Denmark vs Norway
Every indicator for Denmark and Norway side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Denmark | Norway | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 6,009,169 | 5,610,870 | +7.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 463 | 531 | −12.8% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 76,970 | 94,594 | −18.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 83.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 42,920 | 624,500 | −93.1% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 140 | 9 | +1,458.3% |
| Median age (years) | 42.0 | 40.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 99.8 | 99.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 5.5 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 1.9 | 3.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 88.8 | 83.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 9,959 | 10,435 | −4.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.42 | 2.09 | +15.8% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 5.06 | 4.53 | +11.7% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,657 | 1,860 | −10.9% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 15,000 | 25,000 | −40.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 2.5 | 4.5 | −44.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.49 | 0.85 | −42.4% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Denmark relative to Norway; a positive value favors Denmark. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Norway is higher on 8 of the 12 indicators, while Denmark leads on the remaining 4. The widest separation is in population density, about 16 times; they are closest on military expenditure (2024).
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Denmark stands at 140 against Norway's 9 — roughly 16 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Norway stands at 624,500 against Denmark's 42,920 — roughly 15 times as much.
- On armed forces per 1,000 people, Norway is %78 higher than Denmark: 4.5 against 2.5.
- On armed forces as a share of the labor force, Norway is %73 higher than Denmark: 0.85 against 0.49.
- On armed forces personnel (2020), Norway is %67 higher than Denmark: 25,000 against 15,000.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Denmark and Norway differ most?
In population density. Denmark records 140 against Norway's 9 — a ratio of roughly 16 to one.
Where are Denmark and Norway most alike?
In military expenditure (2024), at 10,435 and 9,959 — a gap of only %4.8.
On how many indicators is Denmark ahead of Norway?
Denmark is higher on 4 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Norway on 8. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
DenmarkNorway
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 Denmark or Norway.
Denmark profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI