Norway has a population of approximately 5.5 million people as of 2025, making it the 118th most populous country in the world. Despite ranking low on the global population scale, Norway is one of the world's wealthiest and most highly developed nations, spread thinly across a long, fjord-cut coastline that stretches deep above the Arctic Circle.
How Many People Live in Norway?
Norway's population of roughly 5,500,000 places it among Europe's smaller countries by headcount, sitting between nations like Finland and Slovakia. To put that in perspective, the entire country has fewer residents than a single large metropolitan area such as London or New York. Yet Norway consistently tops the United Nations Human Development Index, reflecting exceptional life expectancy, education, and income levels.
What makes Norway distinctive is not the size of its population but how it is distributed. The country is the most sparsely populated nation in mainland Europe, with an average density of just about 14 people per square kilometre. Vast stretches of mountains, glaciers, forests, and tundra remain almost entirely uninhabited, while the bulk of the population clusters in the milder south and along the coast.
Population Growth and Trends
Norway's population is currently growing at an annual rate of about 0.62 percent, which is moderate by global standards but steady for Western Europe. This growth is driven primarily by immigration rather than natural increase, because the fertility rate has fallen to roughly 1.5 births per woman, well below the replacement level of 2.1.
Over the past few decades, prosperity fuelled by oil and gas has attracted large numbers of workers from abroad. Major immigrant communities have arrived from Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, and Syria, reshaping the demographic profile of cities and towns. Demographers project that Norway's population will continue to climb gradually, reaching around 6.3 million by 2050.
An ageing population is one of the country's long-term challenges, but Norway is unusually well prepared. Its sovereign wealth fund, the Government Pension Fund Global, is the largest in the world at over 1.6 trillion US dollars, which works out to roughly 300,000 dollars for every citizen. This financial cushion helps fund pensions and public services as the share of older residents rises.
Where Norwegians Live: The Largest Cities
Norway is a highly urbanised country, with the majority of people living in and around its cities even though the landscape feels wild and empty. The three largest cities are Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim.
- Oslo is the capital and by far the largest city, home to about 700,000 residents within the city proper and around 1.1 million in the wider metropolitan area, roughly a fifth of the entire national population. It is the political, economic, and cultural heart of the country.
- Bergen, on the west coast, has about 285,000 residents and serves as the gateway to the famous fjords. It is also one of Europe's rainiest cities, receiving around 2,250 millimetres of precipitation each year.
- Trondheim, with about 210,000 residents, is a lively university town and was the historical capital of Norway during the Viking and medieval eras.
Other notable urban centres include Stavanger, the hub of the offshore oil industry, and Tromsø, the largest city in the far north and a popular base for viewing the northern lights.
Demographics and Society
About 83 percent of the population is ethnically Norwegian, alongside well-established immigrant communities and the indigenous Sámi people of the Arctic north. The official languages are Norwegian, which has two written forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk, as well as Sámi in certain northern regions. English is very widely spoken as a second language.
Religiously, around 68 percent of Norwegians belong to the Lutheran Church of Norway, although active weekly attendance is very low at roughly 2 percent, reflecting a largely secular society. The median age stands at about 40 years, and Norwegians enjoy one of the highest life expectancies in the world, generally exceeding 83 years.
Politically, Norway is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with a strong welfare state, generous parental leave, and near-universal access to healthcare and education. These social policies contribute to its reputation as one of the best places in the world to live. For a fuller picture of the nation's geography, economy, and culture, see our norway country guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Norway in 2025?
Norway has an estimated population of about 5.5 million people in 2025, making it the 118th most populous country on Earth.
Is Norway densely populated?
No. Norway is the most sparsely populated country in mainland Europe, with an average density of only about 14 people per square kilometre. Most of the land is mountains, glaciers, and forest, so people concentrate in the southern lowlands and along the coast.
What is the largest city in Norway?
Oslo, the capital, is the largest city with around 700,000 residents in the city proper and about 1.1 million in its metropolitan area, roughly one-fifth of the country's total population.
Why does Norway have such a small population?
Norway's harsh northern climate, mountainous terrain, and short growing season historically limited how many people the land could support. Even today its low fertility rate keeps natural growth modest, with most population increase coming from immigration.