Västernorrlands län: population, economy and official figures
Västernorrlands län is a county in Mellersta Norrland, Sweden. Västernorrlands län had 241,458 residents on 1 January 2025, 64.5% of Mellersta Norrland and 2.28% of Sweden; 17th largest of 21 counties in Sweden.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Västernorrlands län: GDP per person was 42,100 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 106% of the EU average (111% for Sweden); 6th highest of 21 counties in Sweden.
- Health in Västernorrlands län: In 2025, net health care spending per resident (including medicines) in Västernorrland County was SEK 39,220, compared with SEK 35,574 for Sweden as a whole; that was 6th highest among the counties.
- Education in Västernorrlands län: In 2025, the share of upper secondary students who graduate within four years in Västernorrland County was 70.2%, compared with 70.1% for Sweden as a whole; that was 8th highest among the counties.
- Poverty and living standards in Västernorrlands län: In 2023, the share of residents aged 25 and over with persistently low economic standard in Västernorrland County was 8.1%, compared with 7.3% for Sweden as a whole; that was 10th lowest among the counties.
- Government budget and revenue in Västernorrlands län: Västernorrland County ranked 17th of 20 counties on the regional income tax rate in 2026, at 11.29% against a national figure of 11.69%.
- Government and politics in Västernorrlands län: The share of women in the regional council in Västernorrland County stood at 49.0% in 2025, up from 45.5% in 2020; the figure for Sweden was 49.0%.
Is the population of Västernorrlands län growing?
That is 0.7% fewer people than in 2015 (243,061).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Västernorrlands län?
There were 11.2 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Västernorrlands län?
The median age was 45.6 years in 2025, against 41.2 for Sweden; 3rd highest of 21 counties in Sweden.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Västernorrlands län?
25.4% of residents were 65 or older and 15.7% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Västernorrlands län?
In 2024 there were 1,786 live births and 2,867 deaths, a natural decrease of 1,081.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Västernorrlands län?
It covers 22,957 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Västernorrlands län?
Net migration added 1.6 people per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -4.5 per 1,000.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyFigures come from Sweden's own official statistics and from Eurostat's regional statistics for NUTS 3 areas. Comparisons with the EU average use purchasing power standards (PPS), which adjust for price differences.
Other county in Mellersta Norrland
- Jämtlands län 132,839
Up a level: Mellersta Norrland · all regions of Sweden · how local power works in Sweden
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjangrp3: Population on 1 January (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4c748d3cba3a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_d3dens: Population density, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f4b59fe9d121…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP per person, PPS (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3bf0fc662f56…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gdp: GDP, million euros (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 096e15e5fdb3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment, thousand people (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 664e4e3a6dc0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Median age of the population (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7bf6ade55a0d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_pjanind3: Share of people aged 65 or over (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 17aa0d08ab9c…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_fagec3: Live births (NUTS 3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cfda9b5f4ebd…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset reg_area3: Area, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 75302b0aafe9…)
- RKA (Rådet för främjande av kommunala analyser), Kolada: Kolada key figures for the 21 Swedish regions/counties and Sweden (about 90 indicators: regional finances, health care costs, use and waiting times, income, jobs, education, elected representatives), 2014-2026, Kolada API v3, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a34b5a7c1091…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB): Regionfullmäktigval - valresultat efter region och parti mm. Antal och andelar. Valår 2014, 2018, 2022 (table ME0104T2), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 84dbad216c0e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_gind3: Population change: demographic balance and crude rates by NUTS 3 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7548e948e15c…)
- Statistiska centralbyrån (SCB): Regionfullmäktigval - erhållna mandat efter regioner och parti. Valår 2014, 2018, 2022 (table Ltmandat), read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6267811a98be…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.