Rural population growth in Norway
Norway: Rural population growth was -0.8% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Norway, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in Norway stood at -0.8%.
That represents a change of down 31.6% on the previous year and up 66.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Norway peaked at 1.0% in 2011 and was at its lowest, -4.8%, in 1967.
Norway ranks 156th of 209 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Norway, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.1% | — |
| 1962 | -1.2% | -1041.8% |
| 1963 | -2.4% | +102.8% |
| 1964 | -3.4% | +40.3% |
| 1965 | -4.2% | +21.7% |
| 1966 | -4.7% | +11.8% |
| 1967 | -4.8% | +3.6% |
| 1968 | -4.7% | -3.8% |
| 1969 | -4.0% | -13.5% |
| 1970 | -2.8% | -30.2% |
| 1971 | -1.7% | -40.7% |
| 1972 | -1.3% | -22.2% |
| 1973 | -1.2% | -4.1% |
| 1974 | -1.2% | -4.0% |
| 1975 | -1.1% | -6.0% |
| 1976 | -1.1% | -6.0% |
| 1977 | -0.9% | -10.7% |
| 1978 | -0.8% | -13.6% |
| 1979 | -0.7% | -16.8% |
| 1980 | -0.5% | -25.5% |
| 1981 | -0.3% | -38.8% |
| 1982 | -0.1% | -54.0% |
| 1983 | -0.1% | -48.1% |
| 1984 | -0.1% | -31.0% |
| 1985 | 0.0% | -109.4% |
| 1986 | 0.1% | +1290.7% |
| 1987 | 0.1% | +122.6% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | +3.6% |
| 1989 | -0.1% | -146.8% |
| 1990 | -0.3% | +262.7% |
| 1991 | -0.5% | +103.7% |
| 1992 | -1.2% | +126.5% |
| 1993 | -1.4% | +20.6% |
| 1994 | -1.1% | -23.3% |
| 1995 | -0.5% | -54.2% |
| 1996 | -0.6% | +12.5% |
| 1997 | -1.4% | +148.4% |
| 1998 | -1.9% | +34.7% |
| 1999 | -1.4% | -27.0% |
| 2000 | -0.6% | -59.0% |
| 2001 | -0.6% | +4.0% |
| 2002 | -1.2% | +95.5% |
| 2003 | -1.4% | +22.8% |
| 2004 | -0.8% | -46.0% |
| 2005 | -0.5% | -38.9% |
| 2006 | -0.4% | -19.4% |
| 2007 | -0.4% | +13.7% |
| 2008 | -0.4% | -14.1% |
| 2009 | -0.2% | -53.0% |
| 2010 | 0.3% | -296.5% |
| 2011 | 1.0% | +183.4% |
| 2012 | 0.4% | -54.4% |
| 2013 | -1.2% | -362.7% |
| 2014 | -2.1% | +81.2% |
| 2015 | -2.3% | +8.1% |
| 2016 | -1.5% | -34.2% |
| 2017 | -0.8% | -47.6% |
| 2018 | -0.9% | +11.5% |
| 2019 | -0.7% | -16.5% |
| 2020 | -0.6% | -16.2% |
| 2021 | -0.4% | -37.4% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | -189.0% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | +34.0% |
| 2024 | -0.6% | -227.2% |
| 2025 | -0.8% | +31.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -3.3% | -4.8% | 0.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | -1.3% | -2.8% | -0.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | -0.1% | -0.5% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | -1.0% | -1.9% | -0.3% | 10 |
| 2000s | -0.6% | -1.4% | -0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | -0.8% | -2.3% | 1.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.3% | -0.8% | 0.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More agriculture & rural data for Norway
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0164 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,553 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7644 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1643 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 1.64 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 1.64 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Norway?
- Rural population growth in Norway was -0.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 1.0% in 2011.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.8% in 1967.
- How does Norway rank for rural population growth?
- Norway ranks 156th out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.