Senja: population and statistics
Senja has a population of 14,946 (2026) across 1,861.0 km², or 8.0 people per km². It ranks 84 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is stable: −0.3% between 2016 and 2026.
- 14,946 residents
- 1,861.0 km²
- 8 people/km²
- 225 m
Key points
Among the 21 municipalities in Troms - Romsa - Tromssa, Senja ranks No. 3 by population.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: 0.4% in Senja, compared with an average of 0.6% in Troms - Romsa - Tromssa and 1.2% nationally.
Share of dwellings built before 1946: 9.0% in Senja, compared with an average of 8.3% in Troms - Romsa - Tromssa and 15.9% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 14.5% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 51° generates about 788 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 260,644 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.3 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Ibestad, 33.1 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Harstad - Hárstták (25,204 residents), 33 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,152 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Senja in numbers
All indicators for Senja
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 | Senja | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.3 per 1,000 inh. | 3.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 211 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.2% | 20.5% | 23.7% | ranked 194 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.6% | 18.0% | 18.7% | ranked 180 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Senja | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 7,929 | 94,660 | 2,760,619 | ranked 77 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 9.0% | 8.3% | 16.4% | ranked 288 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 19.4% | 24.6% | 21.8% | ranked 198 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 88.9% | 75.9% | 89.9% | ranked 191 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 6.2% | 17.2% | 4.4% | ranked 138 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 116.5 per 1,000 inh. | 78.1 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 213 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Senja | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 1,781 | 18,618 | 656,492 | ranked 80 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 119.2 per 1,000 inh. | 108.7 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 211 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 500,900 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 175 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 2,178 per 1,000 inh. | 23,737 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 84 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 145.7 per 1,000 inh. | 138.6 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 245 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 12.0 per 1,000 inh. | 12.0 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 161 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Senja | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 67.3% | 70.1% | 67.5% | ranked 180 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.4% | 0.6% | 0.9% | ranked 323 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Senja | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 168,458 | – | 112,411 | ranked 36 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Senja | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 608 per 1,000 inh. | 530 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 126 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 14.3% | 20.7% | 19.7% | ranked 267 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Senja | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 16.3% | 16.1% | 15.2% | ranked 149 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Senja | 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 | Senja | Troms - Romsa - Tromssa | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 25.9% | 37.2% | 27.5% | ranked 222 of 351 |
Population of Senja over time
Senja had 14,989 residents in 2016 and 14,946 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,725 |
| 2022 | 14,738 |
| 2023 | 14,851 |
| 2024 | 14,894 |
| 2025 | 14,948 |
| 2026 | 14,946 |
Where is Senja?
Business sectors: Senja
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing14.5% ×1.4
- Construction12.5% ×1.2
- Health and social work11.9% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade10.2% ×0.9
- Real estate10.1% ×0.9
- Professional, scientific and technical6.7% ×0.6
- Administrative and support services5.7% ×1.2
- Accommodation and food services4.7% ×1.5
Sunshine and temperatures: Senja
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Senja?
Senja has 14,946 residents (2026), ranking 84 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Senja?
Senja covers 1,861.0 km², with a density of 8 people per km².
Is the population of Senja growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Senja went from 14,989 to 14,946, a change of −0.3%.
Where is Senja?
Senja is in Troms - Romsa - Tromssa. Latitude 69.081, longitude 16.803.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Senja?
In Senja, “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74” stands at 0.4% (2025), ranking 323 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 0.9%.
Share of dwellings built before 1946: what is the figure for Senja?
In Senja, “Share of dwellings built before 1946” stands at 9.0% (2026), ranking 288 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 16.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Senja?
In Senja, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 51° produces about 788 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Senja?
The nearest to Senja are Ibestad (33 km), Harstad - Hárstták (33 km), Dyrøy (37 km), Andøy (40 km), Salangen (48 km).