Leșu: population and statistics
Leșu has a population of 2,791 (2026) across 90.1 km², or 31.0 people per km². It ranks 1,732 of 3,181 localities by population. Its population is falling: −5.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 2,791 residents
- 90.1 km²
- 31 people/km²
Key points
Among the 62 localities in Bistrița-Năsăud County, Leșu ranks No. 34 by population.
Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³): 2.5 m³ in Leșu, compared with an average of 31.0 m³ in Bistrița-Năsăud County and 39.9 m³ nationally.
People settling in the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants: 7.9 ‰ in Leșu, compared with an average of 12.6 ‰ in Bistrița-Năsăud County and 18.5 ‰ nationally.
Leșu: the most common activity among active businesses is Wholesale trade (except motor vehicles) (39 businesses).
Leșu in numbers
Where is Leșu?
Population of Leșu over time
Leșu had 2,949 residents in 2016 and 2,791 in 2026.
| Year | Population (by registered residence) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,888 |
| 2022 | 2,863 |
| 2023 | 2,847 |
| 2024 | 2,823 |
| 2025 | 2,823 |
| 2026 | 2,791 |
Did you know?
- “Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³)”: lower than in 98% of localities.
- “People settling in the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 96% of localities.
- “Length of the drinking-water network per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 95% of localities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 12,625 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.9 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest locality is Măgura Ilvei, 4.5 km away.
- The nearest more populous locality is Rodna (6,104 residents), 11 km away.
All indicators for Leșu
Value for the locality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the locality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Leșu | Bistrița-Năsăud County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| People settling in the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 7.9 ‰ | 12.6 ‰ | 16.0 ‰ | ranked 3,036 of 3,163 | |
| People leaving the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 18.3 ‰ | 14.7 ‰ | 17.3 ‰ | ranked 1,290 of 3,163 | |
| Live births per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 7.5 ‰ | 8.5 ‰ | 6.9 ‰ | ranked 1,256 of 3,157 | |
| Deaths per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 10.0 ‰ | 9.4 ‰ | 13.0 ‰ | ranked 2,515 of 3,163 |
Housing
| Indicator | Leșu | Bistrița-Năsăud County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length of the drinking-water network per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.11 km | 5.45 km | 7.67 km | ranked 2,591 of 2,728 | |
| Existing dwellings (2025) | 1,171 | 149,945 | 10,177,161 | ranked 2,128 of 3,181 | |
| Dwellings per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 419.6 ‰ | 465.5 ‰ | 484.8 ‰ | ranked 2,433 of 3,163 | |
| Average living floor area per dwelling (m²) (2025) | 52.4 m² | 58.8 m² | 50.3 m² | ranked 1,322 of 3,163 |
Economy
| Indicator | Leșu | Bistrița-Năsăud County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active companies in the trade register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 36.5 ‰ | 50.2 ‰ | 29.4 ‰ | ranked 1,038 of 3,163 | |
| Companies registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 2.87 ‰ | 3.62 ‰ | 2.10 ‰ | ranked 1,001 of 3,163 |
Employment
| Indicator | Leșu | Bistrița-Năsăud County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average number of employees per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 87 ‰ | 215 ‰ | 71 ‰ | ranked 1,222 of 3,163 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of labour resources (working-age population) (2026) | 2.6% | 1.9% | 2.3% | ranked 1,422 of 3,163 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Leșu | Bistrița-Năsăud County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist overnight stays per inhabitant (2025) | 0.1 nights | 0.7 | 0.4 | ranked 868 of 1,250 | |
| Tourist arrivals per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 57 ‰ | 429 ‰ | 200 ‰ | ranked 929 of 1,250 | |
| Tourist accommodation places per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.1 ‰ | 18.3 ‰ | 11.8 ‰ | ranked 1,287 of 1,362 |
Environment
| Indicator | Leșu | Bistrița-Năsăud County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³) (2025) | 2.5 m³ | 31.0 m³ | 27.2 m³ | ranked 2,601 of 2,656 | |
| Length of the sewer network per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.54 km | 4.22 km | 4.05 km | ranked 1,206 of 1,695 |
Health
| Indicator | Leșu | Bistrița-Năsăud County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacists per 1,000 inhabitants (2024) | 0.36 ‰ | 0.74 ‰ | 0.47 ‰ | ranked 1,479 of 2,248 |
Education
| Indicator | Leșu | Bistrița-Năsăud County | National | Position? | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School population (children, pupils and students) per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 96 ‰ | 158 ‰ | 91 ‰ | ranked 1,393 of 3,158 | |
| Education units per 10,000 inhabitants (2025) | 3.6 per 10,000 inh. | 3.6 per 10,000 inh. | 3.6 per 10,000 inh. | ranked 1,518 of 3,122 |
Businesses by activity: Leșu
Active businesses in the business register with a recorded activity, by section and by activity (NACE Rev. 2). Only activities with at least 3 businesses are shown.
By industry section
- Wholesale and retail trade54 · 23.0%
- Construction39 · 16.6%
- Manufacturing35 · 14.9%
- Transport and storage32 · 13.6%
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing26 · 11.1%
- Administrative and support services11 · 4.7%
- Accommodation and food services10 · 4.3%
- Professional, scientific and technical6 · 2.6%
Most common activities
- Wholesale trade (except motor vehicles)39 · 16.6%
- Retail trade (except motor vehicles)36 · 15.3%
- Specialised construction activities35 · 14.9%
- Land transport and transport via pipelines28 · 11.9%
- Construction of buildings22 · 9.4%
- Forestry and logging19 · 8.1%
- Manufacture of wood and wood products (except furniture)19 · 8.1%
- Civil engineering18 · 7.7%
- Warehousing and transport support activities17 · 7.2%
- Manufacture of food products12 · 5.1%
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Leșu?
Leșu has 2,791 residents (2026), ranking 1,732 of 3,181 localities.
How big is Leșu?
Leșu covers 90.1 km², with a density of 31 people per km².
Is the population of Leșu growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Leșu went from 2,949 to 2,791, a change of −5.4%.
Where is Leșu?
Leșu is in Bistrița-Năsăud County. Latitude 47.320, longitude 24.810.
Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³): what is the figure for Leșu?
In Leșu, “Drinking water distributed per inhabitant (m³)” stands at 2.5 m³ (2025), ranking 2,601 of 2,656 localities; the national median is 27.2 m³.
People settling in the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Leșu?
In Leșu, “People settling in the municipality per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 7.9 ‰ (2025), ranking 3,036 of 3,163 localities; the national median is 16.0 ‰.
Which localities border Leșu?
The nearest to Leșu are Măgura Ilvei (4.5 km), Poiana Ilvei (6.3 km), Ilva Mare (7.6 km), Ilva Mică (11 km), Rodna (11 km).