Updated
Overview
Portugal has about 95% more people than Norway: 10.80 million against 5.61 million (2025).
Norway's economy is about 55% larger than Portugal's, at $530.76B versus $346.64B.
Per person, Norway is the wealthier of the two: $94,594 against $32,082 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Portugal | Norway | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | $346.64B | Higher: $530.76B | 2025 | $308.68B / $483.73B |
| GDP per capita | $32,082 | Higher: $94,594 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 1.9% | 1.1% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 2.3% | 3.1% | 2025 | 2.4% / 3.1% |
| Unemployment | 6.2% | Lower: 4.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 60 | 91 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $1,426 | Higher: $6,440 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $1,147 | — | 2025 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | — | $8.05 | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 10.80 million | 5.61 million | 2025 | 10.19 million / 5.51 million |
| Population growth | 1.0% | 0.7% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 46.9 yrs | 39.8 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.52 | 1.42 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | 82.4 yrs | Higher: 83.2 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 61% | 84% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 88% | Higher: 99% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 92,090 km² | 323,802 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 117.3/km² | 17.3/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 36 Mt | 37 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 3.4 t | 6.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $4.64B | $10.44B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.5% | 2.1% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 52,000 | 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
Portugal is growing faster: 1.9% annual GDP growth versus 1.1%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 2.3% in Portugal and 3.1% in Norway.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Portugal: a price level of 60 versus 91 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour Norway: $6,440 against $1,426 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Norway is the younger society: median age 39.8 versus 46.9 years.
Norway is considerably more urbanized: 84% of people live in cities, against 61%.
Internet adoption is higher in Norway (99% vs 88% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Portugal is 72% smaller than Norway: 92,090 km² versus 323,802 km².
Both sit in the same broad region but do not share a border.
Portugal is far more densely settled: 117 people per km² against 17.
Military
Norway spends 2.2 times as much on defence as Portugal: $10.44B versus $4.64B (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Portugal fields the larger armed forces: 52,000 personnel against 25,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Portugal bigger than Norway?
- Norway is larger by land area. Portugal covers 92,090 km² while Norway covers 323,802 km², so Norway is 3.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Portugal or Norway?
- Portugal has the larger population: 10.80 million versus 5.61 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Portugal richer than Norway?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Norway is richer: $94,594 against $32,082. Total GDP tells the same story: $346.64B for Portugal versus $530.76B for Norway.
- Who spends more on their military, Portugal or Norway?
- Norway spends more: $10.44B versus $4.64B per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).