Statistikk innhold
Statistics on
Income and wealth for households
The statistics provide figures for the level, composition, development and distribution of income and wealth. The statistics comprises all monetary income, both taxable and tax-exempt, as well as wealth and debt. The statistics presents the general developments of income and wealth as well as its distribution between household types and other groups.
Selected figures from the statistics
- After-tax income for households by type of household. Median (NOK)Download table as ...After-tax income for households by type of household. Median (NOK)1
Median after-tax income (NOK) Percentage change in constant prices 2023 2022 - 2023 2018 - 2023 All households 635 400 2.0 1.4 Living alone, person under 30 years 342 600 1.5 9.4 Living alone, person 30-44 years 419 600 1.3 4.0 Living alone, person 45-66 years 412 000 1.6 2.2 Living alone, person 67 years and over 339 100 4.1 4.7 Couple without resident children, oldest person under 30 years 723 500 2.7 6.9 Couple without resident children, oldest person 30-44 years 876 100 2.1 6.7 Couple without resident children, oldest person 45-66 years 978 600 1.5 3.8 Couple without resident children, oldest person 67 years and over 713 800 3.9 3.7 Couple with children, youngest child 0-5 years 997 600 2.6 6.8 Couple with children, youngest child 6-17 years 1 131 800 1.7 3.9 Couple with children, youngest child 18 years and older 1 282 900 1.5 4.2 Mother/father with children, youngest child 0-5 years 471 500 3.5 10.0 Mother/father with children, youngest child 6-17 years 543 900 2.3 3.1 Mother/father with children, youngest child 18 years and older 711 800 2.1 5.1 1Student households are excluded. Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Registered incomes for households by type of household. Average in NOK.Download table as ...Registered incomes for households by type of household. Average in NOK.1 2 3
2023 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 Income from work (NOK) 685 400 394 900 480 500 425 100 33 400 875 400 1 087 600 1 142 600 179 700 1 120 400 1 464 700 1 483 700 314 300 542 000 695 200 908 300 Wages and salaries (NOK) 647 000 384 300 460 500 402 200 27 700 854 300 1 048 700 1 076 500 155 600 1 062 800 1 376 900 1 388 400 301 800 518 700 659 500 850 300 Net income from self-employment (NOK) 38 400 10 600 20 000 22 800 5 700 21 100 38 900 66 100 24 100 57 600 87 800 95 300 12 500 23 400 35 700 58 000 Property income (NOK) 65 100 16 000 17 200 40 100 43 700 22 500 40 800 129 900 113 100 60 300 105 100 126 500 18 100 33 200 51 600 67 000 Interest received (NOK) 15 300 4 000 4 200 10 000 18 600 9 200 10 700 22 300 38 400 9 300 12 700 25 900 3 400 6 100 14 500 15 900 Share dividends received (NOK) 32 400 8 900 6 200 19 300 12 600 6 700 17 300 75 400 45 100 33 200 66 500 68 100 10 200 19 300 23 100 30 300 Realised capital gains (NOK) 15 700 2 300 6 600 10 400 11 700 5 000 10 900 30 000 29 100 14 800 21 700 29 300 3 300 6 700 12 400 16 800 Realised capital losses (NOK) 6 000 1 600 3 800 4 200 2 800 3 000 6 700 9 400 8 500 7 500 8 800 12 700 2 000 3 200 5 000 7 200 Other capital incomes (NOK) 7 600 2 400 3 900 4 600 3 600 4 600 8 600 11 700 9 000 10 500 13 100 15 900 3 200 4 400 6 600 11 200 Transfers received (NOK) 270 600 50 700 84 600 167 400 394 600 62 600 90 200 275 300 740 400 238 600 161 800 309 500 269 600 194 400 268 100 377 300 Taxable transfers (NOK) 251 600 40 500 75 900 160 200 391 400 44 500 81 400 271 800 736 200 184 600 119 900 298 600 161 600 114 700 252 600 339 200 Social security benefits (NOK)4 169 700 26 500 51 300 115 600 303 000 20 900 43 100 166 100 549 400 28 200 64 800 203 000 84 100 71 600 186 700 234 200 Old-age pensions (NOK) 108 600 0 0 10 700 298 300 0 0 38 900 521 100 300 3 000 78 000 100 1 200 69 300 127 600 Disability benefits (NOK) 44 000 14 900 35 000 87 300 3 500 8 800 24 700 103 000 24 100 12 000 36 800 92 900 19 900 38 100 86 800 73 800 Work assessment allowance (NOK) 15 400 11 500 16 100 15 600 200 12 000 18 300 23 700 2 800 15 000 24 300 31 500 23 100 22 700 26 700 28 300 Service pensions etc. (NOK) 37 200 200 700 14 100 82 800 300 900 37 800 155 600 1 600 7 700 36 100 1 300 5 800 27 500 37 600 Contractual pension (NOK) 6 600 0 0 6 400 4 000 0 0 21 500 24 800 0 400 9 900 0 200 3 900 6 000 Contractual pension (AFP) in public sector (NOK)5 3 800 0 0 4 600 1 100 0 0 14 200 13 400 0 100 5 700 0 100 2 300 3 400 Contractual pension (AFP) in private sector (NOK) 2 800 0 0 1 800 2 900 0 0 7 300 11 400 0 200 4 300 0 100 1 600 2 600 Unemployment benefits (NOK) 3 800 2 800 5 500 3 300 100 3 100 6 500 4 400 600 7 000 4 900 5 700 5 100 3 300 4 800 7 400 Sickness benefits (NOK)6 22 500 8 400 15 900 19 400 600 17 100 27 200 40 600 4 900 43 400 38 100 42 100 28 600 27 000 27 100 35 000 Other taxable transfers (NOK)7 11 800 2 600 2 600 1 300 900 3 100 3 700 1 400 1 000 104 300 4 000 1 700 42 400 6 900 2 500 19 100 Tax-free transfers (NOK) 19 100 10 200 8 700 7 200 3 100 18 100 8 800 3 500 4 200 54 000 41 800 10 900 108 000 79 700 15 500 38 100 Familiy allowances (NOK) 8 100 100 1 400 700 0 100 700 200 0 34 200 26 400 1 200 43 900 37 700 2 200 12 400 Dwelling support (kr) 1 300 1 600 1 600 1 600 1 000 700 600 300 200 1 500 900 300 11 700 6 200 1 300 1 900 Scholarships (NOK) 2 300 3 000 300 0 0 13 800 4 300 100 0 3 800 4 800 4 500 3 900 4 700 3 400 7 900 Social assistance (NOK) 3 500 4 600 4 500 3 800 700 2 400 2 200 1 200 400 4 700 3 300 1 700 24 200 12 400 4 800 8 600 Basic and attendance benefits (NOK) 1 400 500 500 700 700 600 400 700 900 1 800 3 900 1 700 2 200 4 200 1 600 2 400 Cash for care (NOK) 400 0 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 800 0 0 3 100 0 0 800 Other tax-free transfers (NOK)8 2 100 500 200 400 800 500 500 1 000 2 700 4 200 2 500 1 500 19 000 14 600 2 100 4 000 Total income (NOK) 1 021 100 461 600 582 300 632 600 471 700 960 400 1 218 600 1 547 700 1 033 200 1 419 400 1 731 500 1 919 700 601 900 769 700 1 014 900 1 352 600 Total assessed taxed and negative transfers (NOK) 264 600 107 400 149 900 172 900 91 500 220 800 318 400 461 000 226 100 365 000 494 800 534 100 113 800 178 900 246 000 320 200 Assessed taxes (NOK) 258 900 105 000 145 400 168 200 91 300 215 200 310 400 451 900 224 900 355 100 483 400 522 900 109 800 173 200 239 700 312 700 Negative transfers (NOK)9 5 700 2 400 4 500 4 700 200 5 600 7 900 9 100 1 200 9 900 11 400 11 200 4 000 5 700 6 300 7 500 After-tax income (NOK) 756 500 354 200 432 300 459 700 380 200 739 700 900 300 1 086 800 807 100 1 054 400 1 236 800 1 385 600 488 200 590 800 768 900 1 032 400 Number of households 2 583 538 180 795 240 362 344 048 316 001 52 469 77 303 212 239 282 019 217 259 268 323 120 674 21 545 86 808 65 844 97 849 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. Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Measures of income dispersion. Household equivalent income (EU-scale) between personsDownload table as ...Measures of income dispersion. Household equivalent income (EU-scale) between persons1
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 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 2018 0.260 .. 3.0 3.9 0.251 .. 2.8 3.6 2019 0.259 .. 3.0 3.9 0.250 .. 2.8 3.6 2020 0.262 .. 3.0 3.9 0.252 .. 2.8 3.6 2021 0.289 .. 3.0 4.3 0.279 .. 2.8 4.0 2022 0.261 .. 2.9 3.9 0.253 .. 2.8 3.6 2023 0.256 .. 2.9 3.8 0.248 .. 2.8 3.6 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. Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Property account for householdsDownload table as ...Property account for households1 2
2023 2022 - 2023 Average for households with different property holdings (NOK) Share of households with different property holdings (per cent) Total (NOK million) Percentage change (NOK million) Estimated real capital 4 388 900 84.7 9 598 871 0.8 Estimated market value primary dwelling 4 463 600 68.9 7 949 751 0.6 Estimated market value secondary dwelling 3 462 400 9.8 877 338 1.3 Gross financial capital 1 765 700 98.6 4 495 683 2.9 Bank deposits 624 900 98.5 1 590 572 3.7 Shares and other securities 3 456 900 22.6 2 021 611 -1.6 Share savings account3 481 000 29.8 370 085 18.3 Units of mutual funds 274 600 28.9 204 818 18.4 Foreign taxable wealth excl. real properties 409 800 6.5 68 373 8.6 Estimated gross wealth 5 531 600 98.6 14 094 553 1.5 Debt 2 017 500 84.9 4 424 887 3.6 Study debt 302 500 26.5 207 373 6.8 Estimated net wealth 3 784 600 98.9 9 669 667 0.6 Positive net wealth 4 629 700 83.1 9 941 626 0.7 Negative net wealth -667 100 15.8 -271 959 4.6 Property taxes 62 500 17.6 28 502 11.5 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. Figures for estimated real capital, gross and net wealth were corrected on December 22, 2022. Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Percentage share of total estimated net wealth, average net wealth and lowest value in decile for households, by decilesDownload table as ...Percentage share of total estimated net wealth, average net wealth and lowest value in decile for households, by deciles1
2023 Share of total net wealth (per cent) Average estimated net wealth (NOK) Lowest value in decile (NOK) Total 100.0 3 742 800 .. Decile 1 -2.7 -1 007 900 .. Decile 2 -0.1 -42 200 -188 200 Decile 3 0.4 158 800 21 900 Decile 4 2.0 733 100 384 300 Decile 5 4.0 1 499 200 1 106 200 Decile 6 6.2 2 334 100 1 901 400 Decile 7 8.8 3 298 700 2 786 500 Decile 8 12.1 4 538 000 3 853 100 Decile 9 17.4 6 513 600 5 325 400 Decile 10 51.8 19 402 600 8 103 400 Top 5 per cent 39.0 29 229 500 11 617 800 Top 1 per cent 21.8 81 625 500 26 980 900 Top 0,1 per cent 10.4 390 814 400 129 333 700 1Students not included Figures for estimated real capital, gross and net wealth were corrected on December 22, 2022. Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ... - Registered incomes for residents. Number of persons with amount. Amount in NOK million.Download table as ...Registered incomes for residents. Number of persons with amount. Amount in NOK million.
2022 2023 Number of persons with amount NOK million Number of persons with amount NOK million INCOME FROM WORK 3 269 421 1 683 684.8 3 311 512 1 782 607.1 Wages and salaries 3 162 003 1 584 887.3 3 204 274 1 683 180.4 Net income from self-employment 326 698 98 797.5 327 753 99 426.6 PROPERTY INCOME 4 028 207 136 255.5 4 145 535 169 891.5 Interest received 3 902 710 15 587.3 4 027 645 40 318.2 Share dividends received 659 085 73 787.9 733 694 84 328.7 Realised capital gains 474 453 48 390.6 581 085 41 067.7 Realised capital losses 320 517 18 691.2 276 469 15 691.5 Other capital incomes 1 801 599 17 181.0 2 402 424 19 868.4 TRANSFERS RECEIVED 3 375 652 651 470.6 3 342 126 709 523.7 TAXABLE TRANSFERS 2 579 342 603 020.9 2 534 211 655 675.5 Social security benefits1 1 498 547 407 495.1 1 528 246 443 227.5 Old-age pensions 963 808 260 634.8 983 150 284 113.5 Disability benefits 375 395 107 309.8 377 448 114 682.0 Work Assessment Allowance 182 310 35 496.0 190 287 39 935.0 Service pensions etc 946 475 90 086.8 964 666 96 780.4 Contractual pension (AFP) 153 620 15 791.4 160 959 17 182.1 Contractual pension (AFP) in public sector2 41 216 9 410.2 38 542 9 927.4 Contractual pension (AFP) in private sector 112 430 6 381.2 122 436 7 254.6 Unemployment benefits 247 692 12 063.0 141 642 9 820.9 Sickness benefits3 900 709 50 257.1 889 790 58 240.4 Other taxable transfers4 228 126 27 098.0 237 386 30 424.1 TAX-FREE TRANSFERS 1 588 631 48 449.6 1 600 077 53 848.2 Familiy allowances 692 407 17 926.1 697 802 21 109.1 Dwelling support 137 909 3 215.2 152 208 3 568.8 Scholarships 440 787 9 879.8 411 779 9 327.4 Social assistance 127 991 7 275.1 148 517 9 555.4 Basic and attendance benefits 173 323 3 266.3 178 946 3 578.3 Cash for care 32 451 1 100.7 29 970 1 027.6 Other tax-free transfers5 269 374 5 786.5 274 871 5 681.6 TOTAL INCOME 4 575 487 2 471 410.9 4 638 905 2 662 022.3 Assessed taxes and negative transfers 4 068 267 652 934.1 4 122 761 686 236.3 Assessed taxes 4 020 665 639 174.1 4 073 077 671 500.7 Negative transfers6 1 341 015 13 759.9 1 363 670 14 735.6 AFTER-TAX INCOME 4 576 156 1 818 476.8 4 639 488 1 975 785.9 NUMBER OF RESIDENTS 5 488 984 .. 5 550 203 .. 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 Explanation of symbolsDownload table as ...
About the statistics
The information under «About the statistics» was last updated 24 March 2025.
The concepts presented here are explained according to how they are used in the statistics. These explanations may differ from the common definitions of the concepts.
Household
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. Persons registered as living in institutions are not included.
Student household
A student household is defined as a household where the main income earner is not mainly economically active or in receipt of pensions and benefits, but receives a loan from the State Educational Loan Fund.
Main income earner
The main income earner is the person in the household who has the highest total income before taxes of the income earners in the household. If there is no income earner in the household, the oldest person is defined as the main income earner.
Total income
Total income is the sum of employee, income from self-employment, property income and transfers received. Assessed tax and other negative transfers are not deducted.
After-tax income
After-tax income is calculated as total income minus assessed tax and negative transfers.
Income from work
Income from work is the sum of employee income and net income from self-employment during the calendar year. As of 2006 sickness and parental benefits is not included.
Income from self-employment
Income received in self-employment jobs. It primarily concerns the profit or loss from unincorporated enterprises.
Property income
Property income is the sum of interest received, share dividends received, realized capital gains (or losses) and other property income received during the calendar year.
Taxable transfers
Taxable transfers are the sum of pensions and benefits from the social security scheme, public and private employer provided schemes, unemployment benefits, sickness benefits and other taxable benefits.
Tax-free transfers
Tax-free transfers consist of child benefits, dwelling support, scholarships, social assistance, basic and attendance benefit and more.
Child support received through private agreements is not registered, and therefore not included in the statistics.
Assessed taxes and negative transfers
This comprises income tax and wealth tax to the central government and municipalities. Examples of negative transfers are pension contributions in employment and paid child support managed by public arrangement.
Estimated real capital
Estimated value of properties, buildings and constructions, possessions, etc.
Market value is used for primary and secondary dwellings, commercial properties, forests and farms.
Tax value is used for other real estate and private and commercial moveable property.
Primary dwelling
The dwelling where the address of the owner is registered in the National Population Register at the end of the year. Value is set according to assessed market value. A person can only own one primary dwelling. Farmhouses on farms are not regarded as primary dwellings.
Secondary dwelling
A dwelling that a person owns, which is not the primary dwelling. Value is set according to assessed market value. Cabins and holiday properties are not secondary dwellings.
Estimated gross financial capital
Comprises bank deposits, shares, units of mutual funds, share savings accounts, bonds and other securities.
Prior to 2008, appreciation of shares, mutual funds, primary capital certificates etc. were subject to discounts. In the wealth statistics, tax value was applied. Between 2008 and 2016, discounts were not used, and tax value corresponded to market value. From 2017, discounts in the appreciation values were once again used in the taxation of financial wealth. In the wealth statistics, however, tax values have been adjusted upwards so that the appreciation used in the wealth statistics corresponds to market or sales value.
Estimated gross wealth
Sum of estimated real capital and gross financial capital.
Debt
Comprises dept to creditors and share of dept for owners in Building Societies. From 2017, market value of debt is used, including appreciation discounts used in the taxation of debt. Prior to 2017, market value and taxable value of debt were the same.
From 2017 and on the sum of debt was subject to a reduction before subtracting the debt from the wealth estimation when assessing taxation of wealth.
In the Income and wealth statistics for households, the sum of debt before any possible reduction is used in the definition of wealth.
Unsecured debt contains debt with both interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing balances. Data on unsecured debt are only available from the income year 2019 and on. The size of the unsecured debt is calculated according to data from Gjeldsregisteret AS as of December 31st in the income year.
Estimated net wealth
Estimated gross wealth minus debt.
Median income
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 above the median will be the same as the number of persons with income below the median.
Income per consumption unit (equivalent income)
The needs of a household grow with each additional member but not in a proportional way. Needs for housing space, electricity, etc. will not be three times as high for a household with three members than for a single person, due to economy of scale. With the help of equivalence scales each household type in the population is assigned a value in proportion to its needs. The factors commonly considered to assign these values are the number of persons in the household and whether they are adults or children.
Several equivalents scales exist which are used for different purposes. In the Income and wealth statistics for households, the EU scale is applied (see below).
Consumption units calculated according to the EU 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.
Consumption units calculated according to the OECD scale
This equivalence scale assigns a value of 1 to the household head, of 0.7 to each additional adult member and of 0.5 to each child under the age of 17.
Low income threshold
The low-income thresholds are defined as a share of median equivalent income after tax. Commonly used shares are 50 or 60 per cent of median income after tax per consumption unit. There is no official low-income threshold in Norway. Statistics Norway calculates different low-income thresholds based on the income level among the total population, and thus is relative to the general income growth and comparable for persons belonging to different household types.
Low-income group
Persons belonging to a household with annual equivalent income below the low-income threshold.
Economically active
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.
This concept differs from the definition “Employed persons” used in other statistics, which defines whether a person is in employment on a certain time.
Single parents
Persons in the household type "mother/father with children aged 0-17 years".
Old-age pensioners
Persons in households where the main income earner, according to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, receives old age pension from the social security system.
Disability pensioners
Persons in households where the main income earner, according to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, receives disability pension from the social security system.
Pensioners within the Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme
Persons in households where the main income earner, according to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, is in early retirement.
Receivers of survivor's benefits
Persons in households where the main income earner, according to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, receives survivor's benefit (after deceased spouse) from the social security system.
Old-age pensioners with minimum state pension
As of 2021 the definition of receivers of the minimum state pension that the Income and Wealth statistics for Households use is in accordance with the definition used by Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration.
In the Income and Wealth statistics for Households the number of receivers of retirement pension and the minimum state pension will be fewer than the number the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration reports since we only count residents at the close of the year.
Until 2020 receivers of the minimum state pension were defined by persons who received the minimum state pension, or who received a pension supplement.
Receivers of the minimum state pension
Persons who receive the minimum pension level, which is a guaranteed minimum retirement pension payment from the National Insurance Scheme. The definition distinguishes between:
- Old-age pensioners who receive the minimum state pension.
- Disability pensioners who receive the minimum state pension.
- Receivers of minimum level survivor’s benefits
Until 2020 receivers of the minimum state pension were defined as persons who received the minimum state pension, or who received a pension supplement.
Receivers of work assessment allowance
Persons in households where the main income earner is registered with a longstanding illness. Included are persons in receipt of rehabilitation allowances, persons incapable of full labour force participation, but attend labour market schemes, and others. Up until 2005, persons who were incapable of full labour force participation but who attended 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
Persons in households where the main income earner has been registered as unemployed for 6 consecutive months or more during the year.
People on social assistance
Persons in households where the main income earner has received social assistance at least once during the year.
Singles
Persons who are the only person in a household.
Immigrants
Persons in households where the main income earner is born abroad by two foreign-born parents (first-generation immigrant).
Norwegian-born to immigrant parents
Persons in households where the main income earner is born in Norway by two foreign-born parents.
Refugees
Persons in households where the main income earner is immigrated to Norway for refuge reasons.
Persons with refugee background
Persons in households where the main income earner is immigrated to Norway for refuge reasons or immigrated family members of these.
Age
Age (number of years) at the end of the year.
Socioeconomic status
Socioeconomic status is described by type of economic activity (see above). The economically active population, which mainly receive their income from working, 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 in agriculture, forestry and fishing
- Self-employed in other industries.
- Employee
Non-working
- Pensioners and National Insurance recipients
- Other non-working
Income sources not included in the income statistics
After-tax income comprises the sum of income from work, property income and transfers, where assessed taxes and negative transfers are deducted. This way of defining income is in accordance with the practical definition recommended in the Canberra report (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe 2011).
The income statistics cover most of the various monetary income sources. Due to lack of information, the following elements are not included in the statistics although they affect the income level.
- The value of public services, such as public health care and education
- The net value of unpaid domestic services. This include unpaid housework, child care and goods produced for own consumption
- The net value of owner-occupied housing services.
- The net value of services from household consumer durables
- Income withheld from taxation or gained from criminal activities
- Child support received through private agreements
- Rental income when renting out less than 50 per cent of owner-occupied housing
- Municipal subsidy schemes for housing and cash benefits for child care
- Local property taxes are not deducted when estimating after-tax income due to lack of information
- Interest payments are not deducted from after-tax income, although data on this is available. This is done as a rough compensation for not including the value of owner-occupied housing services in the income.
Types of household are in accordance with standard classifications.
Name: Income and wealth for households
Topic: Income and consumption
Division for Income and social welfare statistics
National level, counties, municipalities, urban districts in the four largest cities and statistical tracts.
Annually. The statistics are released in the last quarter in the year after the statistical year.
Income data is used in Eurostat's structural indicators on low income and income distribution (EU SILC). Micro data for selected years is also included in the databases Luxembourg Income Study (LIS) and Luxembourg Wealth Study (LWS). Income data is also included in OECD's Income Distribution Database.
Collected and revised data are stored securely by Statistics Norway in compliance with applicable legislation on data processing.
Statistics Norway can grant access to the source data (de-identified or anonymised microdata) on which the statistics are based, for researchers and public authorities for the purposes of preparing statistical results and analyses. Access can be granted upon application and subject to conditions. Refer to the details about this at Access to data from Statistics Norway.
The purpose of the statistics is to quantify the economic resources the households have available for saving and consumption. This is a basis for information about essential sides of the state and development of living conditions and welfare in the society, such as:
- Types of income and the size of these
- Wealth and debt – sizes and types
- How income and wealth is distributed between households.
This gives an opportunity to measure economic inequality, estimate the extent of low income, rate of debt, economic activity and other conditions, and study how this varies between types of households, population groups, regions etc.
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
The main users are the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Ministry of Children and Families, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, local and regional authorities and research institutes in the areas of household economics, tax research and living conditions in general.
The tax model “LOTTE”, which is operated by Statistics Norway and is used for simulation of taxes and in tax research is updated annually with data from the Income and wealth statistics for households.
The data sources are very detailed and are therefore capable of providing other arrangements and allocations of statistics than those that are published by Statistics Norway.
No external users have access to statistics before they are released at 8 a.m. on ssb.no after at least three months’ advance notice in the release calendar. This is one of the most important principles in Statistics Norway for ensuring the equal treatment of users.
Tax statistics for personal tax payers is an important data source for the statistics on income and wealth for households. The tax statistics include data from all the records in the tax return and is obtained for all persons residing in the country. The statistics have been available as total census based on registers from the year 1993 and on.
The statistics are developed, produced and disseminated pursuant to Act no. 32 of 21 June 2019 relating to official statistics and Statistics Norway (the Statistics Act).
Not relevant.
All persons residing in Norway and resident in a private household as of 31st December of the income year.
From 2013, residents studying abroad are also excluded from the households.
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 address according to the National Population Register). These adjustments include omitting people living in institutions and moving students, that no longer reside with their parents, to 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.
Income data is 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 is collected from the following sources:
- Data from tax returns (wages and salaries, self-employment income, pensions etc.)
- The Tax Register (taxes)
- The a-ordning (unemployment benefit, various tax-free transfers)
- Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (family allowances, basic and additional amounts, cash benefit etc.)
- KOSTRA (social assistance)
- State Educational Loan Fund -Lånekassen (loans to students, scholarships)
- Gjeldsregisteret AS (unsecured debt)
- Education statistics and household statistics from Statistics Norway (highest level of completed education etc.)
- Sample survey in the period 1986-2004. From 2004 totally census-based.
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.
Not relevant.
Interviewers and everyone who works at Statistics Norway have a duty of confidentiality. Statistics Norway has its own data protection officer.
Statistics Norway does not publish figures where there is a risk of identifying individual data about persons or households.
The surpression method is used in this statistics to ensure this, by supressing any combination that would display 11 or fewer observations.
More information can be found on Statistics Norway’s website under Methods in official statistics, in the ‘Confidentiality’ section.
The Income and wealth statistics has gone through several significant changes through the years. This is due to changes in the income concept, as a result of changes in the tax system and access to new income components from registers.
The estimation of household wealth has also changed over the years, according to changing tax rules and available data and methods for estimating market value for various wealth components. From 2010 and on, for example, Statistics Norway has been able to estimate market value for primary and secondary dwellings in Norway.
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.
Sources of error and uncertainty before 2005
From and including the income year 2005, these statistics are based on 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 sample 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.
A revision is a planned change to figures that have already been published, for example when releasing final figures as a follow-up to published preliminary figures. See also Statistics Norway’s principles for revisions. Not relevant here.