Norway: environment

What are Norway's greenhouse gas emissions?

Norway's greenhouse gas emissions were 44.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2025, 1.2% less than in 2024 and 13.9% below 1990, according to Statistics Norway. Oil and gas extraction emitted 10.9 million tonnes and manufacturing and mining 10.7 million tonnes.

Emissions from oil and gas extraction are 32.5% higher than in 1990, while emissions from manufacturing are 44% lower. The figures exclude land use and forestry. The figures were published on 4 June 2026, and the next update is due on 4 November 2026.

Official sources: SSB: Emissions to air

Where does Norway's electricity come from?

Hydro power produced 89.4% of Norway's electricity in August 2026, according to Statistics Norway. Total generation was 10,329 GWh, 8.0% less than in August 2025. Wind power provided 824 GWh, or 8.0%, and solar 55.8 GWh.

Hydro dominates every month, but its output depends on rainfall, snowmelt and reservoir levels, so production and exports vary from year to year. SSB publishes electricity statistics monthly; the next update is due on 19 October 2026.

Official sources: SSB: Electricity

How many electric cars are there in Norway?

945,185 electric private cars were registered in Norway at the end of 2025, 19.8% more than a year earlier, according to Statistics Norway. That was about 32% of the 2,944,403 private cars on the road. The number of electric cars has risen 178% since 2020.

The figures cover all registered private cars, not new sales, so the share changes gradually as older cars are replaced. SSB publishes the registered vehicles statistics once a year.

Official sources: SSB: Registered vehicles

How warm was 2025 in Norway?

2025 was the warmest year ever recorded in Norway, with the national temperature 1.5 degrees above the 1991 to 2020 normal, according to the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Compared with the pre-industrial period 1871 to 1900, it was 2.8 degrees warmer.

Trøndelag had its warmest year, 1.8 degrees above normal. MET carried out an attribution analysis for the first time, which links the high temperatures strongly to human-caused climate change.

Official sources: MET: 2025 is the warmest year we have measured (Norwegian)

What are Norway's CO2 emissions per person?

The latest figure from the European Commission's EDGAR database, for 2024, is 7.2 tonnes. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Europe & Central Asia median: 5.1 tonnes; Norway is 9th highest of 46. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 30th highest.

What are Norway's total greenhouse gas emissions?

In 2024, total greenhouse gas emissions in Norway was 53.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 53.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and Norway placed 23rd highest of 46. Worldwide: 74th of 186.

What share of Norway's energy comes from renewables?

The latest figure from the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO, for 2021, is 61.4%. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 20.4%, and Norway placed 2nd highest of 50. Worldwide: 36th of 191.

How much of Norway is forest?

According to the FAO, forest area as a share of land in Norway was 33.2% in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2005, at 33.3%; its low point was 2019, at 33.2%. It is 26th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 33.2%. Worldwide: 94th of 190.

What is air pollution like in Norway?

According to the Global Burden of Disease study, average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Norway was 5.5 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. The peak was 9.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2005 and the low 5.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2020. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 13.0 micrograms per cubic metre, and Norway placed 48th highest of 51. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 180th highest.

How much of Norway's land is protected?

In 2025, the share of land in protected areas in Norway was 17.8%, according to the UN Environment Programme. Its high point since 2013 was 2022, at 30.5%; its low point was 2013, at 16.8%. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 22.1%, and Norway placed 34th highest of 51. World rank, highest first: 95th of 192.

How much of Norway's fresh water is used?

According to the FAO, water stress in Norway was 2.0% in 2022. Since 2005 it has ranged from 2.0% (2021) to 2.3% (2007). It is 44th highest of 47 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 12.6%. Of 175 countries with 2022 data, 147th highest.