Norway, a rustic recognized for its breathtaking landscapes, deep fjords, and wealthy historical past, is split into 15 administrative counties. Every county has its personal distinctive historical past, character, and allure.
These counties, generally known as “fylker” in Norwegian, are essential administrative divisions. However additionally they function a window into the varied cultural, historic, and pure magnificence that Norway has to supply.
From the rugged coastlines of Vestland to the lakes of Innlandet and the colourful city life in Oslo, Norway’s counties encapsulate the essence of the nation’s id.
As we delve into the guts of Norway, county by county, we uncover the information, figures, and tales that make every one particular, providing insights into Scandinavian life.
Whether or not you are drawn to the attract of the distant Arctic in Finnmark or the cultural heritage of Trøndelag, let’s dive in.
The function of counties in Norway
In Norway, counties function essential administrative items, bridging the hole between the nationwide authorities and native municipalities.
Every county, ruled by a county council elected by its residents, performs a pivotal function in regional improvement, training, and infrastructure.
These councils are tasked with a variety of devolved governmental duties, together with:
- Building and upkeep of county roads
- Planning and assist for public transport
- Secondary training
- Preservation of cultural heritage
- Sports activities, out of doors life, and public well being
- Integration
- Cultural improvement and dissemination, together with museum and libraries
- Regional improvement and land administration
- Dental care
The counties of Norway in 2024
In recent times, Norway’s county construction has undergone vital modifications. Many of those modifications met with resistance and have since been reversed.
For instance, the county of Viken was created in 2020 by a merger of Akershus, Buskerud, and Østfold. However simply 4 years later, Viken now not exists, and the earlier three counties are again.
This map reveals how the counties are at the start of 2024, after the newest modifications:
Now, on to the main points! So, as of January 2024, listed below are the counties of Norway:
Oslo
As a municipality and a county, Norway’s capital metropolis has a particular administrative standing. To assist handle this, Oslo is damaged up into 15 smaller districts (bydeler), every with devolved roles and duties. Every bydel holds elections to its council.
Fast information about Oslo county:
County seat: Oslo
Inhabitants: 717,710
Space: 454.12 sq. kilometres
Trendy Oslo encompasses two former municipalities, the historic market city of Oslo/Christiania, and the previous rural municipality of Aker.
Notable landmarks in Oslo embody the historic Akershus Fortress, the trendy Oslo Opera Home, Holmenkollen Ski Leap, and the Vigeland Sculpture Park, which showcases over 200 sculptures by Gustav Vigeland.
Rogaland
Positioned in southwest Norway, Rogaland is famed for its assorted landscapes, from coastlines to fjords. Stavanger, its administrative coronary heart and an oil sector hub, is notable for its cultural vibrancy and historic core.
Fast information about Rogaland county:
County seat: Stavanger
Notable locations: Stavanger, Haugesund, Sandnes, Egersund, Bryne
Inhabitants: 499,417
Space: 9,377.10 sq. kilometres
Locals, generally known as “rogalendinger,” converse a novel dialect. The county’s mixture of maritime, agricultural, and oil industries has formed its international function. Points of interest like Preikestolen, Kjeragbolten, and Jæren’s seashores draw international guests.
Møre og Romsdal
Nestled alongside Norway’s western shoreline, Møre og Romsdal is famend for its breathtaking surroundings, encompassing deep fjords, towering mountains, and a rugged shoreline.
Fast information about Møre og Romsdal county:
County seat: Molde
Notable locations: Ålesund, Molde, Kristiansund
Inhabitants: 270,624
Space: 14,355.75 sq. kilometres
The area boasts iconic landmarks just like the Geirangerfjord, a UNESCO World Heritage website, and the Atlantic Street, celebrated for its dramatic ocean views.
The folks of this area share a powerful connection to the ocean, mirrored of their fishing and shipbuilding industries. The mixture of pure magnificence and cultural heritage makes Møre og Romsdal a definite a part of Norway.
Nordland
Positioned north of Trøndelag, Nordland county is characterised by its beautiful pure landscapes, which embody a dramatic shoreline, the majestic Lofoten islands, and huge mountain ranges.
Fast information about Nordland county:
County seat: Bodø
Notable locations: Bodø, Lofoten Islands, Mo i Rana, Narvik
Inhabitants: 243,081
Space: 38,154.62 sq. kilometres
Bodø, the executive middle, is thought for its cultural establishments and as a gateway to the northern wonders. In 2024, Bodø and the broader Nordland area has a yr within the highlight as a European Capital of Tradition.
Nordlanders, or “nordlendinger,” are recognized for his or her resilience and shut ties to the ocean, with fishing and aquaculture being key industries. Nordland’s wealthy Sami heritage provides to its cultural depth.
Østfold
Positioned in Norway’s southeast, Østfold is thought for its wealthy historical past, cultural heritage, and proximity to the Swedish border.
Fast information about Østfold county:
County seat: Sarpsborg
Notable locations: Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg, Moss, Halden
Inhabitants: 312,152
Space: 4,004.2 sq. kilometres
With Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg as vital city facilities, the county boasts a mix of historic websites, together with the well-preserved Fredrikstad Fortress and the traditional rock carvings at Halden.
Østfold’s panorama options mild hills, forests, and a scenic shoreline alongside the Oslofjord. The folks of Østfold, known as “østfoldinger,” have a powerful regional id rooted in agriculture, trade, and maritime actions.
Akershus
Considered one of Norway’s extra curious counties, Akershus encircles Oslo, however its county seat is definitely within the Norwegian capital. The county consists of a mixture of suburban areas, lush forests, and shoreline alongside the Oslofjord.
Fast information about Akershus county:
County seat: Oslo
Notable locations: Oslo Airport, Sandvika, Asker, Lillestrøm
Inhabitants: 728,803
Space: 5,894.47 sq. kilometres
The area performs an important function in Norway’s economic system and governance, internet hosting Oslo Airport, quite a few enterprise parks, and governmental our bodies. Many residents in Akershus work in Oslo.
Buskerud
Buskerud is a county characterised by its various landscapes, starting from the serene Oslofjord on the coast to rugged mountains farther inland. Drammen, the county seat, is a hub for commerce and trade.
Fast information about Buskerud county:
County seat: Drammen
Notable locations: Drammen, Kongsberg, Hønefoss, Geilo
Inhabitants: 269,819
Space: 14,693.87 sq. kilometres
The huge area is wealthy in pure magnificence, with Hardangervidda Nationwide Park providing the chance for quite a few out of doors actions, resembling climbing, snowboarding, and fishing. Hallingdal valley offers a glimpse into conventional Norwegian tradition.
The county’s historic significance is mirrored in its historical church buildings, conventional farms, and the medieval fortress in Drammen.
Innlandet
Shaped in 2020 by a merger of Hedmark and Oppland, Innlandet stretches throughout Norway’s inside, that includes mountains, forests, and lakes. Its economic system thrives on agriculture and forestry.
Fast information about Innlandet county:
County seat: Hamar
Notable locations: Hamar, Gjøvik, Lillehammer, Elverum
Inhabitants: 376,304
Space: 52,072.44 sq. kilometres
Lillehammer, notable for the 1994 Winter Olympics, epitomizes the area’s mix of sports activities, tradition, and historical past.
Innlandet homes elements of Jotunheimen and Rondane Nationwide Parks, providing plentiful out of doors actions. The area’s wealthy heritage is seen in its stave church buildings and historic websites.
Vestfold
The county of Vestfold, situated alongside the southern coast of Norway, is wealthy in Viking historical past and maritime heritage. It is recognized for its stunning shoreline, with sandy seashores and sheltered coves, making it a preferred summer season vacation spot.
Fast information about Vestfold county:
County seat: Tønsberg
Notable locations: Tønsberg, Sandefjord, Larvik, Horten
Inhabitants: 256,432
Space: 2,167.65 sq. kilometres
The county hosts vital historic websites, together with Viking ship burial websites. Tønsberg, Norway’s oldest metropolis, and Sandefjord, with its whaling museum, are amongst Vestfold’s city highlights.
Agriculture additionally performs a key function within the area, benefitting from the fertile lands and gentle local weather. Vestfold’s compact dimension and proximity to Oslo make it an accessible vacation spot.
Telemark
Telemark, a county in southeastern Norway, is well known for its various landscapes, which vary from coastal areas within the south to mountainous areas within the north.
Fast information about Telemark county:
County seat: Skien
Notable locations: Porsgrunn, Skien, Notodden, Rjukan
Inhabitants: 177,093
Space: 15,298.16 sq. kilometres
It is a spot the place nature, historical past, and tradition intertwine, providing all the things from snowboarding and climbing within the Hardangervidda and the historic Telemark Canal, to exploring historical stave church buildings and conventional Norwegian farms.
The historic city of Rjukan, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Web site for its industrial heritage, highlights the area’s contribution to early trade. Telemark can be recognized for its folklore, deeply embedded within the Norwegian cultural id.
Agder
Norway’s southernmost county, Agder is marked by its hanging shoreline. The area blends stunning archipelagos, seashores, and a hinterland characterised by rolling hills and forests.
Fast information about Agder county:
County seat: Kristiansand
Notable locations: Kristiansand, Arendal, Korsvik, Grimstad
Inhabitants: 319,850
Space: 16,434.12 sq. kilometres
Agder is a fusion of coastal tradition and inland traditions, with a powerful maritime historical past deeply linked to delivery and fishing, alongside a major agricultural base in its extra rural areas.
Kristiansand, the county capital and largest metropolis, is a vibrant city middle recognized for its cultural establishments, festivals, and as an essential gateway to Norway via its busy port.
Vestland
Vestland, fashioned in 2020 by merging Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane, is famend for its beautiful fjords, resembling Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord, and mountainous terrain.
Fast information about Vestland county:
County seat: Bergen
Notable locations: Bergen, Sognefjord, Hardangerfjord
Inhabitants: 651,299
Space: 33,870.99 sq. kilometres
Its capital, Bergen, is famous for the historic Bryggen wharf and as a fjord gateway. The county can be a hub for out of doors actions, with Voss and the Flåm Railway being key sights.
Vestland’s economic system is various, encompassing tourism, maritime industries, agriculture, and hydropower.
Trøndelag
Shaped in 2018 following the merger of Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag, the primary capabilities of the brand new Trøndelag county are based mostly in each Trondheim and Steinkjer.
Fast information about Trøndelag county:
County seat: Trondheim & Steinkjer
Notable locations: Trondheim, Steinkjer, Oppdal, Røros
Inhabitants: 482,956
Space: 42,201.59 sq. kilometres
An individual from Trøndelag is named a trønder. The regional Trøndersk dialect of spoken Norwegian is one in every of Norway’s most distinctive, characterised by dropping most vowel endings.
Troms
Troms, situated within the far north of Norway, is characterised by its huge Arctic wilderness, together with mountains, fjords, and islands, such because the famend Senja, also known as Norway’s fairy-tale island as a result of its beautiful surroundings.
Fast information about Troms county:
County seat: Tromsø
Notable locations: Tromsø, Harstad
Inhabitants: 169,610
Space: 25,862.99 sq. kilometres
Tromsø, the most important Norwegian metropolis north of the Arctic Circle, serves as the executive centre. It’s recognized for its vibrant cultural life, historic polar exploration websites, and as a primary location to witness the northern lights.
The indigenous Sámi tradition provides depth to the area’s heritage, particularly in areas associated to reindeer herding, language, and crafts. The county was reestablished in 2024, following a four-year merger with Finnmark.
Finnmark
Finnmark, the northernmost and easternmost county of Norway, is a land of maximum and untouched magnificence, stretching from harsh coastal landscapes to the huge plateaus of the Arctic tundra.
Fast information about Finnmark county:
County seat: Vadsø
Notable locations: Alta, North Cape, Hammerfest, Kirkenes, Karasjok
Inhabitants: 75,053
Space: 48,631.09 sq. kilometres
It shares borders with Russia and Finland, including to its wealthy cultural life, which is deeply influenced by the Sámi, the indigenous folks of the area.
Regardless of its sparse inhabitants, the neighborhood spirit in Finnmark is powerful, with a deep connection to the land and a life-style tailored to its Arctic surroundings. The county was reestablished in 2024, following a four-year merger with Troms.
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Though it’s not a county, we should point out Svalbard and Jan Mayen for completeness.
Svalbard and Jan Mayen are a part of the Kingdom of Norway, though they don’t have county or municipality standing. They do, nonetheless, have a postcode within the Norwegian system.
Longyearbyen, the largest settlement within the archipelago, is a Norwegian-speaking city and residential to the Governor of Svalbard and the native council.
Moreover, Bouvet Island, Peter I Island, and Queen Maud Land are thought-about dependencies of Norway.
