Risør: population and statistics
Risør has a population of 6,683 (2026) across 171.0 km², or 39.1 people per km². It ranks 149 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is falling: −3.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 6,683 residents
- 171.0 km²
- 39 people/km²
- 65 m
Key points
Among the 25 municipalities in Agder, Risør ranks No. 10 by population.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: 59.5% in Risør, compared with an average of 65.2% in Agder and 68.2% nationally.
Share of dwellings built before 1946: 30.1% in Risør, compared with an average of 15.9% in Agder and 15.9% nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 14.6% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 45° generates about 1,045 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Agder for “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”.
- Number 1 in Agder for “Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men)”.
- “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Share of dwellings built before 1946”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 23,950 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.1 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Kragerø (10,378 residents), 19 km away.
Risør in numbers
All indicators for Risør
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 | Risør | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 3.0 per 1,000 inh. | 3.8 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 196 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 27.6% | 19.6% | 23.7% | ranked 59 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 17.0% | 20.5% | 18.7% | ranked 266 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Risør | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 4,015 | 159,432 | 2,760,619 | ranked 135 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 30.1% | 15.9% | 16.4% | ranked 11 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 19.6% | 31.1% | 21.8% | ranked 196 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 81.8% | 77.3% | 89.9% | ranked 264 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 10.4% | 16.1% | 4.4% | ranked 87 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 284.0 per 1,000 inh. | 123.1 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 106 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Risør | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 852 | 38,330 | 656,492 | ranked 151 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 127.5 per 1,000 inh. | 118.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 182 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 462,100 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 309 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,206 per 1,000 inh. | 51,828 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 141 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 180.5 per 1,000 inh. | 160.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 137 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 14.4 per 1,000 inh. | 13.3 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 62 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Risør | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 59.5% | 65.2% | 67.5% | ranked 343 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.4% | 1.1% | 0.9% | ranked 37 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Risør | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 65,059 | – | 112,411 | ranked 68 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Risør | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 543 per 1,000 inh. | 527 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 280 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 23.7% | 29.3% | 19.7% | ranked 122 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Risør | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 14.7% | 17.9% | 15.2% | ranked 198 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Risør | 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 | Risør | Agder | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 30.1% | 33.9% | 27.5% | ranked 105 of 351 |
Population of Risør over time
Risør had 6,920 residents in 2016 and 6,683 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,762 |
| 2022 | 6,735 |
| 2023 | 6,806 |
| 2024 | 6,825 |
| 2025 | 6,687 |
| 2026 | 6,683 |
Where is Risør?
Business sectors: Risør
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction14.6% ×1.4
- Real estate13.6% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical11.7% ×1.0
- Wholesale and retail trade10.4% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.6% ×0.7
- Health and social work7.6% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services6.3% ×1.4
- Manufacturing6.1% ×1.8
Sunshine and temperatures: Risør
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Risør?
Risør has 6,683 residents (2026), ranking 149 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Risør?
Risør covers 171.0 km², with a density of 39 people per km².
Is the population of Risør growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Risør went from 6,920 to 6,683, a change of −3.4%.
Where is Risør?
Risør is in Agder. Latitude 58.725, longitude 9.230.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Risør?
In Risør, “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74” stands at 59.5% (2025), ranking 343 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 67.5%.
Share of dwellings built before 1946: what is the figure for Risør?
In Risør, “Share of dwellings built before 1946” stands at 30.1% (2026), ranking 11 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 16.4%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Risør?
In Risør, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 45° produces about 1,045 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Risør?
The nearest to Risør are Kragerø (19 km), Tvedestrand (19 km), Vegårshei (24 km), Gjerstad (24 km), Bamble (38 km).