United States vs Norway
Every indicator for United States and Norway side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | United States | Norway | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 341,784,857 | 5,610,870 | +5,991.5% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 30,770 | 531 | +5,694.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 90,027 | 94,594 | −4.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.9 | 83.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 9,831,510 | 624,500 | +1,474.3% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 35 | 9 | +286.9% |
| Median age (years) | 38.3 | 40.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 94.7 | 99.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.2 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 2.9 | 3.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 80.2 | 83.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 997,309 | 10,435 | +9,457.3% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 3.42 | 2.09 | +63.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 9.11 | 4.53 | +101.1% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 2,918 | 1,860 | +56.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 1,395,000 | 25,000 | +5,480.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.1 | 4.5 | −8.4% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.84 | 0.85 | −1.2% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of United States relative to Norway; a positive value favors United States. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
United States is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Norway leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in military expenditure (2024), about 96 times; they are closest on armed forces as a share of the labor force.
Key differences
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 997,309 against Norway's 10,435 — roughly 96 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 341,784,857 against Norway's 5,610,870 — roughly 61 times as much.
- GDP (nominal) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 30,770 against Norway's 531 — roughly 58 times as much.
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 1,395,000 against Norway's 25,000 — roughly 56 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: United States stands at 9,831,510 against Norway's 624,500 — roughly 16 times as much.
Frequently asked questions
Where do United States and Norway differ most?
Where are United States and Norway most alike?
On how many indicators is United States ahead of Norway?
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving United States or Norway.
United States profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.