Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 1.1 years less

In Iceland, the average life expectancy is 84 years (81 years for men, 86 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 36.1% more money

Iceland has a GDP per capita of $66,500 as of 2023, while in Norway, the GDP per capita is $90,500 as of 2023.

pay a 16.8% lower top tax rate

Iceland has a top tax rate of 46.3% as of 2016. In Norway, the top tax rate is 38.5% as of 2017.

be 38.6% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Iceland, 8.8% live below the poverty line as of 2017. In Norway, however, that number is 12.2% as of 2021.

Life

be 33.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Iceland, approximately 3.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Norway, 2.0 women do as of 2020.

be 40.0% more likely to die during infancy

In Iceland, approximately 1.6 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 17.5% fewer children

In Iceland, there are approximately 12.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Norway, there are 10.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Expenditures

spend 23.4% less on education

Iceland spends 7.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Norway spends 5.9% of total GDP on education as of 2020.

spend 18.8% more on healthcare

Iceland spends 9.6% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Norway, that number is 11.4% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 5.1 times more coastline

Iceland has a total of 4,970 km of coastline. In Norway, that number is 25,148 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Norwegian Tax Administration, Directorate of Internal Revenue.

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 Iceland? See an in-depth size comparison.

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