Etne: population and statistics
Etne has a population of 4,115 (2026) across 691.0 km², or 6.0 people per km². It ranks 201 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is stable: +0.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 4,115 residents
- 691.0 km²
- 6 people/km²
- 444 m
Key points
Among the 43 municipalities in Vestland, Etne ranks No. 23 by population.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: 72.5% in Etne, compared with an average of 70.3% in Vestland and 68.2% nationally.
Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants: 16.3 per 1,000 inh. in Etne, compared with an average of 13.1 per 1,000 inh. in Vestland and 13.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 29.1% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 34° generates about 594 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- “Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 96,779 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.1 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Vindafjord (9,181 residents), 20 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 2,376 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Etne in numbers
All indicators for Etne
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 | Etne | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 7.8 per 1,000 inh. | 2.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 94 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.1% | 19.3% | 23.7% | ranked 198 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 20.8% | 20.0% | 18.7% | ranked 71 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Etne | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 2,261 | 330,715 | 2,760,619 | ranked 204 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 20.8% | 16.7% | 16.4% | ranked 104 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 24.7% | 26.5% | 21.8% | ranked 129 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 90.9% | 70.1% | 89.9% | ranked 150 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 2.7% | 25.5% | 4.4% | ranked 225 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 174.2 per 1,000 inh. | 65.4 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 165 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Etne | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 685 | 73,282 | 656,492 | ranked 184 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 166.5 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 96 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 524,200 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 86 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 879 per 1,000 inh. | 101,284 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 181 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 213.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.8 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 79 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 16.3 per 1,000 inh. | 13.1 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 37 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Etne | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 72.5% | 70.3% | 67.5% | ranked 26 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.7% | 1.0% | 0.9% | ranked 238 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Etne | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 580 per 1,000 inh. | 487 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 200 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 21.0% | 39.6% | 19.7% | ranked 148 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Etne | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 13.9% | 17.3% | 15.2% | ranked 227 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Etne | 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 | Etne | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 26.1% | 37.7% | 27.5% | ranked 217 of 351 |
Population of Etne over time
Etne had 4,106 residents in 2016 and 4,115 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,053 |
| 2022 | 4,043 |
| 2023 | 4,073 |
| 2024 | 4,072 |
| 2025 | 4,093 |
| 2026 | 4,115 |
Where is Etne?
Business sectors: Etne
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing29.1% ×2.8
- Construction18.9% ×1.8
- Real estate8.9% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade6.2% ×0.6
- Health and social work5.9% ×0.6
- Manufacturing5.7% ×1.7
- Professional, scientific and technical5.0% ×0.4
- Accommodation and food services3.5% ×1.1
Sunshine and temperatures: Etne
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Etne?
Etne has 4,115 residents (2026), ranking 201 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Etne?
Etne covers 691.0 km², with a density of 6 people per km².
Is the population of Etne growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Etne went from 4,106 to 4,115, a change of +0.2%.
Where is Etne?
Etne is in Vestland. Latitude 59.684, longitude 6.048.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Etne?
In Etne, “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74” stands at 72.5% (2025), ranking 26 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 67.5%.
Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Etne?
In Etne, “Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 16.3 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 37 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 11.9 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Etne?
In Etne, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 34° produces about 594 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Etne?
The nearest to Etne are Vindafjord (20 km), Sauda (22 km), Kvinnherad (27 km), Suldal (35 km), Stord (35 km).