Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Norway
Norway: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 25.3% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Norway, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Norway recorded 25.3% for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
That represents a change of up 16.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Norway peaked at 25.3% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 1950.
Norway ranks 157th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Norway, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12.0% | — |
| 1955 | 12.7% | +5.6% |
| 1960 | 13.2% | +3.5% |
| 1965 | 14.9% | +13.1% |
| 1970 | 15.2% | +2.3% |
| 1975 | 15.1% | -0.5% |
| 1980 | 16.8% | +11.1% |
| 1985 | 17.2% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 17.6% | +2.7% |
| 1995 | 18.2% | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 19.2% | +5.5% |
| 2005 | 20.8% | +8.5% |
| 2010 | 21.8% | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 23.5% | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 25.3% | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 12.4% | 12.0% | 12.7% | 2 |
| 1960s | 14.0% | 13.2% | 14.9% | 2 |
| 1970s | 15.2% | 15.1% | 15.2% | 2 |
| 1980s | 17.0% | 16.8% | 17.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 17.9% | 17.6% | 18.2% | 2 |
| 2000s | 20.0% | 19.2% | 20.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.6% | 21.8% | 23.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 25.3% | 25.3% | 25.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 154 Hungary 27.3% compare
- 155 Finland 26.1% compare
- 156 Mali 25.8% compare
- 158 Central African Republic 25.1% compare
- 159 Timor-Leste 25.0% compare
- 160 Burkina Faso 25.0% compare
More population data for Norway
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.1866 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.32 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 224,990 people (2100)
- Population density 14.86 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.1496 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.6612 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Norway?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Norway was 25.3% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 25.3% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 1950.
- How does Norway rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Norway ranks 157th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.