The municipality's population density was 0.5 inhabitants per square kilometre (1.3/sq mi).

During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee.

It was part of the Nesseby prestegjeld and the Varanger prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nord-Hålogaland.

The municipality included the upper Tana River valley, along the border with Finland.

The tables below show the historical composition of the council by political party.