 The village is the site of an important ferry quay along the European route E39 highway which runs between the major cities of Bergen (to the north) and Stavanger (to the south).The population of Halhjem in 1999 was 991, but since 2001 it is considered a part of the urban area of Osøyro.The ferry quay has two different ferry routes that stop here to cross the Bjørnafjorden.