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Population in Norway compared to South Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Norway was 5,610,870 in 2025 vs 51,684,564 people in South Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Norway's population is 5,660,666 people compared to 51,624,449 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 9.12 times bigger than Norway's.
  • Norway is ranked the 119th most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
  • The countries together account for 0.69% of the world: 0.07% for Norway vs 0.62% for South Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Norway has had an average growth rate of +0.81% per year vs +0.17% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Norway has increased from 4.66M people to 5.66M (21.5% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.58% growth).

Norway vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Norway
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Norway South Korea
2100 5,426,970 22,001,649
2099 5,439,664 22,324,514
2098 5,451,717 22,657,541
2097 5,463,190 22,998,315
2096 5,474,994 23,348,632
2095 5,487,368 23,711,049
2094 5,499,514 24,081,510
2093 5,512,056 24,460,970
2092 5,524,021 24,848,715
2091 5,535,989 25,242,926
2090 5,548,825 25,642,926
2089 5,561,462 26,048,094
2088 5,574,757 26,457,020
2087 5,588,831 26,871,556
2086 5,602,569 27,288,450
2085 5,616,010 27,710,065
2084 5,629,675 28,133,600
2083 5,642,568 28,564,090
2082 5,654,975 28,998,646
2081 5,666,885 29,441,497
2080 5,678,624 29,887,135
2079 5,689,711 30,337,095
2078 5,700,349 30,793,984
2077 5,710,483 31,258,278
2076 5,720,209 31,728,826
2075 5,729,904 32,205,338
2074 5,739,940 32,689,892
2073 5,749,872 33,180,187
2072 5,759,499 33,679,874
2071 5,768,298 34,187,068
2070 5,777,747 34,702,204
2069 5,786,471 35,224,472
2068 5,795,734 35,745,164
2067 5,805,627 36,274,411
2066 5,815,585 36,808,495
2065 5,825,356 37,349,660
2064 5,835,081 37,897,742
2063 5,844,519 38,450,082
2062 5,853,646 39,009,227
2061 5,861,677 39,565,102
2060 5,869,390 40,130,032
2059 5,875,920 40,692,438
2058 5,881,790 41,256,780
2057 5,888,181 41,813,259
2056 5,894,125 42,356,530
2055 5,899,106 42,888,143
2054 5,903,121 43,405,840
2053 5,906,126 43,917,075
2052 5,907,281 44,419,192
2051 5,907,735 44,901,452
2050 5,907,355 45,362,931
2049 5,905,940 45,809,553
2048 5,903,025 46,235,718
2047 5,899,964 46,645,885
2046 5,896,254 47,033,200
2045 5,891,177 47,409,815
2044 5,886,031 47,773,842
2043 5,880,486 48,120,989
2042 5,873,632 48,455,085
2041 5,865,604 48,782,206
2040 5,857,447 49,091,438
2039 5,848,023 49,388,464
2038 5,837,628 49,669,835
2037 5,826,752 49,932,869
2036 5,815,042 50,175,947
2035 5,802,966 50,401,135
2034 5,790,086 50,607,994
2033 5,776,187 50,796,030
2032 5,761,261 50,961,878
2031 5,745,071 51,109,725
2030 5,728,104 51,242,628
2029 5,710,229 51,360,529
2028 5,691,155 51,461,403
2027 5,670,783 51,551,313
2026 5,649,981 51,624,449
2025 5,610,870 51,684,564
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: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Norway increased by 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Norway gained 426,147 people (a 8.14% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 406,646 people (a 0.79% growth).

Norway was ranked 116th most populous country in 2006 and is 119th in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Norway's population will grow by 4.36% to 5,907,355 people with a rank change from 119th to 121st. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,362,931 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Norway is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 5.91M people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Norway
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Norway South Korea
2100 -0.23% -1.45%
2099 -0.22% -1.47%
2098 -0.21% -1.48%
2097 -0.22% -1.5%
2096 -0.23% -1.53%
2095 -0.22% -1.54%
2094 -0.23% -1.55%
2093 -0.22% -1.56%
2092 -0.22% -1.56%
2091 -0.23% -1.56%
2090 -0.23% -1.56%
2089 -0.24% -1.55%
2088 -0.25% -1.54%
2087 -0.25% -1.53%
2086 -0.24% -1.52%
2085 -0.24% -1.51%
2084 -0.23% -1.51%
2083 -0.22% -1.5%
2082 -0.21% -1.5%
2081 -0.21% -1.49%
2080 -0.19% -1.48%
2079 -0.19% -1.48%
2078 -0.18% -1.49%
2077 -0.17% -1.48%
2076 -0.17% -1.48%
2075 -0.17% -1.48%
2074 -0.17% -1.48%
2073 -0.17% -1.48%
2072 -0.15% -1.48%
2071 -0.16% -1.48%
2070 -0.15% -1.48%
2069 -0.16% -1.46%
2068 -0.17% -1.46%
2067 -0.17% -1.45%
2066 -0.17% -1.45%
2065 -0.17% -1.45%
2064 -0.16% -1.44%
2063 -0.16% -1.43%
2062 -0.14% -1.4%
2061 -0.13% -1.41%
2060 -0.11% -1.38%
2059 -0.1% -1.37%
2058 -0.11% -1.33%
2057 -0.1% -1.28%
2056 -0.08% -1.24%
2055 -0.07% -1.19%
2054 -0.05% -1.16%
2053 -0.02% -1.13%
2052 -0.008% -1.07%
2051 0.006% -1.02%
2050 0.02% -0.97%
2049 0.05% -0.92%
2048 0.05% -0.88%
2047 0.06% -0.82%
2046 0.09% -0.79%
2045 0.09% -0.76%
2044 0.09% -0.72%
2043 0.12% -0.69%
2042 0.14% -0.67%
2041 0.14% -0.63%
2040 0.16% -0.6%
2039 0.18% -0.57%
2038 0.19% -0.53%
2037 0.2% -0.48%
2036 0.21% -0.45%
2035 0.22% -0.41%
2034 0.24% -0.37%
2033 0.26% -0.33%
2032 0.28% -0.29%
2031 0.3% -0.26%
2030 0.31% -0.23%
2029 0.34% -0.2%
2028 0.36% -0.17%
2027 0.37% -0.14%
2026 0.7% -0.12%
2025 0.69% -0.13%
2024 0.95% 0.07%
2023 1.14% 0.08%
2022 0.9% -0.19%
2021 0.54% -0.13%
2020 0.59% 0.14%
2019 0.68% 0.35%
2018 0.66% 0.43%
2017 0.81% 0.28%
2016 0.88% 0.4%
2015 1% 0.53%
2014 1.13% 0.63%
2013 1.22% 0.46%
2012 1.32% 0.53%
2011 1.31% 0.77%
2010 1.25% 0.5%
2009 1.27% 0.52%
2008 1.25% 0.76%
2007 1.04% 0.51%
2006 0.81% 0.53%
2005 0.68% 0.21%
2004 0.59% 0.4%
2003 0.59% 0.52%
2002 0.54% 0.58%
2001 0.51% 0.77%
2000 0.65% 0.84%
1999 0.69% 0.71%
1998 0.6% 0.72%
1997 0.54% 0.94%
1996 0.51% 0.96%
1995 0.52% 1.01%
1994 0.57% 1.01%
1993 0.6% 1.02%
1992 0.58% 1.04%
1991 0.48% 0.99%
1990 0.34% 0.99%
1989 0.41% 0.99%
1988 0.54% 0.98%
1987 0.47% 0.99%
1986 0.36% 1%
1985 0.3% 0.99%
1984 0.28% 1.24%
1983 0.33% 1.49%
1982 0.37% 1.56%
1981 0.34% 1.57%
1980 0.32% 1.57%
1979 0.34% 1.53%
1978 0.38% 1.53%
1977 0.42% 1.57%
1976 0.47% 1.61%
1975 0.55% 1.7%
1974 0.62% 1.73%
1973 0.7% 1.78%
1972 0.77% 1.89%
1971 0.7% 1.99%
1970 0.73% 2.21%
1969 0.82% 2.29%
1968 0.84% 2.35%
1967 0.84% 2.36%
1966 0.8% 2.55%
1965 0.78% 2.57%
1964 0.76% 2.65%
1963 0.76% 2.82%
1962 0.81% 2.9%
1961 0.8% 3.01%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Norway grew by 0.69%, while South Korea's population declined by 0.13%.

Live population counters

Norway South Korea
Current population
5660666
51624449
Population rank 119/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.62%
One net population change
13.7 minutes
7.93 minutes
One birth every
9.72 minutes
2.16 minutes
One death every
11.9 minutes
1.45 minutes
Daily growth/decline +106 -182
Annual growth/decline +38,591 -66,501
Annual growth/decline rate +0.69% -0.13%
Population growth rate rank 117/197 169/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
8.02 minutes
Annual migration change +29,798 +65,731
Net migration rank 29/196 20/196
Foreign-born residents 1,012,404 1,811,507
Foreign-born residents rank 60/195 40/195
Foreign-born share of population 18.2% 3.5%
Foreign-born share rank 33/195 111/195

Natural population change vs migration

Norway
Natural

Migration
South Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Norway South Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 29,798 - 65,731
2024 10,030 44,356 -119,027 75,963
2023 8,280 53,806 -124,111 87,800
2022 5,457 58,040 -124,014 87,800
2021 14,062 19,804 -56,947 -16,778
2020 12,372 11,277 -31,101 112,631
2019 13,904 25,707 10,353 128,622
2018 14,342 18,473 30,951 118,220
2017 15,831 21,657 71,907 104,029
2016 17,797 26,417 122,923 91,568
2015 18,160 30,242 163,248 276,427
2014 18,494 38,522 167,464 308,037
2013 17,779 40,690 166,415 301,926
2012 18,066 47,883 215,859 281,866
2011 18,822 47,454 214,728 269,958
2010 20,046 42,865 213,083 52,042
2009 20,280 39,316 197,231 5,308
2008 19,073 44,002 215,841 -19,630
2007 16,482 40,111 248,286 -42,293
2006 17,244 24,054 203,441 -28,434
2005 15,719 18,588 187,920 -47,821
2004 15,612 13,412 225,988 -42,549
2003 14,151 11,389 244,251 -31,994
2002 10,892 17,279 247,752 -18,105
2001 13,090 7,906 312,643 -28,006
2000 15,269 9,805 390,167 -84,960
1999 14,278 19,147 368,272 -107,448
1998 14,181 13,519 393,436 -98,044
1997 15,418 9,744 422,773 -109,130
1996 17,087 5,671 446,142 -115,705
1995 14,821 6,343 468,967 -208,491
1994 16,045 7,580 473,200 -208,309
1993 12,936 12,567 477,302 -222,802
1992 15,431 10,218 494,352 -265,849
1991 16,194 7,949 467,594 -270,754
1990 14,845 1,818 411,546 79,294
1989 13,949 -1,730 403,266 186,120
1988 12,207 10,380 399,297 192,534
1987 9,212 13,907 378,758 198,057
1986 8,751 7,616 395,651 189,782
1985 6,644 6,725 416,219 97,949
1984 7,452 3,856 436,384 101,394
1983 7,844 4,120 514,844 102,167
1982 9,875 5,749 605,626 48,638
1981 9,020 6,010 631,189 18,442
1980 9,806 3,763 583,294 -148,341
1979 10,181 2,839 623,068 -139,566
1978 11,364 3,823 499,084 -85,721
1977 11,321 4,845 578,947 -90,737
1976 13,286 4,779 530,558 -92,314
1975 16,430 3,312 603,300 -52,332
1974 20,324 4,425 673,030 27,005
1973 21,387 3,414 699,115 35,779
1972 24,777 5,603 740,469 25,382
1971 26,541 3,031 789,185 -6,326
1970 25,968 -1,034 747,987 -27,999
1969 28,858 2,230 694,227 -21,175
1968 29,387 1,761 684,487 -16,868
1967 30,276 2,460 692,169 -16,484
1966 31,150 -888 623,534 -16,688
1965 31,275 -1,525 641,090 -146,386
1964 30,293 -1,571 655,501 -102,284
1963 26,766 1,061 685,824 -80,226
1962 28,020 655 712,590 -94,606
1961 29,239 1,437 730,173 -93,179
1960 29,366 -1,427 728,010 47,245

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 29.6% of the population change in Norway is from natural causes (a gain of 130,235 people) and 70.4% is from migration (a gain of 309,779 people). In South Korea 4.97% is from natural causes (a loss of 55,818 people) and 95% is from migration (a gain of 1,066,282 people).

As of 2024, 1,012,404 residents or 18.2% of the population were not native-born in Norway, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.

Biggest cities by population

Norway
City Population
Oslo 718K
Bergen 291K
Trondheim 199K
Stavanger 152K
Baerum 133K
Drammen 106K
Asker 102K
Lillestrom 96.8K
Fredrikstad 86.2K
Sandnes 85.8K
South Korea
City Population
Seoul 9.67M
Busan 3.45M
Incheon 3.05M
Daegu 2.38M
Daejeon 1.48M
Gwangju 1.41M
Suwon 1.23M
Ulsan 1.13M
Yongin 1.08M
Goyang 1.06M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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