If you lived in Norway instead of Benin, you would:

Health

live 22.2 years longer

In Benin, the average life expectancy is 61 years (60 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 83 years (82 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 69.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Benin spends $138 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Norway spends $9,523 as of 2023.

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have 23.0 times more doctors per person

Benin has 2.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Norway has 49.8 as of 2023.

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have 2.3 times more access to essential health services

Benin scores 38 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Norway scores 87 as of 2021.

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be 64.8% more likely to be obese

In Benin, 12.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 85.3% more likely to die by suicide

Benin has a suicide rate of 7.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Norway, it is 13.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 66.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Benin, 36.2% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Norway, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2021.

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make 57.0 times more money

Benin has a GDP per capita of $1,658 as of 2025, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $94,594 as of 2025.

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be 2.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In Benin, 1.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Norway, that number is 4.6% as of 2025.

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Life

be 99.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Benin, approximately 518.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Norway, 1.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 95.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Benin, approximately 45.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Norway, on the other hand, 2.0 children do as of 2024.

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have 71.0% fewer children

In Benin, there are approximately 33.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Norway, there are 9.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 75.4% more likely to have access to electricity

In Benin, approximately 57% of people have electricity access (70% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Norway, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.9 times more likely to have internet access

In Benin, approximately 34.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Norway, about 99.0% do as of 2024.

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be 43.7% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Benin, approximately 70% of people have access to drinking water (76% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 68.1% more on education

Benin spends 3.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Norway spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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spend 2.8 times more on healthcare

Benin spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Norway, that number is 9.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 207.8 times more coastline

Benin has a total of 121 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

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Safety

be 94.0% less likely to die in a road accident

In Benin, road accidents kill 24.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Norway, they kill 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 161.3 times more home broadband

Benin has 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Norway has 45.2 as of 2024.

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use 206.5 times more electricity

Benin uses 115 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Norway uses 23,673 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 2.1 times more strain on fresh water

Benin withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Norway withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 89.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Benin, air pollution causes 77.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Norway, it causes 8.0 as of 2019.

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emit 14.7 times more CO2

Benin emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Norway emits 7.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. How we calculate this

Norway: At a glance

Norway is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 304,282 sq km. Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. Key domestic issues include immigration and integration of ethnic minorities, maintaining the country's extensive social safety net with an aging population, and preserving economic competitiveness.
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