SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Norway
Norway: SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate was 3.37 in 2025. ▼ Falling
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Norway, 2014–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Norway is 3.37, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 13.3% on the previous year and down 17.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Norway peaked at 4.56 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 2.9, in 2022.
Norway ranks 40th of 41 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 12 years of available data.
SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate in Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3.16 | — |
| 2015 | 4.07 | +28.6% |
| 2016 | 4.41 | +8.5% |
| 2017 | 4.56 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 4.36 | -4.3% |
| 2019 | 3.59 | -17.6% |
| 2020 | 3.94 | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 4.51 | +14.7% |
| 2022 | 2.9 | -35.6% |
| 2023 | 3.38 | +16.4% |
| 2024 | 3.88 | +14.9% |
| 2025 | 3.37 | -13.3% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 3.37 is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 6.93, 49% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Norway's 3.37 is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.33, 53% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 4.03 | 3.16 | 4.56 | 6 |
| 2020s | 3.66 | 2.9 | 4.51 | 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 sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Norway?
- Sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate in Norway was 3.37 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 4.56 in 2017.
- What is the lowest sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.9 in 2022.
- How does Norway rank for sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate?
- Norway ranks 40th out of 41 countries with data for 2025.
- Is sdg indicator 8.5.2: unemployment rate rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of SDG indicator 8.5.2: Unemployment rate (current ILO definition - ICLS19). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 12 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Data may differ from nationally reported figures and the Global SDG Indicators Database due to differences in sources and/or reference years. The unemployment rate conveys the number of persons who are unemployed as a percent of the labour force (i.e., the employed plus the unemployed). The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Labour Market-related SDG Indicators (ILOSDG) database description.