NorwayCounty number 31
Østfold is a county in Norway with 12 municipalities. Østfold lies between the Oslofjord and Sweden, with farmland, forests and historic industrial towns along Glomma. Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg, Moss and Halden are important centres in a county shaped by border connections and food production.
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
Fredrikstad’s old town and historic fortresses
Østfold is lower and more gently rolling than the western fjord and mountain counties. Farmland, forests and waterways shape the interior, while Hvaler and coastal towns face the Oslofjord. Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg form a dense urban area along lower Glomma. Indre Østfold contains several local centres. Proximity between coast, farming districts and Sweden helps explain regional trade and settlement.
Rivers and waterfalls supported sawmills, paper production and other industry. Border connections also shaped Norway’s political development: the 1814 Convention of Moss was important in the transition to union with Sweden. Østfold joined Viken in 2020 and became a separate county again on 1 January 2024. Meanwhile, Rømskog merged with Aurskog-Høland and now belongs to Akershus. Present Østfold is therefore not identical to the pre-reform county.
Østfold is an important food-producing region, with grain dominating its farmland. Food manufacturing connects raw materials from land and sea with further processing.
Grain production and food processing are important in Østfold’s economy. Industrial heritage along Glomma and around Halden has built expertise in processing, technology and energy. Sweden and the capital region connect trade and transport to wider markets. Farming municipalities and urban municipalities nevertheless have different labour markets. Use municipality profiles for employment and education, distinguishing workplaces from resident-based statistics.
Østfold Kollektivtrafikk provides local-bus and Hvaler ferry timetables, school-transport information and the Flex demand-responsive service. Coastal towns and inland municipalities have different travel patterns, with journeys also towards Oslo and Sweden. A place near a main road is not necessarily equally accessible without a car. Check current departures, connections and evening services when comparing commuting or education access.
Østfold University College has campuses in Halden and Fredrikstad. Regional heritage includes early settlements, fortified townscapes and industrial landscapes along waterways. Moss in 1814 connects a local place with constitutional development and union with Sweden. Such places also teach Norwegian social history. Museums and municipality profiles offer complementary perspectives on the development of this densely settled border county.
Østfold’s shared development goals include quality of life and equal opportunities. Everyday life in Fredrikstad–Sarpsborg nevertheless differs from Hvaler, Aremark and inland farming communities. Housing, transport and education need municipal assessment. This county guide provides context; municipality profiles reveal local differences without assuming that all residents share the same living conditions or employment opportunities.
In August 2026, the county executive chose to revise three regional draft plans through closer municipal dialogue. They cover quality of life, skills and value creation, and land use and mobility; they remain proposals.
Landscapes, heritage sites and buildings offer a concrete view of the county’s history. Continue to the guides to these places and their municipalities.
Borgarsyssel Museum in Sarpsborg brings together medieval remains and buildings from across Østfold. Its open-air setting makes regional history tangible through houses, farm work and the relationship between the old town of Borg and today's city.
Fredriksten festning rises above Halden, where a fortified hillside explains the town's position on Norway's eastern frontier. Its walls now frame walks, viewpoints and cultural events as well as a story of military defence.
Gamlebyen in Fredrikstad combines a fortified town with an active neighbourhood. Streets, shops and galleries sit inside a defensive landscape of earthen ramparts and water-filled moats near the mouth of the Glomma.
Østfold · 12 municipalities
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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Practice social studies with questions, clear explanations and mock exams.
Find a place to take the social studies test, with addresses and contact details.
Registry date: · Content updated:
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.
An artistic interpretation, not a photograph or an exact record of the place.
Creation and publication dates are not documented.
Downloading, republishing, adapting and commercial use require written permission. Image use and permission
An artistic interpretation, not a photograph or an exact record of the place.
Creation and publication dates are not documented.
Downloading, republishing, adapting and commercial use require written permission. Image use and permission
