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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Norway was 5,572,279 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Norway's population is 5,671,119 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.

Population statistics:

  • South Korea's population is 9.11 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 +0.85% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Norway has increased from 4.66M people to 5.67M (21.7% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).

Norway vs South Korea: population by year and forecast

Norway
Factual

Projection
South Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Norway South Korea
2100 5,441,855 22,012,503
2099 5,454,583 22,335,528
2098 5,466,669 22,668,719
2097 5,478,174 23,009,661
2096 5,490,010 23,360,151
2095 5,502,418 23,722,747
2094 5,514,598 24,093,391
2093 5,527,174 24,473,038
2092 5,539,172 24,860,975
2091 5,551,172 25,255,379
2090 5,564,044 25,655,577
2089 5,576,715 26,060,945
2088 5,590,047 26,470,073
2087 5,604,159 26,884,813
2086 5,617,935 27,301,913
2085 5,631,413 27,723,736
2084 5,645,116 28,147,480
2083 5,658,044 28,578,182
2082 5,670,485 29,012,953
2081 5,682,427 29,456,022
2080 5,694,199 29,901,880
2079 5,705,317 30,352,062
2078 5,715,984 30,809,176
2077 5,726,145 31,273,700
2076 5,735,898 31,744,480
2075 5,745,619 32,221,226
2074 5,755,683 32,706,020
2073 5,765,642 33,196,556
2072 5,775,295 33,696,490
2071 5,784,119 34,203,935
2070 5,793,594 34,719,324
2069 5,802,341 35,241,850
2068 5,811,630 35,762,799
2067 5,821,550 36,292,307
2066 5,831,535 36,826,655
2065 5,841,333 37,368,086
2064 5,851,085 37,916,439
2063 5,860,548 38,469,051
2062 5,869,700 39,028,473
2061 5,877,754 39,584,621
2060 5,885,488 40,149,830
2059 5,892,036 40,712,514
2058 5,897,922 41,277,134
2057 5,904,330 41,833,887
2056 5,910,291 42,377,427
2055 5,915,286 42,909,302
2054 5,919,312 43,427,254
2053 5,922,325 43,938,741
2052 5,923,483 44,441,106
2051 5,923,938 44,923,604
2050 5,923,557 45,385,311
2049 5,922,138 45,832,153
2048 5,919,215 46,258,529
2047 5,916,146 46,668,898
2046 5,912,426 47,056,404
2045 5,907,334 47,433,205
2044 5,902,175 47,797,411
2043 5,896,614 48,144,730
2042 5,889,741 48,478,991
2041 5,881,692 48,806,273
2040 5,873,512 49,115,658
2039 5,864,063 49,412,830
2038 5,853,639 49,694,340
2037 5,842,734 49,957,504
2036 5,830,991 50,200,702
2035 5,818,882 50,426,000
2034 5,805,966 50,632,962
2033 5,792,030 50,821,090
2032 5,777,062 50,987,020
2031 5,760,828 51,134,940
2030 5,743,814 51,267,908
2029 5,725,891 51,385,868
2028 5,706,765 51,486,791
2027 5,686,336 51,576,746
2026 5,665,477 51,649,918
2025 5,626,258 51,710,062
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% 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 4.45% to 5,923,557 people with a rank change from 119th to 121st. The population of South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.

Norway is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 5.92M 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 0.97% -0.08%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Norway grew by 0.95%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.

Live population counters

Norway South Korea
Current population
5671119
51649918
Population rank 119/197 31/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.62%
One net population change
9.98 minutes
13.7 minutes
One birth every
10.1 minutes
2.26 minutes
One death every
12.1 minutes
1.69 minutes
Daily growth/decline +144 +105
Annual growth/decline +52,678 +38,446
Annual growth/decline rate +0.95% +0.07%
Population growth rate rank 105/197 160/197
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 - 44,356 - 75,963
2023 8,280 53,806 -77,569 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 2026-04-06).

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

Over the last 10 years, 31.3% of the population change in Norway is from natural causes (a gain of 138,699 people) and 68.7% is from migration (a gain of 303,945 people). In South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 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 150K
Baerum 132K
Drammen 105K
Asker 100K
Lillestrom 95.8K
Fredrikstad 85.9K
Sandnes 84.9K
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 (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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