Rakkestad: population and statistics
Rakkestad has a population of 8,583 (2026) across 421.0 km², or 20.4 people per km². It ranks 127 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +6.2% between 2016 and 2026.
- 8,583 residents
- 421.0 km²
- 20 people/km²
- 109 m
Key points
Among the 12 municipalities in Østfold, Rakkestad ranks No. 6 by population.
Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men): 82.0 years in Rakkestad, compared with an average of 82.0 years in Østfold and 83.1 years nationally.
Share with university or university college education: 22.6% in Rakkestad, compared with an average of 30.4% in Østfold and 38.3% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 27.7% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 957 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men)”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Share with university or university college education”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 58,964 football pitches.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Sarpsborg (60,614 residents), 15 km away.
- A 4 kWp rooftop solar system here would generate about 3,828 kWh a year, roughly what an average household uses.
Rakkestad in numbers
All indicators for Rakkestad
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 | Rakkestad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 4.3 per 1,000 inh. | 7.2 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 166 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 22.6% | 21.3% | 23.7% | ranked 213 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 19.3% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 135 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Rakkestad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 4,143 | 149,193 | 2,760,619 | ranked 131 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 20.4% | 17.6% | 16.4% | ranked 107 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) | 89.7% | 76.1% | 89.9% | ranked 180 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 6.1% | 19.4% | 4.4% | ranked 139 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 30.8 per 1,000 inh. | 62.7 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 303 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Rakkestad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 1,332 | 33,434 | 656,492 | ranked 105 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 155.2 per 1,000 inh. | 105.6 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 112 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 486,500 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 243 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,664 per 1,000 inh. | 45,332 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 108 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 193.9 per 1,000 inh. | 143.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 111 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 11.4 per 1,000 inh. | 11.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 197 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Rakkestad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 66.0% | 62.6% | 67.5% | ranked 228 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.9% | 1.5% | 0.9% | ranked 164 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Rakkestad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 620 per 1,000 inh. | 552 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 98 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 20.1% | 30.5% | 19.7% | ranked 167 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Rakkestad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 17.1% | 22.8% | 15.2% | ranked 126 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Rakkestad | 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 | Rakkestad | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 22.6% | 30.4% | 27.5% | ranked 315 of 351 |
Population of Rakkestad over time
Rakkestad had 8,084 residents in 2016 and 8,583 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,222 |
| 2022 | 8,312 |
| 2023 | 8,371 |
| 2024 | 8,420 |
| 2025 | 8,527 |
| 2026 | 8,583 |
Where is Rakkestad?
Business sectors: Rakkestad
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing27.7% ×2.7
- Construction13.5% ×1.3
- Real estate12.7% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade9.1% ×0.8
- Manufacturing6.3% ×1.9
- Health and social work6.1% ×0.6
- Professional, scientific and technical5.3% ×0.5
- Administrative and support services4.1% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Rakkestad
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Rakkestad?
Rakkestad has 8,583 residents (2026), ranking 127 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Rakkestad?
Rakkestad covers 421.0 km², with a density of 20 people per km².
Is the population of Rakkestad growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Rakkestad went from 8,084 to 8,583, a change of +6.2%.
Where is Rakkestad?
Rakkestad is in Østfold. Latitude 59.373, longitude 11.420.
Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men): what is the figure for Rakkestad?
In Rakkestad, “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.
Share with university or university college education: what is the figure for Rakkestad?
In Rakkestad, “Share with university or university college education” stands at 22.6% (2025), ranking 315 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 27.5%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Rakkestad?
In Rakkestad, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 957 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Rakkestad?
The nearest to Rakkestad are Sarpsborg (15 km), Marker (19 km), Skiptvet (20 km), Aremark (23 km), Indre Østfold (27 km).