Bergen: population and official figures
In depth
- Health in Bergen: Municipalities in Bergen had 13.2 doctor man-years per 10,000 residents in 2025, above the national figure of 13.0; that is the highest among Norway's three largest cities, up from 13.0 in 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Bergen: 7.8% of residents aged 18 to 66 in Bergen received disability benefit (uføretrygd) in 2025, below the national figure of 10.3%; that is the 2nd highest among Norway's three largest cities, down from 7.9% in 2024.
How many immigrants live in Bergen?
People with an immigrant background made up 20.7% of residents in Bergen in 2025, the 2nd highest among Norway's three largest cities.
Source: Statistics Norway (SSB) · saved copyHow many people live in towns in Bergen?
Roughly 98.0% of residents of Bergen lived in a town or other built-up settlement in 2025 (the 2nd highest among Norway's three largest cities).
Source: Statistics Norway (SSB) · saved copyHow many people commute out of Bergen?
19,386 residents of Bergen commuted to work in another municipality in 2025, and the average travel time to the municipal centre was 11 minutes.
Source: Statistics Norway (SSB) · saved copyWhat is the population of Bergen?
Bergen had 144,699 residents on 1 January 2023 according to the EU Urban Audit; 18.0% were under 15 and 15.2% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Bergen growing?
The population shrank by 45.1% between 2012 and 2023.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat are the main jobs in Bergen?
86,432 jobs were based in Bergen in 2021; the biggest employers were public administration, education and health (29% of jobs) and industry and energy (17%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Bergen?
10,207 students were enrolled in higher education in Bergen in 2021.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Bergen have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Bergen in 2022, 57% had a degree-level education, 29% an upper secondary education and 15% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWho runs Bergen?
In Norway, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Municipal council elected every four years; council elects the mayor (ordfører). Primary and lower secondary schools, kindergartens, primary health and care, social services, local planning.
How local power works in Norway
Cities of a similar size in Norway
Up a level: all cities in Norway · Norway · government and power
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Statistics Norway (SSB): Table 11820: Selected key figures, population profile, by county and municipality (KOSTRA), 2015-2025, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81b324c873b0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- Statistics Norway (SSB): Table 12209: Selected key figures for municipal health and care services by county and municipality (KOSTRA), 2015-2025, read 24 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 557815baf4f9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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