Västerbottens län: population, economy and official figures
Västerbottens län is a county in Övre Norrland, Sweden. Västerbottens län had 281,138 residents on 1 January 2025, 53.1% of Övre Norrland and 2.66% of Sweden; 14th largest of 21 counties in Sweden.
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Västerbottens län: GDP per person was 40,900 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 103% of the EU average (111% for Sweden); 8th highest of 21 counties in Sweden.
- Health in Västerbottens län: Net health care spending per resident (including medicines) in Västerbotten County stood at SEK 37,717 in 2025, up from SEK 28,390 in 2020; the figure for Sweden was SEK 35,574.
- Education in Västerbottens län: The share of upper secondary students who graduate within four years in Västerbotten County stood at 73.2% in 2025, up from 60.5% in 2020; the figure for Sweden was 70.1%.
- Poverty and living standards in Västerbottens län: The share of residents aged 25 and over with persistently low economic standard in Västerbotten County stood at 6.9% in 2023, down from 7.9% in 2018; the figure for Sweden was 7.3%.
- Government budget and revenue in Västerbottens län: At 11.85% in 2026, Västerbotten County was above the Swedish level of 11.69% on the regional income tax rate, putting it 8th highest among the counties.
- Government and politics in Västerbottens län: The share of women in the regional council in Västerbotten County came to 52.0% in 2025, 4th highest among the counties (Sweden: 49.0%), up from 47.9% in 2020.
Is the population of Västerbottens län growing?
That is 7.2% more people than in 2015 (262,362).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow densely populated is Västerbottens län?
There were 5.1 people per square kilometre in 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the median age in Västerbottens län?
The median age was 40.4 years in 2025, against 41.2 for Sweden; 19th highest of 21 counties in Sweden.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow old is the population of Västerbottens län?
21.7% of residents were 65 or older and 16.1% were under 15 in 2025.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many births and deaths are there in Västerbottens län?
In 2024 there were 2,394 live births and 2,783 deaths, a natural decrease of 389.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow big is Västerbottens län?
It covers 58,875 km².
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre people moving to Västerbottens län?
The net migration rate was +10.0 per 1,000 residents in 2024, while births minus deaths gave a natural change of -1.4 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 Övre Norrland
- Norrbottens län 248,620
Up a level: Övre 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…)
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