Netherlands vs Norway

Every indicator for Netherlands and Norway side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.

Indicator comparison
IndicatorNetherlandsNorwayDifference
Population (2025) (people)18,087,6335,610,870+222.4%
GDP (nominal) (billion $)1,333531+151.0%
GDP per capita ($)73,68494,594−22.1%
Life expectancy (years)82.083.2
Area (km²)41,540624,500−93.3%
Population density (people/km²)4359+4,746.4%
Median age (years)42.240.2
Internet usage (%)97.099.0
Unemployment rate (%)3.94.6
Inflation (%)3.33.1
Urban population (%)95.983.6
Military expenditure (2024) (million $)23,17910,435+122.1%
Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%)1.922.09−8.1%
Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%)4.344.53−4.2%
Military expenditure per capita ($)1,2811,860−31.1%
Armed forces personnel (2020) (people)41,00025,000+64.0%
Armed forces per 1,000 people (people)2.34.5−49.1%
Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%)0.420.85−50.6%

The difference column shows the percentage gap of Netherlands relative to Norway; a positive value favors Netherlands. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.

Key differences

  • On population (2025), Netherlands is 222.4% higher than Norway.
  • On gdp (nominal), Netherlands is 151.0% higher than Norway.
  • On gdp per capita, Netherlands is 22.1% lower than Norway.
Netherlands and Norway — core indicators
05 mn10 mn15 mn20 mnPopulation (2025)GDP (nominal)GDP per capitaAreaPopulation (2025) — Netherlands: 18.087.633GDP (nominal) — Netherlands: 1.333GDP per capita — Netherlands: 73.684Area — Netherlands: 41.540Population (2025) — Norway: 5.610.870GDP (nominal) — Norway: 531GDP per capita — Norway: 94.594Area — Norway: 624.500
NetherlandsNorway

The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.

Other comparisons involving Netherlands or Norway.

Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI