Modalen: population and statistics
Modalen has a population of 397 (2026) across 379.0 km², or 1.0 people per km². It ranks 356 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 397 residents
- 379.0 km²
- 1 people/km²
- 1,050 m
Key points
Among the 43 municipalities in Vestland, Modalen ranks No. 43 by population.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 15.5% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 43° generates about 813 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Vestland for “Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses”.
- “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 53,081 football pitches.
- Its population density is 18.5 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Masfjorden (1,672 residents), 26 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,252 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Modalen in numbers
All indicators for Modalen
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 | Modalen | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 15.1 per 1,000 inh. | 2.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ||
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.2% | 19.3% | 23.7% | ||
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 21.7% | 20.0% | 18.7% |
Housing
| Indicator | Modalen | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 192 | 330,715 | 2,760,619 | ranked 356 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 23.1% | 16.7% | 16.4% | ||
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 21.5% | 26.5% | 21.8% | ||
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 98.4% | 70.1% | 89.9% | ||
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 0.0% | 25.5% | 4.4% | ||
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 375.3 per 1,000 inh. | 65.4 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. |
Economy
| Indicator | Modalen | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 84 | 73,282 | 656,492 | ranked 355 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 211.6 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ||
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 482,800 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ||
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 91 per 1,000 inh. | 101,284 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 355 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 229.2 per 1,000 inh. | 153.8 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ||
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 7.6 per 1,000 inh. | 13.1 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. |
Employment
| Indicator | Modalen | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 66.1% | 70.3% | 67.5% | ||
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.1% | 1.0% | 0.9% |
Transport
| Indicator | Modalen | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 499 per 1,000 inh. | 487 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ||
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 27.8% | 39.6% | 19.7% |
Society
| Indicator | Modalen | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 15.9% | 17.3% | 15.2% |
Health
| Indicator | Modalen | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 83.7 years | 83.7 | 82.8 |
Education
| Indicator | Modalen | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 28.4% | 37.7% | 27.5% |
Population of Modalen over time
Modalen had 381 residents in 2016 and 397 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 376 |
| 2022 | 378 |
| 2023 | 380 |
| 2024 | 384 |
| 2025 | 392 |
| 2026 | 397 |
Where is Modalen?
Business sectors: Modalen
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction15.5% ×1.4
- Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply11.9% ×34.6
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing10.7% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical9.5% ×0.8
- Health and social work8.3% ×0.9
- Mining and quarrying6.0% ×23.8
- Manufacturing4.8% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade4.8% ×0.4
Sunshine and temperatures: Modalen
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Modalen?
Modalen has 397 residents (2026), ranking 356 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Modalen?
Modalen covers 379.0 km², with a density of 1 people per km².
Is the population of Modalen growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Modalen went from 381 to 397, a change of +4.2%.
Where is Modalen?
Modalen is in Vestland. Latitude 60.881, longitude 5.925.
Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied): what is the figure for Modalen?
In Modalen, “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)” stands at 192 (2026), ranking 356 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 2,949.
Establishments: what is the figure for Modalen?
In Modalen, “Establishments” stands at 84 (2026), ranking 355 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Modalen?
In Modalen, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 43° produces about 813 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Modalen?
The nearest to Modalen are Masfjorden (26 km), Vaksdal (31 km), Voss (33 km), Høyanger (34 km), Alver (40 km).