Population of Norway 1769-2020

At the beginning of the 19^th century, the population of the present-day area of Norway was estimated to be just under one million people. Norway's population growth rate would fluctuate throughout the first half of the century, as repercussions from the Napoleonic Wars would see several economic crises hit the country. The rate of growth would increase somewhat between the 1850s and 1880s, as a large expansion of the Norwegian shipping industry would bring economic growth to the country, and access to new crops, such as potatoes, and improved standards of living would see mortality fall. As a result, by the time of Norway's independence from Sweden in 1905, Norway would have a population of over two million.

Norway would see significant growth in the years following its independence, however, as a series of social reforms and renewed economic growth led to further improvements in standards of living. Growth would largely be unaffected by the World Wars of the early 20^th century, as a policy of neutrality in the first and a somewhat stable continuation of economic and social welfare programs under German occupation would allow Norway to escape many of the more dire impacts of the conflict. As a result, by the end of the Second World War in 1945, Norway was estimated to have a population of just over three million.

Population growth would continue steadily for Norway in the post-war years, as the discovery of off-shore oil allowed for a significant expansion of health and social programs in the country, but would largely stagnate in the 1980s as the country would experience an economic crisis, forcing many public programs to be cut back. However, population growth would resume once more, as immigration rose in the 2000s, following the country’s inclusion into the Schengen Area in 2001. Today, Norway is estimated to have a population of over five million people in 2020, and is one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the world.