Updated
Overview
Denmark and Norway are nearly matched in population: 6.01 million versus 5.61 million people (2025).
Norway's economy is 15% larger than Denmark's, at $530.76B versus $462.53B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $76,970 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Denmark | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $462.53B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $429.46B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $76,970 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.9% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.9% | 3.1% | 2025 | 1.4% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.5% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 92 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $6,992 | $6,440 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $7.04 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 6.01 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 6.05 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 0.5% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 41.3 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.3 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 100% | 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 43,094 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 139.4/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 28 Mt | 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.7 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $9.96B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.4% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 15,000 | 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
Denmark is growing faster: 2.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.9% in Denmark and 3.1% in Norway.
Average monthly earnings favour Denmark: $6,992 against $6,440 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 41.3 (Denmark) and 39.8 (Norway).
Geography
By land area, Denmark is 87% smaller than Norway: 43,094 km² versus 323,802 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Denmark is far more densely settled: 139 people per km² against 17.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $9.96B (Denmark) and $10.44B (Norway).
Norway fields the larger armed forces: 25,000 personnel against 15,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Denmark bigger than Norway?
- Norway is larger by land area. Denmark covers 43,094 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Norway is 7.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Denmark or Norway?
- Denmark has the larger population: 6.01 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Denmark richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $76,970. Total GDP tells the same story: $462.53B for Denmark versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Denmark or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $9.96B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).