Norway proposes reducing foreign aid to 0.93 percent in 2027 budget

A proposed national budget for 2027 suggests Norway allocate 0.93 percent of its income to foreign aid, falling short of the long-standing one percent target. Critics argue this represents a broken promise by the Labor Party (Arbeiderpartiet) and a departure from the principle that wealthy nations should contribute a specific portion of their earnings to global development.

Approximately 4.6 billion NOK is required to meet the one percent goal. Opponents of the reduction state these funds could be utilized for global health, education, climate adaptation, and poverty reduction. They note that despite global economic instability, Norway maintains a significant positive public net wealth, with the Government Pension Fund Global estimated to reach 22,400 billion NOK by the start of 2027.

Critics emphasize that the decision is a political priority rather than a necessity driven by economic hardship, as Norway's mainland economy is projected to grow by 1.7 percent.