Most Famous People from Norway

100 Norwegians in view out of 1,203

All 152,953
Norway 1,210
Edvard Munch
Edvard Munch Norwegian Painter 1863 – 1944
#594
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen Norwegian Zoologist 1861 – 1930
#610
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen Norwegian Playwright 1828 – 1906
#643
Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen Norwegian Explorer 1872 – 1928
#726
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg Norwegian Composer 1843 – 1907
#1,431
Thor Heyerdahl
Thor Heyerdahl Norwegian Anthropologist 1914 – 2002
#1,567
Knut Hamsun
Knut Hamsun Norwegian Writer 1859 – 1952
#1,879
Magnus Carlsen
Magnus Carlsen Norwegian Chess Born 1990
#2,123
Vidkun Quisling
Vidkun Quisling Norwegian Politician 1887 – 1945
#2,240
Harald V of Norway
Harald V of Norway Norwegian Monarch Born 1937
#2,918
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII of Norway Norwegian Monarch 1872 – 1957
#3,019
JN
Jo Nesbø Norwegian Novelist Born 1960
#3,319
Olav V of Norway
Olav V of Norway Norwegian Monarch 1903 – 1991
#3,701
SH
Sonja Henie Norwegian Skater 1912 – 1969
#4,192
Niels Henrik Abel
Niels Henrik Abel Norwegian Mathematician 1802 – 1829
#4,350
Sigrid Undset
Sigrid Undset Norwegian Novelist 1882 – 1949
#4,796
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I of Denmark Norwegian Queen 1353 – 1412
#5,044
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson
Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Norwegian Poet 1832 – 1910
#5,070
AR
Alexander Rybak Norwegian Actor Born 1986
#5,928
OI
Olaf II of Norway Norwegian Monarch 993 – 1030
#6,275
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland Norwegian Politician Born 1939
#6,470
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II of Denmark Norwegian Monarch 1481 – 1559
#7,051
Trygve Lie
Trygve Lie Norwegian Politician 1896 – 1968
#7,084
Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania Norwegian Aristocrat 1381 – 1459
#8,644
John Arne Riise
John Arne Riise Norwegian Football Born 1980
#9,255
Jan Garbarek
Jan Garbarek Norwegian Composer Born 1947
#10,002
John Carew
John Carew Norwegian Football Born 1979
#10,676
Theodor Kittelsen
Theodor Kittelsen Norwegian Painter 1857 – 1914
#10,956
PM
Princess Märtha of Sweden Norwegian Princess 1901 – 1954
#12,112
Ole Einar Bjørndalen
Ole Einar Bjørndalen Norwegian Athlete Born 1974
#12,253
Lene Nystrøm
Lene Nystrøm Norwegian Music Born 1973
#12,688
Arne Næss
Arne Næss Norwegian Philosopher 1912 – 2009
#12,959
Henrik Wergeland
Henrik Wergeland Norwegian Poet 1808 – 1845
#13,018
Aurora (singer)
Aurora (singer) Norwegian Singer Born 1996
#13,217
Ivar Aasen
Ivar Aasen Norwegian Philologist 1813 – 1896
#13,683
Harald Fairhair
Harald Fairhair Norwegian King 850 – 933
#13,771
Gustav Vigeland
Gustav Vigeland Norwegian Sculptor 1869 – 1943
#14,698
Ole Gunnar Solskjær
Ole Gunnar Solskjær Norwegian Football Born 1973
#14,916
Sophus Lie
Sophus Lie Norwegian Mathematician 1842 – 1899
#15,049
Mari Boine
Mari Boine Norwegian Singer Born 1956
#16,292
Lene Marlin
Lene Marlin Norwegian Music Born 1980
#16,595
Jon Fosse
Jon Fosse Norwegian Playwright Born 1959
#16,814
Kirsten Flagstad
Kirsten Flagstad Norwegian Singer 1895 – 1962
#16,943
Morten Harket
Morten Harket Norwegian Singer Born 1959
#17,240
Susanne Sundfør
Susanne Sundfør Norwegian Singer Born 1986
#17,337
Einar Gerhardsen
Einar Gerhardsen Norwegian Politician 1897 – 1987
#18,294
May-Britt Moser
May-Britt Moser Norwegian Professor Born 1963
#18,381
Haakon IV of Norway
Haakon IV of Norway Norwegian King 1204 – 1263
#19,079
Ingrid Bolsø Berdal
Ingrid Bolsø Berdal Norwegian Actor Born 1980
#19,662
Bjørn Dæhlie
Bjørn Dæhlie Norwegian Skier Born 1967
#20,200
Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd Norwegian Sport Born 1978
#21,994
EL
Erlend Loe Norwegian Novelist Born 1969
#22,152
Hans Egede
Hans Egede Norwegian Missionary 1686 – 1758
#22,183
Tore André Flo
Tore André Flo Norwegian Football Born 1973
#22,371
Tarjei Vesaas
Tarjei Vesaas Norwegian Poet 1897 – 1970
#22,490
Ihsahn
Ihsahn Norwegian Singer Born 1975
#22,581
John Norum
John Norum Norwegian Singer Born 1964
#22,943
Morten Gamst Pedersen
Morten Gamst Pedersen Norwegian Football Born 1981
#24,000
Henning Berg
Henning Berg Norwegian Football Born 1969
#25,219
Otto Sverdrup
Otto Sverdrup Norwegian Explorer 1854 – 1930
#25,728
Sverre of Norway
Sverre of Norway Norwegian King 1151 – 1202
#25,925
Haakon (Crown Prince of Norway)
Haakon (Crown Prince of Norway) Norwegian Regent Born 1973
#26,486
Helge Ingstad
Helge Ingstad Norwegian Explorer 1899 – 2001
#26,614
Astrid S
Astrid S Norwegian Music Born 1996
#26,634
KF
Karin Fossum Norwegian Writer Born 1954
#26,887
Jonas Lie (writer)
Jonas Lie (writer) Norwegian Writer 1833 – 1908
#27,162
Finn E. Kydland
Finn E. Kydland Norwegian Economist Born 1943
#27,743
Leif Ove Andsnes
Leif Ove Andsnes Norwegian Pianist Born 1970
#28,348
Cashmere Cat
Cashmere Cat Norwegian Producer Born 1987
#28,429
Trygve Haavelmo
Trygve Haavelmo Norwegian Mathematician 1911 – 1999
#28,457
Atle Selberg
Atle Selberg Norwegian Mathematician 1917 – 2007
#29,428
Sigrid (singer)
Sigrid (singer) Norwegian Singer Born 1996
#29,536
Arne Garborg
Arne Garborg Norwegian Writer 1851 – 1924
#29,788
Trygve Bratteli
Trygve Bratteli Norwegian Politician 1910 – 1984
#30,887
Jørgen Moe
Jørgen Moe Norwegian Poet 1813 – 1882
#30,970
Jørn Lande
Jørn Lande Norwegian Singer Born 1968
#31,030
Knute Rockne
Knute Rockne Norwegian Coach 1888 – 1931
#31,962
Peter Nicolai Arbo
Peter Nicolai Arbo Norwegian Painter 1831 – 1892
#32,661
Håvard Nordtveit
Håvard Nordtveit Norwegian Football Born 1990
#32,855
Rolv Wesenlund
Rolv Wesenlund Norwegian Comedian 1936 – 2013
#33,524
Petter Dass
Petter Dass Norwegian Writer 1647 – 1707
#33,823
Alf Prøysen
Alf Prøysen Norwegian Writer 1914 – 1970
#34,309
Tommy Wirkola
Tommy Wirkola Norwegian Film Born 1979
#34,461
Haakon the Good
Haakon the Good Norwegian Monarch 918 – 961
#34,823
Nils Petter Molvær
Nils Petter Molvær Norwegian Trumpet Born 1960
#35,089
Herbjørg Wassmo
Herbjørg Wassmo Norwegian Writer Born 1942
#35,467
Harald Zwart
Harald Zwart Norwegian Film Born 1965
#35,743
Petter Northug
Petter Northug Norwegian Skier Born 1986
#36,001
OD
Ole-Johan Dahl Norwegian Computer Scientist 1931 – 2002
#36,425
Johan Nygaardsvold
Johan Nygaardsvold Norwegian Politician 1879 – 1952
#36,902
Hans Nielsen Hauge
Hans Nielsen Hauge Norwegian Preacher 1771 – 1824
#38,918
SR
Stein Rokkan Norwegian Political Scientist 1921 – 1979
#39,088
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Edvald Boasson Hagen Norwegian Sport Born 1987
#39,740
Ola Gjeilo
Ola Gjeilo Norwegian Composer Born 1978
#40,683
Tarik Elyounoussi
Tarik Elyounoussi Norwegian Football Born 1988
#42,919
Hjalmar Andersen
Hjalmar Andersen Norwegian Skater 1923 – 2013
#42,979
Therese Johaug
Therese Johaug Norwegian Skier Born 1988
#43,495
Silje Nergaard
Silje Nergaard Norwegian Singer Born 1966
#43,951
Thoralf Skolem
Thoralf Skolem Norwegian Mathematician 1887 – 1963
#43,980
AI
Abdisalam Ibrahim Norwegian Football Born 1991
#44,068

By the numbers

Inside Norway

1,210 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Centuries

One face per century — the most globally famous figure born in Norway during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births in Norway peaked in the 1970s with 107 people.

What Norway Is Known For

Click any row to drill into that filter.

Sports is Norway's biggest group — 21% of all notables (248).

Norway over-indexes on exploration — 2.6× the global rate.

Norway under-produces military — only 0.4× the global rate.

  1. Sports248
  2. Politics & Law247
  3. Writing203
  4. Music138
  5. Science83
  6. Art & Design73
  7. Film & TV69
  8. Other49
  1. Exploration162.6×
  2. Music1382.0×
  1. Military190.4×
  2. Religion300.5×
  3. Other490.6×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Norway's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

15001550160016501700175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Music
  • Science
  • Art & Design
  • Other

Top Cities

Biggest birthplaces in this slice — click any to explore.