By 01.01.1999 the population of Arendal was 39.271 inhabitants. This gives a population density of 154,6 inhabitants/km².

The city and the "built-up-areas" have grown, while the old sea port have stagnated. The areas for constructions and transportation are increasing.

Indicator: Population increase in Arendal.

WHAT IS THE LAND USED FOR?

Houses/residences (1990):
Of the total 15,054, 12,057 (80%) are in densely built-up areas. (An area is densely built-up if the number of inhabitants are at least 200 and the distance between the houses doesn`t go beyond 50 metre.)

Houses in order:

• Detached houses or farmhouses connected to farming:                       8263 (54,9 %).
• Undetached houses, block built in terraces or semi-detached houses: 1865 (12,4 %).
• Apparment blocks, block of flats, commercial buildings:                       674 (4,5 %).
• Rented appartments:                                                                       3962 (26,3 %).
• Other:                                                                                              290 (1,9 %).

Industrial purposes:
Several large areas are set aside for industrial purposes:

• Longum Park (technology center)
• Moland Park (industrial park)
• Myra-Bråstad (public works)
• Stoa (offices)
• Barbu (harbour)
• Vindholmen (maritime work)
• Eydehavn (industry, harbour)
• Saltrød (industry, offices)

Roads and railway:
Distances within the local authority`s border:

• Public roads:
  Municipality roads:  209 km.
  County roads:         153 km.
  National roads:          71 km.
  E-18 (highway):         25 km.
• Private forest roads: 113 km.
• Railway:                    12 km.

More: Tunnels in Arendal.

Agriculture and forestry:
Cultivated areas  (1998): 17,362 decars, d.e. about 17 km². From 1989 til 1998 the number of farms has decreased from 203 to 177, but in the same periode the cultivated area has increased somewhat, from 16,562 decars til 17,362 decars.
Productive forest counts for 142 km².

More: Agriculture in Arendal.  |  Forestry in Arendal.

The coastal zone:
Arendal has a long coastal zone which is important for public outdoor activities. Even though there has been construction restrictions for 25 years within a zone of 100 m along the beaches, more and more of this zone has undergone a privatisation.
Figures about the coastal zone:

• Coastal length:                       255 km (including 203 km around islands).
• Number of islands:                  about 156.
• Total land area on the islands: about 40 km² (including Tromøy 30 km² and Hisøy 9 km²).

Protected areas:

• Skerries Park:                                  1,382 decars (about 1,4 km²).
• Natural reserves for seabirds:               220 decars (about 0,2 km²).
• Protected wetlands and forests:  about 1.000 decars (about 1,0 km²).