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Norway vs South Korea statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Norway has a population of 5.57M (ranked 118/197), compared with 51.8M in South Korea (ranked 29/197). Norway's land area is 140,645 sq mi versus 37,684 sq mi for South Korea (ranked 62nd vs. 105th).

By GDP, Norway ranks 32/197 ($484B) and South Korea ranks 12/197 ($1.88T). By GDP per capita, Norway ranks 8/197 ($86,785), while South Korea ranks 31/197 ($36,239).

Main facts and rankings

Norway South Korea
Population
5671119
51649918
Population rank 119/197 31/197
GDP
$484B
2024
$1.88T
2024
GDP rank 32/197 12/197
GDP per capita
$86,785
2024
$36,239
2024
GDP per capita rank 8/197 31/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$102,038
2024
$61,051
2024
Government debt
$207B
2024
$934B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
42.7%
2024
49.8%
2024
Government debt per person
$37,074
2024
$18,052
2024
Government debt per person rank 17/185 33/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$49,765
2026
$27,215
2026
Land area 140,645 sq mi 37,684 sq mi
Population density
40.3 ppl/mi²
2026
1,371 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.4
2023
0.72
2023
Median age
40.7 years
2024
46.1 years
2024
Life expectancy
83.8 years
2026
84.6 years
2026

Norway and South Korea: Comparison Charts

Norway and South Korea economies compared

GDP
Norway

South Korea
1x
Year GDP
Norway South Korea
2024 $483,592,648,313 $1,875,388,209,407
2023 $482,949,731,777 $1,844,800,934,392
2022 $596,297,651,036 $1,799,363,116,867
2021 $503,367,986,030 $1,942,313,560,966
2020 $367,633,418,887 $1,744,070,276,373
2019 $408,742,840,909 $1,751,045,752,055
2018 $439,788,625,884 $1,824,251,454,307
2017 $401,745,275,035 $1,710,196,756,713
2016 $370,956,547,619 $1,579,150,518,945
2015 $388,159,512,246 $1,539,212,301,136
2014 $501,736,471,833 $1,556,252,422,020
2013 $526,014,468,085 $1,434,669,686,502
2012 $512,777,309,841 $1,335,343,586,438
2011 $501,360,549,669 $1,307,103,477,219
2010 $431,052,143,940 $1,192,830,015,738
2009 $387,976,400,617 $983,065,242,417
2008 $464,917,553,191 $1,091,580,692,542
2007 $402,643,260,488 $1,220,911,904,593
2006 $346,915,160,682 $1,095,175,538,508
2005 $309,978,579,744 $971,740,329,984
2004 $265,268,662,473 $823,251,107,639
2003 $229,385,469,337 $728,516,494,684
2002 $195,914,852,576 $650,014,391,470
2001 $174,239,354,071 $567,564,806,235
2000 $171,457,201,936 $597,487,173,479
1999 $162,383,706,021 $515,697,079,289
1998 $154,230,295,158 $397,297,216,492
1997 $161,356,631,888 $589,202,526,424
1996 $163,520,109,151 $631,196,863,758
1995 $152,029,612,325 $586,286,469,401
1994 $127,131,319,429 $479,181,794,217
1993 $120,579,213,713 $405,705,302,846
1992 $130,838,040,068 $366,921,291,825
1991 $121,872,464,483 $340,851,946,804
1990 $119,791,843,060 $292,064,221,389
1989 $102,633,934,391 $254,236,243,100
1988 $101,900,260,856 $205,477,530,605
1987 $94,229,907,236 $152,240,393,646
1986 $78,693,118,044 $119,965,960,795
1985 $65,416,879,914 $103,764,281,281
1984 $62,057,955,033 $99,749,645,089
1983 $61,627,240,831 $89,621,208,322
1982 $62,647,195,538 $79,921,300,447
1981 $63,596,654,761 $74,287,368,087
1980 $64,439,382,896 $66,547,970,351
1979 $53,132,244,624 $68,083,884,298
1978 $46,522,900,254 $52,824,793,388
1977 $41,508,030,431 $39,064,462,810
1976 $35,942,270,686 $30,371,074,380
1975 $32,877,805,200 $22,126,033,058
1974 $27,145,693,810 $19,860,929,977
1973 $22,534,253,703 $14,067,523,813
1972 $17,358,610,850 $10,990,490,570
1971 $14,583,114,840 $10,005,257,131
1970 $12,814,123,115 $9,085,001,794
1969 $11,136,187,440 $7,743,940,189
1968 $10,227,087,165 $6,167,109,472
1967 $9,577,383,653 $4,895,076,718
1966 $8,753,940,267 $3,957,064,541
1965 $8,111,945,661 $3,141,131,708
1964 $7,206,522,122 $3,476,789,682
1963 $6,553,269,536 $4,007,692,308
1962 $6,107,076,929 $2,826,923,077
1961 $5,669,689,210 $2,427,244,761
1960 $5,197,398,721 $3,973,069,307

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

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

Norway and South Korea economies compared

GDP per capita
Norway

South Korea
1x
Year GDP per capita
Norway South Korea
2024 $86,785 $36,239
2023 $87,497 $35,674
2022 $109,270 $34,822
2021 $93,073 $37,518
2020 $68,340 $33,646
2019 $76,431 $33,827
2018 $82,793 $35,364
2017 $76,132 $33,297
2016 $70,867 $30,832
2015 $74,810 $30,172
2014 $97,667 $30,667
2013 $103,554 $28,449
2012 $102,176 $26,601
2011 $101,222 $26,175
2010 $88,163 $24,071
2009 $80,348 $19,937
2008 $97,504 $22,252
2007 $85,502 $25,078
2006 $74,434 $22,610
2005 $67,047 $20,167
2004 $57,769 $17,122
2003 $50,250 $15,212
2002 $43,171 $13,643
2001 $38,602 $11,981
2000 $38,178 $12,710
1999 $36,393 $11,063
1998 $34,803 $8,583
1997 $36,629 $12,822
1996 $37,322 $13,865
1995 $34,876 $13,002
1994 $29,316 $10,734
1993 $27,964 $9,180
1992 $30,524 $8,387
1991 $28,597 $7,873
1990 $28,243 $6,813
1989 $24,281 $5,989
1988 $24,207 $4,889
1987 $22,506 $3,658
1986 $18,883 $2,911
1985 $15,754 $2,543
1984 $14,989 $2,469
1983 $14,928 $2,246
1982 $15,225 $2,032
1981 $15,513 $1,918
1980 $15,772 $1,746
1979 $13,047 $1,814
1978 $11,463 $1,429
1977 $10,266 $1,073
1976 $8,927 $847
1975 $8,204 $627
1974 $6,812 $572
1973 $5,690 $412
1972 $4,414 $328
1971 $3,736 $304
1970 $3,306 $281.8
1969 $2,894 $245.5
1968 $2,680 $200
1967 $2,531 $162.5
1966 $2,333 $134.4
1965 $2,179 $109.4
1964 $1,951 $124.2
1963 $1,787 $147
1962 $1,678 $106.6
1961 $1,571 $94.2
1960 $1,451 $158.8

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

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

Norway vs. South Korea life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Norway

South Korea
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Norway South Korea
2026 83.8 84.6
2025 83.6 84.5
2024 83.5 84.4
2023 83.3 84.3
2022 82.6 82.7
2021 83.2 83.9
2020 83.2 83.7
2019 83 83.7
2018 82.8 83.3
2017 82.6 83.3
2016 82.4 82.9
2015 82.3 82.5
2014 82.1 82.4
2013 81.7 81.8
2012 81.4 81.3
2011 81.2 81.2
2010 81 80.7
2009 80.9 80.6
2008 80.7 80
2007 80.5 79.4
2006 80.4 79
2005 80.2 78.4
2004 80 78
2003 79.5 77.5
2002 79 77.2
2001 78.9 76.9
2000 78.7 76.2
1999 78.4 75.6
1998 78.4 75
1997 78.2 74.5
1996 78.2 74
1995 77.8 73.4
1994 77.8 72.9
1993 77.2 72.7
1992 77.2 72.2
1991 77 71.4
1990 76.6 71
1989 76.5 70.7
1988 76.3 70.2
1987 76.1 69.3
1986 76.3 69
1985 75.9 68.4
1984 76.2 68.1
1983 76.1 66.7
1982 76 67.1
1981 75.9 67.1
1980 75.7 64.8
1979 75.4 66.1
1978 75.4 65
1977 75.4 64.6
1976 75 65
1975 74.8 64.7
1974 74.8 64.2
1973 74.4 63.8
1972 74.3 63.2
1971 74.2 62.7
1970 74.1 62.2
1969 73.7 61.4
1968 73.9 60.9
1967 74.1 60.9
1966 74 55.4
1965 73.7 55.8
1964 73.6 55.3
1963 73.1 55
1962 73.5 55
1961 73.6 54.4
1960 73.6 53.8
1959 73.6 52.9
1958 73.4 51.8
1957 73.4 51.6
1956 73.5 50.2
1955 73.4 48.4
1954 73.2 46.1
1953 73.1 40.5
1952 72.7 36.6
1951 72.5 26.6
1950 71.6 22.2

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

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

Norway and South Korea population clocks and comparison

Population
Norway

South Korea
1x
Year Population
Norway South Korea
2024 5,572,279 51,751,065
2023 5,519,601 51,712,619
2022 5,457,127 51,672,569
2021 5,408,320 51,769,539
2020 5,379,475 51,836,239
2019 5,347,896 51,764,822
2018 5,311,916 51,585,058
2017 5,276,968 51,361,911
2016 5,234,519 51,217,803
2015 5,188,607 51,014,947
2014 5,137,232 50,746,659
2013 5,079,623 50,428,893
2012 5,018,573 50,199,853
2011 4,953,088 49,936,638
2010 4,889,252 49,554,112
2009 4,828,726 49,307,835
2008 4,768,212 49,054,708
2007 4,709,153 48,683,638
2006 4,660,677 48,438,292
2005 4,623,291 48,184,561
2004 4,591,910 48,082,519
2003 4,564,855 47,892,330
2002 4,538,159 47,644,736
2001 4,513,751 47,370,164
2000 4,490,967 47,008,111
1999 4,461,913 46,616,677
1998 4,431,464 46,286,503
1997 4,405,157 45,953,580
1996 4,381,336 45,524,681
1995 4,359,184 45,092,991
1994 4,336,613 44,641,540
1993 4,311,991 44,194,628
1992 4,286,401 43,747,962
1991 4,261,732 43,295,704
1990 4,241,473 42,869,283
1989 4,226,901 42,449,038
1988 4,209,488 42,031,247
1987 4,186,905 41,621,690
1986 4,167,354 41,213,674
1985 4,152,516 40,805,744
1984 4,140,099 40,405,956
1983 4,128,432 39,910,403
1982 4,114,787 39,326,352
1981 4,099,702 38,723,248
1980 4,085,620 38,123,775
1979 4,072,517 37,534,236
1978 4,058,671 36,969,185
1977 4,043,205 36,411,795
1976 4,026,152 35,848,523
1975 4,007,313 35,280,725
1974 3,985,258 34,692,266
1973 3,960,612 34,103,149
1972 3,933,004 33,505,406
1971 3,903,039 32,882,704
1970 3,875,763 32,240,827
1969 3,847,707 31,544,266
1968 3,816,486 30,838,302
1967 3,784,539 30,130,983
1966 3,753,012 29,435,571
1965 3,723,168 28,704,674
1964 3,694,339 27,984,155
1963 3,666,537 27,261,747
1962 3,638,918 26,513,030
1961 3,609,800 25,765,673
1960 3,581,239 25,012,374

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

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

Fertility rates in Norway and South Korea

Fertility rate
Norway

South Korea
1x
Year Fertility rate
Norway South Korea
2023 1.4 0.72
2022 1.41 0.78
2021 1.55 0.81
2020 1.48 0.84
2019 1.53 0.92
2018 1.56 0.98
2017 1.62 1.05
2016 1.71 1.17
2015 1.72 1.24
2014 1.75 1.21
2013 1.78 1.19
2012 1.85 1.3
2011 1.88 1.24
2010 1.95 1.23
2009 1.98 1.15
2008 1.96 1.19
2007 1.9 1.26
2006 1.9 1.13
2005 1.84 1.09
2004 1.83 1.16
2003 1.8 1.19
2002 1.75 1.18
2001 1.78 1.31
2000 1.85 1.48
1999 1.85 1.43
1998 1.81 1.46
1997 1.86 1.54
1996 1.89 1.57
1995 1.87 1.63
1994 1.87 1.66
1993 1.86 1.65
1992 1.88 1.76
1991 1.92 1.71
1990 1.93 1.57
1989 1.89 1.56
1988 1.84 1.55
1987 1.74 1.53
1986 1.71 1.58
1985 1.68 1.66
1984 1.66 1.74
1983 1.66 2.06
1982 1.71 2.39
1981 1.7 2.57
1980 1.72 2.82
1979 1.75 2.9
1978 1.77 2.64
1977 1.75 2.99
1976 1.86 3
1975 1.98 3.43
1974 2.13 3.77
1973 2.23 4.07
1972 2.38 4.12
1971 2.49 4.54
1970 2.5 4.53
1969 2.7 4.45
1968 2.75 4.51
1967 2.81 4.62
1966 2.9 4.78
1965 2.94 4.89
1964 2.98 5.07
1963 2.93 5.33
1962 2.91 5.56
1961 2.94 5.8
1960 2.85 5.99

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

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

Norway and South Korea demographics compared

Median age
Norway

South Korea
1x
Year Median age, years
Norway South Korea
2024 40.7 46.1
2023 40.5 45.5
2022 40.4 44.9
2021 40.3 44.4
2020 40 43.8
2019 39.8 43.1
2018 39.6 42.5
2017 39.4 41.9
2016 39.3 41.4
2015 39.2 40.8
2014 39 40.2
2013 38.9 39.5
2012 38.8 38.8
2011 38.7 38.2
2010 38.6 37.6
2009 38.5 37
2008 38.4 36.4
2007 38.3 35.8
2006 38.1 35.2
2005 37.9 34.5
2004 37.7 33.9
2003 37.5 33.4
2002 37.3 32.8
2001 37.1 32.3
2000 36.9 31.7
1999 36.7 31.2
1998 36.5 30.7
1997 36.4 30.2
1996 36.2 29.8
1995 36.1 29.4
1994 35.9 28.9
1993 35.8 28.3
1992 35.7 27.8
1991 35.5 27.2
1990 35.4 26.7
1989 35.2 26.3
1988 35.1 25.8
1987 34.9 25.3
1986 34.8 24.8
1985 34.6 24.2
1984 34.4 23.7
1983 34.1 23.3
1982 33.9 22.8
1981 33.6 22.5
1980 33.3 22.1
1979 33.1 21.6
1978 32.9 21.1
1977 32.7 20.7
1976 32.6 20.2
1975 32.5 19.9
1974 32.4 19.6
1973 32.4 19.3
1972 32.5 19.1
1971 32.7 19
1970 32.9 18.9
1969 33.2 18.8
1968 33.5 18.7
1967 33.7 18.6
1966 33.9 18.5
1965 34.1 18.6
1964 34.2 18.8
1963 34.3 19
1962 34.4 19.1
1961 34.4 19.2
1960 34.3 19.3

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

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

Interactive Maps

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

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Norway South Korea
GNI, Atlas method
$547B
2024
$1.9T
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
48.5%
2024
22.5%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.46%
2022
5.81%
2022
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.09%
2024
2.56%
2024
Armed forces personnel
25,000
2020
569,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
+13.2%
2024
-0.78%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.98%
2024
2.78%
2024
Services, % of GDP
51.8%
2024
57.5%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
37%
2024
33.9%
2024
Economic freedom index
78.8
2026
73.7
2026
Income share by richest 10%
21.6%
2023
24.6%
2021
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2023
2.9%
2021
Number of millionaires
348,000
2025
1,301,000
2025
Percentage of millionaires
8.03%
2025
2.96%
2025
Number of billionaires
17
2025
30
2025
Percentage of billionaires
0.0004%
2025
0.00007%
2025
Listed domestic companies
180
2017
2,599
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$296B
2019
$1.56T
2024
Total reserves including gold
$81.2B
2024
$418B
2024
Personal remittances received
$947M
2024
$7.45B
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,397,000
2020
2,519,000
2020
International tourism as share of exports
1.86%
2020
1.94%
2020
Banked people share
98.6%
2024
96.9%
2024

Energy

Norway South Korea
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
4,885 kg
2023
5,337 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$21.2
2023
$10.8
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
40 megatons
2024
588 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
7.18 tons
2024
11.4 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
46.3%
2023
79.1%
2023
Renewable energy use share
61.4%
2021
3.6%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
48.2%
2023
18.5%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-704%
2023
84.6%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
23,520 kWh
2023
11,426 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
99.1%
2021
6.59%
2021
Hydroelectric share
89.1%
2023
1.23%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
29.6%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
100%
2023

Society

Norway South Korea
% of world population
0.07%
2024
0.64%
2024
Annual migration change
+29,798
2025
+65,731
2025
Urban population
83.3%
2024
81.2%
2024
Male:Female ratio
50.4:49.6
2024
49.9:50.1
2024
Average male height
5.92 ft
2025
5.76 ft
2025
Average female height
5.46 ft
2025
5.35 ft
2025
Quality of life index
94.8
2026
87.4
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
81
2025
63
2025
Higher education index
93
2026
86
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.73
2023
0.48
2023
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
2.1
2019
8.6
2019
Visa free countries
172
2025
172
2025
Adult literacy rate
95%
2013
98.8%
2018
English speaking
87.6%
2023
20%
2025
People using the Internet
99%
2023
97.9%
2024

Health

Norway South Korea
Government health expenditure per capita
$8,296
2023
$3,137
2024
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$1,136
2023
$1,058
2024
Life expectancy
83.8 years
2026
84.6 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
0%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
4.97
2023
2.61
2022
Age at first childbirth
30.1 years
2023
32.2 years
2025
Maternal mortality per 100K births
1
2023
4
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
2.4
2023
2.8
2023
Obesity rate
19.5%
2022
7.24%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
4.8%
2024
9.6%
2024
Air quality index
87
2026
46
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
14.2%
2022
20%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
7.38 liters
2020
7.79 liters
2020

Territory

Norway South Korea
% of world land
0.24%
2026
0.07%
2026
Land area per capita
25,240 sq mi
2024
728 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
3,792 sq mi
2026
6,054 sq mi
2026
Forest area
47,118 sq mi
2026
24,158 sq mi
2026
Roads length
60,737 mi
2025
68,794 mi
2018

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) (2000–2025, 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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