The forecast for licensed pharmacists in Norway suggests a consistent downward trend from 2024 through 2028. From a base of 623.83 persons per health professional in 2024, the numbers are expected to decline steadily to reach 528.52 by 2028. This implies a year-on-year decrease of approximately -4.0% from 2024 to 2025, -4.0% from 2025 to 2026, -4.1% from 2026 to 2027, and -4.1% from 2027 to 2028.

Taking a longer-term view, the average compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over these five forecasted years is about -4.0%. This suggests a consistent reduction in the number of pharmacists relative to the population of health professionals.

Future trends to watch for include:

The impact of automation and digital solutions in healthcare, potentially lessening dependency on pharmacists.
Potential policy changes aimed at retaining or increasing the workforce of licensed pharmacists.
Shifts in health demands due to demographic changes and emerging health challenges.