Våler (Østfold): population and statistics
Våler (Østfold) has a population of 6,229 (2026) across 239.0 km², or 26.1 people per km². It ranks 157 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +20.1% between 2016 and 2026.
- 6,229 residents
- 239.0 km²
- 26 people/km²
- 30 m
Key points
Among the 12 municipalities in Østfold, Våler (Østfold) ranks No. 8 by population.
Share of inhabitants under 18: 23.8% in Våler (Østfold), compared with an average of 19.1% in Østfold and 19.6% nationally.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: 42.0% in Våler (Østfold), compared with an average of 26.2% in Østfold and 27.0% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 21.4% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 963 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Østfold for “Population change over 10 years”.
- Number 1 in Østfold for “Share of inhabitants under 18”.
- “Share of inhabitants under 18”: higher than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Share of dwellings built after 2000”: 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 33,473 football pitches.
- The nearest municipality is Skiptvet, 12.9 km away.
Våler (Østfold) in numbers
All indicators for Våler (Østfold)
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 | Våler (Østfold) | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 6.4 per 1,000 inh. | 7.2 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 123 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 15.7% | 21.3% | 23.7% | ranked 340 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 23.8% | 19.1% | 18.7% | ranked 7 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Våler (Østfold) | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 2,630 | 149,193 | 2,760,619 | ranked 186 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 10.5% | 17.6% | 16.4% | ranked 274 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 42.0% | 26.2% | 21.8% | ranked 12 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 92.5% | 76.1% | 89.9% | ranked 106 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 2.5% | 19.4% | 4.4% | ranked 233 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 67.1 per 1,000 inh. | 62.7 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 268 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Våler (Østfold) | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 664 | 33,434 | 656,492 | ranked 189 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 106.6 per 1,000 inh. | 105.6 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 270 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 531,400 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 63 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 874 per 1,000 inh. | 45,332 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 184 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 140.3 per 1,000 inh. | 143.3 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 265 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 9.8 per 1,000 inh. | 11.6 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 270 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Våler (Østfold) | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 69.2% | 62.6% | 67.5% | ranked 118 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.0% | 1.5% | 0.9% | ranked 129 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Våler (Østfold) | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 596 per 1,000 inh. | 552 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 158 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 31.2% | 30.5% | 19.7% | ranked 52 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Våler (Østfold) | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 19.5% | 22.8% | 15.2% | ranked 74 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Våler (Østfold) | 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 | Våler (Østfold) | Østfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 28.3% | 30.4% | 27.5% | ranked 149 of 351 |
Population of Våler (Østfold) over time
Våler (Østfold) had 5,186 residents in 2016 and 6,229 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,805 |
| 2022 | 5,913 |
| 2023 | 6,023 |
| 2024 | 6,145 |
| 2025 | 6,162 |
| 2026 | 6,229 |
Where is Våler (Østfold)?
Business sectors: Våler (Østfold)
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing21.4% ×2.1
- Construction14.8% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade9.9% ×0.9
- Health and social work9.3% ×1.0
- Real estate8.7% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical8.5% ×0.7
- Transport and storage4.6% ×1.0
- Education4.3% ×1.2
Sunshine and temperatures: Våler (Østfold)
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Våler (Østfold)?
Våler (Østfold) has 6,229 residents (2026), ranking 157 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Våler (Østfold)?
Våler (Østfold) covers 239.0 km², with a density of 26 people per km².
Is the population of Våler (Østfold) growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Våler (Østfold) went from 5,186 to 6,229, a change of +20.1%.
Where is Våler (Østfold)?
Våler (Østfold) is in Østfold. Latitude 59.472, longitude 10.917.
Share of inhabitants under 18: what is the figure for Våler (Østfold)?
In Våler (Østfold), “Share of inhabitants under 18” stands at 23.8% (2026), ranking 7 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 18.7%.
Share of dwellings built after 2000: what is the figure for Våler (Østfold)?
In Våler (Østfold), “Share of dwellings built after 2000” stands at 42.0% (2026), ranking 12 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 21.8%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Våler (Østfold)?
In Våler (Østfold), a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 963 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Våler (Østfold)?
The nearest to Våler (Østfold) are Skiptvet (13 km), Råde (14 km), Moss (15 km), Vestby (15 km), Indre Østfold (19 km).