Updated
Overview
Pakistan has 45 times the population of Norway: 255.22 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Norway's economy is 30% larger than Pakistan's, at $530.76B versus $407.31B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $1,596 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Pakistan | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $407.31B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $373.07B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $1,596 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 3.7% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 3.5% | Lower: 3.1% | 2025 | 12.6% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 5.4% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 24 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $95 | Higher: $6,440 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $133 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.89 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 255.22 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 257.05 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 1.6% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 20.6 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.50 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 67.8 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 40% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 57% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 881,912 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 289.4/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 180 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 0.7 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $10.17B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 2.7% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 943,000 | 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
Pakistan is growing faster: 3.7% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 3.5% in Pakistan and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Pakistan: a price level of 24 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $95 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Pakistan is the far younger society: median age 20.6 versus 39.8 years.
Life expectancy is 15.4 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 67.8).
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 40%.
Internet adoption is higher in Norway (99% vs 57% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Pakistan is 2.7 times the size of Norway: 881,912 km² versus 323,802 km².
Pakistan is far more densely settled: 289 people per km² against 17.
Military
Defence budgets are of similar magnitude: $10.17B (Pakistan) and $10.44B (Norway).
Pakistan fields the larger armed forces: 943,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Pakistan bigger than Norway?
- Pakistan is larger by land area. Pakistan covers 881,912 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Pakistan is 2.7 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Pakistan or Norway?
- Pakistan has the larger population: 255.22 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Pakistan richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $1,596. Total GDP tells the same story: $407.31B for Pakistan versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Pakistan or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $10.17B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).