Horten: population and statistics
Horten has a population of 28,173 (2026) across 69.0 km², or 408 people per km². It ranks 43 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.7% between 2016 and 2026.
- 28,173 residents
- 69.0 km²
- 408 people/km²
- 9 m
Key points
Among the 6 municipalities in Vestfold, Horten ranks No. 4 by population.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: 13.1 per 1,000 inh. in Horten, compared with an average of 52.0 per 1,000 inh. in Vestfold and 80.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: 88.2 per 1,000 inh. in Horten, compared with an average of 114.1 per 1,000 inh. in Vestfold and 116.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 13.1% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 44° generates about 966 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Vestfold for “Population density”.
- Number 1 in Vestfold for “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74”.
- “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 95% of municipalities.
- “Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 9,664 football pitches.
- Its population density is 22.1 times the national average.
Horten in numbers
All indicators for Horten
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 | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 6.6 per 1,000 inh. | 5.4 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 119 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 22.8% | 22.1% | 23.7% | ranked 207 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 18.2% | 19.0% | 18.7% | ranked 206 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 13,804 | 123,436 | 2,760,619 | ranked 39 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 20.3% | 17.7% | 16.4% | ranked 110 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 24.3% | 27.8% | 21.8% | ranked 135 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 69.3% | 76.0% | 89.9% | ranked 331 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 19.9% | 18.1% | 4.4% | ranked 31 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 13.1 per 1,000 inh. | 52.0 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 332 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 2,485 | 29,588 | 656,492 | ranked 53 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 88.2 per 1,000 inh. | 114.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 335 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 495,400 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 202 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 3,479 per 1,000 inh. | 41,239 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 53 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 123.5 per 1,000 inh. | 159.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 320 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 9.3 per 1,000 inh. | 12.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 289 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 62.5% | 65.0% | 67.5% | ranked 314 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.6% | 1.2% | 0.9% | ranked 17 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 97,554 | – | 112,411 | ranked 60 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 521 per 1,000 inh. | 563 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 304 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 28.7% | 30.3% | 19.7% | ranked 72 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 20.1% | 19.1% | 15.2% | ranked 70 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 82.8 years | 82.8 | 82.8 | ranked 151 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Horten | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 35.8% | 34.8% | 27.5% | ranked 42 of 351 |
Population of Horten over time
Horten had 27,178 residents in 2016 and 28,173 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 27,510 |
| 2022 | 27,502 |
| 2023 | 27,682 |
| 2024 | 27,939 |
| 2025 | 28,039 |
| 2026 | 28,173 |
Where is Horten?
Business sectors: Horten
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade13.1% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical12.8% ×1.1
- Real estate10.6% ×1.0
- Health and social work10.4% ×1.1
- Construction9.6% ×0.9
- Information and communication6.2% ×1.3
- Arts, entertainment and recreation5.9% ×1.1
- Education5.0% ×1.4
Sunshine and temperatures: Horten
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Horten?
Horten has 28,173 residents (2026), ranking 43 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Horten?
Horten covers 69.0 km², with a density of 408 people per km².
Is the population of Horten growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Horten went from 27,178 to 28,173, a change of +3.7%.
Where is Horten?
Horten is in Vestfold. Latitude 59.421, longitude 10.433.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Horten?
In Horten, “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 13.1 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 332 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 153.1 per 1,000 inh..
Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Horten?
In Horten, “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 88.2 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 335 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 129.8 per 1,000 inh..
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Horten?
In Horten, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 44° produces about 966 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Horten?
The nearest to Horten are Moss (13 km), Holmestrand (13 km), Tønsberg (14 km), Færder (22 km), Vestby (24 km).