Karlstad
- 📍 Location: Värmland County,
county seat - 🌍 Region: Svealand
- 👥 Population: 99,007 (Dec 31, 2025)
- 🏙️ Largest towns: Karlstad, Skåre, Älvåker och Råtorp
- 📐 Area: 1,175 km² (land area)
- 🚗 To Stockholm: about 255 km in a straight line
- ⏰ Time zone: CET (UTC +1, DST CEST +2)
- 💰 Currency: Swedish krona (SEK)
Answers to frequently asked questions
What is the population of Karlstad Municipality?
Karlstad Municipality had 99,007 residents on December 31, 2025, up 4,179 (4.4%) from December 31, 2020 (Statistics Sweden).
Which county is Karlstad Municipality in?
Karlstad Municipality is in Värmland County, in the Svealand region of Sweden. The county has 16 municipalities and its seat is Karlstad.
What are the largest towns in Karlstad Municipality?
The largest urban area is Karlstad with 69,615 residents, followed by Skåre (5,415), Älvåker och Råtorp (3,144), Vålberg (2,764) and Skattkärr (1,960). In total the municipality has 12 urban areas (Statistics Sweden, 2023).
Is Karlstad a county seat?
Yes, Karlstad is the county seat of Värmland County, home of the County Administrative Board. The county has 16 municipalities.
How far is Karlstad from Stockholm?
Karlstad is about 255 km from Stockholm in a straight line. The distance by road is longer.
How large is Karlstad Municipality?
The land area of Karlstad Municipality is 1,175 km² (Statistics Sweden, 2025). Population density is 84 residents per km².
What is Karlstad Municipality known for?
Karlstad Municipality is known for its location on the Klarälven delta and Lake Vänern, for its sunshine and the Sola i Karlstad symbol, and for Karlstad University, the ice hockey club Färjestad BK and Rally Sweden, which often starts and finishes here.