Grimstad: population and statistics
Grimstad has a population of 25,569 (2026) across 272.0 km², or 94.0 people per km². It ranks 49 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +13.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 25,569 residents
- 272.0 km²
- 94 people/km²
- 56 m
Key points
Among the 25 municipalities in Agder, Grimstad ranks No. 3 by population.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: 38.8% in Grimstad, compared with an average of 31.1% in Agder and 27.0% nationally.
Share with university or university college education: 38.0% in Grimstad, compared with an average of 33.9% in Agder and 38.3% nationally.
Largest business sector: Real estate, with 12.8% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 1,033 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Agder for “Population change over 10 years”.
- Number 1 in Agder for “Share of dwellings built after 2000”.
- “Share of dwellings built after 2000”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Share with university or university college education”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 38,095 football pitches.
- Its population density is 5.1 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Lillesand, 17.7 km away.
Grimstad in numbers
All indicators for Grimstad
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 | Grimstad | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.5 per 1,000 inh. | 3.8 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 208 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 18.2% | 19.6% | 23.7% | ranked 310 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 21.1% | 20.5% | 18.7% | ranked 62 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Grimstad | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 12,401 | 159,432 | 2,760,619 | ranked 47 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 14.8% | 15.9% | 16.4% | ranked 205 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 38.8% | 31.1% | 21.8% | ranked 22 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 76.5% | 77.3% | 89.9% | ranked 308 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 13.9% | 16.1% | 4.4% | ranked 68 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 53.1 per 1,000 inh. | 123.1 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 284 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Grimstad | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 2,639 | 38,330 | 656,492 | ranked 48 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 103.2 per 1,000 inh. | 118.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 283 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 493,600 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 209 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 3,757 per 1,000 inh. | 51,828 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 47 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 146.9 per 1,000 inh. | 160.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 240 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 15.2 per 1,000 inh. | 13.3 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 48 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Grimstad | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 65.4% | 65.2% | 67.5% | ranked 246 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 | Grimstad | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 559 per 1,000 inh. | 527 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 248 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 29.1% | 29.3% | 19.7% | ranked 67 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Grimstad | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 18.5% | 17.9% | 15.2% | ranked 90 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Grimstad | 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 | Grimstad | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 38.0% | 33.9% | 27.5% | ranked 30 of 351 |
Population of Grimstad over time
Grimstad had 22,550 residents in 2016 and 25,569 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 23,891 |
| 2022 | 24,017 |
| 2023 | 24,587 |
| 2024 | 24,969 |
| 2025 | 25,419 |
| 2026 | 25,569 |
Where is Grimstad?
Business sectors: Grimstad
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Real estate12.8% ×1.2
- Construction12.6% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade12.0% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical11.7% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.7% ×0.9
- Health and social work9.4% ×1.0
- Information and communication4.3% ×0.9
- Other service activities4.3% ×1.1
Sunshine and temperatures: Grimstad
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Grimstad?
Grimstad has 25,569 residents (2026), ranking 49 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Grimstad?
Grimstad covers 272.0 km², with a density of 94 people per km².
Is the population of Grimstad growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Grimstad went from 22,550 to 25,569, a change of +13.4%.
Where is Grimstad?
Grimstad is in Agder. Latitude 58.352, longitude 8.544.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: what is the figure for Grimstad?
In Grimstad, “Share of dwellings built after 2000” stands at 38.8% (2026), ranking 22 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 21.8%.
Share with university or university college education: what is the figure for Grimstad?
In Grimstad, “Share with university or university college education” stands at 38.0% (2025), ranking 30 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 27.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Grimstad?
In Grimstad, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 1,033 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Grimstad?
The nearest to Grimstad are Lillesand (18 km), Arendal (18 km), Birkenes (21 km), Froland (26 km), Iveland (36 km).