Haugesund: population and statistics
Haugesund has a population of 38,663 (2026) across 68.0 km², or 569 people per km². It ranks 28 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +4.6% between 2016 and 2026.
- 38,663 residents
- 68.0 km²
- 569 people/km²
- 20 m
Key points
Among the 23 municipalities in Rogaland, Haugesund ranks No. 4 by population.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: 5.5 per 1,000 inh. in Haugesund, compared with an average of 37.6 per 1,000 inh. in Rogaland and 80.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Real estate, with 14.9% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 886 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- “Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 90% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 9,524 football pitches.
- Its population density is 30.7 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Tysvær, 16.1 km away.
- The nearest more populous municipality is Stavanger (151,669 residents), 55 km away.
Haugesund in numbers
All indicators for Haugesund
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 | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 4.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.7 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 157 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 19.3% | 16.9% | 23.7% | ranked 289 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 19.0% | 22.0% | 18.7% | ranked 150 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 19,695 | 228,912 | 2,760,619 | ranked 26 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 14.3% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 219 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 27.2% | 33.5% | 21.8% | ranked 105 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 70.6% | 76.9% | 89.9% | ranked 329 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 21.7% | 18.9% | 4.4% | ranked 22 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 5.5 per 1,000 inh. | 37.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 343 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 4,061 | 52,915 | 656,492 | ranked 26 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 105.0 per 1,000 inh. | 104.0 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 274 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 532,600 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 60 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 5,392 per 1,000 inh. | 72,613 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 27 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 139.5 per 1,000 inh. | 142.7 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 269 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 10.8 per 1,000 inh. | 12.2 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 231 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 67.1% | 70.0% | 67.5% | ranked 188 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.1% | 1.1% | 0.9% | ranked 97 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 254,814 | – | 112,411 | ranked 21 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 505 per 1,000 inh. | 510 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 316 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 32.2% | 34.2% | 19.7% | ranked 47 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 21.6% | 22.0% | 15.2% | ranked 52 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 83.2 years | 83.2 | 82.8 | ranked 92 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Haugesund | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 36.6% | 36.8% | 27.5% | ranked 35 of 351 |
Population of Haugesund over time
Haugesund had 36,951 residents in 2016 and 38,663 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 37,323 |
| 2022 | 37,444 |
| 2023 | 37,855 |
| 2024 | 38,292 |
| 2025 | 38,441 |
| 2026 | 38,663 |
Where is Haugesund?
Business sectors: Haugesund
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Real estate14.9% ×1.4
- Wholesale and retail trade13.3% ×1.2
- Health and social work12.3% ×1.3
- Professional, scientific and technical11.4% ×1.0
- Construction8.7% ×0.8
- Transport and storage5.8% ×1.3
- Other service activities5.1% ×1.3
- Accommodation and food services4.9% ×1.6
Sunshine and temperatures: Haugesund
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Haugesund?
Haugesund has 38,663 residents (2026), ranking 28 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Haugesund?
Haugesund covers 68.0 km², with a density of 569 people per km².
Is the population of Haugesund growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Haugesund went from 36,951 to 38,663, a change of +4.6%.
Where is Haugesund?
Haugesund is in Rogaland. Latitude 59.410, longitude 5.276.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Haugesund?
In Haugesund, “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 5.5 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 343 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 153.1 per 1,000 inh..
Establishments: what is the figure for Haugesund?
In Haugesund, “Establishments” stands at 4,061 (2026), ranking 26 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Haugesund?
In Haugesund, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 886 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Haugesund?
The nearest to Haugesund are Tysvær (16 km), Karmøy (18 km), Sveio (19 km), Bokn (25 km), Utsira (25 km).