Gol: population and statistics
Gol has a population of 4,902 (2026) across 514.0 km², or 9.5 people per km². It ranks 185 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +7.1% between 2016 and 2026.
- 4,902 residents
- 514.0 km²
- 10 people/km²
- 740 m
Key points
Among the 18 municipalities in Buskerud, Gol ranks No. 9 by population.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: 72.8% in Gol, compared with an average of 66.8% in Buskerud and 68.2% nationally.
Share of population with immigrant background: 23.5% in Gol, compared with an average of 25.8% in Buskerud and 21.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 15.6% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 46° generates about 922 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 71,989 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Nesbyen, 22.3 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Ringerike (31,942 residents), 88 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,688 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Gol in numbers
All indicators for Gol
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 | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 4.7 per 1,000 inh. | 6.4 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 156 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.4% | 20.5% | 23.7% | ranked 184 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 17.3% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 253 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 2,996 | 132,645 | 2,760,619 | ranked 175 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 11.3% | 16.4% | 16.4% | ranked 261 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 23.4% | 25.9% | 21.8% | ranked 148 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 83.8% | 74.5% | 89.9% | ranked 256 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 9.9% | 20.5% | 4.4% | ranked 91 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 556.1 per 1,000 inh. | 179.8 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 45 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 951 | 33,324 | 656,492 | ranked 136 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 194.0 per 1,000 inh. | 122.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 57 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 505,700 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 153 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,108 per 1,000 inh. | 45,107 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 152 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 226.0 per 1,000 inh. | 165.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 64 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 13.7 per 1,000 inh. | 12.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 82 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 72.8% | 66.8% | 67.5% | ranked 24 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.8% | 1.3% | 0.9% | ranked 198 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 245,434 | – | 112,411 | ranked 24 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 592 per 1,000 inh. | 547 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 170 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 18.3% | 27.6% | 19.7% | ranked 204 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 23.5% | 25.8% | 15.2% | ranked 41 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.7 years | 82.7 | 82.8 | ranked 203 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Gol | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 25.6% | 33.7% | 27.5% | ranked 233 of 351 |
Population of Gol over time
Gol had 4,578 residents in 2016 and 4,902 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,636 |
| 2022 | 4,667 |
| 2023 | 4,767 |
| 2024 | 4,986 |
| 2025 | 4,888 |
| 2026 | 4,902 |
Where is Gol?
Business sectors: Gol
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction15.6% ×1.5
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing15.1% ×1.5
- Wholesale and retail trade15.0% ×1.3
- Real estate13.4% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical7.8% ×0.7
- Administrative and support services5.7% ×1.2
- Health and social work5.6% ×0.6
- Accommodation and food services3.4% ×1.1
Sunshine and temperatures: Gol
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Gol?
Gol has 4,902 residents (2026), ranking 185 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Gol?
Gol covers 514.0 km², with a density of 10 people per km².
Is the population of Gol growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Gol went from 4,578 to 4,902, a change of +7.1%.
Where is Gol?
Gol is in Buskerud. Latitude 60.750, longitude 8.985.
Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Gol?
In Gol, “Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74” stands at 72.8% (2025), ranking 24 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 67.5%.
Share of population with immigrant background: what is the figure for Gol?
In Gol, “Share of population with immigrant background” stands at 23.5% (2025), ranking 41 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 15.2%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Gol?
In Gol, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 46° produces about 922 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Gol?
The nearest to Gol are Nesbyen (22 km), Ål (24 km), Nord-Aurdal (28 km), Hemsedal (31 km), Vestre Slidre (35 km).