Unemployment rate in Norway
Norway: Unemployment rate was 4.6% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Latest (2025)
4.6%
Change on year
up 15.9%
World rank
108th
of 186 countries
All-time high
6.3%
in 1995
All-time low
2.5%
in 2007
Years of data
35
1991–2025
Unemployment rate in Norway, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Norway recorded 4.6% for unemployment rate in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.9% on the previous year and up 7.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rate in Norway peaked at 6.3% in 1995 and was at its lowest, 2.5%, in 2007.
Norway ranks 108th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment rate in Norway, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 5.4% | — |
| 1992 | 5.9% | +9.3% |
| 1993 | 6.0% | +0.9% |
| 1994 | 5.3% | -10.3% |
| 1995 | 6.3% | +17.9% |
| 1996 | 5.0% | -20.2% |
| 1997 | 4.7% | -6.9% |
| 1998 | 3.7% | -20.3% |
| 1999 | 3.2% | -13.1% |
| 2000 | 3.5% | +6.5% |
| 2001 | 3.7% | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 4.0% | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | +4.9% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 3.4% | -22.5% |
| 2007 | 2.5% | -26.6% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | +1.1% |
| 2009 | 3.1% | +23.0% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | +13.8% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 3.1% | -2.1% |
| 2013 | 3.4% | +9.5% |
| 2014 | 3.5% | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 4.3% | +23.2% |
| 2016 | 4.7% | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 4.2% | -11.0% |
| 2018 | 3.8% | -8.7% |
| 2019 | 3.7% | -3.1% |
| 2020 | 4.4% | +20.1% |
| 2021 | 4.4% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 3.2% | -25.9% |
| 2023 | 3.6% | +10.6% |
| 2024 | 4.0% | +11.9% |
| 2025 | 4.6% | +15.9% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 4.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 5.0%, 92% of the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Norway's 4.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 5.6%, 83% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5.1% | 3.2% | 6.3% | 9 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.5% | 4.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7% | 3.1% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.0% | 3.2% | 4.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 105 Paraguay 4.8% compare
- 106 Kazakhstan 4.8% compare
- 107 United Kingdom 4.7% compare
- 109 Ireland 4.6% compare
- 110 Uzbekistan 4.6% compare
- 111 China 4.6% 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 4.6% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest unemployment rate recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 6.3% in 1995.
- What is the lowest unemployment rate recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.5% in 2007.
- How does Norway rank for unemployment rate?
- Norway ranks 108th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rate rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 Unemployment rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the labor force without work, but actively looking for a job and available to start soon.