Norway
Norway is high performing in all categories of the Global State of Democracy framework, and performs among the top 25 per cent of countries globally on every metric. Between 2019-2024, Norway’s performance declined in Judicial Independence, particularly in measures of compliance with the judiciary; yet it remains high performing. Recently, the Parliament unanimously approved constitutional amendments to improve constitutional protection for the independence of courts and judges. Norway has an advanced, competitive economy marked by low economic inequality, though recent trends show income inequality on the rise. Returns from the oil and gas sector have allowed Norway to build the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world. This has become a major asset for financing the welfare state—even if limited by strict fiscal policies in its spending.
Norwegian political culture is based on core values like egalitarianism and corporatism, and is generally characterized by incremental measures. This, in combination with a long tradition of coalition governments and a consensual form of decision-making that emphasizes the inclusion of a wide range of interests above majority rule, has resulted in a low level of political polarization.
Recently, Norway’s historically stable formula of the same five parties in parliament has been replaced by further party and issue plurality. National political competition has been marked by debates about the economic and social inclusion of immigrants, security, youth crime and prevention, management of the pension fund, energy policy, and environmental protections onshore and offshore. The Oil Fund has become the site of growing political tension as nearly a third of Norwegians have come to conceive of climate change as among the country’s biggest political challenges. Beyond climate-related concerns, disapproval of the limited social spending from oil funds has further been a driver of populism among lower-income groups. Such populist sentiments, even if currently in decline, have come to structure debates on both taxation and (later) immigration. The disadvantaged position faced by Norway’s Indigenous people and national minorities—including the Roma people—persists in the labour market and in access to education and cultural resources.
Norway is high performing in Gender Equality. Norwegian women have high levels of educational attainment and labour force participation—including in politics and the military—due to the country’s student financing, parental leave and affordable childcare systems. Recent legislation improved women’s access to healthcare by guaranteeing the right to follow-up care after an abortion or miscarriage, while strengthening protections against abortion through force or coercion—the first change in abortion law since 1978. Norway criminalized conversion therapy in 2023, including forcible attempts to change a person's gender identity.
Looking ahead, it will be important to monitor Social Group Equality, particularly in light of recent steps to promote greater inclusion. These include reconciliation measures addressing Norway’s past policy of forced assimilation of Sámi, Forest Finns and Kven minorities, as well as new protections for Sámi culture and livelihoods following a 2021 Supreme Court ruling that found rights violations related to a windfarm built on Sámi land. Additionally, the recent adoption of more stringent sexual violence provisions criminalizing sex without explicit consent should be observed for impacts on Gender Equality.
Last updated: June 2025
https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/
September 2025
Highest voter turnout since 1989 reached in parliamentary elections
The September parliamentary elections saw the highest voter turnout since 1989, with 80.1 per cent (roughly 3.3 million votes) of the total 4.1 million registered voters participating. While voter turnout has been fairly stable since the 1990s, 2025 saw a notable increase. In particular, voter turnout among immigrants and Norwegian-born people with an immigrant background in Oslo increased by 9 percentage points from 2021. Record numbers of Norwegian citizens voted in the advance voting period, comprising 63 per cent of total votes cast. Voters were galvanised by frustrations over rising living costs, public spending and economic inequalities, in particular debates about the wealth tax. Additionally, both the Red-Green alliance and the Centre-Right alliance included parties fighting to pass the 4.0 per cent electoral threshold (including the Green party, the Christian People’s party and the Liberal party), contributing to a perception that every vote matters.
Sources: International IDEA, Forskning.no, NRK, The Guardian, Valgdirektoratet
September 2025
Incumbent Labour Party wins parliamentary elections, Progress Party doubles seats
On 8 September, Norway held parliamentary elections to fill all 169 seats of the Storting, the country’s unicameral legislature. Jonas Gahr Støre’s incumbent Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiert) received the highest vote share with 28.0 per cent of the vote, securing 53 seats, and ran in the election with the support of the Red-Green alliance. The right-wing Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) came second with 23.8 per cent of the vote (47 seats), more than doubling its support from the last elections in 2021. The Right (Høyre) came third with 14.6 per cent of the vote (24 seats), losing 12 seats and its position as the right-wing bloc’s leading opposition forceparty. The proportion of women in Parliament will be 40.2 per cent, down from 45.0 per cent in 2021. This parliamentary election saw the highest voter turnout since 1989, reaching 80.1 per cent, up from 77.2 per cent in the 2021 elections.
Sources: Valgdirektoratet, Statistics Norway, NRK, IPU Parline, International IDEA
June 2025
Parliament approves stricter consent laws
On 20 June, Parliament approved changes to the criminal code (Chapter 26 on sexual offenses) to explicitly criminalize sex without consent. Under the amendments, sex without consent, given either in words or actions, becomes a criminal offense, punishable by up to six years in prison. Additionally, cases where a person engages in sexual intercourse despite the other party expressing a refusal carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Previously, penalties for rape were limited to cases involving violence, threatening behaviour, or situations where the victim is unable to resist. The amendments also strengthen protections against the sexual exploitation of minors. The legislation enters into force on 1 July.
Sources: Stortinget, NRK, The Local, Regjeringen, Lovdata, Ja Til Samtykkelov
December 2024
Parliament votes to extend legal period for abortion
On 12 December, Parliament passed its first abortion law changes since 1978. The legislation extends the legal period for self-determined abortion from 12 to 18 weeks of pregnancy. New tribunals will assess applications for people seeking abortions after 18 weeks, which must be composed of a majority of female medical and legal experts. The amendments ensure the right to follow-up care after a self-determined abortion or miscarriage. They also include provisions to strengthen the right of minors and people with disabilities to a self-determined abortion, as well as the right to information and guidance, and prohibit abortion through force or coercion. In 2019, UN experts expressed concern that people with disabilities are subjected to involuntary abortion. The changes are based on recommendations set out by the Abortion Committee, a public committee of healthcare professionals, lawyers and academics, in a December 2023 report. The amendments enter into force on 1 June 2025.
Sources: NRK, Regjeringen (1), Regjeringen (2), Jurist, Abortutvalget, VG, UN, Women’s Rights Association (NKF)
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