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Population in Norway compared to the United Kingdom: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Norway was 5,572,279 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Norway's population is 5,671,119 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 12.4 times bigger than Norway's.
  • Norway is ranked the 119th most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.91% of the world: 0.07% for Norway vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Norway has had an average growth rate of +0.85% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Norway has increased from 4.66M people to 5.67M (21.7% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Norway vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Norway
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Norway United Kingdom
2100 5,441,855 74,700,585
2099 5,454,583 74,831,175
2098 5,466,669 74,950,267
2097 5,478,174 75,064,397
2096 5,490,010 75,176,691
2095 5,502,418 75,287,063
2094 5,514,598 75,383,856
2093 5,527,174 75,482,205
2092 5,539,172 75,575,769
2091 5,551,172 75,666,091
2090 5,564,044 75,753,129
2089 5,576,715 75,835,723
2088 5,590,047 75,907,614
2087 5,604,159 75,978,712
2086 5,617,935 76,046,742
2085 5,631,413 76,105,680
2084 5,645,116 76,156,223
2083 5,658,044 76,205,894
2082 5,670,485 76,246,844
2081 5,682,427 76,274,040
2080 5,694,199 76,306,205
2079 5,705,317 76,334,949
2078 5,715,984 76,353,484
2077 5,726,145 76,371,123
2076 5,735,898 76,373,520
2075 5,745,619 76,386,071
2074 5,755,683 76,397,426
2073 5,765,642 76,406,554
2072 5,775,295 76,398,941
2071 5,784,119 76,388,223
2070 5,793,594 76,378,505
2069 5,802,341 76,371,827
2068 5,811,630 76,370,973
2067 5,821,550 76,363,548
2066 5,831,535 76,356,638
2065 5,841,333 76,355,841
2064 5,851,085 76,352,770
2063 5,860,548 76,353,175
2062 5,869,700 76,346,535
2061 5,877,754 76,344,206
2060 5,885,488 76,344,725
2059 5,892,036 76,345,215
2058 5,897,922 76,326,961
2057 5,904,330 76,307,006
2056 5,910,291 76,274,247
2055 5,915,286 76,235,304
2054 5,919,312 76,167,710
2053 5,922,325 76,094,051
2052 5,923,483 76,001,979
2051 5,923,938 75,895,690
2050 5,923,557 75,777,445
2049 5,922,138 75,646,044
2048 5,919,215 75,499,380
2047 5,916,146 75,338,951
2046 5,912,426 75,171,300
2045 5,907,334 74,993,186
2044 5,902,175 74,807,530
2043 5,896,614 74,607,485
2042 5,889,741 74,407,783
2041 5,881,692 74,203,292
2040 5,873,512 73,994,525
2039 5,864,063 73,782,112
2038 5,853,639 73,559,085
2037 5,842,734 73,335,723
2036 5,830,991 73,101,646
2035 5,818,882 72,850,722
2034 5,805,966 72,597,177
2033 5,792,030 72,322,802
2032 5,777,062 72,046,316
2031 5,760,828 71,757,868
2030 5,743,814 71,442,811
2029 5,725,891 71,123,782
2028 5,706,765 70,783,199
2027 5,686,336 70,421,923
2026 5,665,477 70,055,911
2025 5,626,258 69,658,188
2024 5,572,279 69,226,000
2023 5,519,601 68,492,000
2022 5,457,127 67,604,000
2021 5,408,320 66,984,000
2020 5,379,475 66,744,000
2019 5,347,896 66,631,000
2018 5,311,916 66,289,000
2017 5,276,968 65,966,000
2016 5,234,519 65,607,000
2015 5,188,607 65,088,000
2014 5,137,232 64,620,000
2013 5,079,623 64,139,000
2012 5,018,573 63,711,000
2011 4,953,088 63,258,810
2010 4,889,252 62,766,365
2009 4,828,726 62,276,270
2008 4,768,212 61,806,995
2007 4,709,153 61,322,463
2006 4,660,677 60,846,820
2005 4,623,291 60,401,206
2004 4,591,910 59,987,905
2003 4,564,855 59,647,577
2002 4,538,159 59,370,479
2001 4,513,751 59,119,673
2000 4,490,967 58,892,514
1999 4,461,913 58,682,466
1998 4,431,464 58,487,141
1997 4,405,157 58,316,954
1996 4,381,336 58,166,950
1995 4,359,184 58,019,030
1994 4,336,613 57,865,745
1993 4,311,991 57,718,614
1992 4,286,401 57,580,402
1991 4,261,732 57,424,897
1990 4,241,473 57,247,586
1989 4,226,901 57,076,711
1988 4,209,488 56,928,327
1987 4,186,905 56,802,050
1986 4,167,354 56,681,396
1985 4,152,516 56,550,268
1984 4,140,099 56,422,072
1983 4,128,432 56,332,848
1982 4,114,787 56,313,641
1981 4,099,702 56,333,829
1980 4,085,620 56,314,216
1979 4,072,517 56,246,951
1978 4,058,671 56,196,504
1977 4,043,205 56,193,492
1976 4,026,152 56,211,968
1975 4,007,313 56,225,800
1974 3,985,258 56,229,974
1973 3,960,612 56,194,527
1972 3,933,004 56,086,065
1971 3,903,039 55,896,223
1970 3,875,763 55,663,250
1969 3,847,707 55,441,750
1968 3,816,486 55,211,700
1967 3,784,539 54,943,600
1966 3,753,012 54,648,500
1965 3,723,168 54,348,050
1964 3,694,339 54,000,000
1963 3,666,537 53,650,000
1962 3,638,918 53,250,000
1961 3,609,800 52,800,000
1960 3,581,239 52,400,000

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Norway increased by 573,842 people (a 12.3% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Norway gained 436,600 people (a 8.34% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Norway was ranked 116th most populous country in 2006 and is 119th in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd 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 the United Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

Norway is projected to reach its peak in 2051 at 5.92M people compared to the peak of 76.4M people in 2073 for the United Kingdom.

Population growth rate by year

Norway
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Norway United Kingdom
2100 -0.23% -0.17%
2099 -0.22% -0.16%
2098 -0.21% -0.15%
2097 -0.22% -0.15%
2096 -0.23% -0.15%
2095 -0.22% -0.13%
2094 -0.23% -0.13%
2093 -0.22% -0.12%
2092 -0.22% -0.12%
2091 -0.23% -0.11%
2090 -0.23% -0.11%
2089 -0.24% -0.09%
2088 -0.25% -0.09%
2087 -0.25% -0.09%
2086 -0.24% -0.08%
2085 -0.24% -0.07%
2084 -0.23% -0.07%
2083 -0.22% -0.05%
2082 -0.21% -0.04%
2081 -0.21% -0.04%
2080 -0.19% -0.04%
2079 -0.19% -0.02%
2078 -0.18% -0.02%
2077 -0.17% -0.003%
2076 -0.17% -0.02%
2075 -0.17% -0.01%
2074 -0.17% -0.01%
2073 -0.17% 0.01%
2072 -0.15% 0.01%
2071 -0.16% 0.01%
2070 -0.15% 0.009%
2069 -0.16% 0.001%
2068 -0.17% 0.01%
2067 -0.17% 0.009%
2066 -0.17% 0.001%
2065 -0.17% 0.004%
2064 -0.16% -0%
2063 -0.16% 0.009%
2062 -0.14% 0.003%
2061 -0.13% -0.001%
2060 -0.11% -0.001%
2059 -0.1% 0.02%
2058 -0.11% 0.03%
2057 -0.1% 0.04%
2056 -0.08% 0.05%
2055 -0.07% 0.09%
2054 -0.05% 0.1%
2053 -0.02% 0.12%
2052 -0.008% 0.14%
2051 0.006% 0.16%
2050 0.02% 0.17%
2049 0.05% 0.19%
2048 0.05% 0.21%
2047 0.06% 0.22%
2046 0.09% 0.24%
2045 0.09% 0.25%
2044 0.09% 0.27%
2043 0.12% 0.27%
2042 0.14% 0.28%
2041 0.14% 0.28%
2040 0.16% 0.29%
2039 0.18% 0.3%
2038 0.19% 0.3%
2037 0.2% 0.32%
2036 0.21% 0.34%
2035 0.22% 0.35%
2034 0.24% 0.38%
2033 0.26% 0.38%
2032 0.28% 0.4%
2031 0.3% 0.44%
2030 0.31% 0.45%
2029 0.34% 0.48%
2028 0.36% 0.51%
2027 0.37% 0.52%
2026 0.7% 0.57%
2025 0.97% 0.62%
2024 0.95% 1.07%
2023 1.14% 1.31%
2022 0.9% 0.93%
2021 0.54% 0.36%
2020 0.59% 0.17%
2019 0.68% 0.52%
2018 0.66% 0.49%
2017 0.81% 0.55%
2016 0.88% 0.8%
2015 1% 0.72%
2014 1.13% 0.75%
2013 1.22% 0.67%
2012 1.32% 0.71%
2011 1.31% 0.78%
2010 1.25% 0.79%
2009 1.27% 0.76%
2008 1.25% 0.79%
2007 1.04% 0.78%
2006 0.81% 0.74%
2005 0.68% 0.69%
2004 0.59% 0.57%
2003 0.59% 0.47%
2002 0.54% 0.42%
2001 0.51% 0.39%
2000 0.65% 0.36%
1999 0.69% 0.33%
1998 0.6% 0.29%
1997 0.54% 0.26%
1996 0.51% 0.25%
1995 0.52% 0.26%
1994 0.57% 0.25%
1993 0.6% 0.24%
1992 0.58% 0.27%
1991 0.48% 0.31%
1990 0.34% 0.3%
1989 0.41% 0.26%
1988 0.54% 0.22%
1987 0.47% 0.21%
1986 0.36% 0.23%
1985 0.3% 0.23%
1984 0.28% 0.16%
1983 0.33% 0.03%
1982 0.37% -0.04%
1981 0.34% 0.03%
1980 0.32% 0.12%
1979 0.34% 0.09%
1978 0.38% 0.005%
1977 0.42% -0.03%
1976 0.47% -0.02%
1975 0.55% -0.007%
1974 0.62% 0.06%
1973 0.7% 0.19%
1972 0.77% 0.34%
1971 0.7% 0.42%
1970 0.73% 0.4%
1969 0.82% 0.42%
1968 0.84% 0.49%
1967 0.84% 0.54%
1966 0.8% 0.55%
1965 0.78% 0.64%
1964 0.76% 0.65%
1963 0.76% 0.75%
1962 0.81% 0.85%
1961 0.8% 0.76%

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/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Norway grew by 0.95%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Norway United Kingdom
Current population
5671119
70154914
Population rank 119/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.07% 0.85%
One net population change
9.98 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
10.1 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
12.1 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +144 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +52,678 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.95% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 105/197 97/197
One migration net change every
17.7 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +29,798 +389,911
Net migration rank 29/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 1,012,404 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 60/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 18.2% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 33/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Norway
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Norway United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 29,798 - 389,911
2024 - 44,356 - 417,114
2023 8,280 53,806 34,589 445,523
2022 5,457 58,040 39,751 487,029
2021 14,062 19,804 30,612 462,967
2020 12,372 11,277 -4,272 144,221
2019 13,904 25,707 108,342 232,727
2018 14,342 18,473 119,321 259,744
2017 15,831 21,657 145,125 272,311
2016 17,797 26,417 177,139 324,649
2015 18,160 30,242 175,738 347,839
2014 18,494 38,522 206,784 306,091
2013 17,779 40,690 198,830 237,272
2012 18,066 47,883 248,473 172,088
2011 18,822 47,454 259,361 228,773
2010 20,046 42,865 251,066 274,811
2009 20,280 39,316 230,422 249,639
2008 19,073 44,002 216,325 263,390
2007 16,482 40,111 196,232 309,385
2006 17,244 24,054 176,455 288,923
2005 15,719 18,588 144,963 308,279
2004 15,612 13,412 131,974 276,077
2003 14,151 11,389 89,471 211,846
2002 10,892 17,279 65,308 203,577
2001 13,090 7,906 65,032 175,133
2000 15,269 9,805 70,671 153,917
1999 14,278 19,147 64,551 152,653
1998 14,181 13,519 87,730 125,541
1997 15,418 9,744 99,138 59,723
1996 17,087 5,671 98,884 54,964
1995 14,821 6,343 87,028 61,385
1994 16,045 7,580 127,304 45,339
1993 12,936 12,567 103,893 27,403
1992 15,431 10,218 149,709 17,846
1991 16,194 7,949 143,562 27,601
1990 14,845 1,818 154,569 57,132
1989 13,949 -1,730 119,861 49,586
1988 12,207 10,380 136,628 13,952
1987 9,212 13,907 136,325 8,266
1986 8,751 7,616 90,690 41,836
1985 6,644 6,725 79,170 83,164
1984 7,452 3,856 84,633 71,107
1983 7,844 4,120 61,966 27,063
1982 9,875 5,749 56,314 -61,152
1981 9,020 6,010 73,234 -83,876
1980 9,806 3,763 95,734 -25,187
1979 10,181 2,839 61,872 11,255
1978 11,364 3,823 16,859 3,783
1977 11,321 4,845 0 -21,636
1976 13,286 4,779 -5,621 -19,135
1975 16,430 3,312 33,735 -40,241
1974 20,324 4,425 67,476 -65,710
1973 21,387 3,414 112,389 -33,840
1972 24,777 5,603 162,650 -1,406
1971 26,541 3,031 257,123 1,175
1970 25,968 -1,034 244,918 -15,254
1969 28,858 2,230 260,577 -60,655
1968 29,387 1,761 292,622 -38,852
1967 30,276 2,460 346,145 -39,659
1966 31,150 -888 333,356 -27,935
1965 31,275 -1,525 364,132 -24,955
1964 30,293 -1,571 405,000 -23,885
1963 26,766 1,061 337,995 8,271
1962 28,020 655 340,800 76,443
1961 29,239 1,437 311,519 52,295
1960 29,366 -1,427 314,400 19,953

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/norway/united-kingdom | 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 the United Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 1,012,404 residents or 18.2% of the population were not native-born in Norway, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

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
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

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/united-kingdom | 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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