As the world gathers in Milan-Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics this week, one fact stands above the frozen peaks: three small Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, and Finland) have won more Winter Olympic medals than nearly every nation on Earth.

With a combined population of approximately 21 million (roughly the size of Florida), these three Nordic neighbors have won 756 medals across 98 years of Winter Olympic history. 

That’s 21% of every gold, silver, and bronze ever awarded at the Games. 

Today’s visualization presents all medals won by each country across all sports and events (men and women) at the Olympic Winter Games from Chamonix 1924 to Beijing 2022.

TL;DR

• The Nordic countries have won about 21.6% of all 3,499 Winter Olympic medals. 
• A G7 nation like Britain has a low medal count.
• Historical data indicate that countries hosting the Winter Olympics typically experience a substantial increase in medal performance.

The data comes from the AllCompetitions archive.

3 Countries, 21% of All Medals Ever

The Winter Olympic data show that Norway (405 medals), Sweden (176), and Finland (175) have won a combined total of 756 medals, equivalent to approximately 21.6% of all 3,499 Winter Olympic medals awarded. 

Simply put, more than one in every five Winter Olympic medals in history has gone to just three Nordic nations.

This trend is even more striking when compared globally. 

These three small countries together have earned more Winter Olympic medals than every other nation except the United States, Germany, the former Soviet Union, and Canada. 

It shows how outsized the Nordic region’s impact has been on winter sports.

Great Britain Is Shockingly Weak at the Winter Olympics

The records show that Great Britain has won only 34 medals in almost a century of participation, which is a surprisingly low figure compared with countries like South Korea (79), China (77), Italy (141), and the Netherlands (147). 

Despite being a major global economy and a G7 nation, the UK’s medal count remains modest by Winter Games standards.

Indeed, it’s a land of no ice track, Eddie the Eagle, and an average of 13 days of snow per year.

When compared with Norway, it is even more striking. 

Britain has earned approximately 10 times fewer Winter Olympic medals despite having about 12 times the population. 

This highlights how historically limited its winter sports success has been, especially given its long sporting heritage and early role in organizing modern competitive sports.

What this Data Tells Us About the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics

The 25th Winter Olympics will feature almost 3,000 athletes from 90 countries competing for 116 medals at Milan-Cortina.

As the 25th Winter Olympics opens in Milan-Cortina (February 6 to 22, 2026), historical medal data tells that Italy could see a meaningful boost. 

Italy currently ranks 141st in all-time Winter Olympic medals (approximately 12th place), and host nations often experience a performance boost due to home-field familiarity and larger athlete delegations. 

With France at 138 medals, the Netherlands at 147, and Russia at 121, a modest medal surge could push Italy into the top ten.

Norway remains the model nation, leading the all-time medal table and poised to reach approximately 150 gold medals. 

• The question for 2026 is whether Norway can maintain its historical lead over the United States, or whether the gap begins to narrow as other nations invest heavily in winter sports programs.

However, China enters Milan-Cortina with growing motivation following its showing as host of the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, where its cumulative tally rose to 77 medals (approximately 16th all-time). 

The 2026 Games will test whether that rise was a one-time host effect or the start of a move among traditional winter sport powers.

The “Hosting Boost” Is Real

Historically, countries hosting the Winter Olympics have typically experienced a measurable increase in medal performance. 

Take, for instance: 

• South Korea, after hosting the 2018 PyeongChang Games, moved to 79 total Winter Olympic medals, placing it around 15th all-time. 
• China experienced a similar surge after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, raising its cumulative medal tally to 77 and roughly placing 16th globally. 

This is because hosting typically brings larger athlete delegations, better funding, and home-advantage familiarity. 

With Italy already holding approximately 141 medals ahead of Milan-Cortina 2026, historical patterns indicate that the country is well-positioned to increase its total and improve its long-term ranking.

ELI5 

In simpler terms, a few small Nordic countries go far above their weight in the Winter Olympics, winning about one out of every five medals ever awarded, even though their populations are quite small. 

One surprising fact is that large and wealthy nations such as Great Britain have surprisingly low medal counts.

The data also show that hosting the Winter Olympics typically provides countries with a noticeable boost, as they invest more in training, send larger teams, and benefit from competing on home ground. 

In other words, things like climate, culture, and timing can matter as much as money or population when it comes to winning winter medals.

Sources: 

BBC |  AllCompetitions