Demographics of Norway

The total population of Norway on 1 January 2021 was 5,391,369.[3] Statistics Norway estimated that the 5,000,000 milestone was reached on 19 March 2012.[4]

Total fertility rate from 1850 to 1899

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.[5]

A large size Norwegian nuclear family. Photo of 1890.

Years	1800	1801	1802	1803	1804	1805	1806	1807	1808	1809	1810[5]
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]

Natural growth

Total growth

Years	1811	1812	1813	1814	1815	1816	1817	1818	1819	1820[5]
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[5]
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[5]
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[5]
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[5]
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[5]
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[5]
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[5]
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[5]
Total Fertility Rate in Norway	4.51	4.35	4.47	4.38	4.52	4.47	4.48	4.53	4.47

Data according to Statistics Norway, which collects the official statistics for Norway.[6]

Current vital statistics

[8]

Period	Live births	Deaths	Natural increase
January - September 2020	41,141	30,272	+10,869
January - September 2021	43,469	29,747	+13,722
Difference	+2,328 (+5.66%)	-525 (-1.73%)	+2,853

• Deaths for January - March 2021 = 10,307
• Deaths for January - March 2022 = 11,880

Life expectancy at birth from 1846 to 2015

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[9]
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 development in Norway

Years	1861	1862	1863	1864	1865	1866	1867	1868	1869	1870[9]
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[9]
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[9]
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[9]
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[9]
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[9]
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[9]
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[9]
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[9]
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

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[10]

Statistics Norway does not attempt to quantify or track data on ethnicity. The national population registry records only country of birth.[11]

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).[12]

Ethnically, the residents of Norway are predominantly Norwegians, a North Germanic ethnic group. In Northern Norway there is a population of Sami people, who claim descent from people who settled the area around 8,000 years ago, probably from continental Europe through the Norwegian coast and through Finland along the inland glaciers. The national minorities of Norway include: Scandinavian Romani, Roma, Jews, and Kvener, as well as a small Finnish community.

Immigration

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), and Southeast Asia/Pacific Islands (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 Iraqis 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 2021, there were 800,094 immigrants and 197,848 Norwegian-born to immigrant parents in Norway, together constituting 18.5% of the total population.[13] The same year, immigrants (and Norwegian born to immigrant parents) originating in the European Economic Area constituted 7% of the total number of Norwegian residents, while 6.2% were from Asia including Turkey and 2.6% were from Africa.[13]

Among people of African descent in Oslo, almost 60% are younger than 30, compared to 20% of those of North American background.[14]

As of 2020, an official government study shows that more than 1,333,620 people (24.8%) living in Norway are either first-generation immigrants or have one or two foreign-born parents.[15] ` Of these 979,254 immigrants and their descendants (born in Norway with two foreign born parents):

• 401,407 (41%)[15] have a Western background (Australia, New Zealand, North America, elsewhere in Europe)
• 577,847 (59%)[15] have a non-Western background.

In 2012, of the total 660 000 with immigrant background, 407,262 had Norwegian citizenship (62.2 percent).[16]

Norwegians of two Norwegian parents, either born abroad or in Norway as a percentage proportionally and nationally in Norway as of 2021

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).[17] The share in Stavanger was 16%.[17] According to Reuters, Oslo is the "fastest growing city in Europe because of increased immigration".[18] In recent years, immigration has accounted for most of Norway's population growth.[14]

Ethnic Group	Year
	1970[19][20]		1980[19][20]		1990[19][20]		2000[19][20]		2010[19][20]		2020[19][20]		2021[21]
	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%

See also: Immigration to Norway

Rank	Country of origin[22]	Population (2022)[23]
1.	Poland	121,406
2.	Lithuania	49,703
3.	Somalia	43,616
4.	Pakistan	40,028
5.	Syria	39,897
6.	Sweden	39,378
7.	Iraq	35,047
8.	Eritrea	31,740
9.	Germany	29,424
10.	Philippines	26,319
11.	Iran	24,498
12.	Vietnam	23,886
13.	Afghanistan	23,470
14.	Thailand	23,007
15.	Russia	22,895
16.	Turkey	20,833
17.	Denmark	20,760
18.	India	19,879
19.	Romania	18,877
20.	Bosnia and Herzegovina	18,876

As of January 1st, 2020, official data shows that the quotient of the total population that is either born outside Norway, or has one or two parents born abroad is 1,333,620 to 5,367,580 (which equals 24.8%).[15]

About a half million of these, however, identify as ethnic Norwegians who may have, for example, Swedish or Danish ancestors. As of 2020, an official government study shows that 75.2%[15] of the total population are ethnic Norwegians and more than 1,333,620 individuals (24.8%) are migrants and their descendants (790,497 are first-generation immigrants i.e. foreign-born, 277,085 are Norwegian-born with one foreign-born parent and 188,757 are Norwegian-born with two foreign-born parents).

Of these 979,254 immigrants and their descendants (foreign-born or Norwegian-born with two foreign-born parents):

• 401,407 (41%) have a Western background (Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, countries in the European Union, and EFTA states)
• 577,847 (59%) have a non-Western background.

Birth and death rates of Norway in 1950–2008.

Persons with immigrant background by immigration category and country background. Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents. Statistics Norway. 1 January 2010.

The following demographic statistics are from the World Population Review.[26]

• One birth every 8 minutes
• One death every 13 minutes
• One net migrant every 19 minutes
• Net gain of one person every 10 minutes

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.[7]

Population

5,372,191 (July 2018 est.)

3,570,554 (1960)

2,376,952 (1910)

1,583,525 (1860)

Population – comparative

Slightly greater than British Columbia, but slightly less than Singapore and Eritrea.

Population pyramid for Norway in 2017.

Age structure

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)

0–14 years: 18.0% (male 490,915/female 466,515) (2017 est.)

15–24 years: 12.6% (male 343,103/female 326,053)

25–54 years: 41.0% (male 1,125,334/female 1,056,330)

55–64 years: 11.7% (male 315,223/female 307,639)

65 years and over: 16.1% (male 409,057/female 479,876)

0–14 years: 18.8% (male 472,060; female 449,649) (2011 est)

15–64 years: 66.2% (male 1,662,852; female 1,593,501)

65 years and over: 15.0% (male 325,937; female 416,306)

0–14 years: 26.0% (male 476,748; female 452,559) (1960 est)

15–64 years: 63.0% (male 1,125,525; female 1,123,206)

65 years and over: 11.0% (male 175,485; female 214,184)

0–14 years: 35.0% (male 423,253; female 408,204) (1910 est)

15–64 years: 57.3% (male 640,835; female 722,443)

65 years and over: 7.7% (male 82,312; female 99,905)

0–14 years: 35.9% (male 288,510; female 280,249) (1860 est.)

15–64 years: 58.0% (male 446,391; female 472,405)

65 years and over: 6.1% (male 42,130; female 53,840)

Median age

total: 39.3 years. Country comparison to the world: 55th

male: 38.6 years

female: 40 years (2018 est.)

total: 39.2 years Country comparison to the world: 57th

male: 38.4 years

female: 40 years (2017 est.)

total: 39.7 years (2010 est.)

male: 38.8 years

female: 40.5 years

Birth rate

12.2 births/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 160th

Death rate

8 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 90th

Total fertility rate

1.85 children born/woman (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 143rd

Net migration rate

5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 24th

5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

28.9 years

Note: data is calculated based on actual age at first births (2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.9% (2018 est.) Country comparison to the world: 117th

1.0% (2017 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82 years. Country comparison to the world: 22nd

male: 79.9 years

female: 84.1 years (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births Country comparison to the world: 221st

male: 2.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

Ethnic groups

Norwegian 83.2% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.3%, other 8.5% (2017 est.)

Languages

Norwegian and Sami

Bokmål (official written only), Nynorsk (official written only), North Sami, Lule Sami, and South Sami

Note: There is no standardized spoken Norwegian. Sami is an official language in nine municipalities in Norway's three northernmost counties: Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms. There are also Finnish-speaking minorities.

Religions

Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran) 69.9%, Roman Catholic 3.0%, other Christians 3.8%, Muslim 3.3%, other religions 0.8%, unaffiliated and humanism 19.2% (2018)[27][28][29]

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 52.1 (2015 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 27.3

elderly dependency ratio: 24.8

potential support ratio: 4

Note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years

male: 17 years

female: 19 years (2016)

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24

total: 10.4%. Country comparison to the world: 125th

male: 11.7%

female: 9% (2017 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female

15–64 years: 1.0 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female

total population: 1.0 male(s)/female

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.

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

• Demographics of Svalbard
• Aging of Europe