If you lived in Norway instead of United Arab Emirates, you would:

Health

be 36.1% less likely to be obese

In United Arab Emirates, 31.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Norway, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 2.6 times more spent on your healthcare

United Arab Emirates spends $3,727 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Norway spends $9,523 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 66.3% more doctors per person

United Arab Emirates has 29.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Norway has 49.8 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 7.7 times more likely to die by suicide

United Arab Emirates has a suicide rate of 1.7 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Norway, it is 13.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 88.2% more money

United Arab Emirates has a GDP per capita of $50,274 as of 2024, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $94,594 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 2.1 times more likely to be unemployed

In United Arab Emirates, 2.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Norway, that number is 4.6% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

be 66.7% less likely to die during childbirth

In United Arab Emirates, approximately 3.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Norway, 1.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 47.4% less likely to die during infancy

In United Arab Emirates, approximately 3.8 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.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 39.6% more on education

United Arab Emirates spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Norway spends 5.4% of total GDP on education as of 2022.

View global rankings →

spend 89.7% more on healthcare

United Arab Emirates spends 5.0% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Norway, that number is 9.4% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Geography

see 19.1 times more coastline

United Arab Emirates has a total of 1,318 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 74.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In United Arab Emirates, road accidents kill 5.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Norway, they kill 1.5 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

find 10.6% more home broadband

United Arab Emirates has 40.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Norway has 45.2 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

live with 99.9% less strain on fresh water

United Arab Emirates withdraws 1510% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Norway withdraws 2% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

use 54.9% more electricity

United Arab Emirates uses 15,285 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Norway uses 23,673 kWh as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Environment

be 88.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In United Arab Emirates, air pollution causes 70.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Norway, it causes 8.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →

emit 60.7% less CO2

United Arab Emirates emits 18.3 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Norway emits 7.2 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →


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.
Read more

How big is Norway compared to United Arab Emirates? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Norway or United Arab Emirates. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.