Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Norway
Norway: Social protection spending as share of total government spending was 37.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Norway, 2007–2024
Source: OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of government expenditure.
Analysis
In 2024, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Norway stood at 37.6%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 4.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, social protection spending as share of total government spending in Norway peaked at 39.9% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 37.0%, in 2007.
Norway ranks 15th of 37 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Norway, year by year
| Year | % of government expenditure | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 37.0% | — |
| 2008 | 37.5% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 38.4% | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 38.9% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 39.3% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 39.9% | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 39.7% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 39.4% | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 39.6% | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 39.8% | +0.5% |
| 2017 | 39.4% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 38.9% | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 38.3% | -1.8% |
| 2020 | 38.1% | -0.5% |
| 2021 | 38.5% | +1.2% |
| 2022 | 37.4% | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 37.4% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 37.6% | +0.4% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 37.6% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 37.5%, 1.0× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- Norway's 37.6% is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.4%, 1.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 37.6% | 37.0% | 38.4% | 3 |
| 2010s | 39.3% | 38.3% | 39.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 37.8% | 37.4% | 38.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Norway
More reference data data for Norway
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3703 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.3621 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0618 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.24 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.7734 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.48 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 6.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.3366 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is social protection spending as share of total government spending in Norway?
- Social protection spending as share of total government spending in Norway was 37.6% in 2024, according to OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 39.9% in 2012.
- What is the lowest social protection spending as share of total government spending recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.0% in 2007.
- How does Norway rank for social protection spending as share of total government spending?
- Norway ranks 15th out of 37 countries with data for 2024.
- Is social protection spending as share of total government spending rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Norway data come from?
- The figures come from OECD (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Social protection spending as share of total government spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 18 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
General government expenditure on social protection. This data is divided by total government expenditure, expressed as a percentage.