Norway Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Norway's unemployment rate was 4.64% in 2025, ranked 78th globally. This represents a 15.5% increase from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1980–2025.
Overview
Norway's unemployment rate stood at 4.64% in 2025, a rise of +0.62pp from 2024. The IMF projects 4.30% by 2025. Norway ranked 78th globally.
Norway’s unemployment rate has risen modestly from its all‑time trough of 1.65 % in 1980 to a peak of 6.31 % in 1995, reflecting the structural adjustments of the early 1990s, before settling at 4.64 % in 2025, which places the country 78th in the global ranking. Over the 46‑year series, the labour market has shown resilience, with the post‑crisis peak receding and the rate hovering near the low‑mid‑four‑percent range for most of the last decade. This performance is comparable to Ireland’s 4.63 % and the United Kingdom’s 4.75 % in the same year, indicating that Norway’s labour market remains slightly tighter than many advanced economies. The recent figure suggests a stable environment, yet any significant shifts in oil prices, fiscal policy, or demographic trends could alter the trajectory, potentially nudging the unemployment rate either upward or further downwards in the coming years.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2030* IMF | 3.80% | - | - |
| 2029* IMF | 3.90% | - | - |
| 2028* IMF | 4.00% | - | - |
| 2027* IMF | 4.10% | - | - |
| 2026* IMF | 4.20% | - | - |
| 2025* IMF | 4.30% | - | - |
| 2025 | 4.64% | +0.62pp | #78 |
| 2024 | 4.00% | +0.41pp | #70 |
| 2023 | 3.57% | +0.32pp | #63 |
| 2022 | 3.23% | −1.18pp | #43 |
| 2021 | 4.36% | −0.24pp | #53 |
| 2020 | 4.42% | +0.70pp | #53 |
| 2019 | 3.68% | −0.17pp | #58 |
| 2018 | 3.80% | −0.42pp | #54 |
| 2017 | 4.16% | −0.58pp | #63 |
| 2016 | 4.68% | +0.15pp | #69 |
| 2015 | 4.30% | +0.68pp | #57 |
| 2014 | 3.49% | −0.29pp | #42 |
| 2013 | 3.43% | +0.13pp | #40 |
| 2012 | 3.13% | −0.24pp | #30 |
| 2011 | 3.20% | −0.60pp | #32 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Norway matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2021. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Norway's unemployment rate was 4.64% in 2025. Ranked 78th globally. This represents a 15.5% increase from the previous year.
Norway's unemployment rate peaked at 6.31% in 1995.
The lowest unemployment rate in Norway was 1.65% in 1980.
Norway ranks 78th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
Norway's unemployment rate is projected to reach 4.30% by 2025 based on IMF projection.
The unemployment rate of Norway in 2025 was 4.64%. This ranks 78th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_norway_unemployment-rate,
title = {Norway Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/norway/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}