NorwayCounty number 03
Oslo is Norway’s capital, a municipality and a county in its own right. Oslo is Norway’s capital and both a municipality and a county. Between the Oslofjord and Marka, national institutions meet a diverse urban society and a labour market extending into Akershus.
Content updated:
SSB · 2026
See how many people live in the county, how many homes it has, and which municipalities have the most residents. Figures are from Statistics Norway (SSB).
Ranked by municipal population, rather than the size of cities or urban settlements. A municipality may contain several settlements and extensive rural areas.
2026 · SSB
Choose a municipality to open its profile. Small island municipalities are marked with a dot.
Known for
The Opera House and life on the Oslofjord
Oslo sits at the head of the Oslofjord, with development concentrated between the sea and Marka’s forests. Akerselva links former industrial districts with the waterfront, while the islands and forest edge create distinct natural spaces. The county boundary is also the municipal boundary, although the continuous urban area extends into Bærum, Lørenskog and other Akershus municipalities. County population therefore does not describe the whole capital region.
The 1624 fire led to the town being relocated closer to Akershus Fortress and renamed Christiania. After 1814, capital institutions expanded, while industry along Akerselva helped create new working-class districts. The name Oslo returned in 1925. The 1948 merger with Aker brought extensive residential and forest areas into the municipality. Oslo still combines municipal and county responsibilities under the same elected city council.
Around two thirds of Oslo lies within Marka. Its forests, islands and fjord provide extensive outdoor space beside the built-up city.
National administration, finance, commerce, technology and knowledge-based services shape Oslo. Universities, hospitals and research communities connect education with a large labour market. The city’s innovation-district work builds on proximity between campuses, businesses and urban development. Many people working in Oslo live in neighbouring municipalities, so workplace employment and employment among residents measure different things.
Oslo S is a major rail hub, and metro, trams, buses and boats connect the city’s districts. Ruter plans public transport in Oslo and Akershus, with services operated by several companies. The county boundary is therefore not a natural limit for everyday journeys. When researching a place to live, connections to work or school matter more than straight-line distance. Ruter’s journey planner provides current departures.
Oslo brings together universities, colleges, research institutions and national cultural venues. Cooperation between education, business and the municipality develops the knowledge city, while libraries, museums and voluntary groups offer different ways into community life. The medieval town, Akershus and the newer waterfront city reveal layers of the same history. Exploring these alongside everyday neighbourhoods gives a broader view of the capital than the centre alone.
Unlike the other counties, Oslo consists of a single municipality. Its boroughs are local administrative districts, not separate municipalities. Housing markets, population composition and access to neighbourhood facilities vary within the same city. County statistics provide an initial overview; the municipality profile and boroughs give more precise local knowledge. Comparing Oslo with Akershus municipalities sharing its labour and housing markets also helps explain the capital region.
The proposed land-use plan towards 2040 prioritises housing, jobs and green space. Consultation ended in August 2026; responses are being assessed before adoption, while the 2015 land-use plan remains applicable.
Landscapes, heritage sites and buildings offer a concrete view of the county’s history. Continue to the guides to these places and their municipalities.
Operahuset in Oslo is a venue for opera and ballet and a public landscape beside the fjord. Its sloping marble roof invites visitors to experience the building even without attending a performance.
Oslo · 1 municipality
Find local figures, history, education, housing and public services. Each municipality’s population figure refers to the stated period.
Residents · Q2 2026 · SSB
Norway has three elected levels of government: the state, county authorities and municipalities. A county is both a geographical area and the territory of an elected regional authority.
Responsibilities include upper secondary education, county roads, public transport, public dental services and regional development. These tasks connect municipalities.
Local responsibilities include primary and lower secondary schools, kindergartens, health and care services and land-use planning. Kommuneportal explains these at municipal level.
The County Governor represents the state regionally. This is a separate institution from the elected county authority. Oslo has both municipal and county responsibilities.
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A county total is shown only when every municipality has comparable figures from the same source and period. Land area excludes freshwater and sea. Density uses population and land area from the same year.
The same municipality membership is used; changes across a documented geographical break are withheld.
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