Demographics of Norway


This article is about the demographic features of the population of Norway, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Total population

The total population of Norway on 1 January 2018 was 5,295,619. Statistics Norway estimated that the 5,000,000 milestone was reached on 19 March 2012.

Population growth rate in 2017

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.
Years18001801180218031804180518061807180818091810
Total Fertility Rate in Norway4.324.073.914.23.944.334.394.2743.213.87

in Norway 1951–2016, in thousands.
Years1811181218131814181518161817181818191820
Total Fertility Rate in Norway3.994.263.763.534.45.054.674.434.594.79

Years1831183218331834183518361837183818391840
Total Fertility Rate in Norway4.464.34.424.564.74.234.134.363.844.01

Years1851185218531854185518561857185818591860
Total Fertility Rate in Norway4.64.464.64.934.614.424.544.624.824.63

Years1871187218731874187518761877187818791880
Total Fertility Rate in Norway4.294.44.414.594.674.684.694.644.714.53

Years189118921893189418951896189718981899
Total Fertility Rate in Norway4.514.354.474.384.524.474.484.534.47

Vital statistics since 1900

Data according to Statistics Norway, which collects the official statistics for Norway.
Average populationLive birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate Crude death rate Natural change Total fertility rates
19002,231,00066,22935,34530,88429.715.813.84.40
19012,255,00067,30333,82133,48229.815.014.84.37
19022,276,00066,49431,67034,82429.213.915.34.26
19032,288,00065,47033,84731,62328.614.813.84.16
19042,298,00064,14332,89531,24827.914.313.64.07
19052,309,00062,60134,05028,55127.114.712.43.95
19062,319,00062,09131,66830,42326.813.713.13.92
19072,329,00061,30233,34527,95726.314.312.03.87
19082,346,00061,68633,36628,32026.314.212.13.87
19092,368,00063,32432,11131,21326.713.613.23.96
19102,384,00061,48632,20729,27925.813.512.33.82
19112,401,00061,72731,69130,03625.713.212.53.80
19122,423,00061,40932,66328,74625.313.511.93.72
19132,447,00061,29432,44228,85225.013.311.83.64
19142,472,00062,11133,28028,83125.113.511.73.62
19152,498,00058,97533,42525,55023.613.410.23.37
19162,522,00061,12034,91026,21024.213.810.43.43
19172,551,00063,96934,69929,27025.113.611.53.53
19182,578,00063,46844,21819,25024.617.27.53.44
19192,603,00059,48635,82123,66522.913.89.13.17
19202,635,00069,32633,63435,69226.312.813.53.61
19212,668,00064,61030,69833,91224.211.512.73.31
19222,695,00062,90832,48430,42423.312.111.33.18
19232,713,00061,73131,54330,18822.811.611.13.09
19242,729,00058,02130,85027,17121.311.310.02.85
19252,747,00054,06630,48123,58519.711.18.62.61
19262,763,00054,16329,93324,23019.610.88.82.59
19272,775,00050,17531,14119,03418.111.26.92.38
19282,785,00049,88130,30119,58017.910.97.02.34
19292,795,00048,37232,02316,34917.311.55.82.23
19302,807,00047,84429,61618,22817.010.56.52.19
19312,824,00045,98930,67415,31516.310.95.42.07
19322,842,00045,45130,10215,34916.010.65.42.04
19332,858,00042,11428,94313,17114.710.14.61.86
19342,874,00041,83328,34013,49314.69.94.71.82
19352,889,00041,32129,74711,57414.310.34.01.78
19362,904,00042,24030,10012,14014.510.44.21.84
19372,919,00043,80830,21713,59115.010.44.71.84
19382,936,00045,31929,21116,10815.49.95.51.88
19392,954,00046,60329,87016,73315.810.15.72.00
19402,973,00047,94332,04515,89816.110.85.31.95
19412,990,00045,77332,20913,56415.310.84.51.83
19423,009,00053,22532,06221,16317.710.77.02.11
19433,032,00057,28131,62325,65818.910.48.52.26
19443,060,00062,24132,65229,58920.310.79.72.45
19453,091,00061,81430,03031,78420.09.710.32.43
19463,127,00070,72729,22041,50722.69.313.32.77
19473,165,00067,62529,89437,73121.49.411.92.66
19483,201,00065,61828,37537,24320.58.911.62.62
19493,234,00063,05229,08233,97019.59.010.52.52
19503,265,00062,41029,69932,71119.19.110.02.46
19513,296,00060,57127,73632,83518.48.410.02.47
19523,328,00062,54328,41734,12618.88.510.32.58
19533,361,00062,98528,41234,57318.78.510.32.64
19543,394,00062,73929,15833,58118.58.69.92.67
19553,427,00063,55229,09934,45318.58.510.12.76
19563,460,00064,17129,98134,19018.58.79.92.83
19573,492,00063,06330,56032,50318.18.89.32.83
19583,523,00062,98531,64531,34017.99.08.92.86
19593,553,00063,00531,76131,24417.78.98.82.88
19603,581,00061,88032,54329,33717.39.18.22.85
19613,610,00062,55533,31329,24217.39.28.12.91
19623,639,00062,25434,31827,93617.19.47.72.89
19633,667,00063,29036,85026,44017.310.07.22.91
19643,694,00065,57035,17130,39917.89.58.22.95
19653,723,00066,27735,31730,96017.89.58.32.89
19663,753,00067,06136,01031,05117.99.68.32.86
19673,785,00066,77936,21630,56317.69.68.12.82
19683,819,00067,35037,66829,68217.69.97.82.76
19693,851,00067,74638,99428,75217.610.17.52.70
19703,877,00064,55138,72325,82816.610.06.72.61
19713,903,00065,55038,98126,56916.810.06.82.51
19723,933,00064,26039,37524,88516.310.06.32.37
19733,961,00061,20839,95821,25015.510.15.42.28
19743,985,00059,60339,46420,13915.09.95.12.15
19754,007,00056,34540,06116,28414.110.04.12.00
19764,026,00053,47440,21613,25813.310.03.31.88
19774,043,00050,87739,82411,05312.69.92.71.77
19784,059,00051,74940,68211,06712.710.02.71.79
19794,073,00051,58041,6329,94812.710.22.41.77
19804,086,00051,03941,3409,69912.510.12.41.74
19814,100,00050,70841,8938,81512.410.22.21.69
19824,115,00051,24541,4549,79112.510.12.41.70
19834,128,00049,93742,2247,71312.110.21.91.67
19844,140,00050,27442,5817,69312.110.31.91.66
19854,153,00051,13444,3726,76212.310.71.61.68
19864,167,00052,51443,5608,95412.610.52.11.71
19874,187,00054,02744,9599,06812.910.72.21.80
19884,209,00057,52645,35412,17213.710.82.91.84
19894,227,00059,30345,17314,13014.010.73.31.88
19904,241,00060,93946,02114,91814.410.93.51.93
19914,262,00060,80844,92315,88514.310.53.71.92
19924,286,00060,10944,73115,37814.010.43.61.88
19934,312,00059,67846,59713,08113.810.83.01.86
19944,325,00060,09244,07116,02113.710.23.51.85
19954,359,00060,29245,19015,10213.810.43.51.85
19964,381,00060,92743,86017,06713.910.03.91.88
19974,405,00059,80144,59515,20613.610.13.51.87
19984,431,00058,35244,11214,24013.19.93.21.81
19994,462,00059,29845,17014,12813.310.13.11.85
20004,491,00059,23444,00215,23213.29.83.31.84
20014,514,00056,69643,98112,71512.69.82.81.78
20024,538,00055,43444,46510,96912.29.92.41.75
20034,565,00056,45842,47813,98012.49.43.01.80
20044,592,00056,95141,20015,75112.49.13.31.83
20054,623,00056,75641,23215,52412.38.93.41.80
20064,661,00058,54541,25317,29212.68.83.71.90
20074,709,00058,45941,95416,50512.48.93.51.88
20084,768,00060,49741,71218,78512.78.73.91.96
20094,829,00061,80741,44920,35812.88.64.21.98
20104,889,00061,44241,49919,94312.68.54.11.95
20114,953,00060,22041,39318,82712.18.33.81.88
20125,019,00060,25541,99218,26312.08.43.61.85
20135,079,00058,99541,28217,71311.78.13.61.78
20145,137,00059,08440,39418,69011.57.93.61.76
20155,165,00059,05840,72718,33111.47.93.51.73
20165,213,00058,89040,72618,16411.37.83.51.71
20175,258,00056,63340,77415,85910.87.83.01.62
20185,296,00055,12040,84014,28010.47.72.81.56
20195,328,00054,49540,68413,81110.27.62.61,53

Current natural increase

CountyFertility rate
Østfold1.54
Akershus1.64
Oslo1.42
Hedmark1.48
Oppland1.48
Buskerud1.53
Vestfold1.52
Telemark1.49
Aust-Agder1.54
Vest-Agder1.62
Rogaland1.67
Hordaland1.56
Sogn og Fjordane1.70
Møre og Romsdal1.64
Trøndelag1.52
Nordland1.50
Troms1.45
Finnmark1.56

[Life expectancy] at birth from 1846 to 2015

Sources: Our World In Data and the United Nations.
1543–1950
Years184618471848184918501851185218531854185518561857185818591860
Life expectancy in Norway48.044.845.048.049.549.748.547.951.650.450.450.251.649.950.0

Years1871187218731874187518761877187818791880
Life expectancy in Norway49.750.049.747.847.646.849.751.853.151.9

Years1891189218931894189518961897189818991900
Life expectancy in Norway49.849.751.450.652.853.853.754.051.653.5

Years1911191219131914191519161917191819191920
Life expectancy in Norway58.057.758.357.858.257.357.750.356.858.9

Years1931193219331934193519361937193819391940
Life expectancy in Norway64.164.665.566.265.865.866.067.167.465.9

1950-2015
PeriodLife expectancy in
Years		PeriodLife expectancy in
Years
1950–195572.81985–199076.3
1955–196073.51990–199577.3
1960–196573.51995–200078.3
1965–197073.92000–200579.3
1970–197574.42005–201080.6
1975–198075.32010–201581.6
1980–198576.0

Source: UN World Population Prospects

Ethnicity

Ethnically, the residents of Norway are predominantly Norwegians, a North Germanic ethnic group descent. In Northern Norway live the Sami, 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. As of 2012, an official government study shows that 86.2% of the total population are ethnic Norwegians. The national minorities of Norway include Scandinavian Romani, Roma, Jews, and Kvener, as well as a small Finnish community.
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, East Asia, and Southeast Asia/Pacific Islands, Eastern Europe and, Southern Europe, and Middle East countries, 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.
Immigrants constituted 13% of the population at the start of 2015, and an additional 2.6% were born in Norway by immigrant parents. The same year, 19% of births in Norway were to immigrant parents. In 2006, non-Western immigrants constituted 75% of the total number of immigrants. They contribute much of the population growth. Among people of African descent in Oslo, almost 60% are younger than 30, compared to 20% of those of North American background.
As of 2012, an official government study shows that more than 660,000 individuals are migrants and their descendants.
Of these 660,000 immigrants and their descendants:
In 2012, of the total 660 000 with immigrant background, 407,262 had Norwegian citizenship.
Immigrants were represented in all Norwegian municipalities.
The cities or municipalities with the highest share of immigrants in 2012 was Oslo and Drammen. The share in Stavanger was 16%. According to Reuters, Oslo is the "fastest growing city in Europe because of increased immigration". In recent years, immigration has accounted for most of Norway's population growth.
RankCountry of originPopulation
1.115,416
2.47,304
3.44,773
4.43,273
5.41,674
6.31,026
7.22,268
8.20,102
9.28,258
10.26,334
11.23,655
12. 23,331
13.22,194
14.22,191
15.21,942
16.21,010
17.20,075
18.19,135
19.18,542
20.17,653

Genetics of the native people of Norway

Y-chromosome DNA

Y-Chromosome DNA represents the male lineage, The Norwegian Y-chromosome pool may be summarized as follows where haplogroups R1 & I comprise generally more than 85% of the total chromosomes.
represents the female lineage, Haplogroup H represent about 40% of the Norwegian mitochondrial DNA lineages
As of 2012, an official study shows that the quotient of the total population that is either born outside Norway, or has one or two parents born abroad, or has one or more grandparents born abroad is 1,100,000 to 5,017,500.
About a half million of these, however, identify as ethnic Norwegians who may have, for example, Swedish or Danish ancestors. As of 2012, an official government study shows that 86.2% of the total population are ethnic Norwegians and more than 660,000 individuals are migrants and their descendants.
Of these 660,000 immigrants and their descendants:
The following demographic statistics are from the World Population Review.
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.
;Population:
;Population – comparative:
Slightly greater than British Columbia, but slightly less than Singapore and Eritrea.
;Age structure:
;Median age:
;Birth rate:
;Death rate:
;Total fertility rate:
;Net migration rate:
;Mother's mean age at first birth:
Note: data is calculated based on actual age at first births
;Population growth rate:
;Life expectancy at birth:
;Infant mortality rate:
;Ethnic groups:
Norwegian 83.2%, other European 8.3%, other 8.5%
;Languages:
Norwegian and 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 69.9%, Roman Catholic 3.0%, other Christians 3.8%, Muslim 3.3%, other religions 0.8%, unaffiliated and humanism 19.2%
;Dependency ratios:
Note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
;Urbanization:
Note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
;School life expectancy :
;Unemployment, youth ages 15–24:
;Sex ratio:

Religion

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.
ReligionMembersPercentAs of 2019
Christianity4,090,70876.8%-
The Church of Norway 3,724,85769.9%-
Roman Catholicism160,8843.0%-
Pentecostalism40,6320.8%-
The Swedish Church in Norway13,2640.2%-
Eastern Orthodox Christianity27,0340.5%-
The Free Lutheran Church19,5000.4%-
Jehovah's Witnesses12,6800.2%-
The Mission Society11,0870.2%-
Methodism10,1900.2%-
Baptists10,7310.2%-
Other Christianity59,8491.1%-
Non-Christian religions216,2064.1%-
Islam175,5073.3%-
Buddhism21,0440.4%-
Hinduism11,4050.2%-
Sikhism3,9840.1%-
Bahá'í Faith1,1180.0%-
Judaism8090.0%-
Other religions2,4390.0%-
Non-religious and unknown924,92217.4%-
Humanism96,2761.8%-
Total5,328,212100.0%-

Language

Official languages

Norwegian.
Uralic languages – South Sami, Lule Sami, North Sami and Kven – are additional official languages of some municipalities.