Norway has a population density of 39.6 people per square mile compared to 67.2 people in Sweden. Norway has 744,101 sq ft of land per person vs 455,646 sq ft in Sweden. In the list of countries ranked from the most to the least densely populated, Norway and Sweden are ranked 182nd and 163rd, respectively.
Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Norway has 0.07% of the world's population and 0.24% of the land area of all countries, compared to 0.13% of the population and 0.27% of the land area for Sweden, hence the population density in Norway is 41.1% lower than in Sweden.
Population density comparison
Norway
|
Sweden
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population density | 39.6 ppl/mi² | 67.2 ppl/mi² |
| Population density rank | 182/197 | 163/197 |
| Population |
5642662
|
10654722
|
| Land area | 140,645 sq mi | 157,248 sq mi |
| Land area per capita | 703,657 sq ft | 414,753 sq ft |
| Rural population | 15.7% | 11% |
| Urban population | 84.3% | 89% |
| Living in agglomerations of 1M+ people | 0% | 0% |
Norway vs Sweden:
Population density chart by year
From 2004 to 2024, population density in Norway increased by 21.7%, compared to a 17.5% growth in Sweden.
In 2004, Norway ranked 169th for population density and is in 182nd place now. Sweden was 151st in 2004 and ranks 163rd out of 197 currently.
people per square mile
| Year | Population density | |
|---|---|---|
|
Norway
|
Sweden
|
|
| 2024 | 39.6 | 67.2 |
| 2023 | 39.2 | 67 |
| 2022 | 38.8 | 66.7 |
| 2021 | 38.5 | 66.2 |
| 2020 | 38.2 | 65.8 |
| 2019 | 37.9 | 65.4 |
| 2018 | 37.7 | 64.7 |
| 2017 | 37.4 | 64 |
| 2016 | 37.1 | 63.1 |
| 2015 | 36.8 | 62.3 |
| 2014 | 36.4 | 61.7 |
| 2013 | 36 | 61 |
| 2012 | 35.6 | 60.5 |
| 2011 | 35.1 | 60.1 |
| 2010 | 34.7 | 59.6 |
| 2009 | 34.2 | 59.1 |
| 2008 | 33.8 | 58.6 |
| 2007 | 33.4 | 58.2 |
| 2006 | 33 | 57.7 |
| 2005 | 32.8 | 57.4 |
| 2004 | 32.6 | 57.2 |
| 2003 | 32.4 | 57 |
| 2002 | 32.2 | 56.7 |
| 2001 | 32 | 56.6 |
| 2000 | 31.8 | 56.4 |
| 1999 | 31.6 | 56.3 |
| 1998 | 31.4 | 56.3 |
| 1997 | 31.2 | 56.2 |
| 1996 | 31.1 | 56.2 |
| 1995 | 30.9 | 56.1 |
| 1994 | 30.8 | 55.8 |
| 1993 | 30.6 | 55.4 |
| 1992 | 30.4 | 55.1 |
| 1991 | 30.2 | 54.8 |
| 1990 | 30.1 | 54.4 |
| 1989 | 30 | 54 |
| 1988 | 29.8 | 53.6 |
| 1987 | 29.7 | 53.4 |
| 1986 | 29.6 | 53.2 |
| 1985 | 29.4 | 53.1 |
| 1984 | 29.4 | 53 |
| 1983 | 29.3 | 53 |
| 1982 | 29.2 | 52.9 |
| 1981 | 29.1 | 52.9 |
| 1980 | 29 | 52.8 |
| 1979 | 28.9 | 52.7 |
| 1978 | 28.8 | 52.6 |
| 1977 | 28.7 | 52.5 |
| 1976 | 28.5 | 52.3 |
| 1975 | 28.4 | 52.1 |
| 1974 | 28.3 | 51.9 |
| 1973 | 28.1 | 51.7 |
| 1972 | 27.9 | 51.6 |
| 1971 | 27.7 | 51.5 |
| 1970 | 27.5 | 51.1 |
| 1969 | 27.3 | 50.7 |
| 1968 | 27.1 | 50.3 |
| 1967 | 26.8 | 50 |
| 1966 | 26.6 | 49.6 |
| 1965 | 26.4 | 49.2 |
| 1964 | 26.2 | 48.7 |
| 1963 | 26 | 48.4 |
| 1962 | 25.8 | 48.1 |
| 1961 | 25.6 | 47.8 |
Share of urban population by year
| Year | Urban population | |
|---|---|---|
|
Norway
|
Sweden
|
|
| 2024 | 84.3% | 89% |
| 2023 | 84% | 88.7% |
| 2022 | 83.7% | 88.5% |
| 2021 | 83.3% | 88.2% |
| 2020 | 83% | 88% |
| 2019 | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2018 | 82.2% | 87.4% |
| 2017 | 81.9% | 87.1% |
| 2016 | 81.5% | 86.9% |
| 2015 | 81.1% | 86.6% |
| 2014 | 80.7% | 86.2% |
| 2013 | 80.3% | 85.9% |
| 2012 | 79.9% | 85.6% |
| 2011 | 79.5% | 85.3% |
| 2010 | 79.1% | 85.1% |
| 2009 | 78.8% | 84.9% |
| 2008 | 78.5% | 84.7% |
| 2007 | 78.2% | 84.6% |
| 2006 | 78% | 84.4% |
| 2005 | 77.7% | 84.3% |
| 2004 | 77.4% | 84.3% |
| 2003 | 77.1% | 84.2% |
| 2002 | 76.7% | 84.1% |
| 2001 | 76.4% | 84.1% |
| 2000 | 76% | 84% |
| 1999 | 75.6% | 84% |
| 1998 | 75% | 84% |
| 1997 | 74.5% | 83.9% |
| 1996 | 74.1% | 83.9% |
| 1995 | 73.8% | 83.8% |
| 1994 | 73.5% | 83.7% |
| 1993 | 73.1% | 83.5% |
| 1992 | 72.7% | 83.4% |
| 1991 | 72.3% | 83.2% |
| 1990 | 72% | 83.1% |
| 1989 | 71.8% | 83.1% |
| 1988 | 71.7% | 83.1% |
| 1987 | 71.6% | 83.1% |
| 1986 | 71.4% | 83.1% |
| 1985 | 71.3% | 83.1% |
| 1984 | 71.2% | 83.1% |
| 1983 | 71% | 83.1% |
| 1982 | 70.9% | 83.1% |
| 1981 | 70.8% | 83.1% |
| 1980 | 70.5% | 83.1% |
| 1979 | 70.1% | 83% |
| 1978 | 69.6% | 82.9% |
| 1977 | 69.1% | 82.9% |
| 1976 | 68.7% | 82.8% |
| 1975 | 68.2% | 82.7% |
| 1974 | 67.7% | 82.5% |
| 1973 | 67.2% | 82.2% |
| 1972 | 66.7% | 81.9% |
| 1971 | 66.2% | 81.6% |
| 1970 | 65.4% | 81% |
| 1969 | 63.9% | 80.3% |
| 1968 | 62.3% | 79.5% |
| 1967 | 60.8% | 78.7% |
| 1966 | 59.2% | 77.9% |
| 1965 | 57.6% | 77.1% |
| 1964 | 55.9% | 76.2% |
| 1963 | 54.3% | 75.2% |
| 1962 | 52.7% | 74.3% |
| 1961 | 51% | 73.3% |
| 1960 | 49.9% | 72.5% |
From 2004 to 2024 share of the urban population changed from 77.4% to 84.3% in Norway and from 84.3% to 89% in Sweden.
Densely populated cities
|
Norway
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Oslo | 709K |
| Bergen | 291K |
| Trondheim | 192K |
| Baerum | 132K |
| Drammen | 105K |
| Asker | 100K |
| Lillestrom | 95.8K |
| Sandnes | 84.9K |
| Tromso | 79.4K |
| Kristiansand | 64.9K |
|
Sweden
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Stockholm | 985K |
| Gothenburg | 675K |
| Malmo | 339K |
| Uppsala | 175K |
| Norrkoping | 98.2K |
| Umea | 94.2K |
| Solna | 85.8K |
| Sodertalje | 78.4K |
| Sollentuna | 77.7K |
| Halmstad | 73K |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population density in other countries
people per square mile
Population density
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comparisons:
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