Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 6.4 years longer

In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022. In Norway, that number is 83 years (80 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

be 48.1% more likely to be obese

In Malaysia, 15.6% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Norway, that number is 23.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 2.4 times more money

Malaysia has a GDP per capita of $26,400 as of 2020, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $63,600 as of 2020.

be 12.7% more likely to be unemployed

In Malaysia, 3.3% of adults are unemployed as of 2019. In Norway, that number is 3.7% as of 2019.

be 2.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Malaysia, 5.6% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Norway, however, that number is 12.7% as of 2018.

pay a 37.6% higher top tax rate

Malaysia has a top tax rate of 28.0% as of 2016. In Norway, the top tax rate is 38.5% as of 2017.

Life

be 93.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Malaysia, approximately 29.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In Norway, 2.0 women do as of 2017.

be 64.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Malaysia, approximately 6.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Norway, on the other hand, 2.3 children do as of 2022.

have 16.2% fewer children

In Malaysia, there are approximately 14.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2022. In Norway, there are 12.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 81.0% more on education

Malaysia spends 4.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Norway spends 7.6% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 2.8 times more on healthcare

Malaysia spends 3.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. In Norway, that number is 10.5% of GDP as of 2019.

Geography

see 5.4 times more coastline

Malaysia has a total of 4,675 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia, Norwegian Tax Administration.

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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How big is Norway compared to Malaysia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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