Updated
Overview
Italy has 11 times the population of Norway: 58.92 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Italy's economy is 4.8 times the size of Norway's, at $2.55T versus $530.76B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $43,309 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Italy | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $2.55T | $530.76B | 2025 | $2.37T / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $43,309 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 0.5% | Higher: 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.5% | 3.1% | 2025 | 1.0% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.4% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 69 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $3,994 | Higher: $6,440 | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 58.92 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 60.92 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | -0.1% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 48.2 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.21 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 84.0 yrs | 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 70% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 89% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 301,336 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 195.5/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 302 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 5.1 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $37.96B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.6% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 338,000 | 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
Norway is growing faster: 1.1% annual GDP growth versus 0.5%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.5% in Italy and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Italy: a price level of 69 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $3,994 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Norway is the far younger society: median age 39.8 versus 48.2 years.
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 70%.
Geography
By land area, Italy is almost exactly the same size as Norway: 301,336 km² versus 323,802 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Italy is far more densely settled: 196 people per km² against 17.
Military
Italy spends 3.6 times as much on defence as Norway: $37.96B versus $10.44B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Italy fields the larger armed forces: 338,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Italy bigger than Norway?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. Italy covers 301,336 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², a difference of under 7%.
- Which has more people, Italy or Norway?
- Italy has the larger population: 58.92 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Italy richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $43,309. Total GDP tells a different story: $2.55T for Italy versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Italy or Norway?
- Italy spends more: $37.96B versus $10.44B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).