Norway Population

Norway is home to about 5.6 million people in 2026, the 118th largest population of any country. Set in Northern Europe, its demographic path this century turns on the balance of births, deaths and migration. It packs in roughly 19 people per square kilometre.

The defining marker in Norway's future is its peak, expected around 2051 at about 5.9 million. After that the population eases back toward 5.4 million by 2100, having passed through 5.9 million at mid-century.

With fertility near 1.41, just under the 2.1 replacement mark, natural increase is fading. Immigration is a meaningful contributor, bringing in more people than leave in a typical year.

The median age is set to climb from about 40 today to roughly 49 by 2100, while life expectancy, near 83 years, keeps rising. A rising median age means fewer working-age people supporting each retiree over time.

The trajectory above is the UN's medium scenario. Wars, policy shifts, economic change and migration can all move the numbers, but the broad shape, growth followed by an eventual peak, is robust across the main variants.