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

Health

live 14.3 years longer

In Eritrea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 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 110.0 times more spent on your healthcare

Eritrea spends $87 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Norway spends $9,523 as of 2023.

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have 56.5 times more doctors per person

Eritrea has 0.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Norway has 49.8 as of 2023.

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have 93.3% more access to essential health services

Eritrea scores 45 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Norway scores 87 as of 2021.

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be 4.7 times more likely to be obese

In Eritrea, 4.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 22.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Eritrea, 6.0% 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 99.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In Eritrea, approximately 291.0 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 91.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Eritrea, approximately 24.7 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 66.2% fewer children

In Eritrea, there are approximately 28.7 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 83.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Eritrea, approximately 54% of people have electricity access (77% in urban areas, and 37% 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 3.7 times more likely to have internet access

In Eritrea, approximately 26.6% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Norway, about 99.0% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 2.6 times more on healthcare

Eritrea spends 3.7% 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 11.3 times more coastline

Eritrea has a total of 2,234 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

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Safety

be 91.5% less likely to die in a road accident

In Eritrea, road accidents kill 17.7 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 265.6 times more home broadband

Eritrea has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Norway has 45.2 as of 2024.

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live with 81.8% less strain on fresh water

Eritrea withdraws 11% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Norway withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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use 191.9 times more electricity

Eritrea uses 123 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Norway uses 23,673 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 89.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In Eritrea, air pollution causes 78.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Norway, it causes 8.0 as of 2019.

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emit 32.6 times more CO2

Eritrea emits 0.2 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 (2022–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2022), 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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