Ibestad: population and statistics
Ibestad has a population of 1,287 (2026) across 234.0 km², or 5.5 people per km². It ranks 313 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −8.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 1,287 residents
- 234.0 km²
- 6 people/km²
- 300 m
Key points
Among the 21 municipalities in Troms - Romsa - Tromssa, Ibestad ranks No. 17 by population.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: 35.7% in Ibestad, compared with an average of 20.5% in Troms - Romsa - Tromssa and 19.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 26.2% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 48° generates about 760 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Troms - Romsa - Tromssa for “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”.
- “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 32,773 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.4 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Gratangen - Rivtták, 19.6 km away.
Ibestad in numbers
All indicators for Ibestad
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 | Ibestad | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 7.0 per 1,000 inh. | 3.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 107 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 35.7% | 20.5% | 23.7% | ranked 1 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 13.0% | 18.0% | 18.7% | ranked 348 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ibestad | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 982 | 94,660 | 2,760,619 | ranked 298 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 24.3% | 8.3% | 16.4% | ranked 52 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 11.8% | 24.6% | 21.8% | ranked 313 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 94.8% | 75.9% | 89.9% | ranked 50 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 0.3% | 17.2% | 4.4% | ranked 314 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 331.0 per 1,000 inh. | 78.1 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 91 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ibestad | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 147 | 18,618 | 656,492 | ranked 345 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 114.2 per 1,000 inh. | 108.7 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 231 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 452,000 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 331 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 194 per 1,000 inh. | 23,737 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 336 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 150.7 per 1,000 inh. | 138.6 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 225 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 7.8 per 1,000 inh. | 12.0 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 328 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ibestad | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 61.7% | 70.1% | 67.5% | ranked 328 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.8% | 0.6% | 0.9% | ranked 198 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Ibestad | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 595 per 1,000 inh. | 530 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) | 12.4% | 20.7% | 19.7% | ranked 299 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Ibestad | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 16.2% | 16.1% | 15.2% | ranked 152 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Ibestad | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.8 years | 82.8 | 82.8 | ranked 151 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Ibestad | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 23.6% | 37.2% | 27.5% | ranked 294 of 351 |
Population of Ibestad over time
Ibestad had 1,403 residents in 2016 and 1,287 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,320 |
| 2022 | 1,289 |
| 2023 | 1,279 |
| 2024 | 1,311 |
| 2025 | 1,301 |
| 2026 | 1,287 |
Where is Ibestad?
Business sectors: Ibestad
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing26.2% ×2.6
- Health and social work10.3% ×1.1
- Construction9.0% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services6.9% ×1.5
- Transport and storage6.2% ×1.4
- Real estate5.5% ×0.5
- Professional, scientific and technical5.5% ×0.5
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.5% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Ibestad
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ibestad?
Ibestad has 1,287 residents (2026), ranking 313 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Ibestad?
Ibestad covers 234.0 km², with a density of 6 people per km².
Is the population of Ibestad growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Ibestad went from 1,403 to 1,287, a change of −8.3%.
Where is Ibestad?
Ibestad is in Troms - Romsa - Tromssa. Latitude 68.829, longitude 17.246.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Ibestad?
In Ibestad, “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over” stands at 35.7% (2026), ranking 1 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 23.7%.
Establishments: what is the figure for Ibestad?
In Ibestad, “Establishments” stands at 147 (2026), ranking 345 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ibestad?
In Ibestad, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 48° produces about 760 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ibestad?
The nearest to Ibestad are Gratangen - Rivtták (20 km), Loabák - Lavangen (23 km), Salangen (27 km), Harstad - Hárstták (29 km), Dyrøy (33 km).