BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 5

Norway is internationally recognized as one of the global leaders in gender equality and has developed a comprehensive approach based on equal rights, economic participation, political representation, and social protection. Gender equality is a central principle of Norwegian public policy and is integrated into legislation, education, labour market policies, and family policies. The country has implemented measures such as parental leave schemes, gender quotas for corporate boards, and initiatives to increase women’s participation in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Despite its strong performance, Norway continues to face challenges related to SDG 5. These include the persistence of gender segregation in the labour market, differences in income and pensions between men and women, unequal distribution of unpaid care work, and gender-based violence. Particular attention is also given to improving equality among Indigenous Sámi women and addressing discrimination affecting minority groups.

LIST OF REFERENCES

Government of Norway. (n.d.). Women’s rights and gender equality. The United Nations. https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/foreign-affairs/the-un/innsikt/womens_rights/id439433/

Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation. (n.d.). Norwegian efforts on gender equality. NORAD. https://www.norad.no/en/insight2/tematiske-omrader/gender-equality/norwegian-efforts-on-gender-equality/

Research Council of Norway. (2025). Tax policy and gender equality in Norway. Kilden Gender Research. https://www.forskningsradet.no/siteassets/publikasjoner/2025/policy-brief_tax-policy-and-gender-equality-in-norway_kilden.pdf

United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.). Norway: Human Development Report data. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data/countries/NOR

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). SDG indicators: Norway country profile. United Nations. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/nor

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.). Norway. United Nations Human Rights Office. https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/norway

UN Women. (2021). Partners for change: Norway. UN Women. https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/Partnerships/Donor%20Countries/Partners-for-change-Norway-en.pdf

UN Women. (n.d.). Norway: Step It Up commitments. UN Women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/step-it-up/commitments/norway

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (n.d.). Norway. OECD. https://www.oecd.org/en/countries/norway.html

Sachs, J. D., Lafortune, G., Fuller, G., & Iablonovski, G. (2025). Norway: Sustainable Development Report 2025. Sustainable Development Report. https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/norway/

USEFUL LINKS

• Country report/Voluntary National Reviews

  • https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/foreign-affairs/the-un/innsikt/womens_rights/id439433/

  • https://www.norad.no/en/insight2/tematiske-omrader/gender-equality/norwegian-efforts-on-gender-equality/

  • https://www.forskningsradet.no/siteassets/publikasjoner/2025/policy-brief_tax-policy-and-gender-equality-in-norway_kilden.pdf 

• Bibliography and UN pages about this country:

  • UNPD: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data/countries/NOR

  • UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/nor 

  • UN human rights: https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/norway 

  • UN Women: https://www.unwomen.se/ 

  • OECD UN: https://www.oecd.org/en/countries/norway.html 

  • UN WOWEN pdf: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/Partnerships/Donor%20Countries/Partners-for-change-Norway-en.pdf 

  • UN WOMEN count: https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/step-it-up/commitments/norway