Updated
Overview
Egypt has 21 times the population of Norway: 118.37 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Norway's economy is about 45% larger than Egypt's, at $530.76B versus $365.25B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $3,086 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Egypt | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $365.25B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $389.06B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $3,086 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.1% | Lower: 3.1% | 2025 | 28.3% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 15 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $109 | Higher: $6,440 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $132 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.87 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 118.37 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 112.87 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 24.5 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.71 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 71.8 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 43% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 75% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 1,002,450 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 118.1/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 258 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.2 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $2.40B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.7% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 836,000 | 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
Egypt is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Egypt runs the hotter price environment: 14.1% inflation versus 3.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Egypt: a price level of 15 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $109 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Egypt is the far younger society: median age 24.5 versus 39.8 years.
Life expectancy is 11.4 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 71.8).
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Internet adoption is higher in Norway (99% vs 75% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Egypt is 3.1 times the size of Norway: 1,002,450 km² versus 323,802 km².
Egypt is far more densely settled: 118 people per km² against 17.
Military
Norway spends 4.4 times as much on defence as Egypt: $10.44B versus $2.40B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Norway carries the heavier military burden: 2.1% of GDP versus 0.7%.
Egypt fields the larger armed forces: 836,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Egypt bigger than Norway?
- Egypt is larger by land area. Egypt covers 1,002,450 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Egypt is 3.1 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Egypt or Norway?
- Egypt has the larger population: 118.37 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Egypt richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $3,086. Total GDP tells the same story: $365.25B for Egypt versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Egypt or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $2.40B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).