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Denmark vs Norway
Side-by-side comparison of Denmark and Norway from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Denmark
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,090 years
Norway
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,154 years
In short
Denmark scores 78.1 in the NationsTree Index (7th in the world) and Norway scores 76.7 (11th), a gap of 1.4 points. Their trees are 15 m and 17 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Denmark and Norway have a similar population. Norway is 15 times larger than Denmark by land area. The economy of Norway is 17% larger than that of Denmark (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Denmark 6.0 million and Norway 5.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $104,044 in Norway and $83,218 in Denmark (2025, international dollars). People in Norway live on average 0.9 years longer (83.2 vs 82.3 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Denmark ranks higher in the world on 14 and Norway on 23. Denmark is clearly stronger in tourism, main industries and infrastructure & digital. Norway is clearly stronger in natural resources.
As a nation, Norway is the older of the two (statehood since 872, 1,154 years), compared with Denmark (since 936). Over the last five years Denmark improved faster (direction score 39 vs 22 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Denmark and Norway.
Denmark
1,016
126th of 183
Norwaybetter
70,000
7th of 183
General government gross debtEconomy
Denmarkbetter
27.4%
28th of 189
Norway
54.0%
99th of 189
Safely managed sanitationInfrastructure & digital
Denmarkbetter
98.9%
10th of 144
Norway
77.9%
54th of 144
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Denmark overtook Norway in the NationsTree Index in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Norway overtook Denmark in GDP (PPP) in 2000 and has stayed ahead since.
Norway has been ahead of Denmark in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Denmark has been ahead of Norway in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
DenmarkNorway All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Denmark | Norway |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 42,920131st/216 · 2024 | 624,50043rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 40,000131st/216 · 2024 | 364,27063rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 6.0 m114th/217 · 2025 | 5.6 m118th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.54%133rd/217 · 2025 | 0.69%122nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 149.478th/216 · 2024 | 15.3200th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 88.8%37th/217 · 2025 | 83.6%49th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.6%172nd/217 · 2025 | 15.9%167th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 21.1%26th/217 · 2025 | 19.1%41st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $462.53 bn35th/210 · 2025 | $530.76 bn31st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $500.07 bn53rd/199 · 2025 | $583.78 bn50th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $437.01 bn52nd/199 · 2025 | $534.01 bn48th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $76,97013th/210 · 2025 | $94,59410th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $83,21815th/199 · 2025 | $104,0447th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $77,19011th/201 · 2025 | $97,3103rd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 2.9%118th/210 · 2025 | 1.1%170th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 1.9%56th/180 · 2025 | 3.0%88th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 5.5%103rd/187 · 2025 | 4.6%79th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 75.3%1994 | 30.9%1994 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 27.4%28th/189 · 2025 | 54.0%99th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 2.9%19th/192 · 2025 | 10.6%3rd/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.2%167th/197 · 2025 | 1.6%153rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 24.8%89th/200 · 2025 | 34.5%35th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 18.7%28th/192 · 2025 | 6.1%141st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 62.7%69th/200 · 2025 | 55.0%119th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $324.31 bn31st/182 · 2025 | $240.82 bn34th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $273.38 bn32nd/182 · 2025 | $178.76 bn35th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 70.1%29th/183 · 2025 | 45.4%63rd/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 59.1%56th/183 · 2025 | 33.7%119th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 129.2%35th/183 · 2025 | 79.1%99th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 4.0%79th/170 · 2025 | 62.1%18th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 73.8%33rd/171 · 2025 | 17.4%111th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 17.1%84th/171 · 2025 | 10.8%113th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.9%107th/171 · 2025 | 5.4%62nd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 17.6%41st/168 · 2024 | 25.4%21st/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 12.3%17th/191 · 2025 | 14.2%15th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 3.7%58th/196 · 2025 | -1.3%186th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.3%141st/209 · 2021 | 10.0%46th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.27%68th/197 · 2021 | 6.06%24th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.06%64th/197 · 2021 | 3.94%17th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%61st/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.01%150th/209 · 2021 | 0.04%132nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 58.9%2nd/206 · 2024 | 2.2%166th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 1,016126th/183 · 2022 | 70,0007th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 15.6 m16th/194 · 2020 | 1.4 m82nd/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $9.10 bn22nd/175 · 2018 | $2.20 bn49th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 4.5%89th/168 · 2018 | 1.9%132nd/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 4.2 m31st/107 · 2020 | 1.7 m51st/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 82.333rd/217 · 2024 | 83.219th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 4.033rd/196 · 2024 | 2.510th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 4.5017th/174 · 2021 | 4.9811th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.474th/145 · 2023 | 3.352nd/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 96%48th/193 · 2024 | 97%29th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 93.3%35th/153 · 2023 | 98.9%10th/153 · 2023 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 125.6%10th/173 · 2024 | 116.3%21st/173 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 33.4%23rd/217 · 2025 | 29.4%40th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 9.4%37th/193 · 2024 | 9.4%36th/193 · 2023 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 79.0%30th/150 · 2024 | 95.5%12th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9624th/193 · 2023 | 0.9702nd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 29.923rd/108 · 2023 | 26.58th/108 · 2023 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.4%27th/108 · 2023 | 0.2%18th/108 · 2023 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 99.9%13th/150 · 2024 | 99.1%29th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 98.9%10th/144 · 2024 | 77.9%54th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 99.8%5th/186 · 2024 | 99.0%8th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12766th/210 · 2024 | 109121st/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 43.419th/208 · 2024 | 45.214th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 4.109th/164 · 2022 | 3.9016th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 2,1312009 | 3,88534th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 6.4 m2004 | 12.3 m2004 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 4.28141st/203 · 2024 | 7.18171st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 39.5%61st/212 · 2021 | 61.4%36th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 7.528th/200 · 2023 | 5.518th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 16.0%143rd/214 · 2024 | 33.2%103rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 2,49344th/149 · 2024 | 4,87717th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 92.45th/205 · 2025 | 90.08th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 93.61st/207 · 2025 | 87.06th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 91.72nd/207 · 2025 | 90.63rd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 79.558th/207 · 2025 | 84.535th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 84.73rd/205 · 2025 | 82.810th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 90.52nd/205 · 2025 | 91.21st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.833rd/145 · 2023 | 0.726th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $14.95 bn27th/156 · 2025 | $17.03 bn23rd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.3%23rd/156 · 2025 | 3.3%22nd/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 6.6%52nd/154 · 2025 | 6.7%51st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 15,000117th/170 · 2020 | 25,00094th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.49%117th/168 · 2020 | 0.85%81st/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 278.0 m33rd/163 · 2025 | 407.0 m27th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 165.0 m17th/65 · 2025 | 415.0 m12th/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 3.05%12th/110 · 2023 | 1.85%20th/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 98731st/137 · 2024 | 73239th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 15,60331st/197 · 2023 | 13,75636th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Denmark or Norway?
Denmark has the larger population: 6.0 m (2025) compared with 5.6 m for Norway (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Denmark or Norway?
Norway is larger: 624,500 km² (2024) compared with 42,920 km² for Denmark (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Denmark or Norway?
Norway has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $583.78 bn intl. (2025) compared with $500.07 bn intl. for Denmark (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Denmark or Norway?
Norway has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $104,044 intl. (2025) compared with $83,218 intl. for Denmark (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Denmark or Norway?
Norway has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.2 years (2024) compared with 82.3 years for Denmark (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Denmark or Norway?
Norway spends more on the military: $17.03 bn (2025) compared with $14.95 bn for Denmark (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Denmark or Norway?
Denmark: 78.1 points (7th in the world); Norway: 76.7 points (11th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Greece
Hungary
Portugal
Uzbekistan
Sweden
UkraineSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Denmark vs Norway — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/denmark-vs-norway. Data as of 26 October 2026.