Sandnes: population and statistics
Sandnes has a population of 85,785 (2026) across 943.0 km², or 91.0 people per km². It ranks 11 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +12.8% between 2016 and 2026.
- 85,785 residents
- 943.0 km²
- 91 people/km²
- 34 m
Key points
Among the 23 municipalities in Rogaland, Sandnes ranks No. 2 by population.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: 14.8% in Sandnes, compared with an average of 16.9% in Rogaland and 19.2% nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 14.0% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 831 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Rogaland for “Share of population with immigrant background”.
- “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over”: lower than in 98% of municipalities.
- “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 132,073 football pitches.
- Its population density is 4.9 times the national average.
- The nearest municipality is Sola, 12.2 km away.
Sandnes in numbers
All indicators for Sandnes
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 | Sandnes | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 5.0 per 1,000 inh. | 4.7 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 151 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 14.8% | 16.9% | 23.7% | ranked 345 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 23.1% | 22.0% | 18.7% | ranked 18 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sandnes | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 35,895 | 228,912 | 2,760,619 | ranked 12 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 5.4% | 11.1% | 16.4% | ranked 322 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 42.0% | 33.5% | 21.8% | ranked 12 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 74.5% | 76.9% | 89.9% | ranked 324 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 21.8% | 18.9% | 4.4% | ranked 21 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 31.3 per 1,000 inh. | 37.6 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 301 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sandnes | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 8,328 | 52,915 | 656,492 | ranked 11 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 97.1 per 1,000 inh. | 104.0 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 309 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 560,200 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 17 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 11,406 per 1,000 inh. | 72,613 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 11 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 133.0 per 1,000 inh. | 142.7 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 296 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 12.1 per 1,000 inh. | 12.2 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 155 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sandnes | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 70.2% | 70.0% | 67.5% | ranked 86 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.3% | 1.1% | 0.9% | ranked 43 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Sandnes | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 224,620 | – | 112,411 | ranked 28 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Sandnes | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 509 per 1,000 inh. | 510 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 312 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 38.1% | 34.2% | 19.7% | ranked 22 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Sandnes | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 27.2% | 22.0% | 15.2% | ranked 18 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Sandnes | 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 | Sandnes | Rogaland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 38.1% | 36.8% | 27.5% | ranked 29 of 351 |
Population of Sandnes over time
Sandnes had 76,058 residents in 2016 and 85,785 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 80,450 |
| 2022 | 81,305 |
| 2023 | 82,548 |
| 2024 | 83,702 |
| 2025 | 84,908 |
| 2026 | 85,785 |
Where is Sandnes?
Business sectors: Sandnes
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical14.0% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade13.7% ×1.2
- Real estate10.6% ×1.0
- Construction10.5% ×1.0
- Health and social work9.0% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing6.0% ×0.6
- Transport and storage5.3% ×1.2
- Administrative and support services5.2% ×1.1
Sunshine and temperatures: Sandnes
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sandnes?
Sandnes has 85,785 residents (2026), ranking 11 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Sandnes?
Sandnes covers 943.0 km², with a density of 91 people per km².
Is the population of Sandnes growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Sandnes went from 76,058 to 85,785, a change of +12.8%.
Where is Sandnes?
Sandnes is in Rogaland. Latitude 58.845, longitude 5.829.
Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over: what is the figure for Sandnes?
In Sandnes, “Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over” stands at 14.8% (2026), ranking 345 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 23.7%.
Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied): what is the figure for Sandnes?
In Sandnes, “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)” stands at 35,895 (2026), ranking 12 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 2,949.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sandnes?
In Sandnes, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 831 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sandnes?
The nearest to Sandnes are Sola (12 km), Gjesdal (12 km), Time (14 km), Stavanger (15 km), Klepp (15 km).