Updated
Overview
Kazakhstan has 3.7 times the population of Norway: 20.84 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Norway's economy is about 75% larger than Kazakhstan's, at $530.76B versus $306.24B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $14,692 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Kazakhstan | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $306.24B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $288.41B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $14,692 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.5% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 11.4% | Lower: 3.1% | 2025 | 8.8% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 4.8% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $673 | Higher: $6,440 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $181 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 20.84 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 20.43 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 1.2% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.7 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.95 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 74.5 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 62% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 93% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 2,724,900 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 7.6/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 287 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 13.9 t | Lower: 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $1.21B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 71,000 | 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
Kazakhstan is growing much faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Kazakhstan runs the hotter price environment: 11.4% inflation versus 3.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Kazakhstan: a price level of 33 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $673 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Kazakhstan is the far younger society: median age 29.7 versus 39.8 years.
Life expectancy is 8.6 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 74.5).
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 62%.
Geography
By land area, Kazakhstan is 8.4 times the size of Norway: 2,724,900 km² versus 323,802 km².
Norway is far more densely settled: 17 people per km² against 8.
Military
Norway spends 8.6 times as much on defence as Kazakhstan: $10.44B versus $1.21B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Norway carries the heavier military burden: 2.1% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Kazakhstan fields the larger armed forces: 71,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Kazakhstan bigger than Norway?
- Kazakhstan is larger by land area. Kazakhstan covers 2,724,900 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Kazakhstan is 8.4 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Kazakhstan or Norway?
- Kazakhstan has the larger population: 20.84 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Kazakhstan richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $14,692. Total GDP tells the same story: $306.24B for Kazakhstan versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Kazakhstan or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $1.21B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).