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EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Political and economic situation

Norway

1.Political, social and economic background and trends

1.4Political and economic situation

Last update: 27 November 2023

Economic situation

Norway is a country with a highly educated population and extensive natural resources, as well as an open economy. The expansion of petroleum industry activity has been a key driver for economic growth in Norway over several decades. Growing petroleum industry demand has boosted mainland economic activity and contributed to higher revenues and an increasing number of well-paid jobs. The petroleum industry will remain important for the Norwegian economy for decades to come, but the dramatic oil price fall in 2014 as well as environmental arguments for heading towards a low-carbon emission society have called upon the government to reduce the production of oil and gas in Norway. The key challenge for Norway is to create new, profitable jobs in the private sector exposed to international competition. There is a need for new activity that can promote high employment and high overall economic growth, in order to safeguard the level of welfare.

For more detailed information in English on recent economic development, see: Key Figures in the National Budget 2023 and OECD Economic Forecast Summary for Norway.

 

Educational attainment of the adult population

Education at a Glance 2022 shows that the Norwegian population has a relatively high level of education. In Norway, 46% of the population in the age group 26–64 had higher education. By comparison, the EU average was 38%. The share of the Norwegian population with a master's degree is however lower than the average in the OECD and EU countries. The percentage of the population for whom an upper secondary education was their highest level of education was 34% for Norway while the EU average was 40%. The percentage of the population without upper secondary education was 17% in Norway and 16% in the EU countries.

Educational attainment of 25-64 year-olds (2021).

 

Below Upper secondary

Upper secondary

Post secondary

non- tertiary

Short cycle tertiary

Bachelor

Master

Doctoral or equivalent

Norway

17

34

2

11

21

13

1

OECD

20

36

6

7

19

14

1

EU22

16

40

6

5

15

17

1

 Source: Education at a Glance 2022 Table A1.1