Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Norway
Norway: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 4.70 million people in 2025. ▲ Rising
Number of people 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 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of people living in urban and rural areas in Norway is 4.70 million people, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Norway peaked at 4.70 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.56 million people, in 1950.
Norway ranks 105th of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 76 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.64 million people | 1.56 million people | 1.73 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.06 million people | 1.74 million people | 2.48 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.73 million people | 2.54 million people | 2.87 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.96 million people | 2.89 million people | 3.03 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.21 million people | 3.05 million people | 3.38 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.59 million people | 3.42 million people | 3.82 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.16 million people | 3.87 million people | 4.41 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.56 million people | 4.45 million people | 4.70 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
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 number of people living in urban and rural areas in Norway?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Norway was 4.70 million people 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 number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 4.70 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.56 million people in 1950.
- How does Norway rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Norway ranks 105th out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. 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 Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.