Norway vs Poland
Every indicator for Norway and Poland side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Norway | Poland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 5,610,870 | 36,435,861 | −84.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 531 | 1,035 | −48.7% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 94,594 | 28,420 | +232.8% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.2 | 78.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 624,500 | 313,930 | +98.9% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 9 | 116 | −92.3% |
| Median age (years) | 40.2 | 42.1 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 99.0 | 88.6 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 3.0 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.1 | 3.8 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 83.6 | 60.1 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 10,435 | 38,001 | −72.5% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.09 | 4.15 | −49.6% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.53 | 8.47 | −46.5% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,860 | 1,043 | +78.3% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 25,000 | 189,000 | −86.8% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.5 | 5.2 | −14.1% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.85 | 1.04 | −18.3% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Norway relative to Poland; a positive value favors Norway. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Poland is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Norway leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in population density, about 13 times; they are closest on armed forces per 1,000 people.
Key differences
- Population density shows the widest gap of all: Poland stands at 116 against Norway's 9 — roughly 13 times as much.
- Poland's armed forces personnel (2020) (189,000) is about 7.6 times Norway's (25,000).
- Poland's population (2025) (36,435,861) is about 6.5 times Norway's (5,610,870).
- Poland's military expenditure (2024) (38,001) is about 3.6 times Norway's (10,435).
- Norway's gdp per capita (94,594) is about 3.3 times Poland's (28,420).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Norway and Poland differ most?
In population density. Poland records 116 against Norway's 9 — a ratio of roughly 13 to one.
Where are Norway and Poland most alike?
In armed forces per 1,000 people, at 5.2 and 4.5 — a gap of only %16.
On how many indicators is Norway ahead of Poland?
Norway is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Poland on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
NorwayPoland
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 Norway or Poland.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Poland profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI