Oslo, Norway Population

Sitting at the head of the Oslofjord on Norway’s southern coast is the capital city of Norway. Home to just over a million people in the urban area and 580,000 in the city, Oslo is considered one of the northernmost capitals in the world. Oslo is considered a global city and is ranked number one across all large European cities for quality of life, and is ranked the 24th most liveable city in the entire world.

Oslo is the governmental and economic center for Norway and a main hub for Norwegian shipping, industry, banking, and trade across Europe. It is also home to the headquarters of some of the world’s largest shipping companies and maritime insurance brokers, reflecting its nautical and maritime history.

A growing population

During the early 2000s, Oslo was growing so fast that is was considered one of the fastest growing major cities in Europe at that time. From 2004 to 2020, Oslo has gained over 200,000 new residents. Much of this population growth is due to international immigration, and intra-national migration. While the immigrant population of the city is growing a bit faster than the Norwegian population, the city also had a surprisingly high birth rate for a time. Now, the city’s birth rate has declined along with the country to 1.56. This is due to several factors, including increased childlessness by choice, higher age of first birth, and a smaller proportion of mothers with two children choosing to have a third.

The demographics of Oslo

According to the Norwegian census, 70% of the residents of Oslo are ethnically Norwegian. While the majority of the population is Norwegian, there are still many immigrants. In fact, almost 30% of the population were born to immigrants or are immigrants themselves. The national average of immigrants in the rest of the country is 14%, a number that is exceeded in all the suburbs of Oslo. In fact the suburbs of Sondre Nordstrand and Stovner og Alna has an immigrant population of almost 50%.

The biggest ethnic minority in Oslo are Pakistanis, followed by people from Sweden, Somalias, and Poland. The large population of immigrants directly affects the religious affiliations as well. There are around 63% of the population that belong to the Church of Norway, while the national average is around 82%. Muslims also account for about 8% of the population.

One of the most expensive cities to live in

Life in Oslo is getting more expensive. Norway’s capital has now become one of the world’s five most expensive cities to live in. Oslo has jumped six places to reach the spot of world’s fifth most expensive city—so what makes Oslo so costly? Currency fluctuations and oil booms are both factors that have increased the cost of goods in Norway—and in turn, in Oslo. However, this hasn’t seemed to affect how happy Oslo residents are. Overall, the country’s citizens rank as some of the happiest on earth. Norwegians also enjoy some of the highest salaries in the world and most people are paid a good living wage.

Tourism to Oslo

Oslo may be quite expensive for tourists to visit due to its costly goods and services; it remains one of the most visited regions in the Nordic countries. There were over 4.8 million people nights that were spent by visitors in the city.

Tourists visiting Oslo might be shocked to realize the cost of food and beverages, however, their access to such attractions like the Oslo Opera House, the International Contemporary Art museum, the Viking life displays, and Oslo’s charming café culture—complete with fantastic coffee.