Safest cities in Norway
4 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in NorwayTerrorist attacks in Norway cannot be ruled out.
Political demonstrations
- Demonstrations in Norway are usually peaceful. If you’re near areas where demonstrations are taking place, follow the advice of local authorities and move away if there are signs of disorder.
Crime
- There’s a small risk of petty theft, particularly at airports and railway stations in and around Oslo.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugsIllegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
- DronesTo fly any type of drone in Norway you need to be registered as an operator in either Norway or an EU/EFTA country and have liability insurance. Other conditions apply and certain areas are no fly zones. Familiarise yourself with local requirements at Norwegian civil aviation authority website.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Get information about the risk of avalanches from the Norwegian Avalanche Warning Service or the European Avalanche Warning Services.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Norway, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road in the RAC’s Norway guide. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.
- Arctic travelNearly half of Norway is in the Arctic Circle, including some very remote areas of land and sea. Emergency medical assistance and search and rescue are limited in these areas. See Arctic travel safety advice.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- Climate and temperatureThe weather can change quickly, producing Arctic conditions even in summer on exposed mountain tops. Extreme weather can cause floods and landslides.
- WildfiresThere is a risk of wildfires, especially during hot and dry periods. Police enforce bans on campfires in many areas.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Norway, updated 2026-08-25 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 0.7 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 26.52023
- Human development
- HDI 0.9702023
- Income
- $107,770/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 2.1 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 81/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 91/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 81/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 2.0/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.92GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 5.5 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 99%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 5.0 doctors /1k3.3 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 5.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 1.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Norway (as of 2025).
How Norway compares
| Measure | Norway | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.7 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.7 /100k — better for Norway |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 26.5 | 35.2 | −8.7 — better for Norway |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.970 | 0.763 | +0.207 — better for Norway |
| Road deaths | 2.1 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −13.3 /100k — better for Norway |
| Rule of law | 91/100 | 52/100 | +39/100 — better for Norway |
| Corruption perceptions | 81/100 | 39/100 | +42/100 — better for Norway |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 5.5 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −14.2 µg/m³ — better for Norway |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.0/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.8/10 — better for Norway |
| Measure | Norway | Europe median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.7 /100k | 1.0 /100k | −0.3 /100k — better for Norway |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 26.5 | 30.7 | −4.2 — better for Norway |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.970 | 0.907 | +0.063 — better for Norway |
| Road deaths | 2.1 /100k | 5.8 /100k | −3.7 /100k — better for Norway |
| Rule of law | 91/100 | 73/100 | +18/100 — better for Norway |
| Corruption perceptions | 81/100 | 56/100 | +26/100 — better for Norway |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 5.5 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | −6.3 µg/m³ — better for Norway |
| Natural-hazard risk | 2.0/10 | 2.5/10 | −0.5/10 — better for Norway |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.