Population in the largest city in Norway
Norway: Population in the largest city was 23.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
23.8%
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
102nd
of 153 countries
All-time high
33.1%
in 1960
All-time low
22.2%
in 1981
Years of data
66
1960–2025
Population in the largest city in Norway, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Measured in % of urban population.
Analysis
Norway recorded 23.8% for population in the largest city in 2025.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in the largest city in Norway peaked at 33.1% in 1960 and was at its lowest, 22.2%, in 1981.
Norway ranks 102nd of 153 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 66 years of available data.
Population in the largest city in Norway, year by year
| Year | % of urban population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 33.1% | — |
| 1961 | 33.1% | -0.3% |
| 1962 | 32.5% | -1.8% |
| 1963 | 31.6% | -2.8% |
| 1964 | 30.5% | -3.4% |
| 1965 | 29.3% | -3.8% |
| 1966 | 28.2% | -3.8% |
| 1967 | 27.2% | -3.6% |
| 1968 | 26.4% | -3.2% |
| 1969 | 25.7% | -2.5% |
| 1970 | 25.3% | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 24.9% | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 24.4% | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 24.0% | -1.7% |
| 1974 | 23.7% | -1.5% |
| 1975 | 23.3% | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 23.1% | -1.2% |
| 1977 | 22.8% | -1.1% |
| 1978 | 22.6% | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 22.4% | -0.8% |
| 1980 | 22.3% | -0.7% |
| 1981 | 22.2% | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 22.2% | +0.1% |
| 1983 | 22.3% | +0.1% |
| 1984 | 22.3% | +0.2% |
| 1985 | 22.4% | +0.2% |
| 1986 | 22.4% | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 22.4% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 22.4% | -0.0% |
| 1989 | 22.4% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 22.4% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 22.5% | +0.2% |
| 1992 | 22.5% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 22.5% | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 22.5% | +0.1% |
| 1995 | 22.6% | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 22.7% | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 22.8% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 22.7% | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 22.7% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 22.6% | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 22.6% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 22.6% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 22.6% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 22.7% | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 22.7% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 22.9% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 23.0% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 23.0% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 23.1% | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 23.2% | +0.4% |
| 2011 | 23.2% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 23.2% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 23.2% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 23.0% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 23.0% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 23.0% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 23.1% | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 23.2% | +0.5% |
| 2019 | 23.3% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 23.4% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 23.6% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 23.7% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 23.7% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 23.7% | +0.1% |
| 2025 | 23.8% | +0.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 29.8% | 25.7% | 33.1% | 10 |
| 1970s | 23.7% | 22.4% | 25.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.3% | 22.2% | 22.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 22.6% | 22.4% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.8% | 22.6% | 23.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 23.1% | 23.0% | 23.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 23.6% | 23.4% | 23.8% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 99 Iraq 24.8% compare
- 100 Republic of Korea 23.9% compare
- 101 Lao People's Democratic Republic 23.8% compare
- 103 Zimbabwe 23.8% compare
- 104 El Salvador 23.6% compare
- 105 Philippines 23.4% compare
More urban development data for Norway
- Population density 15.15 people per sq. km of land area (2023)
- PM2.5 air pollution, mean annual exposure 5.52 micrograms per cubic meter (2023)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per capita 0.1988 units per person (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million 1.12 million (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, annual 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per unit 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million, per square 2.98 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Population in largest city 1.12 million (2025)
- Crude steelmaking capacity 0.95 Tonnes (2025)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 23 - Ecological 250.46 Hectares (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in the largest city in Norway?
- Population in the largest city in Norway was 23.8% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest population in the largest city recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 33.1% in 1960.
- What is the lowest population in the largest city recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.2% in 1981.
- How does Norway rank for population in the largest city?
- Norway ranks 102nd out of 153 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population in the largest city rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as part of Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.