Norway
Europe · Northern Europe
Oil-funded welfare state with fjord landscapes; expensive, but wages match.
At a Glance
📈Norway's Human Development Index
0.966
Very High human development#2 of 191 countries worldwide, #2 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 99% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Norway
Norway is a Nordic country of dramatic fjords, mountains, arctic tundra, and one of the longest and most spectacular coastlines in the world. The culture is outdoor-centred and egalitarian, with a deep tradition of hiking, skiing, and a quiet connection to nature that shapes everyday life. The Northern Lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer are among the most extraordinary natural phenomena on earth. It is expensive, but the experience of the Norwegian landscape is beyond comparison.
- Sovereign wealth fund exceeds $1 trillion — roughly $200,000 per citizen.
- Prisons focus on rehabilitation so effectively that reoffending rates are among the world's lowest.
- Highest EV adoption per capita of any country on earth.
Quick Facts
Capital
Oslo
Languages
Norwegian Nynorsk, Norwegian Bokmål, Sami
Currency
kr NOK
Area
364,270 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
176Mbps
Mobile
172Mbps
GDP / Capita
$95K
PPP / Capita
$104K
Inflation
3.1%
Unemployment
4.6%
Innovation (GII)
49.2
GNI / Capita
$97K
Tax Revenue
24.5%
FDI Inflows
-1.5%
Education Spend
5.4%
Cost of Living
83.7
Price Level Index
6th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.845 → 0.966 (+0.121)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Norway's Human Development Index?
Norway's Human Development Index is 0.966 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #2 of 191 countries.
Is Norway safe?
Norway scores 1.69 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #33 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Norway?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Norway at 83.7 (New York = 100); that is #138 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Norway?
Life expectancy at birth in Norway is 83.2 yrs (World Bank), ranked #15 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Norway?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Norway at 195.4, ranked #10 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.