Norway’s population is 5,550,970 (as of January 1, 2023), and its communities balance low overall density with strong urban living—83.2% reside in towns and cities. A median age of 39.2 (2023) highlights demographic aging alongside economic conditions like 3.6% unemployment (2023) and 5.8% inflation (2022). This page also connects governance and wellbeing with environmental assets, from renewable electricity to protected areas and forest cover.
Key Takeaways
- As of January 1, 2023, Norway's total population stands at 5,550,970 people according to official census data
- Norway has a population density of 15.4 inhabitants per square kilometer as of 2023, making it one of Europe's least densely populated countries
- In 2022, 83.2% of Norway's population lived in urban areas, reflecting high urbanization rates
- GDP of Norway in 2022 was 5.577 trillion USD nominal, making it the 25th largest economy globally
- GDP per capita in Norway reached 118,411 USD in 2022, the world's second highest
- Unemployment rate in Norway was 3.6% in 2023
- Forest cover in Norway is 37.9% of land area (119,000 km²) as of 2022
- Renewable energy sources accounted for 98.2% of electricity production in 2022
- CO2 emissions per capita were 6.0 tonnes in 2022
- HDI rank of Norway is 2nd globally with 0.961 score in 2022
- Corruption Perceptions Index score 84/100, rank 4th in 2022
- Parliamentary seats: 169 in Stortinget, next election 2025
- Life expectancy at birth in Norway is 83.2 years overall in 2022
- Infant mortality rate is 1.6 per 1,000 live births in 2022
- Healthcare expenditure is 10.1% of GDP in 2021
Norway combines a sparsely populated, aging society with high living standards, clean energy, and low unemployment.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics30 stats
01
As of January 1, 2023, Norway's total population stands at 5,550,970 people according to official census data
02
Norway has a population density of 15.4 inhabitants per square kilometer as of 2023, making it one of Europe's least densely populated countries
03
In 2022, 83.2% of Norway's population lived in urban areas, reflecting high urbanization rates
04
The median age in Norway is 39.2 years as of 2023, indicating an aging population structure
05
Norway's fertility rate was 1.41 children per woman in 2022, below the replacement level of 2.1
06
Net migration to Norway in 2022 was positive at 28,478 persons, driven by labor and asylum seekers
07
Ethnic Norwegians comprise about 81.5% of the population, with 18.5% immigrants or children of immigrants as of 2023
08
Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) is spoken by 95% of the population as their first language in 2023
09
Sami people number approximately 40,000-50,000 in Norway, representing about 1% of the population in 2023
10
In 2022, there were 2,914,000 households in Norway, averaging 1.9 persons per household
11
Life expectancy at birth for males in Norway is 81.5 years and for females 85.3 years as of 2022
12
Infant mortality rate in Norway was 1.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022, one of the world's lowest
13
Norway's population growth rate was 0.75% in 2022, primarily due to immigration
14
Oslo, the capital, has a population of 716,260 as of 2023
15
Bergen, the second largest city, has 285,989 residents as of 2023
16
26.3% of Norway's population was aged 0-19 in 2023
17
54.1% of the population is aged 20-66, the working-age group, in 2023
18
19.6% of Norwegians are aged 67 and over in 2023
19
Foreign-born population in Norway reached 819,000 or 14.7% in 2022
20
Polish immigrants are the largest group at 108,000 in 2022
21
Sweden is the second largest immigrant origin with 39,000 in 2022
22
50.1% of the population are women as of 2023
23
Marriage rate in Norway was 3.8 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022
24
Divorce rate was 1.8 per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022
25
52% of children are born outside marriage in 2022, one of Europe's highest
26
Average household disposable income was 584,000 NOK in 2021
27
18.9% of the population had immigrant background in 2023
28
Kven people number around 10,000-15,000 in Norway
29
Forest Sami population is estimated at 10,000 in Norway
30
Norwegian Church membership was 64.9% of population in 2022
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
Norway’s demographics show a steadily aging, low-fertility society, with a median age of 39.2 years and a fertility rate of 1.41 children per woman in 2022, partly offset by positive net migration of 28,478 people.
02 · Category
Economy24 stats
01
GDP of Norway in 2022 was 5.577 trillion USD nominal, making it the 25th largest economy globally
02
GDP per capita in Norway reached 118,411 USD in 2022, the world's second highest
03
Unemployment rate in Norway was 3.6% in 2023
04
Inflation rate (CPI) was 5.8% in 2022, highest in decades
05
Government budget balance was +9.6% of GDP in 2022 due to oil revenues
06
Public debt to GDP ratio was 43.1% in 2022
07
Exports of goods and services were 157.3 billion USD in 2022
08
Petroleum and natural gas account for 49% of Norway's exports in 2022
09
Fish and seafood exports reached 19.3 billion USD in 2022
10
Labor force participation rate is 69.2% for ages 15-74 in 2023
11
Average monthly wage was 55,400 NOK in 2022
12
Government Pension Fund Global (Oil Fund) was valued at 1.53 trillion USD as of end 2022
13
Current account surplus was 17.9% of GDP in 2022
14
Corporate tax rate in Norway is 22% as of 2023
15
VAT standard rate is 25% in Norway as of 2023
16
Stock market capitalization was 85% of GDP in 2022
17
Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) had a market cap of 3.3 trillion NOK in 2023
18
Tourism contributed 4.2% to GDP in 2019 pre-COVID
19
Renewable energy share in electricity production was 98% in 2022, mostly hydro
20
Oil production averaged 1.75 million barrels per day in 2022
21
Natural gas production was 121 billion cubic meters in 2022
22
Manufacturing sector employs 11.5% of workforce in 2022
23
Services sector accounts for 78.6% of GDP in 2022
24
Agriculture contributes 1.7% to GDP and employs 2% of workforce in 2022
Interpretation
Economy Interpretation
Norway’s economy entered 2022 with exceptional fiscal strength and living standards, posting a +9.6% of GDP budget surplus and $118,411 GDP per capita, even as inflation hit 5.8% and unemployment stayed low at 3.6% in 2023.
03 · Category
Environment23 stats
01
Forest cover in Norway is 37.9% of land area (119,000 km²) as of 2022
02
Renewable energy sources accounted for 98.2% of electricity production in 2022
03
CO2 emissions per capita were 6.0 tonnes in 2022
04
Protected areas cover 17% of Norway's land and 40% of coastal waters in 2023
05
Hydropower capacity is 33,800 MW as of 2022
06
Wind power installed capacity reached 5,500 MW onshore and 400 MW offshore in 2023
07
Air pollution PM2.5 concentration average is 5.5 µg/m³ in 2022
08
Recycling rate for household waste is 59% in 2022
09
Freshwater withdrawal is 0.07% of internal resources annually
10
Glacier coverage is 1% of land area, with 1,000 glaciers totaling 2,700 km³ ice
11
Biodiversity: 60,000 species recorded, 2,700 threatened in 2023
12
Energy intensity (GDP per energy use) improved to 7.5 USD/kgoe in 2021
13
Offshore wind potential estimated at 140 GW
14
Nitrogen oxide emissions from industry fell 60% since 1990 to 2022
15
Marine protected areas cover 6.3% of territorial waters in 2023
16
Annual precipitation average is 1,800 mm nationwide, higher in west
17
Temperature average annual is 5.5°C, with warming 1.5°C since 1900
18
Svalbard seed vault stores 1.2 million seed samples from 6,000 species in 2023
19
Plastic waste generation per capita is 15 kg/year, with high recycling
20
EV market share new sales 82.4% in 2022, world's highest
21
National parks number 47, covering 15% land in 2023
22
Fish stocks: 60% sustainable in NE Atlantic per ICES 2023
23
Carbon capture utilization storage (CCS) capacity at Sleipner 1 Mt/year
Interpretation
Environment Interpretation
Norway’s environmental profile is strongly shaped by clean energy and conservation, with renewable sources making up 98.2% of electricity production in 2022 and protected areas covering 17% of land and 40% of coastal waters in 2023.
More related reading
04 · Category
Government19 stats
01
HDI rank of Norway is 2nd globally with 0.961 score in 2022
02
Corruption Perceptions Index score 84/100, rank 4th in 2022
03
Parliamentary seats: 169 in Stortinget, next election 2025
04
King Harald V has reigned since 1991, constitutional monarchy
05
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre leads Labour-led coalition since 2021
06
Military expenditure 1.68% of GDP in 2022
07
Active military personnel 23,250 in 2023
08
Press Freedom Index rank 1st globally in 2023, score 92.65
09
Gender equality: 41.5% women in parliament in 2023
10
Internet penetration 98% of population in 2023
11
Road network totals 93,000 km, 77% paved in 2022
12
Railway network 4,017 km, mostly electrified 2023
13
Airports with paved runways: 67 in 2023
14
Mobile cellular subscriptions 1.4 million, 130% penetration in 2022
15
Government effectiveness score 1.92/2.5, World Bank 2022
16
Rule of law score 1.84/2.5 in 2022
17
Social expenditure 25.1% of GDP in 2022
18
Prison population rate 54 per 100,000 in 2022
19
Renewable electricity 100% target by 2025 for consumption
Interpretation
Government Interpretation
Under Norway’s government, strong public governance shows up in top global rankings and stability, with a 2022 HDI score of 0.961 placing it 2nd worldwide and a Corruption Perceptions Index score of 84 ranking it 4th, while leadership remains steady with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre heading the Labour-led coalition since 2021.
05 · Category
Health And Education23 stats
01
Life expectancy at birth in Norway is 83.2 years overall in 2022
02
Infant mortality rate is 1.6 per 1,000 live births in 2022
03
Healthcare expenditure is 10.1% of GDP in 2021
04
There are 2.4 hospital beds per 1,000 people in Norway as of 2021
05
Physicians density is 5.22 per 1,000 people in 2021
06
Obesity rate (BMI>30) among adults is 23.1% in 2022
07
Smoking prevalence is 9% among adults aged 16-74 in 2022
08
Cancer incidence rate is 326 per 100,000 in 2022
09
Suicide rate is 11.6 per 100,000 in 2021
10
PISA 2022 math score for Norway is 468, above OECD average
11
PISA 2022 reading score is 477
12
Tertiary education attainment rate (25-34) is 51.1% in 2022
13
Literacy rate is 99% for adults in Norway
14
Student-teacher ratio in primary education is 9.1 in 2021
15
Public education expenditure is 6.6% of GDP in 2021
16
Mean years of schooling is 12.8 years for adults 25+ in 2022
17
Vaccination rate for measles is 95.5% for children in 2022
18
Mental health issues affect 20% of population annually
19
Average hospital stay length is 4.8 days in 2021
20
COVID-19 vaccination rate first dose is 94.1% as of 2023
21
Diabetes prevalence is 5.1% in adults 2022
22
Upper secondary completion rate is 92% for 19-year-olds in 2022
23
R&D expenditure in education is high, with 1.2% of higher ed budget in 2021
Interpretation
Health And Education Interpretation
Norway’s strong health profile shows in the Health and Education area, with life expectancy reaching 83.2 years in 2022 alongside low infant mortality of 1.6 per 1,000 births and substantial healthcare capacity like 2.4 hospital beds and 5.22 physicians per 1,000 people in 2021.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Norway Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/norway-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Norway Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/norway-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Norway Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/norway-statistics.
Sources & references
44 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level