Ålesund: population and statistics
Ålesund has a population of 59,663 (2026) across 353.0 km², or 169 people per km². It ranks 17 of 357 municipalities by population.
- 59,663 residents
- 353.0 km²
- 169 people/km²
- 3 m
Key points
Among the 27 municipalities in Møre og Romsdal, Ålesund ranks No. 1 by population.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 14.3% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 42° generates about 682 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Møre og Romsdal for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Møre og Romsdal for “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”.
- “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Share with university or university college education”: higher than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 49,440 football pitches.
- Its population density is 9.1 times the national average.
Ålesund in numbers
All indicators for Ålesund
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 | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 5.2 per 1,000 inh. | 2.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 149 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 18.8% | 21.9% | 23.7% | ranked 298 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 19.9% | 19.7% | 18.7% | ranked 111 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 29,938 | 138,587 | 2,760,619 | ranked 14 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 16.1% | 15.2% | 16.4% | ranked 184 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 28.3% | 24.0% | 21.8% | ranked 83 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 70.0% | 82.9% | 89.9% | ranked 330 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 24.3% | 11.2% | 4.4% | ranked 17 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 20.1 per 1,000 inh. | 66.5 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 323 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 6,640 | 30,396 | 656,492 | ranked 15 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 252 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 541,100 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 46 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 8,657 per 1,000 inh. | 38,655 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 16 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 145.1 per 1,000 inh. | 141.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 249 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 12.0 per 1,000 inh. | 10.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 161 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 71.2% | 68.8% | 67.5% | ranked 55 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | ranked 129 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 428,621 | – | 112,411 | ranked 13 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 536 per 1,000 inh. | 582 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 289 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 33.8% | 27.5% | 19.7% | ranked 38 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 18.4% | 16.7% | 15.2% | ranked 93 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 83.6 years | 83.6 | 82.8 | ranked 64 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 38.6% | 32.4% | 27.5% | ranked 28 of 351 |
Population of Ålesund over time
Ålesund had 58,509 residents in 2024 and 59,663 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 58,509 |
| 2025 | 59,198 |
| 2026 | 59,663 |
Where is Ålesund?
Business sectors: Ålesund
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade14.3% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical12.9% ×1.1
- Real estate12.6% ×1.2
- Health and social work11.4% ×1.2
- Construction10.2% ×0.9
- Transport and storage4.9% ×1.1
- Manufacturing4.7% ×1.4
- Administrative and support services4.6% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Ålesund
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Ålesund?
Ålesund has 59,663 residents (2026), ranking 17 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Ålesund?
Ålesund covers 353.0 km², with a density of 169 people per km².
Where is Ålesund?
Ålesund is in Møre og Romsdal. Latitude 62.471, longitude 6.154.
Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied): what is the figure for Ålesund?
In Ålesund, “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)” stands at 29,938 (2026), ranking 14 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 2,949.
Establishments: what is the figure for Ålesund?
In Ålesund, “Establishments” stands at 6,640 (2026), ranking 15 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Ålesund?
In Ålesund, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 42° produces about 682 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Ålesund?
The nearest to Ålesund are Sula (5.8 km), Giske (10 km), Hareid (14 km), Haram (15 km), Ulstein (20 km).