Demography of Norway

Demographics of Norway
Population pyramid of Norway in 2021
Population5,475,240 (2022 est.)
Growth rate0.8% (2022 est.)
Birth rate9.5 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)[1]
Life expectancy82.55 years
 • male80.42 years
 • female84.79 years
Fertility rate1.41 children born/woman (2022)
Infant mortality rate2.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate3.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years17.96%
65 and over17.43%
Sex ratio
Total1.02 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth1.05 male(s)/female
Under 151.05 male(s)/female
65 and over0.71 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalityNorwegian
Major ethnicNorwegian
Total population in Norway 1735–2017, in millions[1]
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
150,000—    
1000200,000+0.14%
1500250,000+0.04%
1665440,000+0.34%
1769723,618+0.48%
1801883,603+0.63%
18251,051,318+0.73%
18351,194,827+1.29%
18551,490,047+1.11%
18751,813,424+0.99%
18851,951,429+0.74%
18952,097,328+0.72%
19002,242,995+1.35%
19102,390,402+0.64%
19202,653,024+1.05%
19302,815,164+0.59%
19402,982,224+0.58%
19503,280,296+0.96%
19603,594,771+0.92%
19703,888,305+0.79%
19804,092,340+0.51%
19904,249,830+0.38%
20004,478,497+0.53%
20104,858,199+0.82%
20195,328,212+1.03%
Source: Statistics Norway [2] [3]. 2019:[2]

Demographic features of the population of Norway include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects.

Deaths over time in Norway

Historical populations

From 1349 to 1500 the population was approximately halved by several rounds of the black plague, down to approximately 250,000.

The first official census for the then Denmark-Norway kingdom union was held in 1769 and found the Norwegian population to be 723 000.

Except for Ireland, no other country contributed a larger percentage of its population to the American immigration between 1825 - 1925 when more than 800,000 left Norway.

By 1905, when Norway reached full independence, the population was 2,303,595.

Population

The total population of Norway on 1 July 2023 was 5,514,042.[3] Statistics Norway estimated that the 5,000,000 milestone was reached on 19 March 2012.[4]

The following demographic statistics are from the World Population Review.[5]

  • One birth every 8 minutes
  • One death every 13 minutes
  • One net migrant every 19 minutes
  • Net gain of one person every 10 minutes
County Population (2024)
Akershus 728,803
Oslo 717,710
Vestland 651,299
Rogaland 499,417
Agder 319,850
Østfold 312,152
Buskerud 269,819
Møre og Romsdal 270,624
Trøndelag 482,956
Nordland 243,081
Troms 169,610
Innlandet 376,304
Telemark 177,093
Finnmark 75,053
Vestfold 256,432

Fertility

TFR of Norway overtime to 2016

The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on fairly good data for the entire period. Sources: Our World In Data and Gapminder Foundation.[6]

A large size Norwegian nuclear family in 1890
Years 1800 1801 1802 1803 1804 1805 1806 1807 1808 1809 1810[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 4.32 4.07 3.91 4.2 3.94 4.33 4.39 4.27 4 3.21 3.87
Annual population growth in Norway 1951–2016, in thousands[1]
Years 1811 1812 1813 1814 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 3.99 4.26 3.76 3.53 4.4 5.05 4.67 4.43 4.59 4.79
Years 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 5 4.74 4.88 4.67 4.94 5.01 4.61 4.58 4.84 4.65
Years 1831 1832 1833 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 4.46 4.3 4.42 4.56 4.7 4.23 4.13 4.36 3.84 4.01
Years 1841 1842 1843 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 4.29 4.42 4.34 4.31 4.49 4.4 4.43 4.28 4.61 4.45
Years 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 4.6 4.46 4.6 4.93 4.61 4.42 4.54 4.62 4.82 4.63
Years 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 4.3 4.52 4.69 4.55 4.6 4.61 4.38 4.3 4.22 4.26
Years 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 4.29 4.4 4.41 4.59 4.67 4.68 4.69 4.64 4.71 4.53
Years 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 4.4 4.47 4.51 4.59 4.56 4.48 4.56 4.42 4.31 4.43
Years 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899[6]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway 4.51 4.35 4.47 4.38 4.52 4.47 4.48 4.53 4.47
County Fertility rate (2023)
Viken 1.46
Oslo 1.25
Innlandet 1.41
Vestfold og Telemark 1.41
Agder 1.47
Rogaland 1.57
Vestland 1.42
Møre og Romsdal 1.50
Trøndelag 1.40
Nordland 1.51
Troms og Finnmark 1.40
Total fertility rate
1.85 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 143rd
Mother's mean age at first birth
28.9 years
Birth rate
12.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 160th

Life expectancy

Sources: Our World In Data and the United Nations.

1543–1950

Years 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 48.0 44.8 45.0 48.0 49.5 49.7 48.5 47.9 51.6 50.4 50.4 50.2 51.6 49.9 50.0
Life expectancy in Norway since 1846
Years 1861 1862 1863 1864 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 45.8 44.7 46.7 48.8 50.4 49.9 47.9 47.2 49.3 50.9
Years 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 49.7 50.0 49.7 47.8 47.6 46.8 49.7 51.8 53.1 51.9
Years 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 50.4 47.4 49.6 50.8 51.0 51.7 51.7 50.4 49.1 48.6
Years 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 49.8 49.7 51.4 50.6 52.8 53.8 53.7 54.0 51.6 53.5
Years 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 54.6 56.5 55.0 56.1 55.1 56.9 56.5 56.3 57.5 58.0
Years 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 58.0 57.7 58.3 57.8 58.2 57.3 57.7 50.3 56.8 58.9
Years 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 61.6 60.8 61.8 62.1 62.5 63.3 62.9 63.4 62.5 64.1
Years 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 64.1 64.6 65.5 66.2 65.8 65.8 66.0 67.1 67.4 65.9
Years 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950[7]
Life expectancy in Norway 65.8 65.7 66.1 65.8 68.2 69.5 70.0 71.1 71.5 71.6

1950–2015

Life expectancy in Norway since 1960 by gender
Period Life expectancy in
Years 		Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 72.8 1985–1990 76.3
1955–1960 73.5 1990–1995 77.3
1960–1965 73.5 1995–2000 78.3
1965–1970 73.9 2000–2005 79.3
1970–1975 74.4 2005–2010 80.6
1975–1980 75.3 2010–2015 81.6
1980–1985 76.0

Source: UN World Population Prospects

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 82 years. Country comparison to the world: 22nd
male: 79.9 years
female: 84.1 years (2018 est.)
Death rate
8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 90th

Age structure

Animated population pyramid of Norway since 1846. With Emigrants represented by lighter colors and immigrants represented in gray.
0–14 years: 18.0% (male 495,403 /female 471,014) (2018 est.)
15–24 years: 12.4% (male 340,672 /female 324,088)
25–54 years: 41.0% (male 1,136,373 /female 1,065,138)
55–64 years: 11.7% (male 318,898 /female 310,668)
65 years and over: 16.9% (male 420,178 /female 489,759)
Median age
total: 39.3 years. Country comparison to the world: 55th
male: 38.6 years
female: 40 years (2018 est.)

Population density

Population density map of municipalities in Norway from 2016
Urbanization
urban population: 82.2% of total population (2018)
rate of urbanization: 1.4% annual rate of change (2015–20 est.)

Note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

Vital statistics

Data according to Statistics Norway, which collects the official statistics for Norway.[8]

Average population (Januari 1) Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Crude migration change (per 1000) Total fertility rates[fn 1][6][9]
1900 2,231,000 66,229 35,345 30,884 29.7 15.8 13.8 -3.1 4.40
1901 2,255,000 67,303 33,821 33,482 29.8 15.0 14.8 -5.5 4.37
1902 2,276,000 66,494 31,670 34,824 29.2 13.9 15.3 -10.0 4.26
1903 2,288,000 65,470 33,847 31,623 28.6 14.8 13.8 -9.5 4.16
1904 2,298,000 64,143 32,895 31,248 27.9 14.3 13.6 -8.8 4.07
1905 2,309,000 62,601 34,050 28,551 27.1 14.7 12.4 -8.0 3.95
1906 2,319,000 62,091 31,668 30,423 26.8 13.7 13.1 -8.8 3.92
1907 2,329,000 61,302 33,345 27,957 26.3 14.3 12.0 -4.7 3.87
1908 2,346,000 61,686 33,366 28,320 26.3 14.2 12.1 -2.7 3.87
1909 2,368,000 63,324 32,111 31,213 26.7 13.6 13.2 -6.4 3.96
1910 2,384,000 61,486 32,207 29,279 25.8 13.5 12.3 -5.2 3.82
1911 2,401,000 61,727 31,691 30,036 25.7 13.2 12.5 -3.3 3.80
1912 2,423,000 61,409 32,663 28,746 25.3 13.5 11.9 -2.0 3.72
1913 2,447,000 61,294 32,442 28,852 25.0 13.3 11.8 -1.6 3.64
1914 2,472,000 62,111 33,280 28,831 25.1 13.5 11.7 -1.1 3.62
1915 2,498,000 58,975 33,425 25,550 23.6 13.4 10.2 -0.6 3.37
1916 2,522,000 61,120 34,910 26,210 24.2 13.8 10.4 1.1 3.43
1917 2,551,000 63,969 34,699 29,270 25.1 13.6 11.5 -0.9 3.53
1918 2,578,000 63,468 44,218 19,250 24.6 17.2 7.5 2.2 3.44
1919 2,603,000 59,486 35,821 23,665 22.9 13.8 9.1 3,2 3.17
1920 2,635,000 69,326 33,634 35,692 26.3 12.8 13.5 -1.0 3.61
1921 2,668,000 64,610 30,698 33,912 24.2 11.5 12.7 -2.6 3.31
1922 2,695,000 62,908 32,484 30,424 23.3 12.1 11.3 -4.6 3.18
1923 2,713,000 61,731 31,543 30,188 22.8 11.6 11.1 -5.2 3.09
1924 2,729,000 58,021 30,850 27,171 21.3 11.3 10.0 -3.4 2.85
1925 2,747,000 54,066 30,481 23,585 19.7 11.1 8.6 -2.8 2.61
1926 2,763,000 54,163 29,933 24,230 19.6 10.8 8.8 -4.5 2.59
1927 2,775,000 50,175 31,141 19,034 18.1 11.2 6.9 -3.3 2.38
1928 2,785,000 49,881 30,301 19,580 17.9 10.9 7.0 -3.4 2.34
1929 2,795,000 48,372 32,023 16,349 17.3 11.5 5.8 -1.5 2.23
1930 2,807,000 47,844 29,616 18,228 17.0 10.5 6.5 -0.4 2.19
1931 2,824,000 45,989 30,674 15,315 16.3 10.9 5.4 1.0 2.07
1932 2,842,000 45,451 30,102 15,349 16.0 10.6 5.4 0.2 2.04
1933 2,858,000 42,114 28,943 13,171 14.7 10.1 4.6 1.0 1.86
1934 2,874,000 41,833 28,340 13,493 14.6 9.9 4.7 0.5 1.82
1935 2,889,000 41,321 29,747 11,574 14.3 10.3 4.0 1.2 1.78
1936 2,904,000 42,240 30,100 12,140 14.5 10.4 4.2 1.0 1.84
1937 2,919,000 43,808 30,217 13,591 15.0 10.4 4.7 1,1 1.84
1938 2,936,000 45,319 29,211 16,108 15.4 9.9 5.5 0.6 1.88
1939 2,954,000 46,603 29,870 16,733 15.8 10.1 5.7 0.7 2.00
1940 2,973,000 47,943 32,045 15,898 16.1 10.8 5.3 0.4 1.95
1941 2,990,000 45,773 32,209 13,564 15.3 10.8 4.5 1.9 1.83
1942 3,009,000 53,225 32,062 21,163 17.7 10.7 7.0 0.6 2.11
1943 3,032,000 57,281 31,623 25,658 18.9 10.4 8.5 0.7 2.26
1944 3,060,000 62,241 32,652 29,589 20.3 10.7 9.7 0.4 2.45
1945 3,091,000 61,814 30,030 31,784 20.0 9.7 10.3 1.3 2.43
1946 3,127,000 70,727 29,220 41,507 22.6 9.3 13.3 -1.1 2.77
1947 3,165,000 67,625 29,894 37,731 21.4 9.4 11.9 -0.5 2.66
1948 3,201,000 65,618 28,375 37,243 20.5 8.9 11.6 -1.3 2.62
1949 3,234,000 63,052 29,082 33,970 19.5 9.0 10.5 -0.9 2.52
1950 3,265,000 62,410 29,699 32,711 19.1 9.1 10.0 -5.4 2.46
1951 3,280,000 [10] 60,571 27,736 32,835 18.4 8.4 10.0 -0.5 2.47
1952 3,311,000 62,543 28,417 34,126 18.8 8.5 10.3 -0.6 2.58
1953 3,343,000 62,985 28,412 34,573 18.7 8.5 10.3 -0.4 2.64
1954 3,376,000 62,739 29,158 33,581 18.5 8.6 9.9 -0.4 2.67
1955 3,408,000 63,552 29,099 34,453 18.5 8.5 10.1 1.1 2.76
1956 3,446,000 64,171 29,981 34,190 18.5 8.7 9.9 -0.6 2.83
1957 3,478,000 63,063 30,560 32,503 18.1 8.8 9.3 -0.1 2.83
1958 3,510,000 62,985 31,645 31,340 17.9 9.0 8.9 -0.1 2.86
1959 3,541,000 63,005 31,761 31,244 17.7 8.9 8.8 -0.3 2.88
1960 3,571,000 61,880 32,543 29,337 17.3 9.1 8.2 -1.5 2.85
1961 3,595,000 62,555 33,313 29,242 17.3 9.2 8.1 0.2 2.91
1962 3,625,000 62,254 34,318 27,936 17.1 9.4 7.7 0 2.89
1963 3,653,000 63,290 36,850 26,440 17.3 10.0 7.2 0.2 2.91
1964 3,680,000 65,570 35,171 30,399 17.8 9.5 8.2 -0.3 2.95
1965 3,709,000 66,277 35,317 30,960 17.8 9.5 8.3 -0.5 2.89
1966 3,738,000 67,061 36,010 31,051 17.9 9.6 8.3 0.3 2.86
1967 3,770,000 66,779 36,216 30,563 17.6 9.6 8.1 0.4 2.82
1968 3,802,000 67,350 37,668 29,682 17.6 9.9 7.8 0.6 2.76
1969 3,835,000 67,746 38,994 28,752 17.6 10.1 7.5 0.6 2.70
1970 3,866,000 64,551 38,723 25,828 16.6 10.0 6.7 -1.0 2.61
1971 3,888,000 65,550 38,981 26,569 16.8 10.0 6.8 0.9 2.51
1972 3,918,000 64,260 39,375 24,885 16.3 10.0 6.3 1.4 2.37
1973 3,948,000 61,208 39,958 21,250 15.5 10.1 5.4 0.7 2.28
1974 3,973,000 59,603 39,464 20,139 15.0 9.9 5.1 1.2 2.15
1975 3,998,000 56,345 40,061 16,284 14.1 10.0 4.1 0.7 2.00
1976 4,017,000 53,474 40,216 13,258 13.3 10.0 3.3 1.2 1.88
1977 4,035,000 50,877 39,824 11,053 12.6 9.9 2.7 1.3 1.77
1978 4,051,000 51,749 40,682 11,067 12.7 10.0 2.7 1.0 1.79
1979 4,066,000 51,580 41,632 9,948 12.7 10.2 2.4 0.8 1.77
1980 4,079,000 51,039 41,340 9,699 12.5 10.1 2.4 0.8 1.74
1981 4,092,000 50,708 41,893 8,815 12.4 10.2 2.2 1.5 1.70
1982 4,107,000 51,245 41,454 9,791 12.5 10.1 2.4 1.5 1.71
1983 4,123,000 49,937 42,224 7,713 12.1 10.2 1.9 0.8 1.67
1984 4,134,000 50,274 42,581 7,693 12.1 10.3 1.9 1.0 1.66
1985 4,146,000 51,134 44,372 6,762 12.3 10.7 1.6 1.5 1.68
1986 4,159,000 52,514 43,560 8,954 12.6 10.5 2.1 2.0 1.71
1987 4,176,000 54,027 44,959 9,068 12.9 10.7 2.2 3.1 1.80
1988 4,198,000 57,526 45,354 12,172 13.7 10.8 2.9 2.6 1.84
1989 4,221,000 59,303 45,173 14,130 14.0 10.7 3.3 -0.5 1.89
1990 4,233,000 60,939 46,021 14,918 14.4 10.9 3.5 0.5 1.93
1991 4,250,000 60,808 44,923 15,885 14.3 10.5 3.7 1.9 1.92
1992 4,274,000 60,109 44,731 15,378 14.0 10.4 3.6 2.3 1.88
1993 4,299,000 59,678 46,597 13,081 13.8 10.8 3.0 3.0 1.86
1994 4,325,000 60,092 44,071 16,021 13.7 10.2 3.5 1.6 1.87
1995 4,348,000 60,292 45,190 15,102 13.8 10.4 3.5 1.6 1.87
1996 4,370,000 60,927 43,860 17,067 13.9 10.0 3.9 1.4 1.89
1997 4,393,000 59,801 44,595 15,206 13.6 10.1 3.5 2.2 1.87
1998 4,418,000 58,352 44,112 14,240 13.1 9.9 3.2 2.9 1.81
1999 4,445,000 59,298 45,170 14,128 13.3 10.1 3.1 4.2 1.85
2000 4,478,000 59,234 44,002 15,232 13.2 9.8 3.3 2.2 1.85
2001 4,503,000 56,696 43,981 12,715 12.6 9.8 2.8 1.8 1.78
2002 4,524,000 55,434 44,465 10,969 12.2 9.9 2.4 3.8 1.75
2003 4,552,000 56,458 42,478 13,980 12.4 9.4 3.0 2.4 1.80
2004 4,577,000 56,951 41,200 15,751 12.4 9.1 3.3 2.9 1.83
2005 4,606,000 56,756 41,232 15,524 12.3 8.9 3.4 4.0 1.84
2006 4,640,000 58,545 41,253 17,292 12.6 8.8 3.7 5.1 1.90
2007 4,681,000 58,459 41,954 16,505 12.4 8.9 3.5 8.4 1.90
2008 4,737,000 60,497 41,712 18,785 12.7 8.7 3.9 9.1 1.96
2009 4,799,000 61,807 41,449 20,358 12.8 8.6 4.2 8.1 1.98
2010 4,858,000 61,442 41,499 19,943 12.6 8.5 4.1 8.7 1.95
2011 4,920,000 60,220 41,393 18,827 12.1 8.3 3.8 9.6 1.88
2012 4,985,870 60,255 41,992 18,263 12.0 8.4 3.6 9.4 1.85
2013 5,051,000 58,995 41,282 17,713 11.7 8.1 3.6 8.0 1.78
2014 5,109,056 59,084 40,394 18,690 11.5 7.9 3.6 7.3 1.76
2015 5,165,000 59,058 40,727 18,331 11.4 7.9 3.5 5.7 1.73
2016 5,213,000 58,890 40,726 18,164 11.3 7.8 3.5 5.1 1.71
2017 5,258,000 56,633 40,774 15,859 10.8 7.8 3.0 4.2 1.62
2018 5,296,000 55,120 40,840 14,280 10.4 7.7 2.8 3.3 1.56
2019 5,328,000 54,495 40,684 13,811 10.2 7.6 2.6 4.8 1.53
2020 5,367,580 52,979 40,611 12,368 9.9 7.5 2.4 2.1 1.48
2021 5,391,369 56,060 42,002 14,058 10.3 7.7 2.6 3.7 1.55
2022 5,425,270 51,480 45,774 5,706 9.5 8.4 1.1 10.7 1.41
2023 5,488,984 51,980 43,803 8,177 9.5 8.0 1.5 9.7 1.40
2024 5,550,203

Current vital statistics

[11]

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January – September 2022 39,918 33,691 6,227
January – September 2023 40,055 32,067 7,988
Difference Increase +137 (+0.34%) Positive decrease -1,624 (-4.82%) Increase +1,761

Structure of the population

Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 19.XI.2011) (Including residents temporarily outside the country. Population statistics are compiled from registers.): [12]
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 2 495 777 2 484 178 4 979 955 100
0–4 159 582 150 941 310 523 6.24
5–9 153 598 147 027 300 625 6.04
10–14 160 122 152 496 312 618 6.28
15–19 167 701 156 981 324 682 6.52
20–24 167 828 161 709 329 537 6.62
25–29 163 754 157 417 321 171 6.45
30–34 166 578 158 663 325 241 6.53
35–39 180 904 171 104 352 008 7.07
40–44 191 483 181 708 373 191 7.49
45–49 180 834 169 703 350 537 7.04
50–54 165 233 157 496 322 729 6.48
55–59 154 029 150 306 304 335 6.11
60–64 144 699 141 620 286 319 5.75
65-69 122 740 124 711 247 451 4.97
70-74 78 850 87 830 166 680 3.35
75-79 58 013 72 196 130 209 2.61
80-84 44 024 64 219 108 243 2.17
85-89 25 608 48 449 74 057 1.49
90-94 8 769 23 474 32 243 0.65
95-99 1 310 5 515 6 825 0.14
100+ 118 613 731 0.01
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 473 302 450 464 923 766 18.55
15–64 1 683 043 1 606 707 3 289 750 66.06
65+ 339 432 427 007 766 439 15.39
Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.I.2021) (Data refer to usual resident population.): [12]
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 2 719 259 2 672 110 5 391 369 100
0–4 145 601 137 359 282 960 5.25
5–9 159 283 151 290 310 573 5.76
10–14 168 372 159 686 328 058 6.08
15–19 162 027 154 172 316 199 5.86
20–24 175 181 163 240 338 421 6.28
25–29 188 300 178 586 366 886 6.81
30–34 194 118 186 717 380 835 7.06
35–39 184 221 174 068 358 289 6.65
40–44 178 970 168 819 347 789 6.45
45–49 190 410 181 392 371 802 6.90
50–54 191 985 182 852 374 837 6.95
55–59 173 436 165 890 339 326 6.29
60–64 156 396 153 256 309 652 5.74
65-69 138 714 140 153 278 867 5.17
70-74 128 576 132 553 261 129 4.84
75-79 89 829 99 510 189 339 3.51
80-84 52 310 66 637 118 947 2.21
85-89 27 577 43 785 71 362 1.32
90-94 11 272 23 771 35 043 0.65
95-99 2 457 7 328 9 785 0.18
100+ 224 1 046 1 270 0.02
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 473 256 448 335 921 591 17.09
15–64 1 795 044 1 708 992 3 504 036 64.99
65+ 450 959 514 783 965 742 17.91

Ethnicity

Statistics Norway does not attempt to quantify or track data on ethnicity.[13] The national population registry records only country of birth.[14]

As of 2012, an official government study shows that 75.2% of the total population are ethnic Norwegians (born in Norway with two parents also born in Norway).[15]

Ethnically, the residents of Norway are predominantly Norwegians, a North Germanic ethnic group. In Northern Norway there is a population of Sámi people, who descend from people who probably settled the area a couple thousand years ago. The people who spoke the proto-Sámi language probably migrated from the Volga region in modern-day Russia in Eastern Europe through Finland, finally arriving in the northern portion of the Scandinavian peninsula where they would assimilate local Paleo-European hunter-gatherers who were already living in the region. The indigenous peoples and minorities of Norway include: Sámi, Scandinavian Romani, Roma, Jews, and Kvener, as well as a small Finnish community.[16]

Immigration

Main article: Immigration to Norway
Norwegians of two Norwegian parents, either born abroad or in Norway, as a percentage proportionally and nationally in Norway as of 2021
Foreign born and their descendants in Norway in 2022
Norwegian and foreign born population pyramid in 2023

In the last decades, Norway has become home to increasing numbers of immigrants, foreign workers, and asylum-seekers from various parts of the world. Norway had a steady influx of immigrants from South Asia (mostly Pakistanis and Sri Lankans), East Asia (mainly Chinese), Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia (e.g. Filipinos), Eastern Europe (e.g. Russians) and Central Europe (e.g. Poles), Southern Europe (Greeks, Albanians and people from former Yugoslavia, Bosniaks, Serbs etc.), and Middle East countries (especially Kurdish Iraqi is and Kurdish Iranians), as well as Somalis, Turks, Moroccans, and some Latin Americans. After ten Eastern European and Baltic countries joined the EU in 2004, there has also been a substantial influx of people from Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

At the start of 2022, there were 819,356 immigrants and 205,819 Norwegian-born to immigrant parents in Norway, together constituting 18.9% of the total population.[17] The same year, immigrants (and Norwegian born to immigrant parents) originating in the European Economic Area constituted 7.1% of the total number of Norwegian residents, while 6.3% were from Asia including Turkey and 2.7% were from Africa.[17]

Among people of African descent in Oslo, almost 60% are younger than 30, compared to 20% of those of North American background.[18]

As of 2022, there are around 207,575 third generation immigrants in Norway.[17] This means that all of their grandparents were born in a foreign country. The majority of these persons are of Western European and Northern European background with Sweden and Denmark accounting for 36,126 (17.4%) and 33,695 (16.2%) respectively.[17] Other countries with significant third generation communities are the United States with 29,395 (14.1%), the United Kingdom with 17,882 (8.6%), Germany with 14,090 (6.8%), Finland with 6,213 (3%) and South Korea with 5,199 (2,5%).[17]

Of these 1,025,175 immigrants and their descendants (born in Norway with two foreign born parents):

In 2012, of the total 660 000 with immigrant background, 407,262 had Norwegian citizenship (62.2 percent).[19] Immigrants were represented in all Norwegian municipalities. The cities or municipalities with the highest share of immigrants in 2012 was Oslo (26 percent) and Drammen (18 percent).[20] The share in Stavanger was 16%.[20] According to Reuters, Oslo is the "fastest growing city in Europe because of increased immigration".[21] In recent years, immigration has accounted for most of Norway's population growth.[18]

Population Group Year
1970[22][23] 1980[22][23] 1990[22][23] 2000[22][23] 2010[22][23] 2020[22][23] 2021[24]
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Norwegians 3,795,534 98.24% 3,969,943 97.32% 4,047,528 95.61% 4,173,219 93.18% 4,275,120 87.99% 4,350,131 81.04% 4,354,566 80.76%
Norwegian born in Norway 3,732,091 96.60% 3,880,229 95.12% 3,931,143 92.86% 4,007,823 89.42% 4,031,805 82.98% 4,033,960 75.15% 4,031,194 74.77%
Foreign born to Norwegian born parents 10,544 0.27% 14,515 0.35% 16,004 0.37% 17,591 0.39% 36,688 0.75% 39,086 0.72% 39,198 0.72%
Norwegian born with one foreign-born parent 52,899 1.36% 75,199 1.84% 100,381 2.37% 147,805 3.30% 206,627 4.25% 277,085 5.16% 284,174 5.27%
Total: Immigrants 67,687 1.75% 108,957 2.67% 185,588 4.38% 305,278 6.81% 583,079 12% 1,017,449 18.95% 1,036,803 19.23%
Immigrants 57,041 1.47% 88,929 2.18% 150 973 3.56% 238,462 5.32% 459,346 9.45% 790,497 14.72% 800,094 14.84%
Norwegian born to immigrant parents 2,155 – 6,273 0.15% 17,325 0.40% 44,025 0.98% 92,967 1.91% 188,757 3.51% 197,848 3.67%
Foreign born with one Norwegian parent 8,491 0.21% 13,755 0.33% 17,290 0.40% 22,791 0.50% 30,766 0.63% 38,195 0.71% 38,861 0.70%
Total 3,863 221 100% 4,078,900 100% 4,233,116 100% 4,478,497 100% 4,858,199 100% 5,367,580 100% 5,391,369 100%
Rank Country of origin[25] Population (2024)[26]
1. European Union Poland 126,728
3. European Union Lithuania 50,847
5.  Somalia 43,629
4.  Syria 45,679
6.  Pakistan 42,231
7. European Union Sweden 40,290
2.  Ukraine 67,242
8.  Iraq 35,976
9.  Eritrea 34,040
10. European Union Germany 30,576
11.  Philippines 28,583
13.  Iran 25,832
14.  Afghanistan 25,751
12.  Russia 26,428
15.  Vietnam 24,283
16.  Thailand 24,037
17.  India 23,638
18.  Turkey 22,725
19. European Union Denmark 20,587
20. European Union Romania 20,477
Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by country background. 1 January[27]
2023[28]
Immigrants Norwegian-born to immigrant parents Immigrants in per cent of total population Norwegian-born to immigrant parents in per cent of total population
Total 877 227 213 810 16.0 3.9
Nordic countries except Norway, EU/EFTA, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand 378 076 51 274 6.9 0.9
Europe except EU/EFTA and UK, Africa, Asia, America except USA and Canada, Oceania except Australia and New Zealand, polar regions 499 150 162 535 9.1 3.0
Nordic countries except Norway 69 251 7 320 1.3 0.1
EU/EFTA until 2004 except the Nordic countries 85 626 8 852 1.6 0.2
New EU countries after 2004 207 883 34 089 3.8 0.6
Europe except for EU/EFTA/UK 101 058 22 589 1.8 0.4
Australia and New Zealand 2 532 91 0.0 0.0
Asia 265 120 92 273 4.8 1.7
Africa 105 817 43 685 1.9 0.8
America except USA and Canada 27 073 3 985 0.5 0.1
USA and Canada 12 784 922 0.2 0.0
Oceania except Australia and New Zealand 82 3 0.0 0.0

Employment and income

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24
total: 10.4%. Country comparison to the world: 125th
male: 11.7%
female: 9% (2017 est.)

Religion

Main article: Religion in Norway

The Lutheran Church of Norway is the former state church and the vast majority remain at least nominal members. Other religions do, however, enjoy religious freedom and have prospered with immigration in recent years, particularly Islam and Roman Catholicism. Saint Olaf is the patron saint of Norway. He is regarded by some as the eternal king and has a reputation and place in history unchallenged by any other Norwegian King for the last 1000 years.

Religion Members Percent As of 2023[29]
Christianity 3,876,993 70,7%
The Church of Norway (Lutheran) 3,500,438 63,8%
Other Christianity 376,555 6.9%
Non-Christian religions 227,522 4.1%
Islam 182,607 3.3%
Buddhism 22,212 0.4%
Hinduism 13,141 0.2%
Sikhism 4,316 0.1%
Bahá'í Faith 1,067 0.0%
Judaism 755 0.0%
Other religions 3,424 0.1%
Non-religious and unknown 1,263,743 23.0%
Humanism 120,726 2.2%
Total 5,488,984 100.0%

Languages

Main article: Norwegian language

Norwegian (the written standards Bokmål and Nynorsk).
Uralic languages – South Sámi, Lule Sámi, North Sámi and Kven – are additional official languages of some municipalities.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ In fertility rates, 2.1 and above is a stable population and has been marked blue, 2 and below leads to an aging population and the result is that the population decreases.

References

  1. ^ a b Data from Statistics Norway table 05803: Population, births, deaths, marriages, migration and population increase. Figures for 1735–1815 and 1838 are taken from Michael Drake: Population and Society in Norway 1735–1865. Before 1816 estimated mean population.
  2. ^ "Population, 2019". Statistics Norway. 22 February 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ^ "Befolkning". SSB (in Norwegian Nynorsk). Archived from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  4. ^ Nina Berglund: Norwegians now number 5 million Archived 19 January 2021 at the Wayback Machine News in English, 18 March 2012
  5. ^ World Population Review: Norway Population 2018, 14 June 2018, archived from the original on 26 July 2018, retrieved 26 July 2018
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Max Roser (2014), "Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries", Our World In Data, Gapminder Foundation, archived from the original on 7 August 2018, retrieved 7 August 2018
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Life expectancy". Our World in Data. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Home". ssb.no. Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  9. ^ "World Factbook Europe: Norway", The World Factbook, 12 July 2018, archived from the original on 11 January 2021, retrieved 24 January 2021
  10. ^ Statistics Norway, 06913: Population and population changes, by region, year and contents, visited september 29 2023
  11. ^ "Population and changes during the quarter". SSB.
  12. ^ a b "UNSD — Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  13. ^ Shendruk, Amanda (8 July 2021). "Are you even trying to stop racism if you don't collect data on race?". Quartz. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  14. ^ Lindstad, Siri. "Ethnicity cannot be counted". Kifinfo. Archived from the original on 28 February 2022. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  15. ^ "Table 4 Persons with immigrant background by immigration category, country background and gender. 1 January 2012". Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  16. ^ "Indigenous peoples and minorities". regjeringen.no. 21 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents". SSB. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  18. ^ a b Fakta om innvandrebefolkningen i Oslo Archived 12 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine IMDi-rapport 5A-2007.
  19. ^ "Three categories of immigration background, country of birth and citizenship by country background and sex. 1 January 2012 " Archived 20 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Statistics Norway. 26 April 2012. Accessed 27 April 2012. Archived 7 August 2011.
  20. ^ a b Innvandrere og norskfødte med innvandrerforeldre, 1. januar 2012 Archived 1 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine Statistics Norway, retrieved 30 March 2013
  21. ^ Hare, Sophie. "Factbox – facts about Norway". Reuters. 22 July 2011. Accessed 22 July 2011.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "05182: Persons, by immigration category and sex (C) 1970 - 2023. Statbank Norway". SSB. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  23. ^ a b c d e f "05803: Population 1 January and population changes during the calendar year 1735 – 2021-PX-Web SSB". SSB. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents". SSB. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  25. ^ Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents
  26. ^ "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, 1 January 2022". Statistics Norway (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  27. ^ "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents". SSB. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  28. ^ "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents". SSB. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  29. ^ "2020-12-08". ssb.no. 8 December 2020. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
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