Tønsberg: population and statistics
Tønsberg has a population of 60,246 (2026) across 326.0 km², or 185 people per km². It ranks 16 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +10.7% between 2017 and 2026.
- 60,246 residents
- 326.0 km²
- 185 people/km²
- 47 m
Key points
Among the 6 municipalities in Vestfold, Tønsberg ranks No. 2 by population.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: 8.1 per 1,000 inh. in Tønsberg, compared with an average of 52.0 per 1,000 inh. in Vestfold and 80.4 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Largest business sector: Professional, scientific and technical, with 13.8% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 45° generates about 1,028 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
- Number 1 in Vestfold for “Share of dwellings in blocks of flats”.
- Number 1 in Vestfold for “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants”.
- “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants”: lower than in 97% of municipalities.
- “Establishments”: higher than in 96% of municipalities.
- “Share with university or university college education”: higher than in 93% of municipalities.
- Its area is roughly equal to 45,658 football pitches.
- Its population density is 10.0 times the national average.
Tønsberg in numbers
All indicators for Tønsberg
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 | Tønsberg | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 5.8 per 1,000 inh. | 5.4 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 137 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 20.3% | 22.1% | 23.7% | ranked 276 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 19.2% | 19.0% | 18.7% | ranked 143 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Tønsberg | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 28,814 | 123,436 | 2,760,619 | ranked 15 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 16.8% | 17.7% | 16.4% | ranked 167 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 32.7% | 27.8% | 21.8% | ranked 58 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 73.4% | 76.0% | 89.9% | ranked 326 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 20.4% | 18.1% | 4.4% | ranked 26 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 8.1 per 1,000 inh. | 52.0 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 339 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Tønsberg | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 7,495 | 29,588 | 656,492 | ranked 14 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 124.4 per 1,000 inh. | 114.1 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 190 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 526,700 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 79 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 10,427 per 1,000 inh. | 41,239 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 14 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 173.1 per 1,000 inh. | 159.0 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 159 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 14.2 per 1,000 inh. | 12.5 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 67 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Tønsberg | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 67.9% | 65.0% | 67.5% | ranked 163 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 1.4% | 1.2% | 0.9% | ranked 37 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Tønsberg | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 562 per 1,000 inh. | 563 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 242 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 33.3% | 30.3% | 19.7% | ranked 45 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Tønsberg | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 17.9% | 19.1% | 15.2% | ranked 107 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Tønsberg | 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 | Tønsberg | Vestfold | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 39.1% | 34.8% | 27.5% | ranked 27 of 351 |
Population of Tønsberg over time
Tønsberg had 54,408 residents in 2017 and 60,246 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 57,026 |
| 2022 | 57,794 |
| 2023 | 58,561 |
| 2024 | 59,174 |
| 2025 | 59,830 |
| 2026 | 60,246 |
Where is Tønsberg?
Business sectors: Tønsberg
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Professional, scientific and technical13.8% ×1.2
- Wholesale and retail trade13.0% ×1.2
- Real estate12.7% ×1.2
- Health and social work11.2% ×1.2
- Construction10.4% ×1.0
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing7.0% ×0.7
- Information and communication4.8% ×1.0
- Arts, entertainment and recreation4.7% ×0.9
Sunshine and temperatures: Tønsberg
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Tønsberg?
Tønsberg has 60,246 residents (2026), ranking 16 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Tønsberg?
Tønsberg covers 326.0 km², with a density of 185 people per km².
Is the population of Tønsberg growing?
Between 2017 and 2026, the population of Tønsberg went from 54,408 to 60,246, a change of +10.7%.
Where is Tønsberg?
Tønsberg is in Vestfold. Latitude 59.298, longitude 10.424.
Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Tønsberg?
In Tønsberg, “Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 8.1 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 339 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 153.1 per 1,000 inh..
Establishments: what is the figure for Tønsberg?
In Tønsberg, “Establishments” stands at 7,495 (2026), ranking 14 of 357 municipalities; the national median is 709.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Tønsberg?
In Tønsberg, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 45° produces about 1,028 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Tønsberg?
The nearest to Tønsberg are Færder (8.7 km), Horten (14 km), Moss (20 km), Sandefjord (22 km), Holmestrand (24 km).