Fredrikstad: population and statistics
Fredrikstad has a population of 86,243 (2026) across 284.0 km², or 304 people per km². It ranks 10 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +9.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 86,243 residents
- 284.0 km²
- 304 people/km²
- 32 m
Key points
Among the 12 municipalities in Østfold, Fredrikstad ranks No. 1 by population.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 14.1% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 45° generates about 1,019 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Østfold for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Østfold for “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”.
- “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men)”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 39,776 football pitches.
- Its population density is 16.4 times the national average.
Fredrikstad in numbers
All indicators for Fredrikstad
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 | Fredrikstad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 5.3 per 1,000 inh. | 7.2 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 147 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 21.3% | 21.3% | 23.7% | ranked 254 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.7% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 171 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Fredrikstad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 40,250 | 149,193 | 2,760,619 | ranked 11 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 20.2% | 17.6% | 16.4% | ranked 111 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 25.7% | 26.2% | 21.8% | ranked 118 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 74.8% | 76.1% | 89.9% | ranked 322 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 20.4% | 19.4% | 4.4% | ranked 26 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 52.0 per 1,000 inh. | 62.7 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 286 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Fredrikstad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 8,749 | 33,434 | 656,492 | ranked 10 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 101.4 per 1,000 inh. | 105.6 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 294 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 484,800 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 251 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 12,320 per 1,000 inh. | 45,332 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 10 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 142.9 per 1,000 inh. | 143.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 258 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 12.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 132 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Fredrikstad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 61.9% | 62.6% | 67.5% | ranked 324 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.6% | 1.5% | 0.9% | ranked 17 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Fredrikstad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 520 per 1,000 inh. | 552 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 305 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 35.9% | 30.5% | 19.7% | ranked 30 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Fredrikstad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 22.7% | 22.8% | 15.2% | ranked 42 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Fredrikstad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.0 years | 82.0 | 82.8 | ranked 322 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Fredrikstad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 33.5% | 30.4% | 27.5% | ranked 58 of 351 |
Population of Fredrikstad over time
Fredrikstad had 78,967 residents in 2016 and 86,243 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 83,193 |
| 2022 | 83,892 |
| 2023 | 84,444 |
| 2024 | 85,230 |
| 2025 | 85,862 |
| 2026 | 86,243 |
Where is Fredrikstad?
Business sectors: Fredrikstad
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade14.1% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical12.7% ×1.1
- Construction11.9% ×1.1
- Health and social work11.5% ×1.2
- Real estate11.4% ×1.0
- Arts, entertainment and recreation6.3% ×1.2
- Other service activities4.7% ×1.2
- Manufacturing4.2% ×1.2
Sunshine and temperatures: Fredrikstad
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Fredrikstad?
Fredrikstad has 86,243 residents (2026), ranking 10 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Fredrikstad?
Fredrikstad covers 284.0 km², with a density of 304 people per km².
Is the population of Fredrikstad growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Fredrikstad went from 78,967 to 86,243, a change of +9.2%.
Where is Fredrikstad?
Fredrikstad is in Østfold. Latitude 59.217, longitude 10.950.
Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied): what is the figure for Fredrikstad?
In Fredrikstad, “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)” stands at 40,250 (2026), ranking 11 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 2,949.
Establishments: what is the figure for Fredrikstad?
In Fredrikstad, “Establishments” stands at 8,749 (2026), ranking 10 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Fredrikstad?
In Fredrikstad, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 45° produces about 1,019 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Fredrikstad?
The nearest to Fredrikstad are Råde (16 km), Sarpsborg (17 km), Hvaler (19 km), Våler (Østfold) (29 km), Moss (29 km).