Urban Population: Norway
Norway's urban population is currently 83.3% as of 2024. # Norway Urban Population Norway's urban population reached 83.
Current (2024)
83.3%
+0.3% y/y
Peak (2024)
83.3%
Low (1960)
48.7%
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
1960–2024 · 65 pts
Urban Population — Norway
1960 — 2024
Urban Population — Norway
Analysis# Norway Urban Population
Norway's urban population reached 83.329% in 2024, matching its all-time peak. The country has undergone dramatic urbanization since 1960, when only 48.702% of the population lived in urban areas—a shift of 71.1 percentage points across six decades. This trajectory reflects Norway's transition from a rural, agrarian economy to a modern, service-based one centered in cities like Oslo, Bergen, and Stavanger.
The consistent upward trend accelerated notably between 2015 and 2024, climbing from 81.238% to 83.329%. Annual gains averaged approximately 0.23 percentage points during this nine-year span, indicating sustained urban concentration. With the metric already at its all-time high and growth continuing at a steady pace, Norway's urbanization pattern shows no signs of reversal, suggesting continued population centralization in major metropolitan areas.
Historical Data
65 Rows| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 83.3% | +0.31% |
| 2023 | 83.1% | +0.14% |
| 2022 | 83.0% | +0.11% |
| 2021 | 82.9% | +0.19% |
| 2020 | 82.7% | +0.25% |
| 2019 | 82.5% | +0.30% |
| 2018 | 82.2% | +0.34% |
| 2017 | 82.0% | +0.36% |
| 2016 | 81.7% | +0.54% |
| 2015 | 81.2% | +0.78% |
| 2014 | 80.6% | +0.80% |
| 2013 | 80.0% | +0.61% |
| 2012 | 79.5% | +0.23% |
| 2011 | 79.3% | +0.08% |
| 2010 | 79.2% | +0.24% |
| 2009 | 79.1% | +0.38% |
| 2008 | 78.8% | +0.44% |
| 2007 | 78.4% | +0.41% |
| 2006 | 78.1% | +0.34% |
| 2005 | 77.8% | +0.33% |
Show all 65 rows
| Year | Value | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 77.6% | +0.40% |
| 2003 | 77.3% | +0.60% |
| 2002 | 76.8% | +0.52% |
| 2001 | 76.4% | +0.34% |
| 2000 | 76.1% | +0.39% |
| 1999 | 75.8% | +0.68% |
| 1998 | 75.3% | +0.84% |
| 1997 | 74.7% | +0.68% |
| 1996 | 74.2% | +0.38% |
| 1995 | 73.9% | +0.37% |
| 1994 | 73.7% | +0.61% |
| 1993 | 73.2% | +0.76% |
| 1992 | 72.7% | +0.68% |
| 1991 | 72.2% | +0.39% |
| 1990 | 71.9% | +0.24% |
| 1989 | 71.7% | +0.19% |
| 1988 | 71.6% | +0.15% |
| 1987 | 71.5% | +0.13% |
| 1986 | 71.4% | +0.12% |
| 1985 | 71.3% | +0.12% |
| 1984 | 71.2% | +0.14% |
| 1983 | 71.1% | +0.16% |
| 1982 | 71.0% | +0.21% |
| 1981 | 70.8% | +0.27% |
| 1980 | 70.6% | +0.35% |
| 1979 | 70.4% | +0.43% |
| 1978 | 70.1% | +0.51% |
| 1977 | 69.7% | +0.60% |
| 1976 | 69.3% | +0.69% |
| 1975 | 68.9% | +0.77% |
| 1974 | 68.3% | +0.86% |
| 1973 | 67.7% | +0.94% |
| 1972 | 67.1% | +1.03% |
| 1971 | 66.4% | +1.23% |
| 1970 | 65.6% | +1.92% |
| 1969 | 64.4% | +2.82% |
| 1968 | 62.6% | +3.49% |
| 1967 | 60.5% | +3.96% |
| 1966 | 58.2% | +4.21% |
| 1965 | 55.9% | +4.18% |
| 1964 | 53.6% | +3.84% |
| 1963 | 51.6% | +3.14% |
| 1962 | 50.1% | +2.07% |
| 1961 | 49.0% | +0.70% |
| 1960 | 48.7% | — |
Related Data
Other Metrics
For Norway
Compare Urban Population
Same metric, other countries
Demographics
People & population data