Labor force participation rate in Norway
Norway: Labor force participation rate was 65.6% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
65.6%
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
55th
of 186 countries
All-time high
68.4%
in 2008
All-time low
61.6%
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Labor force participation rate in Norway, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force participation rate in Norway stood at 65.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and down 1.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate in Norway peaked at 68.4% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 61.6%, in 1990.
Norway ranks 55th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Labor force participation rate in Norway, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 61.6% | — |
| 1991 | 61.9% | +0.6% |
| 1992 | 62.3% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 62.8% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 63.4% | +0.9% |
| 1995 | 63.9% | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 64.6% | +1.1% |
| 1997 | 65.3% | +1.1% |
| 1998 | 66.0% | +0.9% |
| 1999 | 66.4% | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 66.8% | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 67.1% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 67.3% | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 67.4% | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 67.6% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 67.9% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 68.2% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 68.4% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 68.4% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 68.0% | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 67.3% | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 67.1% | -0.3% |
| 2012 | 67.1% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 66.9% | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 66.6% | -0.6% |
| 2015 | 66.6% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 66.2% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 65.7% | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 65.9% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 65.9% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 65.7% | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 65.7% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 66.0% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 65.9% | -0.0% |
| 2024 | 65.8% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 65.6% | -0.3% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 65.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 62.3%, 1.1× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Norway's 65.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 60.2%, 1.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 63.8% | 61.6% | 66.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 67.7% | 66.8% | 68.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 66.5% | 65.7% | 67.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 65.8% | 65.6% | 66.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
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 in Norway?
- Labor force participation rate in Norway was 65.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest labor force participation rate recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 68.4% in 2008.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 61.6% in 1990.
- How does Norway rank for labor force participation rate?
- Norway ranks 55th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the working-age population (ages 15 and over) who are economically active (employed or unemployed).