Finland vs Norway
Every indicator for Finland and Norway side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Finland | Norway | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 5,646,436 | 5,610,870 | +0.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 317 | 531 | −40.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 56,149 | 94,594 | −40.6% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 82.3 | 83.2 | — |
| Area (km²) | 338,480 | 624,500 | −45.8% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 17 | 9 | +85.7% |
| Median age (years) | 43.4 | 40.2 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 93.7 | 99.0 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 9.5 | 4.6 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 0.3 | 3.1 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 74.5 | 83.6 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 6,988 | 10,435 | −33.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.30 | 2.09 | +10.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.05 | 4.53 | −10.6% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,238 | 1,860 | −33.5% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 22,000 | 25,000 | −12.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 3.9 | 4.5 | −12.6% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.80 | 0.85 | −5.9% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Finland relative to Norway; a positive value favors Finland. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Norway is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Finland leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in population density, about 1.9 times; they are closest on population (2025).
Key differences
- On population density, Finland is %86 higher than Norway: 17 against 9.
- On area, Norway is %85 higher than Finland: 624,500 against 338,480.
- On gdp per capita, Norway is %68 higher than Finland: 94,594 against 56,149.
- On gdp (nominal), Norway is %68 higher than Finland: 531 against 317.
- On military expenditure per capita, Norway is %50 higher than Finland: 1,860 against 1,238.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Finland and Norway differ most?
In population density. Finland records 17 against Norway's 9 — a ratio of roughly 1.9 to one.
Where are Finland and Norway most alike?
In population (2025), at 5,646,436 and 5,610,870 — a gap of only %0.6.
On how many indicators is Finland ahead of Norway?
Finland is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Norway on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
FinlandNorway
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 Finland or Norway.
Finland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI