The municipality has an area of 1,284 square kilometres, giving a population density of 43 residents per square kilometre. 42,000 people live here, of which some 30,000 in Motala itself, 2,700 in Borensberg and the rest in outlying areas. The smaller districts of Tjällmo, Fornåsa, Nykyrka, Fågelsta, Österstad, Klockrike and Godegård each have about 200-500 residents.

Lake Vättern dominates Motala’s layout. Its many bays and inlets offer plenty of opportunity for pleasant living and recreation. The part you can see from Motala’s town centre is Motala Bay, a substantial watercourse in its own right, up to 18 metres deep. Beyond this, the lake opens up, offering views to the horizon to the south. On a clear day, it is possible to see across to the western side, as the maximum width of the lake is only 31 km, while the length from north to south is 135 km.

With a surface area of 1900 square kilometres, Vättern is Europe’s sixth largest lake. The northern end of the lake is fairly shallow with many islands, while the southern end is very deep; the greatest depth is 128 metres. Vättern is known for the excellent quality of its water, which requires very little treatment before being used as drinking water. The lake is said to be the world’s largest body of potable water.