Moving to Norway from Zambia

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Zambia to Norway — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Zambia to Norway, and you’d need to navigate life in Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Oslo averages 49°F vs 80°F in Lusaka, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Zambia to Norway, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
29 ↑ 71% vs 2022

people moved from Zambia to Norway · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Norway?

Top countries of origin for Norway's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Zambia to Norway.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
5.2
NO
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

ZM
17.1
NO
1.5

Norway performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

ZM
$244
NO
$9,523
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

ZM
2.6
NO
51.7

Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

ZM
50.0
NO
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

ZM
0.5t
NO
7.2t

Zambia generally does better on environment, though Norway leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

ZM
0.4
NO
45.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

ZM
2.8%
NO
2.0%

Norway performs significantly better than Zambia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

ZM
5.9%
NO
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

ZM
$3,700
NO
$90,500

Norway generally does better on employment & economy, though Zambia leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

ZM
66.3 yrs
NO
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

ZM
37.1
NO
2.3

Norway performs significantly better than Zambia across all family life metrics.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank, Zambia Revenue Authority

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Oslo Rain: 30.0 in/yr (763 mm)
49° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Lusaka Oslo
Jan–Mar 80°/62°F (27°/17°C) 32°/22°F (0°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) 59°/43°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 79°/55°F (26°/13°C) 66°/51°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 85°/64°F (29°/18°C) 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Lusaka Oslo
Jan 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C) 29°/20°F (-1.8°/-6.8°C)
Feb 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C) 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.8°C)
Mar 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C) 38°/26°F (3.5°/-3.3°C)
Apr 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C) 48°/33°F (9.1°/0.8°C)
May 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C) 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.5°C)
Jun 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C) 69°/51°F (20.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.2°C)
Aug 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C) 68°/52°F (20.1°/11.3°C)
Sep 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.5°C)
Oct 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C) 49°/39°F (9.3°/3.8°C)
Nov 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C) 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.5°C)
Dec 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C) 31°/22°F (-0.5°/-5.6°C)

Data: Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), Norwegian Meteorological Institute Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Zambia and Norway. To live, work, or study long-term in Norway, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Norway's immigration authority.

Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Norway

Visa Required
Zambia passport holders need a visa to enter Norway.
Norway passport

Norway passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
Norway passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Norway?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Norway has 45.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Norway safe for expats?

Norway performs significantly better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Norway is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 in Zambia.

How is healthcare in Norway compared to Zambia?

Zambia generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 51.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Norway, compared to 2.6 in Zambia. Norway scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Zambia: 56).

What's the weather like in Norway compared to Zambia?

The average high temperature in Oslo is 49°F, compared to 80°F in Lusaka. Oslo receives around 30.0 in of rainfall per year, while Lusaka gets 31.4 in.

What language do they speak in Norway?

The official languages in Norway are Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. In Zambia, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

ZM NO
Population 19,642,123 5,553,840
Currency Zambian Kwacha (ZMW) Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Languages English Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +260 +47
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112