Osterøy: population and statistics
Osterøy has a population of 8,231 (2026) across 244.0 km², or 33.7 people per km². It ranks 131 of 357 municipalities by population. Its population is growing: +3.4% between 2016 and 2026.
- 8,231 residents
- 244.0 km²
- 34 people/km²
- 217 m
Key points
Among the 43 municipalities in Vestland, Osterøy ranks No. 16 by population.
Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: 101.6 per 1,000 inh. in Osterøy, compared with an average of 111.3 per 1,000 inh. in Vestland and 116.7 per 1,000 inh. nationally.
Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport: 29.6% in Osterøy, compared with an average of 39.6% in Vestland and 32.8% nationally.
Largest business sector: Agriculture, forestry and fishing, with 19.3% of the area's business sites.
A 1 kWp solar panel tilted at 41° generates about 723 kWh a year here.
Did you know?
Osterøy in numbers
All indicators for Osterøy
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 | Osterøy | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 6.8 per 1,000 inh. | 2.6 per 1,000 inh. | 4.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 114 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants aged 65 and over (2026) | 21.7% | 19.3% | 23.7% | ranked 240 of 351 | |
| Share of inhabitants under 18 (2026) | 20.8% | 20.0% | 18.7% | ranked 71 of 351 |
Housing
| Indicator | Osterøy | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total dwellings (occupied and unoccupied) (2026) | 3,935 | 330,715 | 2,760,619 | ranked 136 of 357 | |
| Share of dwellings built before 1946 (2026) | 19.9% | 16.7% | 16.4% | ranked 117 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings built after 2000 (2026) | 27.4% | 26.5% | 21.8% | ranked 102 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in detached, semi-detached and terraced houses (2026) | 94.5% | 70.1% | 89.9% | ranked 60 of 351 | |
| Share of dwellings in blocks of flats (2026) | 3.6% | 25.5% | 4.4% | ranked 194 of 351 | |
| Cabins and holiday homes per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 93.4 per 1,000 inh. | 65.4 per 1,000 inh. | 153.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 238 of 351 |
Economy
| Indicator | Osterøy | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments (2026) | 836 | 73,282 | 656,492 | ranked 155 of 357 | |
| Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 101.6 per 1,000 inh. | 111.3 per 1,000 inh. | 129.8 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 291 of 351 | |
| Median income before tax (gross income) (2024) | 519,700 NOK | – | 500,900 NOK | ranked 103 of 351 | |
| Active businesses in the Central Coordinating Register (2026) | 1,165 per 1,000 inh. | 101,284 per 1,000 inh. | 915,761 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 148 of 357 | |
| Active businesses in the register per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 141.5 per 1,000 inh. | 153.8 per 1,000 inh. | 167.1 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 263 of 351 | |
| Businesses registered in the last 12 months per 1,000 inhabitants (2026) | 13.7 per 1,000 inh. | 13.1 per 1,000 inh. | 11.9 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 82 of 351 |
Employment
| Indicator | Osterøy | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employed persons as a percentage of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 70.5% | 70.3% | 67.5% | ranked 78 of 351 | |
| Registered unemployed as a share of the population aged 15–74 (2025) | 0.8% | 1.0% | 0.9% | ranked 198 of 351 |
Transport
| Indicator | Osterøy | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars in own-account transport per 1,000 inhabitants (2025) | 571 per 1,000 inh. | 487 per 1,000 inh. | 591 per 1,000 inh. | ranked 217 of 351 | |
| Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport (2025) | 29.6% | 39.6% | 19.7% | ranked 61 of 351 |
Society
| Indicator | Osterøy | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share of population with immigrant background (2025) | 13.4% | 17.3% | 15.2% | ranked 238 of 351 |
Health
| Indicator | Osterøy | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth (average of women and men) (2025) | 83.7 years | 83.7 | 82.8 | ranked 22 of 351 |
Education
| Indicator | Osterøy | Vestland | National | Position | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share with university or university college education (2025) | 24.3% | 37.7% | 27.5% | ranked 272 of 351 |
Population of Osterøy over time
Osterøy had 7,957 residents in 2016 and 8,231 in 2026.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 8,080 |
| 2022 | 8,131 |
| 2023 | 8,152 |
| 2024 | 8,200 |
| 2025 | 8,172 |
| 2026 | 8,231 |
Where is Osterøy?
Business sectors: Osterøy
Share of each sector in total business sites; “×1.5” means the sector is 1.5 times more common than nationally.
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing19.3% ×1.9
- Construction18.4% ×1.7
- Real estate9.9% ×0.9
- Wholesale and retail trade8.0% ×0.7
- Health and social work7.5% ×0.8
- Professional, scientific and technical6.4% ×0.5
- Manufacturing6.3% ×1.8
- Transport and storage4.5% ×1.0
Sunshine and temperatures: Osterøy
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Osterøy?
Osterøy has 8,231 residents (2026), ranking 131 of 357 municipalities.
How big is Osterøy?
Osterøy covers 244.0 km², with a density of 34 people per km².
Is the population of Osterøy growing?
Between 2016 and 2026, the population of Osterøy went from 7,957 to 8,231, a change of +3.4%.
Where is Osterøy?
Osterøy is in Vestland. Latitude 60.518, longitude 5.541.
Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants: what is the figure for Osterøy?
In Osterøy, “Establishments per 1,000 inhabitants” stands at 101.6 per 1,000 inh. (2026), ranking 291 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 129.8 per 1,000 inh..
Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport: what is the figure for Osterøy?
In Osterøy, “Share of electric cars among passenger cars in own-account transport” stands at 29.6% (2025), ranking 61 of 351 municipalities; the national median is 19.7%.
How much electricity does a solar panel produce in Osterøy?
In Osterøy, a 1 kWp south-facing system tilted at 41° produces about 723 kWh a year.
Which municipalities border Osterøy?
The nearest to Osterøy are Vaksdal (18 km), Bergen (18 km), Samnanger (19 km), Alver (20 km), Askøy (22 km).