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

Health

live 6.6 years longer

In Thailand, the average life expectancy is 77 years (72 years for men, 81 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

Thailand spends $1,067 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Norway spends $9,523 as of 2023.

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have 9.2 times more doctors per person

Thailand has 5.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Norway has 49.8 as of 2023.

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be 20.5% less likely to die by suicide

Thailand has a suicide rate of 16.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Norway, it is 13.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 23.4% more likely to be obese

In Thailand, 16.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 11.7 times more money

Thailand has a GDP per capita of $8,057 as of 2025, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $94,594 as of 2025.

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be 5.9 times more likely to be unemployed

In Thailand, 0.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Norway, that number is 4.6% as of 2025.

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be 2.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Thailand, 5.4% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Norway, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2021.

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Life

be 97.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Thailand, approximately 34.0 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 74.0% less likely to die during infancy

In Thailand, approximately 7.7 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 19.5% more children

In Thailand, there are approximately 8.1 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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Expenditures

spend 2.2 times more on education

Thailand spends 2.5% 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 2.1 times more on healthcare

Thailand spends 4.5% 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 7.8 times more coastline

Thailand has a total of 3,219 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

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Safety

be 94.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Thailand, road accidents kill 25.4 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 3.0 times more home broadband

Thailand has 14.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Norway has 45.2 as of 2024.

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live with 91.1% less strain on fresh water

Thailand withdraws 23% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Norway withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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use 8.0 times more electricity

Thailand uses 2,965 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Norway uses 23,673 kWh as of 2024.

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Environment

be 72.4% less likely to die from air pollution

In Thailand, air pollution causes 29.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Norway, it causes 8.0 as of 2019.

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emit 81.3% more CO2

Thailand emits 4.0 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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