Unemployed population — Unemployment in Norway
Norway: Unemployed population — Unemployment was 136.32 Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Norway, 1956–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployed population — unemployment in Norway is 136.32 Persons, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 70 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.1% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployed population — unemployment in Norway peaked at 136.32 Persons in 2025 and was at its lowest, 11 Persons, in 1967.
Norway ranks 31st of 35 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Unemployed population — Unemployment in Norway, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 14 Persons | — |
| 1957 | 15 Persons | +7.1% |
| 1958 | 24 Persons | +60.0% |
| 1959 | 23 Persons | -4.2% |
| 1960 | 17 Persons | -26.1% |
| 1961 | 13 Persons | -23.5% |
| 1962 | 15 Persons | +15.4% |
| 1963 | 18 Persons | +20.0% |
| 1964 | 16 Persons | -11.1% |
| 1965 | 13 Persons | -18.8% |
| 1966 | 12 Persons | -7.7% |
| 1967 | 11 Persons | -8.3% |
| 1968 | 17 Persons | +54.5% |
| 1969 | 16 Persons | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 12 Persons | -25.0% |
| 1971 | 12 Persons | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 28 Persons | +133.3% |
| 1973 | 26 Persons | -7.1% |
| 1974 | 25 Persons | -3.8% |
| 1975 | 40 Persons | +60.0% |
| 1976 | 32 Persons | -20.0% |
| 1977 | 27 Persons | -15.6% |
| 1978 | 34 Persons | +25.9% |
| 1979 | 38 Persons | +11.8% |
| 1980 | 32 Persons | -15.8% |
| 1981 | 40 Persons | +25.0% |
| 1982 | 52 Persons | +30.0% |
| 1983 | 69 Persons | +32.7% |
| 1984 | 64 Persons | -7.2% |
| 1985 | 53 Persons | -17.2% |
| 1986 | 42 Persons | -20.8% |
| 1987 | 45 Persons | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 69 Persons | +53.3% |
| 1989 | 106 Persons | +53.6% |
| 1990 | 112 Persons | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 116 Persons | +3.6% |
| 1992 | 126 Persons | +8.6% |
| 1993 | 127 Persons | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 116 Persons | -8.7% |
| 1995 | 107 Persons | -7.8% |
| 1996 | 108 Persons | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 92 Persons | -14.8% |
| 1998 | 74 Persons | -19.6% |
| 1999 | 75 Persons | +1.4% |
| 2000 | 77.72 Persons | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 82.42 Persons | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 88.95 Persons | +7.9% |
| 2003 | 95.17 Persons | +7.0% |
| 2004 | 99 Persons | +4.0% |
| 2005 | 104.6 Persons | +5.7% |
| 2006 | 82.78 Persons | -20.9% |
| 2007 | 62.25 Persons | -24.8% |
| 2008 | 65.78 Persons | +5.7% |
| 2009 | 80.05 Persons | +21.7% |
| 2010 | 91.28 Persons | +14.0% |
| 2011 | 84.2 Persons | -7.8% |
| 2012 | 83.35 Persons | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 92.2 Persons | +10.6% |
| 2014 | 94.83 Persons | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 118.55 Persons | +25.0% |
| 2016 | 129.47 Persons | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 114.83 Persons | -11.3% |
| 2018 | 106.08 Persons | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 103.95 Persons | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 125 Persons | +20.3% |
| 2021 | 127.85 Persons | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 95.53 Persons | -25.3% |
| 2023 | 107.1 Persons | +12.1% |
| 2024 | 120.58 Persons | +12.6% |
| 2025 | 136.32 Persons | +13.1% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 136.32 Persons is below the median for high income countries, which is 338.16 Persons, 40% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Norway's 136.32 Persons is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 307.41 Persons, 44% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Unemployed population — Unemployment 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | +133.3% | 12 Persons | 28 Persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 19 Persons | 14 Persons | 24 Persons | 4 |
| 1960s | 14.8 Persons | 11 Persons | 18 Persons | 10 |
| 1970s | 27.4 Persons | 12 Persons | 40 Persons | 10 |
| 1980s | 57.2 Persons | 32 Persons | 106 Persons | 10 |
| 1990s | 105.3 Persons | 74 Persons | 127 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 83.87 Persons | 62.25 Persons | 104.6 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.87 Persons | 83.35 Persons | 129.47 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 118.73 Persons | 95.53 Persons | 136.32 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 unemployed population — unemployment in Norway?
- Unemployed population — unemployment in Norway was 136.32 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 136.32 Persons in 2025.
- What is the lowest unemployed population — unemployment recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 11 Persons in 1967.
- How does Norway rank for unemployed population — unemployment?
- Norway ranks 31st out of 35 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployed population — unemployment rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployed population — Unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 70 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.