Oslo
| Oslo | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
 |
|
  Oslo |
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| Coordinates: 59°56′58″N 10°45′23″E / 59.94944°N 10.75639°E | |
| Country | Norway |
| Region | Eastern Norway |
| County | Oslo |
| District | Østlandet |
| Established | 1048 |
| Population (2022) | |
| - Total | 702,543 |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code | 0001–1299 |
Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway.
History
According to the Norse sagas, Oslo was founded as a city in 1040 under the name Ánslo at the end of the Viking Age, and established as a trading place in 1048 by Harald Hardrada. The city was elevated to a bishopric in 1070 and a capital under Haakon V of Norway around 1300. Personal unions with Denmark from 1397 to 1523 and again from 1536 to 1814 reduced its influence. After the three-day city fire in 1624, during the reign of King Christian IV, a new city was built closer to Akershus Fortress and named Christiania in honour of the king.
The city functioned as the capital of Norway during the 1814–1905 union between Sweden and Norway. From 1877, the city's name was spelled Kristiania in government usage, a spelling that was adopted by the municipal authorities in 1897. In 1925, the city, after incorporating the village retaining its former name, was renamed Oslo. Bygdøy, outside the city centre is the centre for history and the Norwegian Vikings' history.
21st centruy
Oslo is the cultural, scientific, economic and governmental centre of Norway. The city is also a hub of Norwegian trade, banking, industry and shipping. It is also an important centre for maritime industries and maritime trade in Europe. The city is home to many companies within the maritime sector, some of them are amongst the world's largest shipping companies, shipbrokers and maritime insurance brokers.
Oslo has for several years been listed as one of the most expensive cities in the world alongside cities such as Tokyo, Copenhagen and Paris. In 2009, Oslo regained its status as the world's most expensive city. Oslo is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the European Commission intercultural cities programme.
As of 31 March 2022, the metropolitan area of Oslo has a population of 1,086,000 of whom 702,543 lives in the contiguous conurbation. The population currently increases at a record rate of over 2% annually, making it one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. A large portion of this growth stems from immigration which represents more than 25% of the city.
