Population and Demographics of Norway
An aging population · 18.79% aged 65 or older in 2024
Norway has 5.58 million residents in the 2024 estimate, with a 2.60-point gap between the under-15 and 65-plus shares. Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, Norway moved +24.2% in population size. By 2050, the medium path points to 5.9 million, equivalent to a +5.8% change from the 2024 estimate.
Population Over Time in Norway
The 2000 to 2024 record shows Norway moving from 4.491M people to 5.577M, a 24.2% increase. The UN medium projection places 2050 at 5.900M, about 5.8% above the 2024 reference point. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Norway's demographic structure is maturing when the 2024 population is divided into the three broad age groups. The under-15 share is 16.19% and the 65-and-older share is 18.79%, with 65.02% aged 15 to 64. The youngest and oldest broad age groups are relatively close in size.
Population by broad age group
The 2024 World Bank sex-share indicator gives Norway a female share of 49.6% and a male share of 50.4%. Males exceed females by 0.8 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Males made up 50.4% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.6% females.
What Is Shaping Population Change
Norway's +1.04% annual change in 2024 sits beside fertility of 1.4 children per woman, while 16.19% are children, 65.02% are 15 to 64 and 18.79% are older adults.
From 2000 to 2024, Norway's population moved +24.2%, while the medium scenario adds a +5.8% change between 2024 and 2050; no specific birth, death or migration contribution is inferred from that total.
2024 estimate for Norway. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Norway vs. World
Three same-year indicators show where Norway differs from the world in 2024: population change is higher than the global rate, fertility is below the global figure, and median age is older than the world benchmark.
| Indicator | Norway | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +1.04% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 1.4 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 40 | 30.6 | 2024 |
No national-only figure is inserted into this world comparison. The country and global values share the same 2024 table and source context.
Key Takeaways
At 5.577M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of +1.04%.
The 2024 age structure is 16.19% under 15, 65.02% aged 15 to 64 and 18.79% aged 65 or older.
Females make up 49.6% of the 2024 population in the World Bank indicator, with males at 50.4%.
By 2050, the medium projection is 5.900M, differing from 2024 by roughly 0.32 million people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Norway?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Norway is 5,576,660 people.
Is the population of Norway growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Norway's population is growing, with annual change of +1.04%.
What percentage of the population of Norway is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 18.79% of Norway's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Norway in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Norway's 2050 population at 5,899,829.
What is the fertility rate in Norway?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Norway is 1.4 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.