Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Norway
Norway: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 83.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Norway, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Norway recorded 83.6% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Norway peaked at 83.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 47.9%, in 1950.
Norway ranks 59th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 48.2% | 47.9% | 48.6% | 10 |
| 1960s | 55.5% | 48.7% | 64.4% | 10 |
| 1970s | 68.4% | 65.6% | 70.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 71.2% | 70.6% | 71.7% | 10 |
| 1990s | 73.8% | 71.9% | 75.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.6% | 76.1% | 79.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 80.8% | 79.2% | 82.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 83.1% | 82.7% | 83.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 56 Peru 85.6% compare
- 57 Saudi Arabia 84.6% compare
- 58 New Zealand 84.0% compare
- 60 United Kingdom 83.3% compare
- 61 Canada 82.9% compare
- 62 Germany 82.1% compare
More population data for Norway
- World population growth -0.2% (2100)
- Population density 14.86 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 224,990 people (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.2% (2100)
- Total fertility rate vs. contraceptive prevalence 1.45 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. unmet need for contraception 1.45 births per woman (2024)
- Refugees by country of asylum 123,981 people (2024)
- Total fertility rate vs. wanted fertility rate 1.45 births per woman (2024)
- Fertility rate vs. Share of people who are religious 1.41 live births per woman (2023)
- Fertility rate accounting for survival until childbearing age 1.4 children per women (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Norway?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Norway was 83.6% in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 83.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.9% in 1950.
- How does Norway rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Norway ranks 59th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the population living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.