Kvam: population and statistics
Kvam has a population of 8,490 (2026) across 580.0 km², or 14.6 people per km². It ranks 129 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is stable: +0.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 8,490 residents
- 580.0 km²
- 15 people/km²
- 60 m
Key points
Among the 43 municipalities in Vestland, Kvam ranks No. 15 by population.
Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men): 83.7 years in Kvam, compared with an average of 83.7 years in Vestland and 83.1 years nationally.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: −2.1 per 1,000 inh. in Kvam, compared with an average of 2.6 per 1,000 inh. in Vestland and 4.0 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 23.3% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 42° generates about 788 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Its area is roughly equal to 81,232 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Samnanger, 18.9 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Bjørnafjorden (26,753 residents), 31 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,152 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Kvam in numbers
All indicators for Kvam
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 | Kvam | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −2.1 per 1,000 inh. | 2.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 285 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 25.6% | 19.3% | 23.7% | ranked 109 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 20.6% | 20.0% | 18.7% | ranked 81 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Kvam | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 4,480 | 330,715 | 2,760,619 | ranked 126 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 22.0% | 16.7% | 16.4% | ranked 83 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 21.4% | 26.5% | 21.8% | ranked 179 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 86.5% | 70.1% | 89.9% | ranked 229 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 6.9% | 25.5% | 4.4% | ranked 122 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 335.2 per 1,000 inh. | 65.4 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 87 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Kvam | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 1,209 | 73,282 | 656,492 | ranked 115 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 142.4 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 144 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 519,000 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 104 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,530 per 1,000 inh. | 101,284 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 119 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 180.2 per 1,000 inh. | 153.8 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 138 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 13.2 per 1,000 inh. | 13.1 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 103 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Kvam | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 70.7% | 70.3% | 67.5% | ranked 67 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 | Kvam | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 565 per 1,000 inh. | 487 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 237 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 24.5% | 39.6% | 19.7% | ranked 110 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Kvam | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 13.1% | 17.3% | 15.2% | ranked 251 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Kvam | 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 | Kvam | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 30.4% | 37.7% | 27.5% | ranked 100 of 351 |
Population of Kvam over time
Kvam had 8,475 residents in 2016 and 8,490 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,461 |
| 2022 | 8,497 |
| 2023 | 8,531 |
| 2024 | 8,496 |
| 2025 | 8,517 |
| 2026 | 8,490 |
Where is Kvam?
Business sectors: Kvam
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing23.3% ×2.3
- Construction13.3% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical9.4% ×0.8
- Wholesale and retail trade8.8% ×0.8
- Real estate8.6% ×0.8
- Health and social work7.1% ×0.7
- Manufacturing5.5% ×1.6
- Arts, entertainment and recreation3.9% ×0.7
Sunshine and temperatures: Kvam
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kvam?
Kvam has 8,490 residents (2026), ranking 129 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Kvam?
Kvam covers 580.0 km², with a density of 15 people per km².
Is the population of Kvam growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Kvam went from 8,475 to 8,490, a change of +0.2%.
Where is Kvam?
Kvam is in Vestland. Latitude 60.370, longitude 6.144.
Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men): what is the figure for Kvam?
In Kvam, “Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men)” stands at 83.7 years (2025), ranking 22 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 82.8 years.
Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Kvam?
In Kvam, “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at −2.1 per 1,000 inh. (2025), ranking 285 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 4.1 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Kvam?
In Kvam, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 42° produces about 788 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Kvam?
The nearest to Kvam are Samnanger (19 km), Bjørnafjorden (31 km), Vaksdal (32 km), Osterøy (37 km), Voss (40 km).