Number of registered snowmobiles

Last updated 23 April 2025

Snowmobiles are important means of transport in Svalbard, where they are used for recreation, tourism, work, research and education. There is particularly much snowmobile traffic in March and April, and the traffic has increased substantially over the recent decades. The number of registered snowmobiles in Svalbard increased from approx. 200 at the beginning of the time series in 1973 to over 3000 at the end of 2024.

The number of registered snowmobiles gives an indication of snowmobile traffic outside the settlements. It is important to keep track of this development because of the associated risk of impact on the natural environment in Svalbard through disturbance of wildlife, damage to animals, plants and terrain, as well as littering and pollution.

Status and trend

The number of registered snowmobiles in Svalbard has increased strongly during the time series, from slightly more than 200 in 1973 to more than 2000 every year since 2007. Because of different registration methods before and after 2010, the developments in these periods are not compared directly. This distinction is apparent in the graph.

The number of snowmobiles increased more than tenfold during the period of the previous registration method (1973-2009), to almost 2,900 snowmobiles in 2009. During the period of the current registration method, the number has increased by 23%, from approx. 2,300 snowmobiles in 2010 to approx. 3,000 snowmobiles in 2024.

The development was relatively steady during the first ten years of the time series, with a total increase from approx. 200 snowmobiles in 1973 to approx. 900 in 1983. For the following 11 years, the number remained stable at approx. 900-1050 snowmobiles. Then, the number of snowmobiles increased almost every year between 1994 and 2009, except for 1999 when there was a 15% reduction from the previous year. The increase was particularly strong between 2005 and 2009, and the largest annual increase was 38% from 2006 to 2007.

The reduction of approx. 500 snowmobiles in 2010 is explained by changes in the registration method. Snowmobiles that were registered in Svalbard, but had been relocated from the archipelago, were then removed from the dataset.

In 2011 there was a further decrease from the previous year (12%), followed by a period with stable numbers around 2,100 until 2019. There were relatively large annual increases between 2019 and 2022, and the peak so far (with the current registration method) reached slightly over 3,000 snowmobiles by the end of 2024. The reasons for the recent development are not clear, but there is an increase in number of travellers to Svalbard and it can also be expected that more persons acting in a personal capacity are using snowmobiles now than in the past. Among the 3008 snowmobiles registered in Svalbard in 2024, 2076 were registered with individuals and 914 with organisations. Organisations in Longyearbyen owned 24 electric snowmobiles in 2024.

Causal factors

Snowmobiles are important means of transportation for people in Svalbard, allowing them to travel around the archipelago and between settlements. Snowmobiles are used in personal as well as organised trips mainly connected with tourism, recreation, research and education. Most of the rides start from the settlements, mainly Longyearbyen and Barentsburg. Amount, geographical distribution and seasonality of snowmobile use in Svalbard are influenced by factors such as regulations, weather and driving conditions, as well as supply and demand for snowmobiles among permanent residents and visitors.

Use of motorised vehicles is regulated through the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and regulations relating to motor traffic in Svalbard, where it is determined where, when and for whom snowmobiling is permitted. The legislation for snowmobiling in Svalbard is less restrictive than on mainland Norway and ensures more extensive access to snowmobiling for permanent residents than to visitors. Permanent residents can move relatively freely with snowmobiles on most of Spitsbergen and can additionally apply to drive in Sør-Spitsbergen, Forlandet and Nordvest-Spitsbergen national parks. Visitors can drive snowmobiles in smaller areas, but they still have good access to travel with snowmobiles in central parts of Spitsbergen.

Lower fees make snowmobiles cheaper in Svalbard than on mainland Norway. The petrol price is lower and the relevant user groups, both residents and visitors, have relatively good purchasing power. When moving to Svalbard, many people prioritise to purchase a snowmobile. Snowmobile trips are also very popular among tourists in winter and spring, and many tour operators in Svalbard offer and advertise snowmobile tours.

Consequences

Snowmobiles enable people to travel in larger areas and further away from the settlements in Svalbard. Snowmobiles are useful for people in many different contexts and can contribute to valuable nature experiences. On the other hand, snowmobiling can affect and disturb wildlife, damage terrain and vegetation, contribute to pollution and noise, and cause littering. Snowmobiling should take place in a considerate manner and in accordance with the regulations to avoid negative consequences for the natural environment and for people who seek undisturbed nature experiences.

The snowmobiling season in winter/spring (March–May) coincides with the most challenging period for many animal species, and it overlaps with the season for sea-based tourism. Reckless driving can disturb or harm wildlife (polar bears, Svalbard reindeer, Arctic foxes, ringed seals, geese etc.). The consequences for animals may be

• Increased, unnecessary use of energy and stress
• change in habitat use, behaviour, circadian rhythm or activity pattern in heavily trafficked areas
• conflict situations between animals (e.g. polar bears) and people.

The effect of disturbances on animals depends on the species, annual and seasonal variations, access to alternative habitats, and age, sex, condition, life stage and behaviour of individuals, among other things. Specialists and endemic species, like several of the species in Svalbard, are particularly vulnerable.

Most of the snowmobiling is channelled to natural routes that connect settlements and popular destinations, such as along the bottom of large valleys. This somewhat limits the geographical distribution of snowmobiling but increases the traffic and potential impact along the main routes. Some drive snowmobiles outside the most common routes, into side valleys and on mountain sides, and the driving is not always considerate and careful.

Snowmobiles discharge greenhouse gases and soot. The emissions are difficult to quantify and are small in a global context. Locally, snowmobile traffic contributes to noise.

About the monitoring

The number of registered snowmobiles indicates the potential for snowmobile traffic in Svalbard but gives no information about the geographical and temporal extent. In 2023, the Governor of Svalbard introduced systematic reporting on detailed snowmobile activities from tour operators. Over time, this will provide additional information about traffic from organised commercial snowmobile trips, but there is a lack of data from snowmobiling done by people acting in a personal capacity and from those acting in the context of research and education.

Further reading