Self-employed persons by occupation in Norway
Norway: Self-employed persons by occupation was 151.6 Thousand persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Self-employed persons by occupation in Norway, 1995–2025
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Thousand persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for self-employed persons by occupation in Norway is 151.6 Thousand persons, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 9.2% on the previous year and down 16.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, self-employed persons by occupation in Norway peaked at 196 Thousand persons in 2009 and was at its lowest, 120.3 Thousand persons, in 2021.
Norway ranks 32nd of 45 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 31 years of available data.
Self-employed persons by occupation in Norway, year by year
| Year | Thousand persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 173.1 Thousand persons | — |
| 1996 | 165.5 Thousand persons | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 169.5 Thousand persons | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 173.4 Thousand persons | +2.3% |
| 1999 | 164.5 Thousand persons | -5.1% |
| 2000 | 162 Thousand persons | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 156.1 Thousand persons | -3.6% |
| 2002 | 158.2 Thousand persons | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 159 Thousand persons | +0.5% |
| 2004 | 163.7 Thousand persons | +3.0% |
| 2005 | 163.2 Thousand persons | -0.3% |
| 2006 | 190.7 Thousand persons | +16.9% |
| 2007 | 188.2 Thousand persons | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 188.5 Thousand persons | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 196 Thousand persons | +4.0% |
| 2010 | 187.9 Thousand persons | -4.1% |
| 2011 | 174.2 Thousand persons | -7.3% |
| 2012 | 174.8 Thousand persons | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 176.3 Thousand persons | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 185.1 Thousand persons | +5.0% |
| 2015 | 180.5 Thousand persons | -2.5% |
| 2016 | 178.8 Thousand persons | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 170.1 Thousand persons | -4.9% |
| 2018 | 170.1 Thousand persons | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 172 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 161.5 Thousand persons | -6.1% |
| 2021 | 120.3 Thousand persons | -25.5% |
| 2022 | 124.9 Thousand persons | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 126.3 Thousand persons | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 138.8 Thousand persons | +9.9% |
| 2025 | 151.6 Thousand persons | +9.2% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 151.6 Thousand persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 425.95 Thousand persons, 36% of the median. (34 countries reporting)
- Norway's 151.6 Thousand persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 478.5 Thousand persons, 32% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Self-employed persons by occupation in Norway changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -25.5% | 161.5 Thousand persons | 120.3 Thousand persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 169.2 Thousand persons | 164.5 Thousand persons | 173.4 Thousand persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 172.56 Thousand persons | 156.1 Thousand persons | 196 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 176.98 Thousand persons | 170.1 Thousand persons | 187.9 Thousand persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 137.23 Thousand persons | 120.3 Thousand persons | 161.5 Thousand persons | 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 self-employed persons by occupation in Norway?
- Self-employed persons by occupation in Norway was 151.6 Thousand persons in 2025, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 196 Thousand persons in 2009.
- What is the lowest self-employed persons by occupation recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 120.3 Thousand persons in 2021.
- How does Norway rank for self-employed persons by occupation?
- Norway ranks 32nd out of 45 countries with data for 2025.
- Is self-employed persons by occupation rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Self-employed persons by occupation. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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