Inactivity rate in Norway
Norway: Inactivity rate was 41.92 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Inactivity rate in Norway, 2004–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
Norway recorded 41.92 for inactivity rate in 2025. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, inactivity rate in Norway peaked at 41.92 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 36.2, in 2013.
That places Norway 21st out of 57 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Inactivity rate in Norway, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 38.78 | — |
| 2005 | 38.07 | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 39 | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 39.21 | +0.5% |
| 2008 | 38.35 | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 37.12 | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 37.8 | +1.8% |
| 2011 | 37.59 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 36.95 | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 36.2 | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 37.58 | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 37.91 | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 39.85 | +5.1% |
| 2017 | 40.91 | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 39.47 | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 38.94 | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 40.44 | +3.9% |
| 2021 | 40.89 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 39.87 | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 39.97 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 40.65 | +1.7% |
| 2025 | 41.92 | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.42 | 37.12 | 39.21 | 6 |
| 2010s | 38.32 | 36.2 | 40.91 | 10 |
| 2020s | 40.62 | 39.87 | 41.92 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More gender data for Norway
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 850.35 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9674 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 26,013 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 27,570 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 26,104 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 27,639 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 26,158 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 27,600 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 27,579 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 28,930 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is inactivity rate in Norway?
- Inactivity rate in Norway was 41.92 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest inactivity rate recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 41.92 in 2025.
- What is the lowest inactivity rate recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 36.2 in 2013.
- How does Norway rank for inactivity rate?
- Norway ranks 21st out of 57 countries with data for 2025.
- Is inactivity rate rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Inactivity rate (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. This indicator conveys the number of persons of working age outside the labour force (that is, not employed or unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the working-age population. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.