Innlandet

Innlandet is Norway's interior—the landlocked county created by merging Hedmark and Oppland in 2020, stretching from the Swedish border to mountain ranges that include some of Norway's highest peaks. Without coastal access, the economy depends on forestry, agriculture, tourism, and increasingly, remote work by residents who choose mountain proximity over urban density.

The county's agricultural sector provides disproportionate national significance. Innlandet produces substantial shares of Norway's grain, dairy, and meat. Climate limitations—cold winters and short growing seasons—constrain crop diversity but create conditions for livestock raising that sustains rural communities otherwise facing depopulation pressures.

Winter tourism anchors the service economy. Ski resorts in the Jotunheimen and Rondane mountain ranges attract domestic visitors seeking outdoor recreation that Norwegians prioritize. Summer hiking and cabin culture add seasonal diversity, though winter remains the primary tourism driver.

The county faces demographic challenges. Young people migrate to Oslo seeking education and employment, creating age structures that skew older than coastal or urban regions. Remote work adoption during and after COVID-19 pandemic offered some reversal potential, with high-speed internet enabling location-independent employment. By 2026, expect continued agricultural and forestry production, tourism development emphasizing nature access, and modest population stabilization if remote work trends persist.