Norway Rate of Natural Increase

Norway's rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between birth and death rates, excluding migration—has been modest in recent years, reflecting broader demographic trends in Northern Europe. As of the early 2020s, Norway’s RNI hovers just above zero, with a birth rate of around 10 per 1,000 and a death rate close to 8 per 1,000, resulting in a slow but positive natural population growth. In comparison, neighboring Sweden and Denmark exhibit similarly low RNIs, with Sweden’s natural increase also marginally positive and Denmark’s occasionally dipping into negative territory, largely due to aging populations and low fertility rates. Finland, another neighbor, has experienced a negative RNI in recent years, as deaths have outpaced births. While all these countries benefit from high standards of living and robust healthcare, their low fertility rates and aging populations pose challenges for sustaining natural population growth, making immigration an increasingly important factor in overall population change.

Data from US Census International Database