Kristiansund: population and statistics
Kristiansund has a population of 24,479 (2026) across 86.0 km², or 285 people per km². It ranks 53 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is stable: −0.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 24,479 residents
- 86.0 km²
- 285 people/km²
- 1 m
Key points
Among the 27 municipalities in Møre og Romsdal, Kristiansund ranks No. 3 by population.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: 119.8 per 1,000 inh. in Kristiansund, compared with an average of 141.5 per 1,000 inh. in Møre og Romsdal and 162.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: 21.1 per 1,000 inh. in Kristiansund, compared with an average of 66.5 per 1,000 inh. in Møre og Romsdal and 80.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Real estate, with 15.1% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 752 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Møre og Romsdal for “Population density”.
- Number 1 in Møre og Romsdal for “Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men)”.
- “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 94% of municipalities.
- “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 92% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 12,045 football pitches.
- Its population density is 15.4 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Averøy, 15.5 km away.
Kristiansund in numbers
All indicators for Kristiansund
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 | Kristiansund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | −2.7 per 1,000 inh. | 2.1 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 290 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 23.0% | 21.9% | 23.7% | ranked 201 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 17.8% | 19.7% | 18.7% | ranked 231 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Kristiansund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 13,008 | 138,587 | 2,760,619 | ranked 42 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 13.9% | 15.2% | 16.4% | ranked 226 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 15.5% | 24.0% | 21.8% | ranked 257 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 80.6% | 82.9% | 89.9% | ranked 273 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 12.7% | 11.2% | 4.4% | ranked 75 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 21.1 per 1,000 inh. | 66.5 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 322 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Kristiansund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 2,354 | 30,396 | 656,492 | ranked 61 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 96.2 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 314 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 502,300 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 168 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 2,933 per 1,000 inh. | 38,655 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 65 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 119.8 per 1,000 inh. | 141.5 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 329 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 8.8 per 1,000 inh. | 10.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 303 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Kristiansund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 64.6% | 68.8% | 67.5% | ranked 271 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | ranked 129 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Kristiansund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 541 per 1,000 inh. | 582 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 283 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 28.9% | 27.5% | 19.7% | ranked 68 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Kristiansund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 16.2% | 16.7% | 15.2% | ranked 152 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Kristiansund | 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 | Kristiansund | Møre og Romsdal | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 30.4% | 32.4% | 27.5% | ranked 100 of 351 |
Population of Kristiansund over time
Kristiansund had 24,526 residents in 2016 and 24,479 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 24,099 |
| 2022 | 24,013 |
| 2023 | 24,159 |
| 2024 | 24,404 |
| 2025 | 24,578 |
| 2026 | 24,479 |
Where is Kristiansund?
Business sectors: Kristiansund
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Real estate15.1% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade14.1% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical11.9% ×1.0
- Construction11.1% ×1.0
- Health and social work10.3% ×1.1
- Transport and storage4.9% ×1.1
- Administrative and support services4.5% ×1.0
- Accommodation and food services4.2% ×1.4
Sunshine and temperatures: Kristiansund
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kristiansund?
Kristiansund has 24,479 residents (2026), ranking 53 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Kristiansund?
Kristiansund covers 86.0 km², with a density of 285 people per km².
Is the population of Kristiansund growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Kristiansund went from 24,526 to 24,479, a change of −0.2%.
Where is Kristiansund?
Kristiansund is in Møre og Romsdal. Latitude 63.112, longitude 7.732.
Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Kristiansund?
In Kristiansund, “Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 119.8 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 329 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 167.1 per 1,000 inh..
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Kristiansund?
In Kristiansund, “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 21.1 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 322 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 153.1 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Kristiansund?
In Kristiansund, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 752 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Kristiansund?
The nearest to Kristiansund are Averøy (16 km), Gjemnes (24 km), Tingvoll (33 km), Hustadvika (33 km), Smøla (36 km).