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

Health

be 98.9% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Namibia, 9.0% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 0.1% of people as of 2024.

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live 15.6 years longer

In Namibia, the average life expectancy is 68 years (63 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 8.9 times more spent on your healthcare

Namibia spends $1,068 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Norway spends $9,523 as of 2023.

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have 9.0 times more doctors per person

Namibia has 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Norway has 49.8 as of 2023.

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have 38.1% more access to essential health services

Namibia scores 63 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Norway scores 87 as of 2021.

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be 10.6% more likely to be obese

In Namibia, 18.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2024.

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be 53.6% more likely to die by suicide

Namibia has a suicide rate of 8.6 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 75.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Namibia, 19.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Norway, that number is 4.6% as of 2025.

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make 19.4 times more money

Namibia has a GDP per capita of $4,876 as of 2025, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $94,594 as of 2025.

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Life

be 99.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Namibia, approximately 139.0 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 94.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Namibia, approximately 36.4 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 62.5% fewer children

In Namibia, there are approximately 25.9 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 76.4% more likely to have access to electricity

In Namibia, approximately 57% of people have electricity access (75% in urban areas, and 34% 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 52.6% more likely to have internet access

In Namibia, approximately 64.9% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Norway, about 99.0% do as of 2024.

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be 15.6% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Namibia, approximately 87% of people have access to drinking water (96% in urban areas, and 74% 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 40.2% less on education

Namibia spends 9.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Norway spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

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Geography

see 16.0 times more coastline

Namibia has a total of 1,572 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

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Safety

be 93.6% less likely to be murdered

Namibia has a homicide rate of 11.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Norway, that number is 0.7 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 93.2% less likely to die in a road accident

In Namibia, road accidents kill 22.0 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 16.0 times more home broadband

Namibia has 2.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Norway has 45.2 as of 2024.

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use 19.2 times more electricity

Namibia uses 1,232 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Norway uses 23,673 kWh as of 2024.

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live with 6.6 times more strain on fresh water

Namibia withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Norway withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 81.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Namibia, air pollution causes 43.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Norway, it causes 8.0 as of 2019.

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emit 6.0 times more CO2

Namibia emits 1.2 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 (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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