Moss: population and statistics
Moss has a population of 53,207 (2026) across 128.0 km², or 416 people per km². It ranks 20 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +11.7% between 2016 and 2026.
- 53,207 residents
- 128.0 km²
- 416 people/km²
- 17 m
Key points
Among the 12 municipalities in Østfold, Moss ranks No. 3 by population.
Share of dwellings in blocks of flats: 33.9% in Moss, compared with an average of 19.4% in Østfold and 26.7% nationally.
Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men): 82.0 years in Moss, compared with an average of 82.0 years in Østfold and 83.1 years nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 15.8% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 45° generates about 1,009 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Østfold for “Population density”.
- Number 1 in Østfold for “Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Share of dwellings in blocks of flats”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men)”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 17,927 football pitches.
- Its population density is 22.5 times the national average.
Moss in numbers
All indicators for Moss
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 | Moss | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 11.4 per 1,000 inh. | 7.2 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 60 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 21.7% | 21.3% | 23.7% | ranked 240 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.6% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 180 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Moss | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 25,193 | 149,193 | 2,760,619 | ranked 20 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 11.8% | 17.6% | 16.4% | ranked 254 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 29.5% | 26.2% | 21.8% | ranked 74 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 62.6% | 76.1% | 89.9% | ranked 341 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 33.9% | 19.4% | 4.4% | ranked 8 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 28.7 per 1,000 inh. | 62.7 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 307 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Moss | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 5,327 | 33,434 | 656,492 | ranked 21 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 100.1 per 1,000 inh. | 105.6 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 297 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 502,100 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 170 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 7,459 per 1,000 inh. | 45,332 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 19 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 140.2 per 1,000 inh. | 143.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 266 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 11.7 per 1,000 inh. | 11.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 181 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Moss | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 63.3% | 62.6% | 67.5% | ranked 301 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 | Moss | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 522 per 1,000 inh. | 552 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 301 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 33.5% | 30.5% | 19.7% | ranked 43 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Moss | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 25.2% | 22.8% | 15.2% | ranked 28 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Moss | 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 | Moss | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 34.8% | 30.4% | 27.5% | ranked 49 of 351 |
Population of Moss over time
Moss had 47,640 residents in 2016 and 53,207 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 49,668 |
| 2022 | 50,290 |
| 2023 | 51,240 |
| 2024 | 52,051 |
| 2025 | 52,646 |
| 2026 | 53,207 |
Where is Moss?
Business sectors: Moss
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade15.8% ×1.4
- Professional, scientific and technical12.8% ×1.1
- Health and social work11.9% ×1.2
- Real estate10.9% ×1.0
- Construction9.3% ×0.9
- Other service activities5.4% ×1.4
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.2% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services4.7% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Moss
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Moss?
Moss has 53,207 residents (2026), ranking 20 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Moss?
Moss covers 128.0 km², with a density of 416 people per km².
Is the population of Moss growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Moss went from 47,640 to 53,207, a change of +11.7%.
Where is Moss?
Moss is in Østfold. Latitude 59.434, longitude 10.658.
Share of dwellings in blocks of flats: what is the figure for Moss?
In Moss, “Share of dwellings in blocks of flats” stands at 33.9% (2026), ranking 8 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 4.4%.
Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men): what is the figure for Moss?
In Moss, “Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men)” stands at 82.0 years (2025), ranking 322 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 82.8 years.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Moss?
In Moss, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 45° produces about 1,009 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Moss?
The nearest to Moss are Horten (13 km), Råde (15 km), Våler (Østfold) (15 km), Vestby (16 km), Tønsberg (20 km).