The 10 Most Popular Sports in Norway
Norway’s Most Popular Sports: Top 10 for 2025
Sports play an important role in fitness, competition and community in Norway. But what are the most popular sports in Norway? We list the top 10.
Erling Haaland is one of the most famous Norwegian footballers of all-time. Picture credits: Sportsimagess
In Norway, organised sport counts for 1.88 million memberships across clubs, teams and associations, with around 59.1% of residents training several times a week.
In our rankings, we take a look at the top 10 most popular sports in Norway, using the latest available active-member counts and data. Let’s dive in!
1. Football (Fotball)
Football is Norway’s largest organised sport by a wide margin. At the end of 2024, the Norwegian Football Federation counted 407,433 active members, topping every other federation.
The game reaches far beyond clubs: in 2024, 10.7% of adults reported that they had played football in the last 12 months. This reflects the sport’s everyday popularity across regions and age groups.
Grassroots tournaments, local leagues and schoolyard play keep football visible year-round, while national-team storylines add peaks of attention. The combination of easy access, simple equipment and youth pathways explains why football remains Norway’s most popular sport.
2. Handball (Håndball)
Handball sits solidly among the country’s top mass-participation sports. The Norwegian Handball Federation reported 146,691 active members at the end of 2024, placing it among the five biggest federations nationally.
Outside the club system, handball still touches the wider public: 1.4% of adults reported playing handball in 2024.
High-profile national teams sustain interest, but the core of handball’s popularity is local—children’s leagues, school gyms and community clubs that offer clear routes from mini-handball to senior play.
Handball is also one of the most popular sports in Iceland!
3. Golf
Golf has surged in popularity over the last few years, and it now rivals handball in organised participation. The Norwegian Golf Federation ended 2024 with 146,482 active members. This makes it pretty much tied for the second-largest federation in Norway.
General participation also reflects that rise: 5.3% of adults reported that they played golf as a fitness or training activity in 2024.
An expansion in course access and simulator use lengthens the season for Norwegian golf fanatics. Junior programs, flexible tee-time tech, and a broad range of club options have also lowered entry barriers, moving golf from niche status to a mainstream choice.
4. Skiing (Cross-Country and Nordic)
Skiing remains a cultural touchstone and a large federation sport. The Norwegian Ski Federation reported 109,064 active members at the end of 2024. The national habit extends well beyond clubs, with around 25.6% of adults skiing for training or exercise in 2024.
Lighted trails and school-based ski days keep participation high. Clubs provide structure for racing and technique, while recreational skiers fill the tracks from November to April.
Skiing is also one of the most popular sports in Germany!
5. Gymnastics & Turn
Gymnastics and turn are foundational sports in Norway, especially for children. The Norwegian Gymnastics and Turn Federation listed 105,046 active members at the end of 2024, rounding out the country’s five largest federations.
Among adults, 1.3% reported doing gymnastics or turn as a training activity in 2024. From barnehage movement classes to competitive apparatus work, clubs deliver accessible programs that feed into other sports and help retain lifelong fitness.
6. Swimming
Swimming combines club structure with a large general-fitness audience. The Norwegian Swimming Federation reported 78,936 active members in 2023, making it one of Norway’s largest federation sports.
Pools are also busy outside club hours, with 20.8% of adults swimming for exercise in 2024. This is a strong indicator of the Norwegian public’s interest in their health and well-being.
Year-round facilities, learn-to-swim pathways, and open-water interest all play a part. Clubs support competitive swimmers and water-polo players, while municipalities and fitness chains ensure daily lane access for the wider public.
7. Athletics & Running
Track, field and road running blend organised club sport with mass participation. The Norwegian Athletics Federation oversees the competitive side, while road events draw huge crowds: 173,098 finishers were recorded across Norwegian running events in 2023.
That sits alongside everyday training habits: 37.5% of adults reported going for jogs or runs in 2024.
Clubs provide youth coaching, sprints, jumps and throws, while city 10Ks, trail ultras and student races offer a welcoming calendar for recreational runners.
8. Volleyball
Volleyball has seen a recent increase in popularity in Norway. The Norwegian Volleyball Federation reported 22,000 active members for 2025, reflecting momentum in both indoor and beach formats. The public also plays volleyball casually, particularly during the summer months, with 3.2% of adults playing volleyball in 2024.
University clubs, secondary-school teams and coastal communities give volleyball an all-season presence. Short matches, easy-to-learn rules and low equipment costs also keep barriers low, which helps sustain growth.
Volleyball is also popular in other European countries, including Italy, Turkey and Poland.
9. Ice Hockey
The Norwegian Ice Hockey Association recorded 18,066 members across 113 ice hockey clubs in 2023, including 12,021 licensed players. This underlines a substantial, organised base for ice hockey in Norway.
Club rinks anchor local communities in winter, while elite-league matches and national-team events get the sport out to even more people. Development work in women’s and youth hockey also continues to widen the funnel. This growth is supported by regional hubs and cross-border competition opportunities.
10. Biathlon (Skiskyting)
Biathlon blends cross-country skiing with rifle shooting, and it commands some of the strongest TV interest in Norway.
In the 2023–24 season, broadcasts amassed 22.8 million total viewers, with an average market share of 61.5%, according to the federation’s media summary.
At the grassroots level, clubs run recruitment days and easy-entry events to lower barriers for newcomers. While total membership is far smaller than football or skiing, biathlon’s media pull and event atmosphere make it one of Norway’s most-watched sports each winter.
Learn more about biathlon in our guide to the Winter Olympics.
The Top 10 Most Popular Sports in Norway
Norway’s sports landscape mixes deep-rooted traditions with more modern stories. Football remains the largest club sport, but handball and golf are entrenched nationwide. Skiing retains its cultural centrality, and gymnastics underpins early movement skills for Norwegian kids.
Swimming, athletics, volleyball and ice hockey all illustrate how facility access and local club work translate into durable participation. Biathlon shows the popularity of televised sporting events in Norway.
Together, these 10 sports can teach us how Norwegians stay active, compete and build community year after year.
