Birkenes: population and statistics
Birkenes has a population of 5,447 (2026) across 596.0 km², or 9.1 people per km². It ranks 179 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +5.8% between 2016 and 2026.
- 5,447 residents
- 596.0 km²
- 9 people/km²
- 287 m
Key points
Among the 25 municipalities in Agder, Birkenes ranks No. 14 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 18: 23.4% in Birkenes, compared with an average of 20.5% in Agder and 19.6% nationally.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: 33.0% in Birkenes, compared with an average of 31.1% in Agder and 27.0% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 28.7% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 981 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Share of inhabitants under 18”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 83,473 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.0 times lower than the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Iveland, 16.2 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Grimstad (25,569 residents), 21 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,924 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Birkenes in numbers
All indicators for Birkenes
Value for the municipality, then the regional average and the national median (for counts: regional and national totals). The gauge places the municipality between the lowest and highest value in the country.
Population
| Indicator | Birkenes | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.8 per 1,000 inh. | 3.8 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 200 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 17.4% | 19.6% | 23.7% | ranked 320 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 23.4% | 20.5% | 18.7% | ranked 12 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Birkenes | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 2,447 | 159,432 | 2,760,619 | ranked 197 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 16.6% | 15.9% | 16.4% | ranked 171 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 33.0% | 31.1% | 21.8% | ranked 54 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 86.1% | 77.3% | 89.9% | ranked 231 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 6.9% | 16.1% | 4.4% | ranked 122 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 149.3 per 1,000 inh. | 123.1 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 180 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Birkenes | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 668 | 38,330 | 656,492 | ranked 186 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 122.6 per 1,000 inh. | 118.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 198 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 495,200 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 203 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 920 per 1,000 inh. | 51,828 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 178 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 168.9 per 1,000 inh. | 160.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 168 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 12.9 per 1,000 inh. | 13.3 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 121 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Birkenes | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 68.0% | 65.2% | 67.5% | ranked 157 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.2% | 1.1% | 0.9% | ranked 72 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Birkenes | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 551 per 1,000 inh. | 527 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 264 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 23.4% | 29.3% | 19.7% | ranked 126 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Birkenes | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 15.3% | 17.9% | 15.2% | ranked 174 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Birkenes | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.8 years | 82.8 | 82.8 | ranked 151 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Birkenes | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 25.8% | 33.9% | 27.5% | ranked 227 of 351 |
Population of Birkenes over time
Birkenes had 5,147 residents in 2016 and 5,447 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,274 |
| 2022 | 5,342 |
| 2023 | 5,390 |
| 2024 | 5,480 |
| 2025 | 5,413 |
| 2026 | 5,447 |
Where is Birkenes?
Business sectors: Birkenes
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing28.7% ×2.8
- Construction19.0% ×1.8
- Real estate7.1% ×0.7
- Wholesale and retail trade6.8% ×0.6
- Health and social work6.4% ×0.7
- Professional, scientific and technical5.3% ×0.5
- Manufacturing4.9% ×1.4
- Administrative and support services4.2% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Birkenes
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Birkenes?
Birkenes has 5,447 residents (2026), ranking 179 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Birkenes?
Birkenes covers 596.0 km², with a density of 9 people per km².
Is the population of Birkenes growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Birkenes went from 5,147 to 5,447, a change of +5.8%.
Where is Birkenes?
Birkenes is in Agder. Latitude 58.449, longitude 8.233.
Share of inhabitants under 18: what is the figure for Birkenes?
In Birkenes, “Share of inhabitants under 18” stands at 23.4% (2026), ranking 12 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 18.7%.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: what is the figure for Birkenes?
In Birkenes, “Share of dwellings built after 2000” stands at 33.0% (2026), ranking 54 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 21.8%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Birkenes?
In Birkenes, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 981 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Birkenes?
The nearest to Birkenes are Iveland (16 km), Grimstad (21 km), Lillesand (23 km), Froland (25 km), Vennesla (27 km).