Updated
Overview
Austria has about 65% more people than Norway: 9.21 million against 5.61 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $579.47B for Austria and $530.76B for Norway.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $62,930 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Austria | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $579.47B | $530.76B | 2025 | $521.64B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $62,930 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.6% | Higher: 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 3.1% | 2025 | 2.9% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.6% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 82 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $6,155 | Higher: $6,440 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 9.21 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 9.17 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 0.3% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 43.6 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.33 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.0 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 92% | Higher: 99% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 83,871 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 109.8/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 56 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 6.2 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $5.26B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.0% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 23,000 | 25,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Both economies are growing at a similar pace (0.6% for Austria, 1.1% for Norway).
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.5% in Austria and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Austria: a price level of 82 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $6,155 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Norway is the younger society: median age 39.8 versus 43.6 years.
Life expectancy is 1.2 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 82.0).
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, Austria is 74% smaller than Norway: 83,871 km² versus 323,802 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Austria is far more densely settled: 110 people per km² against 17.
Military
Norway spends 2.0 times as much on defence as Austria: $10.44B versus $5.26B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Norway carries the heavier military burden: 2.1% of GDP versus 1.0%.
Norway fields the larger armed forces: 25,000 personnel against 23,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Austria bigger than Norway?
- Norway is larger by land area. Austria covers 83,871 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Norway is 3.9 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Austria or Norway?
- Austria has the larger population: 9.21 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Austria richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $62,930. Total GDP tells a different story: $579.47B for Austria versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Austria or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $5.26B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).