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Next update
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Key figures
510 000
median income after tax for all households
| After tax median income | Percentage change2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2016 - 2017 | 2012 - 2017 | |
| 1Students not included | |||
| 2In constant prices | |||
| All households | 510 000 | 0.7 | 1.7 |
| Singles under 45 years | 293 100 | 0.7 | 2.2 |
| Singles 45-64 years | 329 500 | 0.8 | 1.7 |
| Singles 65 years and older | 266 300 | 1.1 | 3.7 |
| Couples without children, oldest person under 45 years | 604 800 | 1.2 | -3.0 |
| Couples without children, oldest person 45-64 years | 764 500 | 1.2 | 4.8 |
| Couples without children, oldest person 65 years and older | 574 000 | 1.3 | 4.7 |
| Couples with children 0-6 years | 762 800 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| Couples with children 7-17 years | 889 400 | 1.0 | 2.8 |
| Couples with children, oldest child 18 years and older | 993 700 | 1.3 | 4.7 |
| Single mother/father with children 0-17 years | 410 100 | 0.2 | -1.4 |
| Single mother/father with children 18 years and older | 549 100 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
See more tables on this subject
Table 1
Registered incomes for households by type of household. Average in NOK.
| 2017 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All households | Living alone, person under 30 years | Living alone, person 30-44 years | Living alone, person 45-66 years | Living alone, person 67 years and older | Couple without resident children, oldest person under 30 years | Couple without resident children, oldest person 30-44 years | Couple without resident children, oldest person 45-66 years | Couple without resident children, oldest person 67 years and older | Couples with children 0-5 years | Couples with children 6-17 years | Couples with children 18 years and older | Single mother/father with children 0-5 year | Single mother/father with children 6-17 year | Single mother/father with children 18 year and older | Two or more-familiy households | |
| 1Private households consiting of single persons living alone under the age of 18 are not included. | ||||||||||||||||
| 2Couples included married couples, cohabiting couples and registered partners. | ||||||||||||||||
| 3Students not included. | ||||||||||||||||
| 4For recipients of new transitional benefits for single mothers/fathers from April 2014, the benefits will be taxed as wage. From the income year 2015, the benefits are included in Social security benefits. | ||||||||||||||||
| 5Includes recipients of the former private contractual pension scheme (AFP). | ||||||||||||||||
| 6Sickness benfits from the National Insurance Scheme. Holiday payments from sickness benefits are included. | ||||||||||||||||
| 7Other taxable transfers include benefits such as parental benefit, annuity, introduction benefits for newly arrived refugees and qualification benefits (from 2008). | ||||||||||||||||
| 8Other tax-free transfers benefits such as childcare benefit to single parents, lump sum maternity grants, compensation for work injury, education benefit to single parents and received child support managed by public arrangement. Various benefits received by people attending job creating programs are included from 2009. From 2014, extra compensation for recipients of contractual pension (AFP) is included. | ||||||||||||||||
| 9Negative transfers include paid child support managed by public arrangement, paid annuity and mandatory contribution to private pension plan. | ||||||||||||||||
| Income from work (NOK) | 550 300 | 284 200 | 377 600 | 335 000 | 23 400 | 658 600 | 832 700 | 866 800 | 138 100 | 853 900 | 1 148 700 | 1 154 300 | 232 000 | 439 200 | 543 800 | 718 600 |
| Wages and salaries (NOK) | 517 300 | 276 100 | 360 100 | 313 900 | 19 400 | 641 800 | 800 600 | 810 500 | 118 400 | 809 900 | 1 075 800 | 1 078 900 | 222 900 | 419 200 | 512 600 | 668 100 |
| Net income from self-employment (NOK) | 33 000 | 8 100 | 17 500 | 21 100 | 4 000 | 16 900 | 32 100 | 56 400 | 19 700 | 44 100 | 72 800 | 75 300 | 9 100 | 20 000 | 31 200 | 50 500 |
| Property income (NOK) | 45 000 | 5 800 | 14 200 | 27 900 | 25 800 | 11 700 | 25 400 | 88 100 | 65 800 | 43 400 | 79 300 | 99 000 | 8 500 | 23 400 | 33 400 | 48 200 |
| Interest received (NOK) | 5 000 | 1 700 | 1 700 | 3 200 | 5 200 | 4 300 | 4 400 | 7 300 | 11 300 | 4 100 | 4 400 | 8 300 | 1 200 | 2 000 | 4 500 | 5 600 |
| Share dividends received (NOK) | 24 500 | 1 900 | 5 900 | 15 100 | 9 800 | 2 800 | 10 600 | 53 500 | 29 400 | 23 500 | 53 400 | 55 100 | 4 600 | 13 800 | 15 200 | 23 600 |
| Realised capital gains (NOK) | 12 900 | 1 300 | 4 200 | 8 600 | 10 300 | 2 700 | 6 100 | 23 900 | 23 400 | 11 900 | 18 400 | 23 200 | 3 300 | 6 500 | 10 900 | 14 500 |
| Realised capital losses (NOK) | 3 900 | 500 | 1 400 | 2 900 | 2 800 | 800 | 2 400 | 7 000 | 6 700 | 3 200 | 6 400 | 7 500 | 2 500 | 2 000 | 2 700 | 4 100 |
| Other capital incomes (NOK) | 6 600 | 1 400 | 3 800 | 3 800 | 3 200 | 2 700 | 6 800 | 10 400 | 8 400 | 7 100 | 9 400 | 20 000 | 1 900 | 3 100 | 5 500 | 8 600 |
| Transfers received (NOK) | 215 000 | 46 900 | 69 000 | 143 700 | 311 200 | 53 200 | 72 400 | 239 600 | 594 500 | 180 200 | 125 200 | 238 900 | 201 300 | 140 700 | 206 300 | 312 100 |
| Taxable transfers (NOK) | 198 400 | 35 700 | 59 600 | 136 900 | 308 700 | 35 800 | 63 300 | 235 800 | 591 500 | 139 100 | 91 400 | 228 100 | 123 700 | 85 200 | 191 600 | 280 700 |
| Social security benefits (NOK)4 | 132 700 | 21 500 | 38 200 | 98 100 | 239 800 | 17 800 | 32 000 | 145 900 | 448 600 | 20 900 | 48 100 | 152 600 | 72 000 | 53 600 | 139 200 | 193 500 |
| Old-age pensions (NOK) | 83 200 | 0 | 0 | 11 000 | 236 500 | 0 | 0 | 42 000 | 422 400 | 300 | 2 400 | 59 500 | 100 | 800 | 51 300 | 104 500 |
| Disability benefits (NOK) | 33 500 | 9 900 | 23 700 | 70 500 | 2 900 | 4 900 | 14 900 | 83 200 | 23 400 | 6 600 | 23 800 | 65 100 | 8 400 | 22 900 | 58 700 | 57 800 |
| Work assessment allowance (NOK) | 14 200 | 11 600 | 14 400 | 14 300 | 200 | 12 800 | 17 000 | 20 200 | 2 400 | 12 900 | 21 200 | 27 600 | 17 300 | 20 800 | 25 400 | 25 900 |
| Service pensions etc. (NOK) | 28 600 | 300 | 700 | 14 100 | 64 200 | 300 | 800 | 34 800 | 119 800 | 1 400 | 6 700 | 27 900 | 1 100 | 5 000 | 21 400 | 31 700 |
| Contractual pension (NOK) | 4 400 | 0 | 0 | 4 700 | 1 500 | 0 | 0 | 17 600 | 14 700 | 0 | 300 | 6 300 | 0 | 100 | 2 200 | 4 100 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) in public sector (NOK)5 | 2 900 | 0 | 0 | 3 300 | 700 | 0 | 0 | 11 700 | 10 200 | 0 | 100 | 3 900 | 0 | 0 | 1 400 | 2 700 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) in private sector (NOK) | 1 500 | 0 | 0 | 1 400 | 800 | 0 | 0 | 5 800 | 4 400 | 0 | 100 | 2 400 | 0 | 0 | 800 | 1 400 |
| Unemployment benefits (NOK) | 5 700 | 3 400 | 7 300 | 4 900 | 100 | 5 000 | 9 900 | 7 100 | 800 | 10 600 | 7 500 | 9 100 | 6 600 | 4 900 | 6 600 | 10 000 |
| Sickness benefits (NOK)6 | 16 100 | 5 000 | 9 900 | 14 200 | 400 | 10 200 | 17 600 | 29 200 | 3 800 | 27 000 | 26 300 | 30 400 | 16 100 | 19 100 | 20 200 | 24 800 |
| Other taxable transfers (NOK)7 | 10 900 | 5 500 | 3 400 | 1 000 | 2 600 | 2 500 | 3 000 | 1 200 | 3 900 | 79 100 | 2 600 | 1 800 | 28 000 | 2 600 | 2 000 | 16 600 |
| Tax-free transfers (NOK) | 16 700 | 11 200 | 9 400 | 6 700 | 2 600 | 17 400 | 9 100 | 3 800 | 3 000 | 41 100 | 33 800 | 10 800 | 77 500 | 55 500 | 14 700 | 31 400 |
| Familiy allowances (NOK) | 6 200 | 100 | 1 300 | 400 | 0 | 100 | 500 | 100 | 0 | 21 400 | 21 100 | 1 000 | 24 700 | 23 900 | 1 500 | 9 600 |
| Dwelling support (kr) | 1 100 | 1 900 | 1 800 | 1 500 | 800 | 700 | 700 | 200 | 100 | 1 200 | 600 | 300 | 8 500 | 3 500 | 1 000 | 1 400 |
| Scholarships (NOK) | 2 100 | 3 200 | 400 | 0 | 0 | 13 000 | 4 300 | 100 | 0 | 3 100 | 3 900 | 4 100 | 3 900 | 3 800 | 3 200 | 7 200 |
| Social assistance (NOK) | 2 600 | 4 500 | 4 400 | 3 000 | 200 | 1 900 | 2 000 | 700 | 100 | 3 600 | 2 000 | 1 400 | 15 600 | 6 700 | 3 800 | 4 400 |
| Basic and attendance benefits (NOK) | 1 400 | 500 | 600 | 900 | 1 000 | 600 | 600 | 1 000 | 1 300 | 1 600 | 3 200 | 1 800 | 1 400 | 3 100 | 1 700 | 2 400 |
| Cash for care (NOK) | 700 | 100 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 500 | 0 | 0 | 3 800 | 0 | 0 | 1 400 |
| Other tax-free transfers (NOK)8 | 2 600 | 1 000 | 600 | 900 | 500 | 1 100 | 1 000 | 1 700 | 1 500 | 4 700 | 3 000 | 2 200 | 19 500 | 14 500 | 3 300 | 5 000 |
| Total income (NOK) | 810 300 | 336 800 | 460 800 | 506 500 | 360 400 | 723 500 | 930 500 | 1 194 600 | 798 300 | 1 077 500 | 1 353 200 | 1 492 200 | 441 700 | 603 300 | 783 500 | 1 078 900 |
| Total assessed taxed and negative transfers (NOK) | 206 800 | 75 200 | 118 100 | 136 900 | 64 000 | 164 800 | 242 700 | 345 300 | 164 600 | 276 700 | 384 500 | 408 300 | 77 100 | 135 100 | 187 900 | 251 000 |
| Assessed taxes (NOK) | 202 000 | 73 500 | 114 200 | 132 800 | 63 800 | 160 800 | 236 200 | 337 900 | 163 600 | 269 200 | 375 300 | 399 300 | 74 300 | 130 400 | 182 800 | 244 700 |
| Negative transfers (NOK)9 | 4 800 | 1 700 | 3 900 | 4 100 | 200 | 4 000 | 6 500 | 7 500 | 1 000 | 7 500 | 9 200 | 8 900 | 2 800 | 4 700 | 5 100 | 6 300 |
| After-tax income (NOK) | 603 500 | 261 600 | 342 700 | 369 600 | 296 400 | 558 700 | 687 800 | 849 200 | 633 700 | 800 900 | 968 700 | 1 083 900 | 364 500 | 468 200 | 595 500 | 827 900 |
| Number of households | 2 368 453 | 161 656 | 198 864 | 302 015 | 269 290 | 49 535 | 63 013 | 213 778 | 238 215 | 230 281 | 257 454 | 117 297 | 27 158 | 86 064 | 62 415 | 91 418 |
Table 2
Property account for households
| 2017 | 2016 - 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average for households with different property holdings (NOK) | Share of households with different property holdings (per cent) | NOK million | Percentage change (NOK million) | |
| 1Students not included. | ||||
| 2All wealth items are based on market value or assumed sales value before any tax valuation discount. | ||||
| 3From 2017 it is possible to own listed shares and mutual fund holdings through a share savings account. | ||||
| Estimated real capital | 3 633 000 | 82.0 | 7 054 443 | 7.5 |
| Estimated market value primary dwelling | 3 622 500 | 69.4 | 5 953 761 | 8.1 |
| Estimated market value secondary dwelling | 2 778 400 | 10.1 | 662 303 | 5.2 |
| Gross financial capital | 1 243 700 | 99.1 | 2 920 623 | 13.3 |
| Bank deposits | 491 700 | 99.1 | 1 154 300 | 4.4 |
| Shares and other securities | 2 624 500 | 20.4 | 1 269 559 | 19.9 |
| Share savings account3 | 488 400 | 7.4 | 85 676 | . |
| Units of mutual funds | 212 200 | 30.5 | 153 365 | -10.5 |
| Foreign taxable wealth excl. real properties | 474 700 | 3.8 | 43 158 | 5.3 |
| Estimated gross wealth | 4 244 700 | 99.2 | 9 975 066 | 9.1 |
| Debt | 1 661 400 | 85.3 | 3 357 256 | 6.2 |
| Study debt | 234 000 | 25.0 | 138 448 | 5.4 |
| Estimated net wealth | 2 806 200 | 99.6 | 6 617 810 | 10.7 |
| Positive net wealth | 3 555 800 | 81.6 | 6 874 260 | 10.4 |
| Negative net wealth | -603 300 | 17.9 | -256 450 | 3.5 |
| Property taxes | 43 400 | 14.5 | 14 926 | 10.6 |
Table 3
Percentage share of total estimated net wealth, average net wealth and lowest value in decile for households, by deciles
| 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of total net wealth (per cent) | Average estimated net wealth (NOK) | Lowest value in decile (NOK) | |
| 1Students not included | |||
| Total | 100.0 | 2 794 100 | .. |
| Decile 1 | -3.6 | -1 012 800 | .. |
| Decile 2 | -0.2 | -69 700 | -222 200 |
| Decile 3 | 0.3 | 85 000 | 5 000 |
| Decile 4 | 1.9 | 517 200 | 238 900 |
| Decile 5 | 4.1 | 1 134 000 | 817 700 |
| Decile 6 | 6.4 | 1 798 300 | 1 456 300 |
| Decile 7 | 9.1 | 2 550 100 | 2 153 100 |
| Decile 8 | 12.5 | 3 504 100 | 2 978 200 |
| Decile 9 | 17.9 | 5 012 900 | 4 106 900 |
| Decile 10 | 51.6 | 14 422 200 | 6 225 800 |
| Top 5 per cent | 38.5 | 21 495 000 | 8 887 300 |
| Top 1 per cent | 21.0 | 58 558 500 | 19 977 100 |
| Top 0,1 per cent | 10.0 | 279 065 200 | 89 083 200 |
Table 4
Measures of income dispersion. Household equivalent income (EU-scale) between persons
| Total population | Total population excluding persons in student households | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gini coefficient | Standard error of the Gini coefficient | P90/P102 | S80/S203 | Gini coefficient | Standard error of the Gini coefficient | P90/P102 | S80/S203 | |
| 1Negative amounts have been set to zero. | ||||||||
| 2Percentile ratio of the 9th and the 1st decile cut-offs. | ||||||||
| 3The ratio of the share of income held by the top 20 per cent of the distribution and the bottom 20 per cent of the distribution. | ||||||||
| 1994 | 0.241 | 0.002 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 0.235 | 0.002 | 2.7 | 3.3 |
| 1995 | 0.236 | 0.003 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 0.231 | 0.003 | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| 1996 | 0.245 | 0.004 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 0.240 | 0.004 | 2.6 | 3.4 |
| 1997 | 0.249 | 0.004 | 2.7 | 3.5 | 0.243 | 0.004 | 2.6 | 3.4 |
| 1998 | 0.238 | 0.003 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 0.233 | 0.003 | 2.6 | 3.2 |
| 1999 | 0.242 | 0.004 | 2.7 | 3.4 | 0.236 | 0.004 | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| 2000 | 0.262 | 0.004 | 2.7 | 3.7 | 0.257 | 0.004 | 2.6 | 3.6 |
| 2001 | 0.229 | 0.002 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 0.223 | 0.002 | 2.5 | 3.1 |
| 2002 | 0.264 | 0.004 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 0.258 | 0.004 | 2.6 | 3.6 |
| 2003 | 0.274 | 0.003 | 2.8 | 3.9 | 0.267 | 0.003 | 2.7 | 3.7 |
| 2004 | 0.283 | .. | 2.7 | 4.1 | 0.276 | .. | 2.6 | 3.8 |
| 2005 | 0.327 | .. | 2.8 | 4.8 | 0.319 | .. | 2.7 | 4.5 |
| 2006 | 0.243 | .. | 2.8 | 3.5 | 0.235 | .. | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| 2007 | 0.252 | .. | 2.8 | 3.7 | 0.244 | .. | 2.7 | 3.5 |
| 2008 | 0.248 | .. | 2.8 | 3.6 | 0.240 | .. | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| 2009 | 0.241 | .. | 2.8 | 3.5 | 0.231 | .. | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| 2010 | 0.245 | .. | 2.8 | 3.6 | 0.236 | .. | 2.6 | 3.3 |
| 2011 | 0.247 | .. | 2.8 | 3.6 | 0.237 | .. | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| 2012 | 0.249 | .. | 2.9 | 3.7 | 0.239 | .. | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| 2013 | 0.250 | .. | 2.9 | 3.7 | 0.241 | .. | 2.7 | 3.4 |
| 2014 | 0.256 | .. | 2.9 | 3.8 | 0.247 | .. | 2.8 | 3.5 |
| 2015 | 0.271 | .. | 3.0 | 4.0 | 0.263 | .. | 2.8 | 3.8 |
| 2016 | 0.261 | .. | 3.0 | 3.9 | 0.252 | .. | 2.8 | 3.6 |
| 2017 | 0.261 | .. | 3.0 | 3.9 | 0.252 | .. | 2.8 | 3.6 |
Table 5
Registered incomes for residents. Number of persons with amount. Amount in NOK million.
| 2016 | 2017 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of persons with amount | NOK million | Number of persons with amount | NOK million | |
| 1For recipients of new transitional benefits for single mothers/fathers from April 2014, the benefits will be taxed as wage. From the income year 2015, the benefits are included in Social security benefits. | ||||
| 2Includes recipients of the former private contractual pension scheme (AFP). | ||||
| 3Sickness benfits from the National Insurance Scheme. Holiday payments from sickness benefits are included. | ||||
| 4Other taxable transfers include benefits such as parental benefit, annuity, introduction benefits for newly arrived refugees and qualification benefits (from 2008). | ||||
| 5Other tax-free transfers benefits such as childcare benefit to single parents, lump sum maternity grants, compensation for work injury, education benefit to single parents and received child support managed by public arrangement. Various benefits received by people attending job creating programs are included from 2009. From 2014, extra compensation for recipients of contractual pension (AFP) is included. | ||||
| 6Negative transfers include paid child support managed by public arrangement, paid annuity and mandatory contribution to private pension plan | ||||
| INCOME FROM WORK | 3 107 572 | 1 271 867.2 | 3 126 555 | 1 313 138.6 |
| Wages and salaries | 2 996 895 | 1 194 290.5 | 3 017 563 | 1 234 801.9 |
| Net income from self-employment | 326 207 | 77 576.7 | 323 385 | 78 336.6 |
| PROPERTY INCOME | 4 088 921 | 101 032.1 | 4 133 572 | 107 759.4 |
| Interest received | 4 077 692 | 11 570.5 | 4 121 466 | 12 080.8 |
| Share dividends received | 506 278 | 58 967.5 | 536 002 | 58 329.9 |
| Realised capital gains | 242 047 | 26 621.7 | 284 278 | 30 847.3 |
| Realised capital losses | 162 534 | 9 795.7 | 125 975 | 9 364.1 |
| Other capital incomes | 1 449 531 | 13 668.0 | 1 494 531 | 15 865.4 |
| TRANSFERS RECEIVED | 3 077 615 | 506 084.1 | 3 089 816 | 522 141.7 |
| TAXABLE TRANSFERS | 2 221 717 | 463 013.9 | 2 227 616 | 478 352.3 |
| Social security benefits1 | 1 359 718 | 309 601.3 | 1 378 607 | 321 232.2 |
| Old-age pensions | 848 901 | 193 391.8 | 869 889 | 202 548.5 |
| Disability benefits | 330 192 | 77 684.3 | 336 442 | 80 688.3 |
| Work Assessment Allowance | 192 923 | 33 900.2 | 189 543 | 33 713.4 |
| Service pensions etc | 824 306 | 66 126.9 | 844 862 | 69 036.4 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) | 90 917 | 9 570.0 | 101 143 | 10 403.2 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) in public sector2 | 33 692 | 6 600.0 | 34 571 | 6 950.8 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) in private sector | 57 244 | 2 970.0 | 66 585 | 3 452.4 |
| Unemployment benefits | 165 084 | 14 988.4 | 147 382 | 13 577.8 |
| Sickness benefits3 | 736 772 | 38 153.8 | 703 665 | 38 216.8 |
| Other taxable transfers4 | 247 812 | 24 573.4 | 265 949 | 25 885.9 |
| TAX-FREE TRANSFERS | 1 535 556 | 43 070.1 | 1 540 732 | 43 789.4 |
| Familiy allowances | 708 035 | 14 788.9 | 709 587 | 14 769.3 |
| Dwelling support | 137 430 | 3 132.0 | 139 682 | 2 793.4 |
| Scholarships | 389 654 | 8 051.7 | 391 996 | 8 449.4 |
| Social assistance | 127 627 | 6 091.4 | 129 995 | 6 451.3 |
| Basic and attendance benefits | 168 225 | 3 477.9 | 166 928 | 3 470.5 |
| Cash for care | 47 295 | 1 508.3 | 45 222 | 1 573.1 |
| Other tax-free transfers5 | 272 140 | 6 020.0 | 270 057 | 6 282.4 |
| TOTAL INCOME | 4 345 120 | 1 878 983.4 | 4 382 970 | 1 943 039.7 |
| Assessed taxes and negative transfers | 3 765 335 | 479 925.0 | 3 796 584 | 492 319.3 |
| Assessed taxes | 3 734 884 | 468 977.0 | 3 762 141 | 480 946.0 |
| Negative transfers6 | 1 207 119 | 10 948.0 | 1 228 160 | 11 373.3 |
| AFTER-TAX INCOME | 4 345 347 | 1 399 058.4 | 4 383 205 | 1 450 720.4 |
| NUMBER OF RESIDENTS | 5 258 317 | .. | 5 295 619 | .. |
About the statistics
Income and wealth statistics for households provide figures for the level, composition, development and distribution of income. The survey comprises all monetary income, both taxable and tax-exempt, as well as wealth and debt. The statistics present the general developments of income and wealth as well as its distribution between household types and groups.
Definitions
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Total income is the sum of wages and salaries, property income and transfers.
After-tax income is calulated as the sum of wages and salaries, income from self-employment, property income and transfers received minus total assessed taxes and negative transfers.
Income from work is the sum of employee income and net income from self-employment during the calendar year.
Property income is the sum of interest received, share dividends received, realised capital gains (or losses) and other income received during the calendar year.
Taxable transfers is the sum of pensions and benefits from the social security scheme, service pension, unemployment benefits and some minor taxable benefits.
Tax-free transfers consist of child allowance, dwelling support, student grants, social assistance, basic and attendance benefit and more.
After-tax income per consumption unit (equivalent income) is the household after-tax income "corrected" for differences in household size and household composition. When comparing the level of income and living standards for households of varying size, income is often adjusted with the help of equivalence scales or consumption units. An equivalence scale, for instance, provides an indication of how much income a household of four must have in order to achieve the same standard of living as a single person.
EU-equivalence scale: This is the ‘OECD-modified equivalence scale’ which assigns a value of 1 to the household head, of 0.5 to each additional adult member and of 0.3 to each child under the age of 17.
Median income is the exact income amount that splits a distribution in two equally sized groups, when income is sorted ascending (or descending). The number of persons with income over the median income will be the same as the number of persons with income under the median income.
Low-income threshold. Defined as an equivalent income lower than different percentages of the median income, e.g. 50, 60 or 70 per cent of median income for all persons.
Low-income group. Persons with yearly equivalent income lower than the low-income threshold.
A household is regarded as all persons who live permanently in the same dwelling and having common housekeeping. The statistics include only persons in private households.
The main income earner is the person in the household who has the highest gross income of the income earners in the household. In those cases where there is no income earner in the household, the oldest person is the main income earner.
Person with economic activity
A person that has income from employment or self-employment that is greater than twice the basic amount of the National insurance scheme (so-called "G", or "grunnbeløpet"). For the income year 2010 and earlier, persons with income from employment or self-employment greater than the minimum pension for single people were regarded as economically active.Single parents
Persons in the household type "mother/father with children aged 0-17 years".Couples with children aged 0-17 years in the lowest income class
Couples with children aged 0-17 years where the equivalent after-tax income (EU-scale) is in the lowest decile.Children under 18 years of age
People in households with children less than 18 years of age.Old-age pensioners
People in households where the main income earner, according to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation (previously the National Insurance Service), receives old age pension from the social security system.Disability pensioners
People in households where the main income earner, according to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation, receives disability pension from the social security system.Pensioners within the Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme :
People in households where the main income earner, according to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation, has used the opportunity for early retirementReceivers of survivor's benefits
People in households where the main income earner, according to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation, receives survivor's benefit (after deceased spouse) from the social security system.Single pensioner, receiver of the minimum state pension
People living alone according to Statistics Norway's Income Statistics for Households and recipient of special allowance from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare OrganisationLongstanding illness
People in households where the main income earner is registered with longstanding illness. Included are people in receipt of rehabilitation allowances, persons incapable of full employment but partaking in labour market schemes, and others. Up until 2005, persons who were incapable of full employment but who were taking part in programmes initiated by the National Insurance Scheme (e.g. school and work placements), and persons who were receiving vocational rehabilitation allowances, were not included in the statistics.Long-term unemployed
People in households where the main income earner has been registered as unemployed for 6 consecutive months or more during the year.Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents
People in households where the main income earner is born abroad by two foreign-born parents (first-generation immigrant) or born in Norway by two foreign-born parents.Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents from non-western countries
People in households where the main income earner is an immigrant from Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Central and South America or Turkey.Refugees
People in households where the main income earner is a person with refugee background.People on social assistance
People in households where the main income earner has received social assistance during the year.Single people under 35 years of age
Single people according to Statistics Norway's Income Statistics for Households. Single students are excluded. The definition of student is a person without any economic activity and without social security benefits, but who does receive a student loan.The senior population
People in households where the main income earner is in the age group 50 - 66 years.
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Types of household are in conformance with standard classifications.
Socio-economic standard
A person with economic actitvity has income from employment or self-employment that is greater than twice the basic amount of the National insurance scheme (so-called "G", or "grunnbeløpet"). For the income year 2010 and earlier, persons with income from employment or self-employment greater than the minimum pension for single people were regarded as economically active.
The economically active population is divided into self-employed and employees. If income from self-employment is greater than income from employment, the person is classified as self-employed, and vice versa.
We have the following socio-economic groups:
Working
Self-employed
Self-employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing
Self-employed in other industries.
Employee
Non-working
Pensioners and National Insurance recipients
Other non-working
Administrative information
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Name: Income and wealth statistics for households
Topic: Income and consumption
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Division for Income and social welfare statistics
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National level, counties and municipalities.
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Annually. During last quarter one year after the current income year.
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Income data is used in Eurostat's structural indicators on low income and income distribution. Micro data for selected years are also included in the database Luxembourg Income Study (LIS). Income data is also included in the Nordic publication "Social security in the Nordic countries" by the Nordic social committee, and in reports published by the OECD.
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A full survey of Statistics Norway's income statistics is available under subject 05.01 at Statistics Norway's website.
Data files with individual income data that have gone through the linkage and statistics files are stored.
Background
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The purpose of the statistics is to present income measurements as living standard indicators and data that measure the economic resources households have for saving and consumption. Additionally, the statistics presents general income trends and income distribution among different types of households.
The Income Distribution Survey was conducted annually from 1986 to 2004 based on a representative sample survey. Information on the household composition was collected from various Living Condition Surveys and Household Budget Surveys. Up until 1992, the income data was obtained in the form of paper forms from the local tax offices. In addition, tax-free transfers were obtained electronically from other government agencies. Beginning with the survey for the 1993 income year, it was possible to obtain all income data from the personal tax return in electronic form. From 2005 we have also established household composition by using registers. This means that we are now able to produce a totally register-based household income statistics.
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The main users are the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion, Ministry of Children and Equality, Directorate for Health and Social Affairs, and research institutes in the areas of household economics, tax research and living conditions in general.
The tax model LOTTE is updated annually with data from the Income and Property Survey for households.
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No external users have access to the statistics and analyses before they are published and accessible simultaneously for all users on ssb.no at 8 am. Prior to this, a minimum of three months' advance notice is given inthe Statistics Release Calendar. This is one of Statistics Norway’s key principles for ensuring that all users are treated equally.
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Data from the Tax Return is the basis for all of Statistics Norway's statistics on income for persons. The tax return statistics include data on types of taxable income, and is obtained for all persons residing in the country. The statistics was first available for the year 1993.
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Statistics Act §§ 2-1 and 3-2.
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None
Production
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All persons residing in Norway and resident in private households as of 31st December of the current income year.
The totally register-based income statistics as of 2004 is a total census. Households are derived at after performing certain adjustments to the formal households (formal adress according to the Central Population Register). These adjustments include omitting people living in institutions and removing students, that no longer reside with their parents, into single person households. Surveys suggest that less than 10 per cent of the students in Norway actually live at home. In addition, other administrative sources are used to identify more cohabitating couples that belong to the same household.
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Income data are received by linking different administrative registers and statistical data sources for the whole population as of 31st of December of the income year. Income and biographical data are collected from the following sources:
Data from tax returns (wages and salaries, entrepreneurial income, pensions etc.)
The Tax Register (taxes)
End of the Year Certificate Register (unemployment benefit, various tax-free transfers)
Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation (family allowances, basic and additional amounts, cash benefit etc.)
Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion (social assistance)
State Educational Loan Fund (loans to students, scholarships)
State Housing Bank (dwelling support)
Education statistics from Statistics Norway (highest level of completed education etc.)
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Data are collected from various administrative registers.
Consistency controls are undertaken by comparing information from different sources.
The population of the Income Distribution Survey (1986-2004) was weighted by the use of a calibration program. This method of estimation permits the population to show the same aggregates familiar from the register statistics (for the population) for selected variables. This applies to the different personal incomes and net wealth.
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Not relevant
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The use of collected data will be in accordance with the standards of the Statistics Act. The information are kept in a responsible way.
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The Income Distribution Survey has gone through several significant changes up through the years. This is due in part to changes in the analysis unit (1982) and in part to changes in the income concept as a result of changes in the tax system and access to new income components from registers.
Accuracy and reliability
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Data from the Tax Returns may contain errors made by the individual taxpayer that fills out the form. A number of the errors are discovered and corrected by the Tax Offices. Errors that do not have any practical significance for the Tax Return are often not corrected by the Tax Offices, causing discrepancies in the material. In particular, small amounts under the tax-free limit are frequently left uncorrected even though they are not filled out properly.
Some data collection and processing errors are unavoidable. These include coding errors, revision errors, data processing errors, etc. Comprehensive efforts have been made to minimize these errors, and we regard these types of errors to be relatively insignificant.
From and including the income year 2005, this statistics is a total census and will not be affected by variance and bias. For previous years with survey based statistics the following is of relevance:
All sample surveys are subject to a certain amount of uncertainty. In general; the fewer observations the more uncertain the results. Results based on less than 20 observations are therefore not published.
Groups based on relatively few observations will be very strongly influenced by extreme observations, i.e. observations that deviate greatly from the average. In this statistics, extreme observations in most cases are included, but an attempt has been made to reduce the effect of such observations by adjustments (reduction) of the household weights.
Bias can occur when the distribution between certain groups in the population is not the same as the corresponding distribution in the total population. Sample bias of this type can occur through non-response. Most of the data for the Income Distribution Survey was obtained from administrative registers. Non-response is not a problem for this part of the material. The household composition was based on interviews, where there will always be non-response. Non-response is adjusted by replacing household data with data on family composition from registers.
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Not relevant
Contact
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Jon Epland
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Elisabeth Løyland Omholt
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Anne Berit Dalgard