Updated
Overview
The Philippines has 21 times the population of Norway: 116.79 million people against 5.61 million (2025).
Their economies are close in size: $487.09B for the Philippines and $530.76B for Norway.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $4,171 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Philippines | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $487.09B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $461.62B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $4,171 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 4.4% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.7% | 3.1% | 2025 | 3.2% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 2.2% | 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 33 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $316 | Higher: $6,440 | 2023 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $145 | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $2.74 | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 116.79 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 118.28 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 0.8% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 26.1 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.88 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 69.9 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 56% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 67% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 342,353 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 341.1/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 175 Mt | Lower: 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 1.5 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $6.12B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.3% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 157,000 | 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
The Philippines is growing much faster: 4.4% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.7% in the Philippines and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in the Philippines: a price level of 33 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $316 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
The Philippines is the far younger society: median age 26.1 versus 39.8 years.
Life expectancy is 13.2 years longer in Norway (83.2 vs 69.9).
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 56%.
Internet adoption is higher in Norway (99% vs 67% of the population).
Geography
By land area, the Philippines is almost exactly the same size as Norway: 342,353 km² versus 323,802 km².
The Philippines is far more densely settled: 341 people per km² against 17.
Military
Norway spends about 70% more on defence than the Philippines: $10.44B versus $6.12B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
The Philippines fields the larger armed forces: 157,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is the Philippines bigger than Norway?
- The two are almost exactly the same size. The Philippines covers 342,353 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², a difference of under 6%.
- Which has more people, the Philippines or Norway?
- The Philippines has the larger population: 116.79 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is the Philippines richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $4,171. Total GDP tells the same story: $487.09B for the Philippines versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, the Philippines or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $6.12B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).