Norway vs United States: Compare Statistics
Side-by-side comparison of 113 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.
Summary
In the comparison between Norway and the United States, the United States leads in GDP with $32.95 trillion compared to Norway's $571.37 billion. However, Norway excels in life expectancy at 85.2 years versus the United States' 83.22 years.
Economy
The United States outpaces Norway in economic metrics, boasting a GDP of $32.95 trillion compared to Norway's $571.37 billion. Additionally, the United States has a significant lead in Agriculture Value Added with $350.60 billion against Norway's $9.52 billion.
People and Society
Norway demonstrates a higher Human Capital Index of 0.77 compared to the United States' 0.72. The median age in Norway is slightly higher at 39.96 years versus 38.79 years in the United States.
Environment
- Norway has a longer coastline of 25,148 km compared to the United States' 19,924 km.
- In terms of above-ground biomass in forest, the United States leads with 94.67 tonnes/ha, while Norway has 64.16 tonnes/ha.
Communications
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population) | 99 %★ | 93.14 % | |
| Internet Users | percent of population: 99% (2023 est.) | percent of population: 93% (2023 est.) | |
| Press Freedom Index Score | 92.31 points★ | 65.49 points | |
| Radios | 4.03 | 575★ | |
| Televisions | 2.03 | 219★ | |
| Waterways | 1,577 | 41,009★ |
Economy
45 metricsEnvironment
7 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs) | -1.69M | -14.29M★ | |
| Carbon Dioxide Emissions | 38.54 | 4.8★ | |
| Contiguous Zone | 10 | 12★ | |
| Continental Shelf | 200 | not specified; | |
| Population Distribution | most people live in the south; population clusters are found along the North Sea coast in the southwest and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated | large urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest | |
| Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country | 96 Cubic meters per year | 1,383 Cubic meters per year★ | |
| Total Renewable Water Resources | 393★ | 3.07 |
Geography
6 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization | 0.69 % | 2.11 %★ | |
| Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha) | 64.16 | 94.67★ | |
| Agricultural land | 9,842.11 sq. km | 4.17M sq. km★ | |
| Coastline Length (km) | 25,148 km★ | 19,924 km | |
| Dam capacity per capita | 5,944.02 cubic meters per inhabitant★ | 2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant | |
| Irrigated Land | 337 | 234,782★ |
Government
4 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of Law Index by Country | 97.98 %★ | 88.3 % | |
| Administrative Divisions | 12 | 50★ | |
| Independence | 7★ | 4 | |
| Suffrage Participation Rate | 18 | 18 |
Health
10 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Deaths Per 100,000 (Age-Std) | 8.5★ | 22.17 | |
| Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population) | 4.8 | 13.7★ | |
| Health Expenditure (% of GDP) | 8.1 % of GDP | 16.6 % of GDP★ | |
| HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate | (2021 est.) <0.1% | NA | |
| Hospital Bed Density | 3.4 people/sq km★ | 2.7 people/sq km | |
| Maternal Mortality Ratio (%) | 1 %★ | 17 % | |
| Mean Age at First Birth | 29.8★ | 27.5 | |
| Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%) | 23.1 %★ | 36.2 % | |
| People Living With HIV/AIDS | 5,800 | NA | |
| Underweight Children Under 5 | NA | 0.4 |
Military and Security
1 metric| Metric | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP) | 25,000 | 1.40M★ |
People and Society
30 metricsTransportation
4 metrics| Metric | 🇳🇴 Norway | 🇺🇸 United States | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP) | 4.9★ | 2.06 | |
| Airports | 146 | 16,116★ | |
| Civil Air Travel | 76 | 8,252★ | |
| Heliports | 113 | 8,130★ |