1979 in Norway

Incumbents

• Monarch – Olav V
• Prime Minister – Odvar Nordli

  Events

• Municipal and county elections are held throughout the country.
• Bryggen and the Urnes stave church are designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

  Popular culture

Sports

Music

Film

• March – the planet Hoth scenes from the Hollywood film "The Empire Strikes Back" were filmed in the Hardangerjøkulen glacier.

  Television

• 1 December – During an episode of Jul i Skomakergata on NRK, Sandmännchen premieres on Norwegian television for the first time.

  Literature

• Åge Rønning, writer and journalist, is awarded the Riksmål Society Literature Prize.
• Nils Johan Rud, novelist, short story writer and magazine editor, is awarded the Dobloug Prize for Swedish and Norwegian fiction.
• Bjørg Vik, writer, playwright and journalist, is awarded the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature for the short stories En håndfull lengsel.

  Notable births

• 1 January – Anders Danielsen Lie, actor
• 4 January – Audun Ellingsen, jazz musician
• 5 January – Håvard Klemetsen, Nordic combined skier
• 7 January – Andreas Hauger, footballer
• 8 January – John Anders Bjørkøy, footballer
• 11 January – Kari Mette Johansen, handball player.
• 12 January – Åsa Elvik, politician
• 13 January – Einar Kalsæg, footballer
• 16 January – Espen Isaksen, footballer
• 20 January – Marte Reenaas, ski orienteering competitor
• 21 January – Thomas Berling, footballer
• 22 January – Ailo Gaup, motocross rider
• 22 January – Svein Oddvar Moen, footballer
• 23 January – Jarl Espen Ygranes, ice hockey player
• 24 January – Anita Auglend, singer
• 2 February – Olav Råstad, footballer
• 11 February – Joachim Sørum, footballer
• 6 March – Aksel Magdahl, sailor
• 11 March – Roger Hjelmstadstuen, snowboarder
• 11 March – Morten Tandberg, football manager
• 13 March – Børge Lund, handball player.
• 13 March – Espen Olsen, footballer
• 15 March – Ola Berger, ski mountaineer anc cross-country skier
• 17 March – Tuva Moflag, politician.
• 20 March – Liv Kjersti Bergman, biathlete
• 23 March – Jostein Hasselgård, singer
• 2 April – Stian Westerhus, guitarist
• 5 April – Jørgen Tengesdal, footballer
• 8 April – Rune Stordal, speed skater
• 9 April – André Jørgensen, handball player
• 10 April – Kai Risholt, footballer
• 10 April – Roger Risholt, footballer
• 12 April – Thomas Dybdahl, musician
• 12 April – Lars Granaas, footballer
• 14 April – Bård Nesteng, archer
• 17 April – Hanne Hukkelberg, singer-songwriter
• 20 April – Stian Barsnes-Simonsen, actor
• 20 April – Kenneth Kapstad, musician
• 23 April – Saera Khan, politician.
• 24 April – Tor Henning Hamre, footballer
• 25 April – Nils-Torolv Simonsen, rower
• 25 April – Martin Sjølie, pianist, songwriter and record producer
• 1 May – Lars Berger, biathlete.
• 2 May – Oddrun Brakstad Orset, ski mountaineer
• 4 May – Morten Kolseth, footballer
• 6 May – Jan Erik Mikalsen, composer
• 7 May – Henrik Bjørnstad, golf player
• 8 May – Marius Erlandsen, auto racing driver
• 8 May – Alf Wilhelm Lundberg, jazz musician
• 8 May – Ole Johan Singsdal, footballer
• 8 May – Ole Morten Vågan, jazz musician
• 10 May – Isabel Blanco, handball player.
• 16 May – Hermund Nygård, jazz musician
• 20 May – Torgeir Micaelsen, politician.
• 21 May – Svein-Erik Edvartsen, footballer
• 22 May – Christer-André Cederberg, music producer
• 26 May – Joachim Hansen, mixed martial artist
• 29 May – Ella Gjømle Berg, cross-country skier.
• 8 June – Jacob Norenberg, sprint canoer.
• 13 June – Nila Håkedal, beach volleyball player.
• 21 June – Henning Braaten, skateboarder
• 23 June – Susanna Wallumrød, singer
• 25 June – Haddy N'jie, singer, songwriter, writer and journalist
• 26 June – Mathias Eick, jazz musician
• 3 July – Erik Lund, rugby union footballer
• 4 July – Lene Westgaard, political scientist
• 17 July – Lars Rørbakken, strongman
• 21 July – Ingrid Tørlen, beach volleyball player.
• 24 July – Heidi Skjerve, jazz musician
• 26 July – Bodil Ryste, ski mountaineer and cross-country skier
• 3 August – Maria Haukaas Mittet, singer
• 4 August –
• *Torgeir Ruud Ramsli, footballer
• *Mona Solheim, taekwondo practitioner.
• *Nina Solheim, taekwondo practitioner
• 8 August – Ellinor Jåma, politician
• 9 August – Tore Ruud Hofstad, cross-country skier
• 10 August – Ove Alexander Billington, jazz pianist and composer
• 11 August – Christer George, footballer
• 22 August – Henriette Løvar, curler
• 27 August – Erik Watndal, sport shooter.
• 31 August – Camilla Huse, footballer
• 3 September – Stian Eckhoff, biathlete.
• 5 September – Kjersti Beck, handball goalkeeper
• 5 September – John Carew, footballer
• 11 September – Kenneth Høie, footballer
• 13 September – Linda Grubben, biathlete
• 15 September – Atle Gulbrandsen, racing driver and television announcer
• 22 September – Alex Valencia, footballer
• 23 September – Lisa Loven Kongsli, actress
• 24 September – Stine Hofgaard Nilsen, alpine skier
• 2 October – Kjetil Strand, handball player
• 5 October – Lisa Wiik, snowboarder
• 8 October – Wilhelm Brenna, ski jumper
• 9 October – Veronika Flåt, actress
• 10 October – Espen Søgård, footballer
• 14 October – Marcus Paus, composer
• 19 October – Ingunn Ringvold, roots singer, musician and songwriter
• 19 October – Magne Sturød, footballer
• 24 October – Lise Birgitte Fredriksen, sailor
• 1 November – Tommy Knarvik, footballer
• 2 November – Nina Ellen Ødegård, actress
• 8 November – Erling Sande, politician
• 10 November – Ragnvald Soma, footballer
• 30 November – Ellen Blom, ski mountaineer
• 3 December – Kjersti Annesdatter Skomsvold, writer
• 6 December – Tommy Wirkola, film director, producer and screenwriter
• 10 December – Tora Augestad, musician
• 14 December – Øystein Runde, comics writer and comics artist
• 18 December – Tone Hatteland Lima, cyclist
• 18 December – Øyvind Storflor, footballer
• 20 December – Espen Johnsen, footballer
• 20 December – Benedikte Shetelig Kruse, singer and actor
• 27 December – Hanne Sørvaag, musician
• 28 December – Daniel Forfang, ski jumper

  Full date missing

• Dolk, graffiti artist
• Torbjørn Ringdal Hansen, chess player
• Morten Morland, cartoonist
• Ozan Özerk, physician
• Robert Post, singer-songwriter
• Einar Selvik, musician
• Stein Urheim, jazz musician

  Notable deaths

• 7 January – Thoralf Hagen, rower and Olympic bronze medallist
• 28 January – Elling Enger, composer, organist, and choir conductor
• 4 February – Hans Martin Gulbrandsen, canoeist
• 15 February – Karl Henry Karlsen, politician
• 7 March – Klaus Egge, composer and music critic
• 3 April – Dagfinn Zwilgmeyer, psalmist.
• 6 April – Finn Øen, politician
• 17 April – Trygve Olsen, politician
• 26 April – Trygve Stokstad, boxer
• 7 May – Erik Brofoss, economist, politician and Minister
• 8 June – Magnar Isaksen, international soccer player and Olympic bronze medallist.
• 5 July – Rolf Holmberg, soccer player and Olympic bronze medallist
• 10 July – Harald Færstad, gymnast and Olympic silver medallist
• 15 July – Haakon Sløgedal, politician
• 28 July – Steffen Ingebriktsen Toppe, politician
• 6 August – Olav Hordvik, politician
• 24 August – Bernt Evensen, speed skater, Olympic gold medallist and racing cyclist
• 22 September – Tore Segelcke, actress
• 30 September – Johan Johannesen, track and field athlete
• 16 October – Johan Borgen, author, journalist and critic
• 16 October – Olav Svalastog, politician
• 14 December – Otto Monsen, track and field athlete

  Full date unknown

• Emil Boyson, poet, author, and translator
• Anders Frihagen, politician and Minister
• Gunnar Emil Garfors, poet
• Jørgen Holmboe, meteorologist
• Rolf Østbye, businessperson
• Rolf Ingvar Semmingsen, civil servant
• Nils Thomas, sailor and Olympic silver medallist