Sandefjord: population and statistics
Sandefjord has a population of 67,062 (2026) across 414.0 km², or 162 people per km². It ranks 13 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +8.1% between 2017 and 2026.
- 67,062 residents
- 414.0 km²
- 162 people/km²
- 13 m
Key points
Among the 6 municipalities in Vestfold, Sandefjord ranks No. 1 by population.
Largest business sector: Wholesale and retail trade, with 13.5% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 45° generates about 1,042 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Vestfold for “Population”.
- Number 1 in Vestfold for “Share of inhabitants under 18”.
- “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 57,983 football pitches.
- Its population density is 8.8 times the national average.
Sandefjord in numbers
All indicators for Sandefjord
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 | Sandefjord | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 5.6 per 1,000 inh. | 5.4 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 143 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 21.3% | 22.1% | 23.7% | ranked 254 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 19.5% | 19.0% | 18.7% | ranked 123 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Sandefjord | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 31,122 | 123,436 | 2,760,619 | ranked 13 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 16.2% | 17.7% | 16.4% | ranked 181 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 28.2% | 27.8% | 21.8% | ranked 87 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 74.9% | 76.0% | 89.9% | ranked 320 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 19.2% | 18.1% | 4.4% | ranked 35 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 41.4 per 1,000 inh. | 52.0 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 293 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Sandefjord | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 7,685 | 29,588 | 656,492 | ranked 13 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 114.6 per 1,000 inh. | 114.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 229 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 492,300 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 216 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 10,525 per 1,000 inh. | 41,239 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 13 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 156.9 per 1,000 inh. | 159.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 204 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 12.6 per 1,000 inh. | 12.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 132 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Sandefjord | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 64.4% | 65.0% | 67.5% | ranked 275 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.9% | ranked 72 of 351 |
Tourism
| Indicator | Sandefjord | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overnight stays at hotels, campsites and cabin villages (2025) | 626,031 | – | 112,411 | ranked 8 of 103 |
Transport
| Indicator | Sandefjord | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 566 per 1,000 inh. | 563 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 234 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 29.7% | 30.3% | 19.7% | ranked 60 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Sandefjord | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 22.3% | 19.1% | 15.2% | ranked 46 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Sandefjord | 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 | Sandefjord | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 32.3% | 34.8% | 27.5% | ranked 75 of 351 |
Population of Sandefjord over time
Sandefjord had 62,019 residents in 2017 and 67,062 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 64,345 |
| 2022 | 64,943 |
| 2023 | 65,574 |
| 2024 | 66,231 |
| 2025 | 66,758 |
| 2026 | 67,062 |
Where is Sandefjord?
Business sectors: Sandefjord
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Wholesale and retail trade13.5% ×1.2
- Construction13.1% ×1.2
- Professional, scientific and technical12.1% ×1.0
- Real estate12.0% ×1.1
- Health and social work8.9% ×0.9
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.2% ×0.7
- Information and communication4.9% ×1.0
- Administrative and support services4.7% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Sandefjord
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Sandefjord?
Sandefjord has 67,062 residents (2026), ranking 13 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Sandefjord?
Sandefjord covers 414.0 km², with a density of 162 people per km².
Is the population of Sandefjord growing?
Between 2017 and 2026, the population of Sandefjord went from 62,019 to 67,062, a change of +8.1%.
Where is Sandefjord?
Sandefjord is in Vestfold. Latitude 59.129, longitude 10.220.
Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied): what is the figure for Sandefjord?
In Sandefjord, “Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied)” stands at 31,122 (2026), ranking 13 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 2,949.
Establishments: what is the figure for Sandefjord?
In Sandefjord, “Establishments” stands at 7,685 (2026), ranking 13 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Sandefjord?
In Sandefjord, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 45° produces about 1,042 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Sandefjord?
The nearest to Sandefjord are Larvik (13 km), Færder (15 km), Tønsberg (22 km), Porsgrunn (32 km), Horten (35 km).