 by population.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: 1,693 per 1,000 inh. in Nissedal, compared with an average of 185.4 per 1,000 inh. in Telemark and 80.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: 226.0 per 1,000 inh. in Nissedal, compared with an average of 117.8 per 1,000 inh. in Telemark and 116.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 25.1% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 43° generates about 921 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Telemark for “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 110,084 football pitches.
- Its population density is 9.7 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Drangedal (4,056 residents), 27 km away.
Nissedal in numbers
All indicators for Nissedal
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 | Nissedal | Telemark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 19.9 per 1,000 inh. | 2.3 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 21 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 27.6% | 23.0% | 23.7% | ranked 59 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 20.3% | 18.5% | 18.7% | ranked 94 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Nissedal | Telemark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 850 | 92,912 | 2,760,619 | ranked 315 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 26.8% | 21.2% | 16.4% | ranked 29 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 19.2% | 19.0% | 21.8% | ranked 200 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 94.2% | 80.1% | 89.9% | ranked 69 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 0.8% | 13.5% | 4.4% | ranked 295 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 1,693 per 1,000 inh. | 185.4 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 8 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Nissedal | Telemark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 341 | 20,968 | 656,492 | ranked 272 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 226.0 per 1,000 inh. | 117.8 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 17 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 479,000 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 269 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 399 per 1,000 inh. | 28,285 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 280 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 264.4 per 1,000 inh. | 159.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 22 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 15.2 per 1,000 inh. | 11.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 48 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Nissedal | Telemark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 63.7% | 64.3% | 67.5% | ranked 289 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.8% | 1.2% | 0.9% | ranked 198 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Nissedal | Telemark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 612 per 1,000 inh. | 567 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 115 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 14.4% | 27.0% | 19.7% | ranked 262 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Nissedal | Telemark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 15.1% | 17.7% | 15.2% | ranked 180 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Nissedal | Telemark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.2 years | 82.2 | 82.8 | ranked 259 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Nissedal | Telemark | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 27.5% | 31.0% | 27.5% | ranked 175 of 351 |
Population of Nissedal over time
Nissedal had 1,443 residents in 2016 and 1,509 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,430 |
| 2022 | 1,414 |
| 2023 | 1,442 |
| 2024 | 1,471 |
| 2025 | 1,486 |
| 2026 | 1,509 |
Where is Nissedal?
Business sectors: Nissedal
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing25.1% ×2.4
- Construction21.2% ×2.0
- Health and social work6.5% ×0.7
- Wholesale and retail trade6.2% ×0.6
- Real estate6.2% ×0.6
- Professional, scientific and technical5.9% ×0.5
- Manufacturing4.4% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services3.8% ×1.2
Sunshine and temperatures: Nissedal
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Nissedal?
Nissedal has 1,509 residents (2026), ranking 304 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Nissedal?
Nissedal covers 786.0 km², with a density of 2 people per km².
Is the population of Nissedal growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Nissedal went from 1,443 to 1,509, a change of +4.6%.
Where is Nissedal?
Nissedal is in Telemark. Latitude 59.076, longitude 8.518.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Nissedal?
In Nissedal, “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 1,693 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 8 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 153.1 per 1,000 inh..
Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Nissedal?
In Nissedal, “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 226.0 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 17 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 129.8 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Nissedal?
In Nissedal, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 43° produces about 921 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Nissedal?
The nearest to Nissedal are Drangedal (27 km), Fyresdal (30 km), Kviteseid (30 km), Gjerstad (32 km), Åmli (35 km).