Kristiansand: population and statistics
Kristiansand has a population of 119,287 (2026) across 611.0 km², or 195 people per km². It ranks 6 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +12.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 119,287 residents
- 611.0 km²
- 195 people/km²
- 13 m
Key points
Among the 25 municipalities in Agder, Kristiansand ranks No. 1 by population.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 13.6% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 1,032 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Agder for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Agder for “Population density”.
- “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 99% of municipalities.
- “Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 85,574 football pitches.
- Its population density is 10.6 times the national average.
Kristiansand in numbers
All indicators for Kristiansand
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 | Kristiansand | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 6.0 per 1,000 inh. | 3.8 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 131 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) | 20.7% | 20.5% | 18.7% | ranked 77 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Kristiansand | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 56,692 | 159,432 | 2,760,619 | ranked 5 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 10.6% | 15.9% | 16.4% | ranked 270 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 33.3% | 31.1% | 21.8% | ranked 49 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 65.3% | 77.3% | 89.9% | ranked 336 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 27.7% | 16.1% | 4.4% | ranked 16 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 28.6 per 1,000 inh. | 123.1 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 308 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Kristiansand | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 13,477 | 38,330 | 656,492 | ranked 6 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 113.0 per 1,000 inh. | 118.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 239 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 502,000 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 171 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 19,060 per 1,000 inh. | 51,828 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 6 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 159.8 per 1,000 inh. | 160.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 197 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 14.6 per 1,000 inh. | 13.3 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 57 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Kristiansand | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 65.8% | 65.2% | 67.5% | ranked 235 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.9% | ranked 97 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Kristiansand | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 464 per 1,000 inh. | 527 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 335 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 38.0% | 29.3% | 19.7% | ranked 24 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Kristiansand | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 20.8% | 17.9% | 15.2% | ranked 59 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Kristiansand | 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 | Kristiansand | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 39.8% | 33.9% | 27.5% | ranked 21 of 351 |
Population of Kristiansand over time
Kristiansand had 106,126 residents in 2016 and 119,287 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 112,588 |
| 2022 | 113,737 |
| 2023 | 115,569 |
| 2024 | 116,986 |
| 2025 | 118,221 |
| 2026 | 119,287 |
Where is Kristiansand?
Business sectors: Kristiansand
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade13.6% ×1.2
- Real estate13.4% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical12.9% ×1.1
- Construction10.7% ×1.0
- Health and social work9.8% ×1.0
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.5% ×1.0
- Information and communication5.4% ×1.1
- Administrative and support services4.6% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Kristiansand
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kristiansand?
Kristiansand has 119,287 residents (2026), ranking 6 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Kristiansand?
Kristiansand covers 611.0 km², with a density of 195 people per km².
Is the population of Kristiansand growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Kristiansand went from 106,126 to 119,287, a change of +12.4%.
Where is Kristiansand?
Kristiansand is in Agder. Latitude 58.147, longitude 7.996.
Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied): what is the figure for Kristiansand?
In Kristiansand, “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)” stands at 56,692 (2026), ranking 5 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 2,949.
Establishments: what is the figure for Kristiansand?
In Kristiansand, “Establishments” stands at 13,477 (2026), ranking 6 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Kristiansand?
In Kristiansand, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 1,032 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Kristiansand?
The nearest to Kristiansand are Vennesla (20 km), Lillesand (22 km), Iveland (33 km), Birkenes (36 km), Grimstad (39 km).