River Pollution in Norway
Rivers in Norway had an average phosphate concentration of 0.003 mg/L in 2023, 96% below the European average of 0.081.
Data year 2023 · Source: Eurostat, based on European Environment Agency monitoring data (January 2026)
Nutrient pollution: phosphate in rivers
Phosphate in rivers in Norway averaged 0.003 mg/L in 2023, 96% below the European average of 0.081. That is the 1st lowest of 23 countries. The concentration is almost unchanged since 2007, when it was 0.003.
How Norway compares
Countries closest to Norway when ranked from lowest to highest phosphate in rivers. See the full table for Europe, or the CO₂ emissions of Norway.
| # | Country | BOD (mg/L) | Phosphate (mg/L) | Nitrate, groundwater (mg/L) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 0.003 | ||
| 2 | Sweden | 0.008 | 2.4 | |
| 3 | Finland | 1.55 | 0.012 | 4.9 |
| 4 | Latvia | 1.57 | 0.020 | 1.8 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 0.021 | 14.4 |
What these measures tell you
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
BOD is the amount of oxygen that microorganisms need to break down the organic matter in a water sample over five days. High values point to organic pollution, usually from sewage, farm run-off or industrial wastewater. They also mean less oxygen is left for fish and other river life.
Phosphate
Phosphate is a nutrient that reaches rivers from fertilisers, sewage and detergents. Too much of it feeds algae, which can choke rivers and lakes and strip oxygen from the water.
Nitrate in groundwater
Nitrate comes mainly from fertiliser and manure that seep through the soil. It is measured in groundwater, which feeds rivers and supplies much of Europe’s drinking water. The EU limit for drinking water is 50 mg of nitrate per litre.
Frequently asked questions
How polluted are rivers in Norway?
Phosphate in rivers in Norway averaged 0.003 mg/L in 2023, 96% below the European average of 0.081 mg/L. The country does not report BOD in this dataset.
Is river water quality in Norway improving?
Phosphate in rivers is almost unchanged since 2007. Lower values mean less pollution.
What is BOD in water?
Biochemical oxygen demand is the oxygen microorganisms use to break down organic matter in water over five days. Higher values indicate more organic pollution, typically from sewage or farm run-off.
About the data. Each figure is a national average across the river or groundwater monitoring stations a country reports to the European Environment Agency. It describes rivers in general, not any single river, and countries differ in how many stations they report. Not every country reports every measure.
Source: Eurostat datasets Biochemical oxygen demand in rivers, Phosphate in rivers and Nitrate in groundwater, updated January 2026. Latest year available: 2023.
Water is one side of a footprint. Carbon is the other. Work out your business carbon footprint from four figures on your bills.
Open the calculator