Unemployment rate in Norway
Norway: Unemployment rate was 3.37 in 2025. ▬ Flat
Unemployment rate in Norway, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rate in Norway is 3.37, measured in 2025.
The figure is down 13.3% on the previous year and down 25.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Norway peaked at 5.08 in 2005 and was at its lowest, 2.68, in 2008.
Norway ranks 48th of 58 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Unemployment rate in Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4.76 | — |
| 2005 | 5.08 | +6.8% |
| 2006 | 3.2 | -37.1% |
| 2007 | 2.95 | -7.8% |
| 2008 | 2.68 | -9.3% |
| 2009 | 3.6 | +34.3% |
| 2010 | 3.49 | -3.0% |
| 2011 | 3.4 | -2.5% |
| 2012 | 3.47 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 3.41 | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 3.16 | -7.3% |
| 2015 | 4.5 | +42.2% |
| 2016 | 4.9 | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 4.56 | -7.0% |
| 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% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.71 | 2.68 | 5.08 | 6 |
| 2010s | 3.89 | 3.16 | 4.9 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.66 | 2.9 | 4.51 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 45 Switzerland 3.89 compare
- 46 Netherlands 3.88 compare
- 47 Israel 3.37 compare
- 49 Indonesia 3.31 compare
- 50 Cambodia 3.27 compare
- 51 Seychelles 2.58 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 unemployment rate in Norway?
- Unemployment rate in Norway was 3.37 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 5.08 in 2005.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.68 in 2008.
- How does Norway rank for unemployment rate?
- Norway ranks 48th out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. 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 Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.