# Tønsberg

> city in Vestfold county, Norway

**Wikidata**: [Q10853792](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10853792)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tønsberg)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tnsberg

## Summary
Tønsberg is a city and large human settlement located in Vestfold county, Norway. It serves as the administrative capital of both the Tønsberg municipality and the Vestfold region and is historically recognized as a Hanseatic city.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** City, urban area, and Hanseatic city.
- **Location:** Vestfold county, Norway (Coordinates: 59.267° N, 10.409° E).
- **Population:** 56,533 (2025 preferred estimate; National Population Register).
- **Total Area:** 26.46 square kilometres (as of November 2019).
- **Administrative Role:** Capital of Tønsberg and Vestfold.
- **Membership:** International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN), joined June 4, 2024.
- **Geographic Identifiers:** GeoNames ID 3134331, Getty Thesaurus ID 7009597, and OpenStreetMap node 31264143.
- **Historical Documentation:** Described in the 11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica.

## FAQs
**Where is Tønsberg located and what is its administrative status?**
Tønsberg is situated in Vestfold county, Norway, where it functions as the capital for both the county and the Tønsberg municipality. Geographically, the urban area extends across the borders of Tønsberg and Færder Municipality.

**How has the population and land area of Tønsberg changed in recent years?**
The city's population has seen consistent growth, rising from 51,887 in 2018 to a projected 56,533 by 2025. Its total land area was recorded at 26.75 km² in 2018, later refined in 2019 to 26.46 km², with 16.12 km² located in Tønsberg and 10.33 km² in Færder.

**What international organizations or historical designations is the city associated with?**
Tønsberg is a designated Hanseatic city and a member of the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN). It is also cataloged in major global databases including the RKD Thesaurus, Yale LUX, and the Google Knowledge Graph.

## Why It Matters
Tønsberg is a primary urban center in Norway, serving as a regional capital and a vital hub for the Vestfold district. Its historical status as a Hanseatic city underscores its legacy in Northern European trade and settlement. In a modern context, its participation in the International Cities of Refuge Network demonstrates a commitment to global human rights by providing sanctuary for persecuted individuals. The city's continuous population growth and cross-municipal expansion into Færder reflect its ongoing development as a significant Norwegian metropolitan area.

## Notable For
- **Hanseatic Heritage:** Recognized as a Hanseatic city, a distinction shared with major historical trading ports.
- **Regional Capital:** Serves as the seat of government for both its namesake municipality and the broader Vestfold county.
- **Humanitarian Commitment:** Active member of the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN).
- **Cross-Municipal Urbanization:** An urban area that spans multiple jurisdictions, including Tønsberg and Færder Municipality.
- **Historical Record:** Featured as a subject in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.

## Body

### Administrative Geography and Area
Tønsberg is a large human settlement and urban area located in Vestfold, Norway. It serves as the capital for the municipality of Tønsberg and the county of Vestfold. The city's physical footprint has undergone specific measurements:
- **2018 Total Area:** 26.75 square kilometres.
- **2019 Total Area:** 26.46 square kilometres.
- **Territorial Split (2019):** 16.12 km² of the urban area lies within Tønsberg, while 10.33 km² is situated within Færder Municipality.
- **Historical Location:** Prior to January 1, 2018, parts of the area were located in Nøtterøy.

### Demographics and Population Trends
According to the National Population Register and Statistics Norway (SSB), Tønsberg has maintained a steady upward population trajectory:
- **2018:** 51,887 residents.
- **2019:** 52,419 total (estimated), with 35,066 in the Tønsberg portion and 17,353 in the Færder portion.
- **2020:** 53,018 residents.
- **2021:** 53,818 residents.
- **2022:** 54,580 residents.
- **2023:** 55,387 residents.
- **2024:** 55,939 residents.
- **2025:** 56,533 residents (preferred statistical value).

### International and Historical Context
Tønsberg is classified as a Hanseatic city, linking it to the historical commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds. On June 4, 2024, the city formally became a member of the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN). The city is documented across various international languages, including English, Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk), Swedish, Latvian, Estonian, Romanian, Belarusian, and Cebuano.

### Technical Identifiers and Database Records
The city is extensively indexed in global knowledge bases:
- **Database IDs:** Google Knowledge Graph (/g/122rd83l), Yale LUX (place/f1410f7d-3d2f-4203-bcb8-a8818df5cb07), and Who's on First (101815519).
- **Geographic Codes:** GNS Unique Feature ID -283936, SSB Urban Settlement Number 2521, and SSR Place Name Number 792644.
- **Thesauri:** RKD Thesaurus ID 35526 and Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names ID 7009597.
- **Biological/Technical Property:** The entity is associated with the snarc_id "Dicotyledones."
- **Digital Presence:** The city maintains a presence on Wikimedia Commons under the category "Tønsberg (city)" and has a dedicated article on lokalhistoriewiki.no.

## References

1. [Source](https://icorn.org/icorn-cities-refuge)
2. [Tettsteders befolkning og areal. Statistics Norway](https://www.ssb.no/befolkning/statistikker/beftett/aar)
3. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2020. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
4. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2021. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
5. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2022. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
6. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2023. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
7. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2024. Statistics Norway. 2024](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
8. [Alders- og kjønnsfordeling i kommuner, fylker og hele landets befolkning (K) 1986 - 2025. Statistics Norway. 2025](https://www.ssb.no/statbank/table/04859/)
9. GeoNames
10. Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names