Bømlo: population and statistics
Bømlo has a population of 12,531 (2026) across 236.0 km², or 53.1 people per km². It ranks 97 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 12,531 residents
- 236.0 km²
- 53 people/km²
- 72 m
Key points
Among the 43 municipalities in Vestland, Bømlo ranks No. 12 by population.
Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport: 38.2% in Bømlo, compared with an average of 39.6% in Vestland and 32.8% nationally.
Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses: 95.5% in Bømlo, compared with an average of 70.1% in Vestland and 67.9% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 19.9% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 42° generates about 856 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 33,053 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.9 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Stord (19,276 residents), 14 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,424 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Bømlo in numbers
All indicators for Bømlo
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 | Bømlo | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 11.7 per 1,000 inh. | 2.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 57 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 20.1% | 19.3% | 23.7% | ranked 282 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 21.9% | 20.0% | 18.7% | ranked 36 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Bømlo | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 6,088 | 330,715 | 2,760,619 | ranked 100 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 13.3% | 16.7% | 16.4% | ranked 237 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 32.0% | 26.5% | 21.8% | ranked 62 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 95.5% | 70.1% | 89.9% | ranked 33 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 1.7% | 25.5% | 4.4% | ranked 258 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 68.0 per 1,000 inh. | 65.4 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 265 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Bømlo | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 1,204 | 73,282 | 656,492 | ranked 116 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 96.1 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 316 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 515,400 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 125 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,668 per 1,000 inh. | 101,284 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 107 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 133.1 per 1,000 inh. | 153.8 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 295 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 10.9 per 1,000 inh. | 13.1 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 224 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Bømlo | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 69.4% | 70.3% | 67.5% | ranked 106 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.6% | 1.0% | 0.9% | ranked 268 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Bømlo | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 555 per 1,000 inh. | 487 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 254 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 38.2% | 39.6% | 19.7% | ranked 21 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Bømlo | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 14.5% | 17.3% | 15.2% | ranked 204 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Bømlo | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 83.7 years | 83.7 | 82.8 | ranked 22 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Bømlo | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 27.4% | 37.7% | 27.5% | ranked 181 of 351 |
Population of Bømlo over time
Bømlo had 11,778 residents in 2016 and 12,531 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 11,953 |
| 2022 | 12,061 |
| 2023 | 12,132 |
| 2024 | 12,268 |
| 2025 | 12,365 |
| 2026 | 12,531 |
Where is Bømlo?
Business sectors: Bømlo
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing19.9% ×1.9
- Construction11.1% ×1.0
- Real estate10.1% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade9.5% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical7.8% ×0.7
- Health and social work7.1% ×0.7
- Manufacturing5.9% ×1.7
- Transport and storage5.8% ×1.3
Sunshine and temperatures: Bømlo
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bømlo?
Bømlo has 12,531 residents (2026), ranking 97 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Bømlo?
Bømlo covers 236.0 km², with a density of 53 people per km².
Is the population of Bømlo growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Bømlo went from 11,778 to 12,531, a change of +6.4%.
Where is Bømlo?
Bømlo is in Vestland. Latitude 59.779, longitude 5.218.
Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport: what is the figure for Bømlo?
In Bømlo, “Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport” stands at 38.2% (2025), ranking 21 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 19.7%.
Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses: what is the figure for Bømlo?
In Bømlo, “Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses” stands at 95.5% (2026), ranking 33 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 89.9%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Bømlo?
In Bømlo, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 42° produces about 856 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Bømlo?
The nearest to Bømlo are Stord (14 km), Fitjar (18 km), Sveio (24 km), Austevoll (29 km), Tysnes (32 km).