Lier: population and statistics
Lier has a population of 28,797 (2026) across 282.0 km², or 102 people per km². It ranks 41 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +11.9% between 2016 and 2026.
- 28,797 residents
- 282.0 km²
- 102 people/km²
- 221 m
Key points
Among the 18 municipalities in Buskerud, Lier ranks No. 4 by population.
Share of population with immigrant background: 28.2% in Lier, compared with an average of 25.8% in Buskerud and 21.8% nationally.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: 13.2 per 1,000 inh. in Lier, compared with an average of 179.8 per 1,000 inh. in Buskerud and 80.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 14.7% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 945 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Buskerud for “Share of inhabitants under 18”.
- “Share of population with immigrant background”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Median income before tax (gross income)”: higher than in 94% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 39,496 football pitches.
- Its population density is 5.5 times the national average.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Drammen (106,013 residents), 14 km away.
Lier in numbers
All indicators for Lier
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 | Lier | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 2.7 per 1,000 inh. | 6.4 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 201 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 18.0% | 20.5% | 23.7% | ranked 316 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 21.5% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 52 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Lier | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 11,890 | 132,645 | 2,760,619 | ranked 52 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 10.9% | 16.4% | 16.4% | ranked 268 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 30.0% | 25.9% | 21.8% | ranked 73 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 77.6% | 74.5% | 89.9% | ranked 301 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 19.9% | 20.5% | 4.4% | ranked 31 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 13.2 per 1,000 inh. | 179.8 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 331 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Lier | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 3,273 | 33,324 | 656,492 | ranked 35 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 113.7 per 1,000 inh. | 122.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 233 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 556,900 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 22 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 4,719 per 1,000 inh. | 45,107 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 34 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 163.9 per 1,000 inh. | 165.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 184 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 13.1 per 1,000 inh. | 12.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 110 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Lier | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 69.1% | 66.8% | 67.5% | ranked 121 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.3% | 1.3% | 0.9% | ranked 43 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Lier | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 549 per 1,000 inh. | 547 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 269 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 36.4% | 27.6% | 19.7% | ranked 29 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Lier | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 28.2% | 25.8% | 15.2% | ranked 15 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Lier | 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 | Lier | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 39.6% | 33.7% | 27.5% | ranked 24 of 351 |
Population of Lier over time
Lier had 25,731 residents in 2016 and 28,797 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,118 |
| 2022 | 27,584 |
| 2023 | 28,167 |
| 2024 | 28,470 |
| 2025 | 28,642 |
| 2026 | 28,797 |
Where is Lier?
Business sectors: Lier
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade14.7% ×1.3
- Construction13.1% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical12.5% ×1.1
- Health and social work10.1% ×1.1
- Real estate9.5% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing9.1% ×0.9
- Administrative and support services6.2% ×1.3
- Transport and storage4.1% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Lier
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Lier?
Lier has 28,797 residents (2026), ranking 41 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Lier?
Lier covers 282.0 km², with a density of 102 people per km².
Is the population of Lier growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Lier went from 25,731 to 28,797, a change of +11.9%.
Where is Lier?
Lier is in Buskerud. Latitude 59.867, longitude 10.214.
Share of population with immigrant background: what is the figure for Lier?
In Lier, “Share of population with immigrant background” stands at 28.2% (2025), ranking 15 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 15.2%.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Lier?
In Lier, “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 13.2 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 331 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 153.1 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Lier?
In Lier, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 945 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Lier?
The nearest to Lier are Drammen (14 km), Modum (16 km), Bærum (18 km), Hole (20 km), Øvre Eiker (24 km).