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Norway vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Norway has a population of 5.57M (ranked 118/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Norway's land area is 140,645 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 62nd vs. 24th).

By GDP, Norway ranks 32/197 ($484B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Norway ranks 8/197 ($86,785), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Norway South Africa
Population
5671119
65683993
Population rank 119/197 24/197
GDP
$484B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 32/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$86,785
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 8/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$102,038
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$207B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
42.7%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$37,074
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 17/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$49,765
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 140,645 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
40.3 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.4
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
40.7 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Norway and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Norway and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Norway

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Norway South Africa
2024 $483,592,648,313 $401,144,998,374
2023 $482,949,731,777 $381,440,724,491
2022 $596,297,651,036 $407,596,043,068
2021 $503,367,986,030 $419,986,284,375
2020 $367,633,418,887 $337,974,655,408
2019 $408,742,840,909 $389,330,032,224
2018 $439,788,625,884 $405,260,723,893
2017 $401,745,275,035 $381,448,814,653
2016 $370,956,547,619 $323,585,509,674
2015 $388,159,512,246 $346,709,790,459
2014 $501,736,471,833 $381,198,869,776
2013 $526,014,468,085 $400,886,013,596
2012 $512,777,309,841 $434,400,545,086
2011 $501,360,549,669 $458,199,494,831
2010 $431,052,143,940 $417,363,822,802
2009 $387,976,400,617 $329,754,060,647
2008 $464,917,553,191 $316,131,258,616
2007 $402,643,260,488 $333,077,117,254
2006 $346,915,160,682 $303,858,675,364
2005 $309,978,579,744 $288,867,217,197
2004 $265,268,662,473 $255,806,908,595
2003 $229,385,469,337 $197,018,965,309
2002 $195,914,852,576 $129,087,556,612
2001 $174,239,354,071 $135,429,905,923
2000 $171,457,201,936 $151,752,757,215
1999 $162,383,706,021 $151,516,957,079
1998 $154,230,295,158 $152,982,984,557
1997 $161,356,631,888 $168,978,057,328
1996 $163,520,109,151 $163,234,925,381
1995 $152,029,612,325 $171,735,933,897
1994 $127,131,319,429 $153,512,712,382
1993 $120,579,213,713 $147,194,747,566
1992 $130,838,040,068 $146,956,150,987
1991 $121,872,464,483 $135,203,698,238
1990 $119,791,843,060 $126,048,140,142
1989 $102,633,934,391 $108,055,624,082
1988 $101,900,260,856 $103,976,831,871
1987 $94,229,907,236 $96,535,763,418
1986 $78,693,118,044 $73,354,771,399
1985 $65,416,879,914 $64,459,376,087
1984 $62,057,955,033 $84,870,163,366
1983 $61,627,240,831 $96,204,110,942
1982 $62,647,195,538 $85,904,057,409
1981 $63,596,654,761 $93,141,472,164
1980 $64,439,382,896 $89,411,864,402
1979 $53,132,244,624 $63,038,658,089
1978 $46,522,900,254 $51,607,412,902
1977 $41,508,030,431 $45,328,411,332
1976 $35,942,270,686 $41,150,460,288
1975 $32,877,805,200 $42,906,905,672
1974 $27,145,693,810 $41,389,186,095
1973 $22,534,253,703 $33,262,772,008
1972 $17,358,610,850 $24,515,919,217
1971 $14,583,114,840 $23,411,076,638
1970 $12,814,123,115 $21,218,391,513
1969 $11,136,187,440 $19,256,992,297
1968 $10,227,087,165 $17,124,793,150
1967 $9,577,383,653 $15,821,393,671
1966 $8,753,940,267 $14,211,394,315
1965 $8,111,945,661 $13,068,994,772
1964 $7,206,522,122 $11,955,995,218
1963 $6,553,269,536 $10,854,195,658
1962 $6,107,076,929 $9,813,996,074
1961 $5,669,689,210 $9,225,996,310
1960 $5,197,398,721 $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/norway/south-africa | CC BY

Norway and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Norway

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Norway South Africa
2024 $86,785 $6,267
2023 $87,497 $6,034
2022 $109,270 $6,534
2021 $93,073 $6,829
2020 $68,340 $5,581
2019 $76,431 $6,534
2018 $82,793 $6,914
2017 $76,132 $6,618
2016 $70,867 $5,651
2015 $74,810 $6,112
2014 $97,667 $6,857
2013 $103,554 $7,332
2012 $102,176 $8,077
2011 $101,222 $8,646
2010 $88,163 $7,973
2009 $80,348 $6,375
2008 $97,504 $6,185
2007 $85,502 $6,592
2006 $74,434 $6,077
2005 $67,047 $5,837
2004 $57,769 $5,221
2003 $50,250 $4,062
2002 $43,171 $2,688
2001 $38,602 $2,847
2000 $38,178 $3,218
1999 $36,393 $3,242
1998 $34,803 $3,310
1997 $36,629 $3,700
1996 $37,322 $3,618
1995 $34,876 $3,856
1994 $29,316 $3,489
1993 $27,964 $3,400
1992 $30,524 $3,462
1991 $28,597 $3,243
1990 $28,243 $3,093
1989 $24,281 $2,727
1988 $24,207 $2,702
1987 $22,506 $2,586
1986 $18,883 $2,027
1985 $15,754 $1,839
1984 $14,989 $2,504
1983 $14,928 $2,938
1982 $15,225 $2,717
1981 $15,513 $3,050
1980 $15,772 $3,029
1979 $13,047 $2,202
1978 $11,463 $1,852
1977 $10,266 $1,671
1976 $8,927 $1,559
1975 $8,204 $1,670
1974 $6,812 $1,656
1973 $5,690 $1,369
1972 $4,414 $1,038
1971 $3,736 $1,020
1970 $3,306 $952
1969 $2,894 $891
1968 $2,680 $817
1967 $2,531 $779
1966 $2,333 $722
1965 $2,179 $685
1964 $1,951 $646
1963 $1,787 $605
1962 $1,678 $563
1961 $1,571 $546
1960 $1,451 $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/norway/south-africa | CC BY

Norway vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Norway

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Norway South Africa
2026 83.8 66.7
2025 83.6 66.5
2024 83.5 66.3
2023 83.3 66.1
2022 82.6 65.5
2021 83.2 62
2020 83.2 65.2
2019 83 66.1
2018 82.8 65.7
2017 82.6 65.4
2016 82.4 64.7
2015 82.3 64.1
2014 82.1 63.2
2013 81.7 62.4
2012 81.4 61.7
2011 81.2 60.6
2010 81 58.9
2009 80.9 57.4
2008 80.7 56
2007 80.5 54.9
2006 80.4 54.2
2005 80.2 53.9
2004 80 54
2003 79.5 54.2
2002 79 55.6
2001 78.9 57.2
2000 78.7 58.4
1999 78.4 59.2
1998 78.4 59.9
1997 78.2 60.5
1996 78.2 61.1
1995 77.8 61.6
1994 77.8 62.1
1993 77.2 62.6
1992 77.2 62.8
1991 77 63
1990 76.6 62.9
1989 76.5 63
1988 76.3 62.9
1987 76.1 62.7
1986 76.3 62.4
1985 75.9 62.2
1984 76.2 61.8
1983 76.1 61.4
1982 76 60.9
1981 75.9 60.4
1980 75.7 60
1979 75.4 59.5
1978 75.4 59
1977 75.4 58.5
1976 75 58
1975 74.8 57.6
1974 74.8 57.1
1973 74.4 56.7
1972 74.3 56.4
1971 74.2 56
1970 74.1 55.7
1969 73.7 55.4
1968 73.9 55.2
1967 74.1 55
1966 74 54.7
1965 73.7 54.4
1964 73.6 54.2
1963 73.1 53.9
1962 73.5 53.6
1961 73.6 53.1
1960 73.6 52.6
1959 73.6 51.9
1958 73.4 51.1
1957 73.4 50.2
1956 73.5 49.2
1955 73.4 48.2
1954 73.2 47.1
1953 73.1 46.1
1952 72.7 45
1951 72.5 44.1
1950 71.6 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/norway/south-africa | CC BY

Norway and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Norway

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Norway South Africa
2024 5,572,279 64,007,187
2023 5,519,601 63,212,384
2022 5,457,127 62,378,410
2021 5,408,320 61,502,603
2020 5,379,475 60,562,381
2019 5,347,896 59,587,885
2018 5,311,916 58,613,001
2017 5,276,968 57,635,162
2016 5,234,519 57,259,551
2015 5,188,607 56,723,537
2014 5,137,232 55,594,838
2013 5,079,623 54,678,791
2012 5,018,573 53,782,567
2011 4,953,088 52,995,205
2010 4,889,252 52,344,051
2009 4,828,726 51,728,516
2008 4,768,212 51,114,599
2007 4,709,153 50,528,584
2006 4,660,677 49,998,277
2005 4,623,291 49,490,033
2004 4,591,910 48,991,421
2003 4,564,855 48,500,348
2002 4,538,159 48,019,415
2001 4,513,751 47,566,800
2000 4,490,967 47,159,719
1999 4,461,913 46,730,335
1998 4,431,464 46,223,880
1997 4,405,157 45,666,838
1996 4,381,336 45,123,018
1995 4,359,184 44,541,554
1994 4,336,613 44,004,139
1993 4,311,991 43,297,156
1992 4,286,401 42,443,509
1991 4,261,732 41,687,898
1990 4,241,473 40,746,268
1989 4,226,901 39,628,575
1988 4,209,488 38,480,649
1987 4,186,905 37,326,190
1986 4,167,354 36,180,515
1985 4,152,516 35,042,093
1984 4,140,099 33,892,788
1983 4,128,432 32,739,304
1982 4,114,787 31,615,339
1981 4,099,702 30,541,044
1980 4,085,620 29,518,857
1979 4,072,517 28,634,162
1978 4,058,671 27,869,507
1977 4,043,205 27,118,952
1976 4,026,152 26,395,450
1975 4,007,313 25,690,940
1974 3,985,258 24,989,108
1973 3,960,612 24,294,263
1972 3,933,004 23,609,456
1971 3,903,039 22,942,143
1970 3,875,763 22,279,984
1969 3,847,707 21,614,676
1968 3,816,486 20,957,287
1967 3,784,539 20,314,066
1966 3,753,012 19,690,087
1965 3,723,168 19,089,380
1964 3,694,339 18,511,361
1963 3,666,537 17,954,564
1962 3,638,918 17,418,522
1961 3,609,800 16,908,035
1960 3,581,239 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/norway/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Norway and South Africa

Fertility rate
Norway

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Norway South Africa
2023 1.4 2.22
2022 1.41 2.23
2021 1.55 2.25
2020 1.48 2.26
2019 1.53 2.26
2018 1.56 2.27
2017 1.62 2.28
2016 1.71 2.26
2015 1.72 2.36
2014 1.75 2.42
2013 1.78 2.43
2012 1.85 2.45
2011 1.88 2.44
2010 1.95 2.44
2009 1.98 2.5
2008 1.96 2.68
2007 1.9 2.55
2006 1.9 2.55
2005 1.84 2.51
2004 1.83 2.44
2003 1.8 2.36
2002 1.75 2.32
2001 1.78 2.37
2000 1.85 2.41
1999 1.85 2.56
1998 1.81 2.63
1997 1.86 2.73
1996 1.89 2.99
1995 1.87 3.17
1994 1.87 3.26
1993 1.86 3.37
1992 1.88 3.48
1991 1.92 3.62
1990 1.93 3.72
1989 1.89 3.98
1988 1.84 4.18
1987 1.74 4.35
1986 1.71 4.41
1985 1.68 4.5
1984 1.66 4.57
1983 1.66 4.63
1982 1.71 4.7
1981 1.7 4.71
1980 1.72 4.78
1979 1.75 4.82
1978 1.77 4.85
1977 1.75 4.94
1976 1.86 5.07
1975 1.98 5.19
1974 2.13 5.3
1973 2.23 5.41
1972 2.38 5.49
1971 2.49 5.57
1970 2.5 5.63
1969 2.7 5.72
1968 2.75 5.78
1967 2.81 5.85
1966 2.9 5.91
1965 2.94 5.89
1964 2.98 5.96
1963 2.93 6.01
1962 2.91 6.05
1961 2.94 6.08
1960 2.85 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/norway/south-africa | CC BY

Norway and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Norway

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Norway South Africa
2024 40.7 29.5
2023 40.5 29.2
2022 40.4 28.9
2021 40.3 28.6
2020 40 28.3
2019 39.8 27.9
2018 39.6 27.5
2017 39.4 27
2016 39.3 26.7
2015 39.2 26.4
2014 39 26
2013 38.9 25.7
2012 38.8 25.3
2011 38.7 25
2010 38.6 24.6
2009 38.5 24.3
2008 38.4 24
2007 38.3 23.8
2006 38.1 23.5
2005 37.9 23.3
2004 37.7 23.1
2003 37.5 22.8
2002 37.3 22.4
2001 37.1 22.2
2000 36.9 21.9
1999 36.7 21.6
1998 36.5 21.4
1997 36.4 21.2
1996 36.2 21.2
1995 36.1 21.5
1994 35.9 22
1993 35.8 21.9
1992 35.7 21.5
1991 35.5 21.5
1990 35.4 21.3
1989 35.2 21.1
1988 35.1 20.9
1987 34.9 20.7
1986 34.8 20.5
1985 34.6 20.4
1984 34.4 20.2
1983 34.1 20
1982 33.9 19.8
1981 33.6 19.6
1980 33.3 19.4
1979 33.1 19.3
1978 32.9 19.2
1977 32.7 19.1
1976 32.6 19
1975 32.5 18.9
1974 32.4 18.9
1973 32.4 18.8
1972 32.5 18.8
1971 32.7 18.8
1970 32.9 18.8
1969 33.2 18.8
1968 33.5 18.8
1967 33.7 18.8
1966 33.9 18.8
1965 34.1 18.8
1964 34.2 18.9
1963 34.3 18.9
1962 34.4 18.9
1961 34.4 19
1960 34.3 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/norway/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Norway and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Norway South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$547B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
48.5%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.46%
2022
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.09%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
25,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+13.2%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.98%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
51.8%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
37%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
78.8
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
21.6%
2023
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2023
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires
348,000
2025
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires
8.03%
2025
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires
17
2025
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0004%
2025
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
180
2017
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$296B
2019
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$81.2B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$947M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,397,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.86%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
98.6%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Norway South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,885 kg
2023
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$21.2
2023
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
40 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.18 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
46.3%
2023
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
61.4%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
48.2%
2023
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-704%
2023
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
23,520 kWh
2023
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.1%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
89.1%
2023
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Norway South Africa
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+29,798
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
83.3%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.4:49.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.92 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.46 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.8
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
81
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
93
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.73
2023
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2.1
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
95%
2013
91.2%
2024
English speaking
87.6%
2023
31%
2023
People using the Internet
99%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Norway South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$8,296
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,136
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
83.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.97
2023
0.79
2022
Age at first childbirth
30.1 years
2023
n/a
Maternal mortality per 100K births
1
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.4
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
19.5%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.8%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
87
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
14.2%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.38 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Norway South Africa
% of world land
0.24%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
25,240 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
3,792 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
47,118 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
60,737 mi
2025
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)
  12. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) (2023, retrieved 2026-03-10)

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