Country profile · Europe & Central Asia

🇳🇴 Norway

High income. Capital Oslo. Full World Bank, WHO, ILO & OECD indicator profile across 43 measures, with regional peers and rankings.

5.6 million
Population
$483.6 billion
GDP
$86,785
GDP / capita
83.1 years
Life expectancy
Europe & Central Asia High income Capital: Oslo

Norway on the global income map

Norway (NOR) plotted alongside its largest economic peers on GDP per capita and the Human Development Index. Bubble area scales with population; color encodes income tier; gold rings mark OECD members.

Norway on the global income map Norway positioned on the GDP-per-capita / HDI plane against its largest economic peers. 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 $200 $1K $10K $100K GDP per capita (USD, log scale) Human Development Index (0–1) India — GDP/cap $2,695 · lower-middle income IND China — GDP/cap $13,303 · upper-middle income CHN United States — GDP/cap $84,534 · high income · OECD USA Indonesia — GDP/cap $4,925 · upper-middle income IDN Pakistan — GDP/cap $1,479 · lower-middle income Nigeria — GDP/cap $1,084 · low income Brazil — GDP/cap $10,311 · upper-middle income Bangladesh — GDP/cap $2,593 · lower-middle income Russian Federation — GDP/cap $14,889 · high income Ethiopia — GDP/cap $1,134 · low income Mexico — GDP/cap $14,186 · high income · OECD Japan — GDP/cap $32,487 · high income · OECD Egypt, Arab Rep. — GDP/cap $3,338 · lower-middle income Philippines — GDP/cap $3,985 · lower-middle income Congo, Dem. Rep. — GDP/cap $649 · low income Viet Nam — GDP/cap $4,717 · upper-middle income Iran, Islamic Rep. — GDP/cap $5,190 · upper-middle income Turkiye — GDP/cap $15,893 · high income · OECD Germany — GDP/cap $56,104 · high income · OECD Thailand — GDP/cap $7,347 · upper-middle income United Kingdom — GDP/cap $53,246 · high income · OECD Tanzania — GDP/cap $1,187 · lower-middle income France — GDP/cap $46,103 · high income · OECD South Africa — GDP/cap $6,267 · upper-middle income Italy — GDP/cap $40,385 · high income · OECD Kenya — GDP/cap $2,132 · lower-middle income Myanmar — GDP/cap $1,359 · lower-middle income Colombia — GDP/cap $7,919 · upper-middle income · OECD Korea, Rep. — GDP/cap $36,239 · high income · OECD Sudan — GDP/cap $985 · low income Norway — GDP/cap $86,785 · high income · OECD Income tier Low Lower-middle Upper-middle High OECD member

Indicators tracked

43

Across 8 topic areas

GDP per capita

$86,785

Latest WB report

Population

5.6 million

UN estimate

OECD member

Yes

38-country health benchmark

Population
5.6 million
GDP
$483.6 billion
GDP per Capita
$86,785
Life Expectancy
83.1 years

Overview

Norway has a population of 5.6 million, making it the 118th-most populous country out of 217 tracked in Europe & Central Asia.

Its economy totals $483.6 billion — ranked 31st globally by total GDP. GDP per capita stands at $86,785, placing it in the High income category.

Life expectancy at birth is 83.1 years (ranked 20th globally), reflecting overall health outcomes as measured by the World Bank.

The capital is Oslo.

👥 Demographics

Fertility Rate
1.4
2023
Population
5.6 million
2024
Population Ages 0-14
16.2%
2024
Population Ages 65+
18.8%
2024
Population Density
15.2/km²
2023
Population Growth Rate
0.9%
2024
Urban Population
83.3%
2024

💰 Economy

Foreign Direct Investment
$12 billion
2024
GDP (Current USD)
$483.6 billion
2024
GDP Growth Rate
2.1%
2024
GDP Per Capita (Current USD)
$86,785.433
2024
GNI Per Capita
$98,170
2024
Inflation (Consumer Prices)
3.1%
2024
Trade (% of GDP)
81.4%
2024
Unemployment Rate
4.0%
2024

🏥 Health

Health Expenditure (% of GDP)
9.4%
2023
Infant Mortality Rate
1.9 per 1,000
2023
Life Expectancy at Birth
83.1 years
2023
Maternal Mortality Ratio
1
2023
Physicians (per 1,000 people)
5.0 per 1,000
2023
Under-5 Mortality Rate
2.4 per 1,000
2023

📚 Education

Education Expenditure (% of GDP)
5.5%
2022
School Enrollment (Primary)
98.6
2023
School Enrollment (Secondary)
117.8
2023
School Enrollment (Tertiary)
95.1
2023

🌍 Environment

Electric Power Consumption
23,520 kWh
2023
Forest Area
33.5
2023
Freshwater Withdrawal
0.7
2022
Renewable Energy Consumption
61.4%
2021

🏗️ Infrastructure

Access to Clean Water
99.1%
2024
Access to Electricity
100.0%
2023
Access to Sanitation
77.9%
2024
Internet Users
99.0%
2023
Mobile Subscriptions
111.7
2022

⚖️ Social

Female Labor Participation
62.3
2024
GINI Index
26.5
2023
Intentional Homicides
0.7
2023
Male Labor Participation
69.3
2024
Net Migration
44.4K
2024
Poverty (< $2.15/day)
0.2%
2023

💼 Labor & Wages

Average Monthly Earnings
$5,991/mo
2024
Average Weekly Hours Worked
32.6 hrs/wk
2024
PPP Conversion Factor (GDP)
9.14
2024

🏥 Healthcare System

Norway vs OECD average across 9 key health indicators. See full OECD rankings →

DTP Vaccination Coverage
96% children
↑ 3% vs OECD avg avg: 94% children
2023
Health Expenditure per Capita (USD PPP)
$8,909
↑ 63% vs OECD avg avg: $5,462
2023
Health Spending (% of GDP)
9.4% of GDP
↑ 4% vs OECD avg avg: 9.1% of GDP
2023
Hospital Beds per 1,000 Population
3.3 per 1,000
↓ 21% vs OECD avg avg: 4.2 per 1,000
2023
Infant Mortality Rate
2.1 per 1,000 births
↑ 49% vs OECD avg avg: 4.2 per 1,000 births
2023
Life Expectancy at Birth
83.1 years
↑ 2% vs OECD avg avg: 81.1 years
2023
Measles Vaccination Coverage
95% children
↑ 8% vs OECD avg avg: 88% children
2023
Nurses per 1,000 Population
15.6 per 1,000
↑ 58% vs OECD avg avg: 9.9 per 1,000
2023
Physicians per 1,000 Population
5.0 per 1,000
↑ 29% vs OECD avg avg: 3.9 per 1,000
2023

Source: OECD Health Statistics 2025. OECD averages calculated across all reporting member countries. Data years vary by indicator.

🌐 OECD Member Indicators

Norway is one of 38 OECD member countries. Economic, labor, and inequality statistics from the OECD.

Female Employment Rate
47.2%
2023 OECD ALFS
Gini Coefficient (Disposable Income)
0.262
2022 OECD IDD
Harmonized Unemployment Rate
3.6%
2023 OECD ALFS
GDP per Capita (PPP, intl $)
$102,038
2024 World Bank
Hospital Beds (per 1,000 people)
3.3 per 1,000
2023 World Bank

Sources: OECD.Stat (labor, inequality) and World Bank (GDP PPP). Data years vary by indicator.

🫀 Disease Burden

Key causes of death and disease risk in Norway. Source: WHO Global Health Observatory.

NCD Death Rate
281
per 100K · 2021
Premature NCD Risk
7.8%
dying 30–70 from NCD
Road Traffic Deaths
1.5
per 100K
Suicide Rate
33.0
per 100K
TB Deaths
0.07
per 100K
Maternal Mortality
1
per 100K births

Sources: WHO Global Health Observatory. NCD mortality rate: 2021. Rates are age-standardized per 100,000 population. Premature NCD risk covers cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease.

Compare Norway with Another Country

What the data says about Norway

Every figure on this profile is a single measurement drawn from an official international dataset, and each one carries assumptions worth understanding before drawing conclusions. Income and output are reported at market exchange rates in current dollars, so they move with currency swings as well as real growth, and national averages can hide wide gaps between regions and households. Health and demographic measures are period estimates compiled from vital registration, surveys, and statistical models, and their reporting year often lags the present by one to three years. Reading several indicators together, rather than fixating on a single headline number, is what turns a row of statistics into a grounded picture of how people in this country actually live, work, and age.

Norway sits in Europe & Central Asia with a population of 5.6 million, placing it 118th out of 217 countries by headcount. Its capital, Oslo, anchors a High income economy with total GDP of $483.6 billion — ranked 31st globally — and GDP per capita of $86,785. This combination of demographic scale and economic output shapes everything from household purchasing power and domestic market depth to the country's weight in regional trade flows and international development programmes.

Life expectancy at birth in Norway is 83.1 years, ranking 20th worldwide and offering a summary read on healthcare access, nutrition, sanitation, and long-run living standards. The World Bank's World Development Indicators, combined with the WHO Global Health Observatory and ILO ILOSTAT wage statistics plus OECD Health Statistics 2025, expose 43 data points across 8 thematic areas — from fertility and urbanisation to CO₂ emissions, school enrolment, and labour-force participation. Reading these indicators together, rather than in isolation, is what turns headline numbers into a grounded portrait of how people actually live.

Use the indicator tables below to track trajectories over time, jump to Norway's placement on specific rankings such as GDP, population density, or life expectancy, and open the side-by-side Compare view to benchmark against peers inside Europe & Central Asia or across income groups. Because all figures come from official, CC BY 4.0-licensed datasets with clear vintages, you can cite them directly in research or journalism. Where a field reads "N/A", the upstream agency has not yet released that value for Norway — we never fabricate estimates or carry forward stale values, so missing points stay visible rather than quietly filled in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the data for Norway come from?

Data for Norway is sourced from four official datasets: the World Bank Open Data catalog, WHO Global Health Observatory, ILO ILOSTAT (for average wages and working hours), and OECD.Stat (for OECD-specific indicators such as health expenditure per capita, income inequality, and harmonized unemployment rates).

How current is the data for Norway?

Data availability varies by indicator. Most recent data points range from 2020 to 2024, depending on the indicator and reporting frequency. World Bank indicators are updated annually, while WHO disease burden data follows the Global Burden of Disease study schedule.

Can I compare Norway with other countries?

Yes. Use the Compare feature to see a side-by-side comparison of Norway with any other country across all available indicators. You can also explore rankings to see where Norway stands globally on specific measures like GDP, population, or life expectancy.

What does GDP per capita tell us about Norway?

GDP per capita divides Norway's total economic output by its population, giving an approximate measure of average economic productivity per person. It is reported in current US dollars. For fairer cross-country comparisons, purchasing power parity (PPP) adjustments account for differences in the cost of goods and services.

How does Norway's life expectancy compare to the global average?

Life expectancy at birth for Norway is 83.1 years, ranking 20th out of 217 countries tracked. The global average is approximately 73 years. Life expectancy reflects healthcare quality, nutrition, sanitation, and socioeconomic conditions.

Does PlainCountries cover visa or travel information for Norway?

PlainCountries focuses on development indicators, health data, and economic statistics. For visa requirements and immigration policies, visit PlainVisa at plainvisa.com. For international flight route data, check PlainFlights at plainflights.com.

Source: World Bank Open Data, Source: WHO Global Health Observatory, Source: ILO ILOSTAT, Source: OECD Health Statistics 2025. World Bank and ILO data licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the World Bank, WHO, ILO, and OECD. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.