Norway vs Russia
Every indicator for Norway and Russia side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Norway | Russia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 5,610,870 | 143,513,328 | −96.1% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 531 | 2,561 | −79.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 94,594 | 17,547 | +439.1% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 83.2 | 73.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 624,500 | 17,125,190 | −96.4% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 9 | 8 | +7.2% |
| Median age (years) | 40.2 | 40.3 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 99.0 | 94.4 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 4.6 | 2.1 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 3.1 | 8.7 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 83.6 | 75.3 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 10,435 | 148,967 | −93.0% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.09 | 7.05 | −70.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 4.53 | 18.90 | −76.0% |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 1,860 | 1,038 | +79.2% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 25,000 | 1,454,000 | −98.3% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 4.5 | 10.1 | −56.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 0.85 | 1.98 | −57.1% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Norway relative to Russia; a positive value favors Norway. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Russia is higher on 9 of the 12 indicators, while Norway leads on the remaining 3. The widest separation is in armed forces personnel (2020), about 58 times; they are closest on population density.
Key differences
- Armed forces personnel (2020) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 1,454,000 against Norway's 25,000 — roughly 58 times as much.
- Area shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 17,125,190 against Norway's 624,500 — roughly 27 times as much.
- Population (2025) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 143,513,328 against Norway's 5,610,870 — roughly 26 times as much.
- Military expenditure (2024) shows the widest gap of all: Russia stands at 148,967 against Norway's 10,435 — roughly 14 times as much.
- Norway's gdp per capita (94,594) is about 5.4 times Russia's (17,547).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Norway and Russia differ most?
In armed forces personnel (2020). Russia records 1,454,000 against Norway's 25,000 — a ratio of roughly 58 to one.
Where are Norway and Russia most alike?
In population density, at 9 and 8 — a gap of only %7.2.
On how many indicators is Norway ahead of Russia?
Norway is higher on 3 of the 12 ratio-scale indicators and Russia on 9. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
NorwayRussia
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 Russia.
Norway profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Russia profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI