Øvre Eiker: population and statistics
Øvre Eiker has a population of 20,965 (2026) across 418.0 km², or 50.2 people per km². It ranks 64 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +15.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 20,965 residents
- 418.0 km²
- 50 people/km²
- 173 m
Key points
Among the 18 municipalities in Buskerud, Øvre Eiker ranks No. 5 by population.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: 36.9% in Øvre Eiker, compared with an average of 25.9% in Buskerud and 27.0% nationally.
Largest business sector: Construction, with 16.8% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 45° generates about 950 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Buskerud for “Population change over 10 years”.
- “Share of dwellings built after 2000”: higher than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 58,543 football pitches.
- Its population density is 2.7 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Kongsberg, 16.0 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Drammen (106,013 residents), 21 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,800 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Øvre Eiker in numbers
All indicators for Øvre Eiker
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 | Øvre Eiker | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 4.5 per 1,000 inh. | 6.4 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 158 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 19.9% | 20.5% | 23.7% | ranked 284 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 19.9% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 111 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Øvre Eiker | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 9,594 | 132,645 | 2,760,619 | ranked 66 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 14.6% | 16.4% | 16.4% | ranked 209 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 36.9% | 25.9% | 21.8% | ranked 36 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 81.8% | 74.5% | 89.9% | ranked 264 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 14.5% | 20.5% | 4.4% | ranked 65 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 30.5 per 1,000 inh. | 179.8 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 304 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Øvre Eiker | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 2,406 | 33,324 | 656,492 | ranked 56 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 114.8 per 1,000 inh. | 122.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 228 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 522,100 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 93 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 3,286 per 1,000 inh. | 45,107 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 59 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 156.7 per 1,000 inh. | 165.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 205 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 12.1 per 1,000 inh. | 12.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 155 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Øvre Eiker | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 67.3% | 66.8% | 67.5% | ranked 180 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.7% | 1.3% | 0.9% | ranked 238 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Øvre Eiker | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 596 per 1,000 inh. | 547 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 158 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 25.0% | 27.6% | 19.7% | ranked 102 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Øvre Eiker | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 19.3% | 25.8% | 15.2% | ranked 78 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Øvre Eiker | 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 | Øvre Eiker | Buskerud | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 28.8% | 33.7% | 27.5% | ranked 139 of 351 |
Population of Øvre Eiker over time
Øvre Eiker had 18,205 residents in 2016 and 20,965 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 19,709 |
| 2022 | 20,044 |
| 2023 | 20,495 |
| 2024 | 20,779 |
| 2025 | 20,861 |
| 2026 | 20,965 |
Where is Øvre Eiker?
Business sectors: Øvre Eiker
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Construction16.8% ×1.6
- Wholesale and retail trade13.4% ×1.2
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing12.9% ×1.3
- Real estate12.5% ×1.1
- Professional, scientific and technical9.0% ×0.8
- Health and social work7.5% ×0.8
- Administrative and support services4.9% ×1.1
- Arts, entertainment and recreation3.9% ×0.7
Sunshine and temperatures: Øvre Eiker
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Øvre Eiker?
Øvre Eiker has 20,965 residents (2026), ranking 64 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Øvre Eiker?
Øvre Eiker covers 418.0 km², with a density of 50 people per km².
Is the population of Øvre Eiker growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Øvre Eiker went from 18,205 to 20,965, a change of +15.2%.
Where is Øvre Eiker?
Øvre Eiker is in Buskerud. Latitude 59.772, longitude 9.836.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: what is the figure for Øvre Eiker?
In Øvre Eiker, “Share of dwellings built after 2000” stands at 36.9% (2026), ranking 36 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 21.8%.
Establishments: what is the figure for Øvre Eiker?
In Øvre Eiker, “Establishments” stands at 2,406 (2026), ranking 56 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Øvre Eiker?
In Øvre Eiker, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 45° produces about 950 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Øvre Eiker?
The nearest to Øvre Eiker are Kongsberg (16 km), Drammen (21 km), Flesberg (22 km), Modum (22 km), Lier (24 km).