Labor force participation rate by age in Norway
Norway: Labor force participation rate by age was 66.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
66.1%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
13th
of 188 countries
All-time high
67.2%
in 1990
All-time low
57.4%
in 2017
Years of data
35
1990–2024
Labor force participation rate by age in Norway, 1990–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate by age in Norway is 66.1%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate by age in Norway peaked at 67.2% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 57.4%, in 2017.
Norway ranks 13th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate by age in Norway, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 67.2% | — |
| 1991 | 67.0% | -0.4% |
| 1992 | 67.1% | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 67.0% | -0.2% |
| 1994 | 66.3% | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 66.6% | +0.6% |
| 1996 | 65.8% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 65.6% | -0.3% |
| 1998 | 65.2% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 63.9% | -2.0% |
| 2000 | 63.4% | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 63.7% | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 63.0% | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 62.6% | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 62.2% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 63.2% | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 62.4% | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 62.1% | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 62.2% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 61.4% | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 60.1% | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 59.6% | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 60.7% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 60.5% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 58.0% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 59.5% | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 58.1% | -2.4% |
| 2017 | 57.4% | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 58.0% | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 59.2% | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 59.3% | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 61.0% | +2.9% |
| 2022 | 64.3% | +5.3% |
| 2023 | 65.8% | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 66.1% | +0.5% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 66.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 40.6%, 1.6× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Norway's 66.1% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.1%, 1.8× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 66.2% | 63.9% | 67.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 62.6% | 61.4% | 63.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 59.1% | 57.4% | 60.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 63.3% | 59.3% | 66.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 10 Uganda 69.8% compare
- 11 Denmark 69.1% compare
- 12 Eritrea 68.6% compare
- 14 Switzerland 65.7% compare
- 15 New Zealand 65.7% compare
- 16 Mozambique 65.0% compare
More work & labour data for Norway
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.2322 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.2413 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.2229 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.14 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.7506 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 6,138 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 663.52 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 2,690 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 2,724 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 5,414 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force participation rate by age in Norway?
- Labor force participation rate by age in Norway was 66.1% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 67.2% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate by age recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 57.4% in 2017.
- How does Norway rank for labor force participation rate by age?
- Norway ranks 13th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is labor force participation rate by age rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate by age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population aged 15-24 who are economically active (employed or unemployed).