Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 8.6 years longer

In Greenland, the average life expectancy is 74 years (71 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2022. In Norway, that number is 83 years (80 years for men, 85 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 32.9% more money

Greenland has a GDP per capita of $68,100 as of 2021, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $90,500 as of 2023.

be 60.7% less likely to be unemployed

In Greenland, 9.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2015. In Norway, that number is 3.6% as of 2023.

be 24.7% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Greenland, 16.2% live below the poverty line as of 2015. In Norway, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2021.

Life

be 73.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Greenland, approximately 8.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Norway, on the other hand, 2.3 children do as of 2022.

have 23.0% fewer children

In Greenland, there are approximately 13.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Norway, there are 10.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 42.4% more likely to have internet access

In Greenland, approximately 69.5% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Norway, about 99.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 42.2% less on education

Greenland spends 10.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2019. Norway spends 5.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

Geography

see 43.0% less coastline

Greenland has a total of 44,087 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

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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How big is Norway compared to Greenland? See an in-depth size comparison.

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