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Austria vs Czechia
Norway vs Ukraine
Side-by-side comparison of Norway and Ukraine from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Norway
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,154 years
Ukraine
Europe & Central Asia · nation age 1,144 years
In short
Norway scores 76.7 in the NationsTree Index (11th in the world) and Ukraine scores 52.5 (78th), a gap of 24.3 points. Their trees are 17 m and 16 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Ukraine has 6.9 times the population of Norway. Norway and Ukraine have a similar land area. The economy of Ukraine is 18% larger than that of Norway (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Norway 5.6 million and Ukraine 39.0 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $104,044 in Norway and $18,905 in Ukraine (2025, international dollars). People in Norway live on average 8.5 years longer (83.2 vs 74.7 years).
Of 34 indicators reported by both countries, Norway ranks higher in the world on 30 and Ukraine on 4. Norway is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, economy and society & health. Ukraine is clearly stronger in military, land & people and natural resources.
As a nation, Norway is the older of the two (statehood since 872, 1,154 years), compared with Ukraine (since 882). Over the last five years Norway improved faster (direction score 22 vs 5 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Norway and Ukraine.
Norwaybetter
10.6%
3rd of 192
Ukraine
-17.6%
189th of 192
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Norwaybetter
90.6
3rd of 207
Ukraine
45.6
151st of 207
Government effectivenessInstitutions & safety
Norwaybetter
90.0
8th of 205
Ukraine
40.1
149th of 205
GNI per person (Atlas)Economy
Norwaybetter
$97,310
3rd of 201
Ukraine
$5,510
125th of 201
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Norwaybetter
70,000
7th of 183
Ukraine
1,342
116th of 183
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Ukraine overtook Norway in GDP (PPP) in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Norway has been ahead of Ukraine in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Norway has been ahead of Ukraine in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Ukraine 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
NorwayUkraine 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 | Norway | Ukraine |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 624,50043rd/216 · 2024 | 603,55046th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 364,27063rd/216 · 2024 | 579,40046th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 5.6 m118th/217 · 2025 | 39.0 m40th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.69%122nd/217 · 2025 | 2.92%13th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 15.3200th/216 · 2024 | 65.3141st/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 83.6%49th/217 · 2025 | 69.6%93rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 15.9%167th/217 · 2025 | 13.7%203rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 19.1%41st/217 · 2025 | 19.0%43rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $530.76 bn31st/210 · 2025 | $214.23 bn57th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $583.78 bn50th/199 · 2025 | $690.45 bn44th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $534.01 bn48th/199 · 2025 | $590.01 bn43rd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $94,59410th/210 · 2025 | $5,866132nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $104,0447th/199 · 2025 | $18,905110th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $97,3103rd/201 · 2025 | $5,510125th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 1.1%170th/210 · 2025 | 1.8%151st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.0%88th/180 · 2025 | 12.7%163rd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.6%79th/187 · 2025 | 9.8%149th/187 · 2021 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 30.9%1994 | 58.7%30th/55 · 2020 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 54.0%99th/189 · 2025 | 107.1%173rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | 10.6%3rd/192 · 2025 | -17.6%189th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 1.6%153rd/197 · 2025 | 7.6%87th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 34.5%35th/200 · 2025 | 17.9%141st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 6.1%141st/192 · 2025 | 8.3%119th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 55.0%119th/200 · 2025 | 61.0%77th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $240.82 bn34th/182 · 2025 | $54.27 bn63rd/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $178.76 bn35th/182 · 2025 | $111.07 bn47th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 45.4%63rd/183 · 2025 | 25.3%124th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 33.7%119th/183 · 2025 | 51.8%76th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 79.1%99th/183 · 2025 | 77.2%102nd/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 62.1%18th/170 · 2025 | 0.5%129th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 17.4%111th/171 · 2025 | 30.5%90th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 10.8%113th/171 · 2025 | 58.7%21st/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 5.4%62nd/171 · 2025 | 8.2%45th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 25.4%21st/168 · 2024 | 6.4%87th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 14.2%15th/191 · 2025 | -16.0%179th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | -1.3%186th/196 · 2025 | 0.8%153rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 10.0%46th/209 · 2021 | 7.5%56th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 6.06%24th/197 · 2021 | 0.28%67th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 3.94%17th/197 · 2021 | 1.36%28th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%61st/195 · 2021 | 0.34%17th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 5.32%21st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.04%132nd/209 · 2021 | 0.21%92nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.2%166th/206 · 2024 | 56.8%4th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 70,0007th/183 · 2022 | 1,342116th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.4 m82nd/194 · 2020 | 3.4 m51st/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $2.20 bn49th/175 · 2020 | $687.0 m85th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 1.9%132nd/168 · 2020 | 1.1%150th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 1.7 m51st/107 · 2020 | 11.3 m17th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 83.219th/217 · 2024 | 74.7110th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 2.510th/196 · 2024 | 7.958th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 4.9811th/174 · 2023 | 3.5345th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 3.352nd/145 · 2023 | 6.114th/145 · 2022 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 97%29th/193 · 2024 | 88%117th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 98.9%10th/153 · 2023 | 99.3%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 116.3%21st/173 · 2024 | 86.2%116th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 61.8%22nd/55 · 2020 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 29.4%40th/217 · 2025 | 28.2%47th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 9.4%36th/193 · 2023 | 8.2%58th/193 · 2021 |
| Adult literacy % | — | 99.4%2001 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 95.5%12th/150 · 2024 | 87.2%16th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.9702nd/193 · 2023 | 0.77987th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 26.58th/108 · 2023 | 25.62020 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.2%18th/108 · 2023 | 0.0%2020 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 99.1%29th/150 · 2024 | 87.9%66th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 77.9%54th/144 · 2024 | 92.4%32nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 99.0%8th/186 · 2024 | 82.5%92nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 109121st/210 · 2024 | 13350th/210 · 2023 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 45.214th/208 · 2024 | 21.785th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 3.9016th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 3,88534th/82 · 2021 | 21,6268th/82 · 2020 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 12.3 m2004 | 452,344115th/161 · 2022 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 7.18171st/203 · 2024 | 3.13112th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 61.4%36th/212 · 2021 | 8.9%151st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 5.518th/200 · 2023 | 14.980th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 33.2%103rd/214 · 2024 | 17.3%139th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 4,87717th/149 · 2024 | 1,64269th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 90.08th/205 · 2025 | 40.1149th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 87.06th/207 · 2025 | 34.1145th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 90.63rd/207 · 2025 | 45.6151st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 84.535th/207 · 2025 | 59.8140th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 82.810th/205 · 2025 | 50.6118th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 91.21st/205 · 2025 | 56.2107th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 0.726th/145 · 2023 | 3.888th/145 · 2021 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $17.03 bn23rd/156 · 2025 | $84.11 bn7th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 3.3%22nd/156 · 2025 | 39.6%1st/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 6.7%51st/154 · 2025 | 62.9%1st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 25,00094th/170 · 2020 | 298,00024th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.85%81st/168 · 2020 | 1.43%43rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 407.0 m27th/163 · 2025 | 2.3 bn3rd/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 415.0 m12th/65 · 2025 | 120.0 m23rd/65 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 1.85%20th/110 · 2023 | 0.37%70th/110 · 2024 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 73239th/137 · 2024 | 96932nd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 13,75636th/197 · 2023 | 15,49832nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Norway or Ukraine?
Ukraine has the larger population: 39.0 m (2025) compared with 5.6 m for Norway (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Norway or Ukraine?
Norway is larger: 624,500 km² (2024) compared with 603,550 km² for Ukraine (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Norway or Ukraine?
Ukraine has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $690.45 bn intl. (2025) compared with $583.78 bn intl. for Norway (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Norway or Ukraine?
Norway has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $104,044 intl. (2025) compared with $18,905 intl. for Ukraine (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Norway or Ukraine?
Norway has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.2 years (2024) compared with 74.7 years for Ukraine (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Norway or Ukraine?
Ukraine spends more on the military: $84.11 bn (2025) compared with $17.03 bn for Norway (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Norway or Ukraine?
Norway: 76.7 points (11th in the world); Ukraine: 52.5 points (78th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Denmark
Portugal
Sweden
UzbekistanSources
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). Norway vs Ukraine — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/norway-vs-ukraine. Data as of 26 October 2026.