During the next 30 years there was continuous growth. The gross national product was tripled, but the process agriculture, forestry and fishing lost 2/3 of their work force. Industry more or less held its own, whereas all forms of service work, both private and public, expanded greatly. A new transition took place - from an industrial to a service society.

In 1945, Norway was one of the founding members of the United Nations, and the Norwegian foreign minister, Trygve Lie, became its first Secretary General. After the coup in Czechoslovakia in 1948, Norway signed the North Atlantic Treaty and joined NATO. Later, Norway took part in the establishment of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and later applied for membership of the Common Market.

This however, led to discord within the parties and with the people, resulting in an advisory plebiscite in 1972 where a majority voted against membership.

The Labour government had counted on a yes-majority, and was forced to resign.

During recent years an increasing number of EFTA countries have applied for Common Market membership. Norway did the same in 1992. This however, led to a second advisory plebiscite in 1994 where again a majority voted against membership.