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MacroNorway

Government debt in Norway

How indebted is the state my taxes would go to?

Norway's government debt is 54.00 % — #61 of 125 countries on the atlas (lower is better). Period 2025.

54.00%

Checked 24 Oct 2026Period 2025

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook (general government gross debt, % of GDP)

The central government owes about 0.5 years' worth of the country's entire economic output.

Government debt in Norway over time

54.00 %38.90 %23.80 %54.00 % · 199323.80 % · 19981980: 47.90 %1981: 43.50 %1982: 38.60 %1983: 35.50 %1984: 35.30 %1985: 37.00 %1986: 46.10 %1987: 38.60 %1988: 32.60 %1989: 32.50 %1990: 29.10 %1991: 39.50 %1992: 45.30 %1993: 54.00 %1994: 51.00 %1995: 32.90 %1996: 28.60 %1997: 26.00 %1998: 23.80 %1999: 25.10 %2000: 28.80 %2001: 27.30 %2002: 34.00 %2003: 43.10 %2004: 43.80 %2005: 42.10 %2006: 52.20 %2007: 48.90 %2008: 46.80 %2009: 41.70 %2010: 42.10 %2011: 28.90 %2012: 30.20 %2013: 30.60 %2014: 28.80 %2015: 33.20 %2016: 36.70 %2017: 36.90 %2018: 38.10 %2019: 39.00 %2020: 44.30 %2021: 40.10 %2022: 34.80 %2023: 42.40 %2024: 52.80 %2025: 54.00 %19802003202554.00 %
46 official observations, 1980 → 2025. Every point is a published value — never interpolated.
Rank
#61 of 125
lower is better
Ranked behind
51 %
64 of 125 countries
Latest move
▲ 1.20 pp
since 2024
Below its peak
0.00 pp
peak 54.00 % in 1993
Full series
▲ 6.10 pp
since 1980

In Europe: #18 of 37vs median 54.70 %: −0.70 pp (better)

Among 125 countries

6 of 125 countries between 12.30 % and 17.90 %2 of 125 countries between 17.90 % and 23.49 %10 of 125 countries between 23.49 % and 29.09 %11 of 125 countries between 29.09 % and 34.68 %8 of 125 countries between 34.68 % and 40.28 %9 of 125 countries between 40.28 % and 45.88 %7 of 125 countries between 45.88 % and 51.47 %13 of 125 countries between 51.47 % and 57.07 %8 of 125 countries between 57.07 % and 62.66 %10 of 125 countries between 62.66 % and 68.26 %4 of 125 countries between 68.26 % and 73.85 %3 of 125 countries between 73.85 % and 79.45 %7 of 125 countries between 79.45 % and 85.05 %6 of 125 countries between 85.05 % and 90.64 %2 of 125 countries between 90.64 % and 96.24 %6 of 125 countries between 96.24 % and 101.83 %2 of 125 countries between 101.83 % and 107.43 %1 of 125 countries between 107.43 % and 113.02 %2 of 125 countries between 113.02 % and 118.62 %1 of 125 countries between 124.22 % and 129.81 %2 of 125 countries between 135.41 % and 141.00 %5 of 125 countries between 141.00 % and 146.60 %median 54.70 %Norway: ahead of 51 % of the 125 countries with a published government debtNorway 54.00 %12.30 %146.60 %
Half of all 125 countries sit between 36.10 % and 81.70 %. Norway is ahead of 51 % of them. Axis trimmed to the 2nd–98th percentile; 5 values beyond it sit in the end bars.

The neighbourhood

#CountryGovernment debtvs Norway
59 Iraq52.80 %−1.20 pp
60 Angola52.90 %−1.10 pp
61 Norway54.00 %—
62 Ecuador54.50 %+0.50 pp
63 New Zealand54.70 %+0.70 pp

General government gross debt as a share of GDP (IMF World Economic Outlook, annual).

How to read this figure

Central government debt as a share of GDP (World Bank). General government debt (including local government and social funds) can be meaningfully higher; comparisons across countries are indicative.

Next, about Norway

Debt per personGDP growthInflation rate
Government debt, all countries ranked →Compare Norway with another country →Everything about Norway →
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