What are the safest places to live in Norway?
Reported crime by county and city, from Statistics Norway.
Short answer
Among Norway's counties, Møre og Romsdal, Nordland and Vestland had the fewest reported offences per 1,000 inhabitants in 2025, according to Statistics Norway (SSB). Oslo had the highest rate, 103.0, against 62.3 for the country as a whole. Of Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger and Tromsø, Tromsø had the lowest rate in SSB's municipal figures for 2024–2025.
Why
- SSB counted 44.3 reported offences per 1,000 inhabitants in Møre og Romsdal in 2025, 44.7 in Nordland and 48.2 in Vestland.
- Oslo had 103.0 reported offences per 1,000 inhabitants, with property theft at 43.0 per 1,000 against 20.8 for the country as a whole.
- For single municipalities SSB publishes two-year averages: for 2024–2025 the rate was 58.6 in Tromsø, 64.1 in Bergen, 65.4 in Stavanger and 68.9 in Trondheim.
Details
Reported violence differs less than theft: in 2025 there were 8.5 cases per 1,000 inhabitants nationally and 13.0 in Oslo, against 6.4 in Vestland and 6.8 in Møre og Romsdal. The statistics count offences reported to the police, not all crime, and they include traffic and drug offences. In a small municipality a handful of cases can move the rate a lot, so compare several years before drawing conclusions.
Tip
Look up the municipality you are considering in SSB's table 08487, which gives two-year averages by municipality, and compare violence and theft separately, not just the total.
What may differ
The rates are counted by the place where the offence happened, so a municipality with many visitors, shops or a busy nightlife can have a higher figure than its residents' everyday experience suggests.
People also ask
- Is Norway a safe place to live?
- Which are the safest cities in Norway?
Sources
Information checked on 15 October 2026.
Peaceful living in NorwayRelated questions
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Are there mosquitoes and midges in Norway?
Mosquitoes and biting midges are common in Norway in summer, but in Norway their bites are harmless, although they itch and can swell.
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Is dumpster diving legal in Norway?
Dumpster diving is generally not legal in Norway, because the bins usually stand on private property and the waste belongs to the business until it is collected.
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Do police officers in Norway carry guns?
Yes, Norwegian police officers have generally carried firearms on duty since 1 July 2025, within limits set by the Norwegian Police Directorate (Politidirektoratet).
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Are there many homeless people in Oslo?
The City of Oslo counted 1,459 homeless households in its own survey in late 2024, using the national definition of homelessness.

