The 2026 edition of State of the Nordic Region is published at a time marked by overlapping transitions and heightened uncertainty. Nordic regions are navigating demographic shifts, economic restructuring, the green transition, and a changing geopolitical environment. The effects vary across regions and place new demands on policy, planning, and cooperation across all levels of governance. To design policies that respond to local needs while supporting broader Nordic objectives, comparative and regionally grounded knowledge is needed.
By combining a Nordic-wide perspective with detailed regional analysis, State of the Nordic Region 2026 supports informed decision-making and comparative learning. The report does not seek to prescribe solutions, but provides a solid empirical basis for reflection, dialogue, and adaptation across countries and regions.
Whether you work at local, regional or national level, you can use this report to assess developments in your own area, compare them with others, and identify emerging risks and opportunities. The data, maps and analyses are tools to support evidence-based policy design, strategic planning and cross-border learning. They also provide a basis for dialogue between sectors and different levels of government.
We hope this report will serve as a valuable reference for policymakers, researchers and practitioners engaged in regional development. By making active use of this shared knowledge base, we strengthen our collective capacity to shape a resilient, competitive, and socially sustainable Nordic Region in the years ahead.