Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Norway: Energy
Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?
Norway is placed 2nd of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 29.64 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 98.61 (2024).
Share
Energy
2nd
of 165 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics
01The evidence
The 3 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Norway on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
29.64
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Norway: 29.64. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.
- World median
- 433.75
- Best in Northern Europe
- 27.82 Iceland
- Land neighbours
- Finland 66.91 · Sweden 34.91
98.61
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Norway: 98.61. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.
- World median
- 32.06
- Best in Northern Europe
- 100 Iceland
- Land neighbours
- Finland 55.78 · Sweden 69.33
Key 3 of 3
World Energy Trilemma Index
World Energy Council
2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
79.9
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 8th of 99 by World Energy Council
Norway: 79.9. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.
- World median
- 63.8
- Best in Northern Europe
- 83.2 Denmark
- Land neighbours
- Finland 82.7 · Russia 66.1 · Sweden 83.1
02Over time
Which way Norway is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better
NorwayWorld median
Norway rose from 25.7 in 2000 to 29.64 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.
Every year’s figures
Year Norway World median 2024 29.643 433.7 2023 30.450 452.7 2022 29.604 476.3 2021 26.901 469.0 2020 30.417 482.0 2019 33.460 488.2 2018 33.151 500.4 2017 32.920 506.3 2016 33.149 521.9 2015 33.699 524.8 2014 33.894 522.3 2013 33.927 508.8 2012 32.152 525.4 2011 38.323 521.4 2010 42.854 515.5 2009 39.093 533.6 2008 27.403 517.2 2007 28.580 535.3 2006 27.867 537.5 2005 27.038 521.4 2004 27.838 523.1 2003 27.637 543.1 2002 26.505 551.3 2001 26.855 559.3 2000 25.695 540.3 Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better
NorwayWorld median
Norway fell from 99.71 in 2000 to 98.61 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.
Every year’s figures
Year Norway World median 2024 98.606 32.062 2023 98.470 28.000 2022 98.645 28.881 2021 99.319 28.286 2020 98.516 27.125 2019 97.938 26.296 2018 98.020 25.505 2017 98.118 24.023 2016 98.054 22.218 2015 97.951 21.915 2014 97.913 21.151 2013 97.957 21.593 2012 98.228 19.869 2011 96.808 18.584 2010 95.793 18.572 2009 96.572 17.886 2008 99.405 15.923 2007 99.140 15.586 2006 99.324 15.392 2005 99.468 16.438 2004 99.355 16.445 2003 99.400 16.339 2002 99.585 13.826 2001 99.522 14.023 2000 99.712 15.612
03In context
Norway beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.
Norway and the countries it borders
Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) | Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated) | World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 2nd | 29.64 | 98.61 | 79.9 |
 Sweden | 6th | 34.91 | 69.33 | 83.1 |
 Finland | 13th | 66.91 | 55.78 | 82.7 |
 Russia | not placed | — | — | 66.1 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Northern Europe
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.
Placed either side on energy
The countries immediately above and below Norway in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Norway is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median6
Statistics on which Norway does better than the middle country measured.
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3298.6137.32▲ Improved since 2014
Norway: 98.61 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Position 10th of 162 · derived.
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.776.02325.77No earlier reading
Norway: 6.023 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.
Position 161st of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2377.148.23▼ Worsened since 2013
Norway: 77.1 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2669.4833.26▼ Worsened since 2013
Norway: 69.48 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.859.26724.85No earlier reading
Norway: 9.267 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.2799.6275.279▼ Worsened since 2014
Norway: 9.627 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.
Behind the world median2
Statistics on which Norway does worse than the middle country measured.
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7383.0062.738▲ Improved since 2014
Norway: 3.006 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.
CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.216.6683.21▲ Improved since 2014
Norway: 6.668 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.
Position 43rd of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare4
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
Norway: 100 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 100100100▼ Worsened since 2014
Norway: 100 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 100100100No real change since 2016
Norway: 100 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000▲ Improved since 2014
Norway: 0 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.
No better end12
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0130.920No real change since 2014
Norway: 130.92 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8588.8312.85Moved since 2014
Norway: 88.83 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 01,8580No real change since 2015
Norway: 1,858 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0779.4190.077No real change since 2014
Norway: 9.419 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.5206.6149.5No real change since 2014
Norway: 206.61 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1005,803100No earlier reading
Norway: 5,803 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.8020.144Moved since 2014
Norway: 0.802 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.5850.9362.585Moved since 2014
Norway: 0.936 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Norway: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0490.3373.049Moved since 2014
Norway: 0.337 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 0-11.740No real change since 2014
Norway: -11.74 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.
Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2732.7614.273No earlier reading
Norway: 2.761 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.
No current reading for Norway
Operating Coal Power Capacity, RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Energy among Norway’s 16 topics
Energy is Norway’s 3rd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Democracy & Civil Liberties1st of 1984/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital2nd of 1963/3 keys
- Energy2nd of 1653/3 keys
- Governance & Institutions4th of 1944/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing9th of 2003/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience10th of 1934/4 keys
- Gender & Equality11th of 1834/4 keys
- Poverty & Inequality11th of 1593/3 keys
- Economy & Innovation14th of 1764/4 keys
- Peace & Security29th of 1774/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 31st of 1824/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge37th of 1983/4 keys
- Digital & Technology44th of 1984/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture47th of 1844/4 keys
- Mobility & Tradejoint 48th of 1774/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability102nd of 1864/4 keys
06The top of the list
Who leads on energy
The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Norway can most readily be measured against.
1
BhutanSouthern Asia
1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
- 2Norway
Northern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
UgandaEastern Africa
3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys
Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Europe
Norway2nd3/3 keys
Positions out of 165 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Questions
Norway on energy: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Norway rank on energy?
Norway is placed 2nd of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Norway?
29.64 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.
What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Norway?
98.61 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.
How does Norway compare with Russia on energy?
Russia is not placed on Energy, holding too few of its key statistics, and Norway 2nd. World Energy Trilemma Index: Russia 66.1, Norway 79.9.
How have Norway’s energy figures changed?
Carbon Intensity of Electricity rose from 25.7 in 2000 to 29.64 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation fell from 99.71 in 2000 to 98.61 in 2024.
Which energy statistics are missing for Norway?
No current reading is published for Norway on Operating Coal Power Capacity, RISE Clean Cooking Policy Score and RISE Electricity Access Policy Score. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
08Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.
How the Energy standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.
The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
- World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Norway’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Norway (banner) — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Norway: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/norway/energy