Sarpsborg: population and statistics
Sarpsborg has a population of 60,614 (2026) across 370.0 km², or 164 people per km². It ranks 15 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +10.9% between 2016 and 2026.
- 60,614 residents
- 370.0 km²
- 164 people/km²
- 51 m
Key points
Among the 12 municipalities in Østfold, Sarpsborg ranks No. 2 by population.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: 1.8% in Sarpsborg, compared with an average of 1.5% in Østfold and 1.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 14.9% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 973 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Østfold for “Share of population with immigrant background”.
- Number 1 in Østfold for “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74”.
- “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 95% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 51,821 football pitches.
- Its population density is 8.9 times the national average.
Sarpsborg in numbers
All indicators for Sarpsborg
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 | Sarpsborg | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 8.1 per 1,000 inh. | 7.2 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 91 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 19.9% | 21.3% | 23.7% | ranked 284 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 20.2% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 98 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sarpsborg | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 27,531 | 149,193 | 2,760,619 | ranked 17 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 18.3% | 17.6% | 16.4% | ranked 144 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 20.6% | 26.2% | 21.8% | ranked 187 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 77.1% | 76.1% | 89.9% | ranked 306 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 19.5% | 19.4% | 4.4% | ranked 33 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 46.3 per 1,000 inh. | 62.7 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 290 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sarpsborg | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 5,584 | 33,434 | 656,492 | ranked 19 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 92.1 per 1,000 inh. | 105.6 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 323 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 476,500 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 280 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 7,368 per 1,000 inh. | 45,332 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 20 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 121.6 per 1,000 inh. | 143.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 324 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 10.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 239 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sarpsborg | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 61.7% | 62.6% | 67.5% | ranked 328 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.9% | ranked 12 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Sarpsborg | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 211,570 | – | 112,411 | ranked 31 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Sarpsborg | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 547 per 1,000 inh. | 552 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 272 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 29.8% | 30.5% | 19.7% | ranked 59 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Sarpsborg | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 25.9% | 22.8% | 15.2% | ranked 24 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Sarpsborg | 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 | Sarpsborg | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 28.0% | 30.4% | 27.5% | ranked 161 of 351 |
Population of Sarpsborg over time
Sarpsborg had 54,678 residents in 2016 and 60,614 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 57,372 |
| 2022 | 58,182 |
| 2023 | 59,038 |
| 2024 | 59,771 |
| 2025 | 60,139 |
| 2026 | 60,614 |
Where is Sarpsborg?
Business sectors: Sarpsborg
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade14.9% ×1.3
- Construction14.2% ×1.3
- Real estate10.9% ×1.0
- Health and social work9.8% ×1.0
- Professional, scientific and technical9.7% ×0.8
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing6.6% ×0.6
- Other service activities5.1% ×1.3
- Administrative and support services4.9% ×1.1
Sunshine and temperatures: Sarpsborg
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sarpsborg?
Sarpsborg has 60,614 residents (2026), ranking 15 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Sarpsborg?
Sarpsborg covers 370.0 km², with a density of 164 people per km².
Is the population of Sarpsborg growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Sarpsborg went from 54,678 to 60,614, a change of +10.9%.
Where is Sarpsborg?
Sarpsborg is in Østfold. Latitude 59.291, longitude 11.203.
Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74: what is the figure for Sarpsborg?
In Sarpsborg, “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74” stands at 1.8% (2025), ranking 12 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 0.9%.
Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied): what is the figure for Sarpsborg?
In Sarpsborg, “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)” stands at 27,531 (2026), ranking 17 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 2,949.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sarpsborg?
In Sarpsborg, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 973 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sarpsborg?
The nearest to Sarpsborg are Rakkestad (15 km), Fredrikstad (17 km), Råde (21 km), Skiptvet (21 km), Halden (24 km).