What is the population of Oslo?
Oslo has a city population of 1,082,575. That is the population within the city's own boundary, not its wider metropolitan area. City population, GeoNames.
59.913, 10.746
About Oslo
Oslo is the capital of Norway, with 700,000 residents and 1.5 million in the metro area. Set at the head of a fjord surrounded by forested hills, Oslo combines urban sophistication with immediate access to nature. The city is one of the world's most expensive but also most livable, known for sustainable development, design, and the Nobel Peace Prize.
Metro population
1,086,000
0.013% of world population
Archive estimateAnnual growth
+0.95%
Archive estimateDensity
2,263/km²
480 km² metro area
Key Facts
Country
Region
Oslo
Founded
1048
Leadership
Eirik Lae Solberg
Coordinates
59.913, 10.746
Record updated
27 August 2024
Entry edited, not measured
City population, GeoNames. GeoNames publishes no year for its population figures, so “record updated” is when the entry was last edited — not the date the population was measured. Elevation is modelled from a digital elevation model rather than surveyed, so it is approximate.
Nearby Cities
All 40 in NorwayClosest listed cities by great-circle distance from the city centre.
Compared with the World's Largest Cities
City-proper population against the fifteen largest cities in the dataset.
| Name | City population |
|---|---|
| Shanghai | 24.9M |
| Beijing | 19M |
| Shenzhen | 17.5M |
| Guangzhou | 16.1M |
| Kinshasa | 16M |
| Istanbul | 15.7M |
| Lagos | 15.4M |
| Ho Chi Minh City | 14M |
| Chengdu | 13.6M |
| Lahore | 13M |
| Mumbai | 12.7M |
| São Paulo | 12.4M |
| Mexico City | 12.3M |
| Karachi | 11.6M |
| Tianjin | 11.1M |
| Oslo | 1.08M |
Airports
Scheduled-service airports within 100 km, nearest first.
- Oslo-Gardermoen International AirportOSL
37 km from the city centre
- Sandefjord Airport, TorpTRF
85 km from the city centre
Source: OurAirports, matched by distance.
History
Oslo was founded around 1040 and became Norway's capital when the country united with Denmark. After a devastating fire in 1624, it was rebuilt as Christiania (name used until 1925). Norway's independence from Sweden (1905) and oil discovery (1969) transformed the city. Modern Oslo balances oil wealth with environmental leadership.
Economy
Oslo's economy centers on oil and gas (Equinor), shipping, finance, and increasingly tech and green energy. Norway's Government Pension Fund Global (world's largest sovereign wealth fund) is managed here. High wages match extreme costs. The city attracts international talent. Maritime industries remain important.
Culture
Oslo's culture combines nature worship, Nordic design, and cultural investment. Museums (Munch Museum, National Museum, Viking Ship Museum) are world-class. Outdoor activities—skiing, hiking, fjord life—define lifestyle. New Nordic cuisine has emerged. The Opera House symbolizes cultural ambition. Christmas and midsummer are celebrated intensely.
Transportation
Oslo has T-bane metro, trams, buses, and ferries. Oslo Airport Gardermoen is connected by express train. The city is extremely bike-friendly and electric vehicle-dominant (highest per capita in the world). Fjord ferries connect to islands. Trains connect to Bergen, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.
Current Challenges
Oslo faces extreme cost of living (consistently ranked among world's most expensive cities), housing affordability crisis, integration of immigrants in certain suburbs, and balancing oil economy with climate leadership. The city aims for car-free center. Maintaining welfare standards amid demographic change is ongoing.
Highlights
Landmarks & Attractions
- Oslo Opera House
- Vigeland Sculpture Park
- Royal Palace
- Akershus Fortress
- Munch Museum
- National Museum
- Viking Ship Museum
- Holmenkollen Ski Jump
- Aker Brygge waterfront
What Oslo Is Known For
- Fjords
- Nobel Peace Prize
- Design
- Nature access
- Sustainability
- The Scream
Universities
- University of Oslo
- Oslo Metropolitan University
- BI Norwegian Business School
Sports Teams
- Vålerenga
- Stabæk (football)
- Rosenborg (nearby in Trondheim)
Interesting Facts
- Oslo has more electric vehicles per capita than any city in the world
- The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo (other Nobels in Stockholm)
- Norwegians have free access to roam any land (allemannsretten)
- Oslo aims to be car-free in the city center by 2030
- The Oslo Opera House roof is walkable
- Edvard Munch painted The Scream here
Population Trend in Norway
No free source publishes city population back to 1950, so the parent country's series is shown instead.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,265,191 |
| 1960 | 3,581,121 |
| 1970 | 3,875,345 |
| 1980 | 4,085,604 |
| 1990 | 4,241,440 |
| 2000 | 4,490,867 |
| 2010 | 4,889,162 |
| 2020 | 5,379,274 |
| 2030 | 5,729,095 |
| 2040 | 5,853,869 |
| 2050 | 5,899,829 |
| 2060 | 5,857,873 |
| 2070 | 5,765,483 |
| 2080 | 5,665,345 |
| 2090 | 5,535,168 |
| 2100 | 5,413,618 |
Oslo Population FAQ
Where is Oslo?
Oslo is in Oslo, Norway. Its coordinates are 59.913, 10.746.
How big is Oslo compared with other cities in Norway?
It is the 1st largest of the 40 cities listed in Norway, holding 19.3% of the national population.