GeoRealityMatch
Stunning aerial view of Oslo's waterfront showcasing modern architecture and urban landscape.A captivating view of Oslo's skyline at dusk, highlighting city lights reflecting on the water.

Norway

Europe · Northern Europe

High safetyVery expensive cost of livingVery high development

Incomes are high for Europe, and people live long. Living costs are high.

vs Switzerlandvs Swedenvs Denmark
Safety

33rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.688lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#33 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
0.7per 100,000 people a yearVery lowUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
66.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferHighNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the European median

Median disposable income
€41,923per adult, a year, after tax and transfersVery high
Eurostat · 2025
Rent index
29.2New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
8.0years of median income to buy a median flatVery affordableNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 26% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 11% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$75K$150K$104,044 PPP$94,594Inflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $75,048 a person, $54,805 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2007, $86,600 a person, $56,901 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2008, $99,002 a person, $63,026 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2009, $81,940 a person, $56,750 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2010, $90,020 a person, $59,439 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2011, $103,545 a person, $63,894 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2012, $104,628 a person, $67,353 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2013, $106,333 a person, $69,186 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2014, $100,410 a person, $68,196 at PPP, inflation 2%2015, $77,221 a person, $62,695 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2016, $73,222 a person, $61,250 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2017, $78,771 a person, $66,829 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $85,579 a person, $72,618 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2019, $79,329 a person, $73,630 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2020, $71,058 a person, $69,779 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2021, $96,443 a person, $92,206 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2022, $113,122 a person, $129,914 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2023, $90,984 a person, $107,768 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2024, $89,889 a person, $105,657 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2025, $94,594 a person, $104,044 at PPP, inflation 3.1%$0$75K$150KInflation, % a year6%0200620102015202020252006, $75,048 a person, $54,805 at PPP, inflation 2.3%2007, $86,600 a person, $56,901 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2008, $99,002 a person, $63,026 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2009, $81,940 a person, $56,750 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2010, $90,020 a person, $59,439 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2011, $103,545 a person, $63,894 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2012, $104,628 a person, $67,353 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2013, $106,333 a person, $69,186 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2014, $100,410 a person, $68,196 at PPP, inflation 2%2015, $77,221 a person, $62,695 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2016, $73,222 a person, $61,250 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2017, $78,771 a person, $66,829 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $85,579 a person, $72,618 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2019, $79,329 a person, $73,630 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2020, $71,058 a person, $69,779 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2021, $96,443 a person, $92,206 at PPP, inflation 3.5%2022, $113,122 a person, $129,914 at PPP, inflation 5.8%2023, $90,984 a person, $107,768 at PPP, inflation 5.5%2024, $89,889 a person, $105,657 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2025, $94,594 a person, $104,044 at PPP, inflation 3.1%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the longest-lived countries

Life expectancy
83.2years, at birthVery high
#15 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
89WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very highWHO · 2023
Air pollution
5.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery lowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Around the European middle for youth unemployment

Youth unemployment
14.0%share of 15 to 24 year olds in the labour forceModerate
Eurostat · 2025
Home internet
176 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
613EF English Proficiency Index scoreVery highEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet176 MbpsVery fast
Mobile172 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

A captivating view of Oslo's skyline at dusk, highlighting city lights reflecting on the water.
How it changed

Norway's Human Development Index

0.970Very high human development

2nd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 2nd of 44 in Europe.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #1Iceland0.972
  2. #2Norway0.970
  3. #2Switzerland0.970
  4. #4Denmark0.962
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.856 in 1990 to 0.970 in 2023.

0.800.901.000.97019902000201020231990: 0.8561991: 0.8631992: 0.8681993: 0.8751994: 0.8901995: 0.8871996: 0.8941997: 0.9001998: 0.9081999: 0.9132000: 0.9242001: 0.9232002: 0.9232003: 0.9302004: 0.9372005: 0.9392006: 0.9422007: 0.9432008: 0.9432009: 0.9442010: 0.9472011: 0.9492012: 0.9502013: 0.9532014: 0.9562015: 0.9592016: 0.9622017: 0.9652018: 0.9662019: 0.9672020: 0.9692021: 0.9692022: 0.9672023: 0.9700.800.901.0019902000201020231990: 0.8561991: 0.8631992: 0.8681993: 0.8751994: 0.8901995: 0.8871996: 0.8941997: 0.9001998: 0.9081999: 0.9132000: 0.9242001: 0.9232002: 0.9232003: 0.9302004: 0.9372005: 0.9392006: 0.9422007: 0.9432008: 0.9432009: 0.9442010: 0.9472011: 0.9492012: 0.9502013: 0.9532014: 0.9562015: 0.9592016: 0.9622017: 0.9652018: 0.9662019: 0.9672020: 0.9692021: 0.9692022: 0.9672023: 0.970

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
83.2 years2024at birthUp 3.1 years from 80 years in 2005
Internet users
99%2024of people onlineUp 16 points from 83% in 2006
Urban population
84%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 5 points from 78% in 2006
Births per woman
1.452024births per womanDown 0.39 from 1.84 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
61%2021of energy usedUp 5 points from 57% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityLevel with 2005
Infant mortality
22024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 1 from 3 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
7.2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 2.2 t from 9.4 t in 2005
Forest area
34%2023of land under forestLevel with 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Oil-funded welfare state with fjord landscapes; expensive, but wages match. The case for living here is high incomes for Europe, long lives and wide access to essential health services. The case against is a high cost of living.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalOslo
  • LanguagesNorwegian Nynorsk, Norwegian Bokmål, Sami
  • CurrencyNorwegian krone (NOK)
  • Area364,270 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
Weigh Norway against your priorities
Every figure

Everything we hold on Norway

Compare Norway

Borders

FinlandSwedenRussia

Side by side

vs Switzerlandvs Swedenvs Denmarkvs Finlandvs Icelandvs United StatesCompare any two countries

Quick answers

What is Norway's Human Development Index?

Norway's Human Development Index is 0.970 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #2 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Norway safe?

Norway scores 1.69 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #33 of 161 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.