Vaksdal: population and statistics
Vaksdal has a population of 3,899 (2026) across 682.0 km², or 5.7 people per km². It ranks 207 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −5.5% between 2016 and 2026.
- 3,899 residents
- 682.0 km²
- 6 people/km²
- 86 m
Key points
Among the 43 municipalities in Vestland, Vaksdal ranks No. 24 by population.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: 104.6 per 1,000 inh. in Vaksdal, compared with an average of 153.8 per 1,000 inh. in Vestland and 162.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: 63.4% in Vaksdal, compared with an average of 70.3% in Vestland and 68.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 16.1% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 37° generates about 675 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 99% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 95,518 football pitches.
- Its population density is 3.2 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Osterøy (8,231 residents), 18 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 2,700 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Vaksdal in numbers
All indicators for Vaksdal
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 | Vaksdal | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 10.3 per 1,000 inh. | 2.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 70 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 24.2% | 19.3% | 23.7% | ranked 153 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.9% | 20.0% | 18.7% | ranked 159 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Vaksdal | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 2,085 | 330,715 | 2,760,619 | ranked 210 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 23.2% | 16.7% | 16.4% | ranked 67 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 13.7% | 26.5% | 21.8% | ranked 288 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 88.5% | 70.1% | 89.9% | ranked 196 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 9.0% | 25.5% | 4.4% | ranked 98 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 194.4 per 1,000 inh. | 65.4 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 146 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Vaksdal | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 337 | 73,282 | 656,492 | ranked 276 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 86.4 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 339 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 490,500 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 223 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 408 per 1,000 inh. | 101,284 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 274 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 104.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.8 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 347 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 9.7 per 1,000 inh. | 13.1 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 276 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Vaksdal | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 63.4% | 70.3% | 67.5% | ranked 300 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.2% | 1.0% | 0.9% | ranked 72 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Vaksdal | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 527 per 1,000 inh. | 487 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 297 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 24.3% | 39.6% | 19.7% | ranked 113 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Vaksdal | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 15.2% | 17.3% | 15.2% | ranked 176 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Vaksdal | 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 | Vaksdal | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 25.7% | 37.7% | 27.5% | ranked 231 of 351 |
Population of Vaksdal over time
Vaksdal had 4,125 residents in 2016 and 3,899 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,918 |
| 2022 | 3,867 |
| 2023 | 3,875 |
| 2024 | 3,852 |
| 2025 | 3,875 |
| 2026 | 3,899 |
Where is Vaksdal?
Business sectors: Vaksdal
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing16.1% ×1.6
- Construction10.6% ×1.0
- Health and social work10.0% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical9.4% ×0.8
- Real estate9.1% ×0.8
- Arts, entertainment and recreation7.3% ×1.3
- Manufacturing5.8% ×1.7
- Wholesale and retail trade5.8% ×0.5
Sunshine and temperatures: Vaksdal
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Vaksdal?
Vaksdal has 3,899 residents (2026), ranking 207 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Vaksdal?
Vaksdal covers 682.0 km², with a density of 6 people per km².
Is the population of Vaksdal growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Vaksdal went from 4,125 to 3,899, a change of −5.5%.
Where is Vaksdal?
Vaksdal is in Vestland. Latitude 60.607, longitude 5.816.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Vaksdal?
In Vaksdal, “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 104.6 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 347 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 167.1 per 1,000 inh..
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Vaksdal?
In Vaksdal, “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74” stands at 63.4% (2025), ranking 300 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 67.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Vaksdal?
In Vaksdal, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 37° produces about 675 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Vaksdal?
The nearest to Vaksdal are Osterøy (18 km), Samnanger (23 km), Alver (27 km), Modalen (31 km), Kvam (32 km).