The municipality is an administrative entity defined by geographical borders, consisting of Umeå and a large area around it.

A 65-member municipal assembly (kommunfullmäktige) is elected by proportional representation for a four-year term.

The executive committee and the commissioners are headed by the chairman (kommunstyrelsens ordförande), since 1996 Social Democrat Lennart Holmlund (b.

[4] In total there were 130,881 residents, including 99,226 Swedish citizens of voting age.

Umeå was the strongest municipality in Sweden for the left coalition, with a 33-point margin of advantage.