Activities of adult learning associations

Updated: 30 March 2023

Next update: 3 April 2024

Number of courses
Number of courses
2022
43 312
Popular education organisations. Number of courses, participants and lessons
Popular education organisations. Number of courses, participants and lessons
20222018 - 2022
Change in per cent
Courses43 312-0.1
Both sexes501 5964.8
Males209 5973.0
Females291 9996.1
Lessons total1 187 257.00-14.6
Explanation of symbols

Selected tables and charts from this statistics

  • Number of courses, participants and lessons by organization
    Number of courses, participants and lessons by organization
    2022
    CoursesParticipantsLessons total
    TotalMalesFemales
    Total43 312501 596209 597291 9991 187 257.00
    The Workers' Education Association of Norway1 27920 62411 0959 52932 291.00
    The Adult Learning Association for Agriculture and Community1 35211 8298 7883 04124 812.00
    Adult Education Association of Christian communities and organizations in Norway5 18040 45117 23423 217123 672.00
    The Study Association Funkis7 13158 41016 64041 770141 241.00
    Association for studies of culture and traditions6 43455 23613 93741 299190 902.00
    The Sports Education Foundation3 53347 43528 32719 10840 193.00
    The Adult Education Association of Music5 47474 76931 61343 156274 816.00
    The Sami Adult Education Association583931042894 183.00
    The Adult Education Association of the Centre Party6644 2722 4101 86211 046.00
    The Adult Education Association of Solidarity3712 2026771 52554 274.00
    Study association for Lifelong Learning4 85966 60430 57536 029174 275.00
    The Adult Education Association of Nature and Environment3 86334 04515 43918 60675 540.00
    The Adult Education Association of the Liberal Party7254 4572 4911 9667 675.00
    The Academic Association for Adult Education2 38980 86930 26750 60232 337.00
    Explanation of symbols
  • Number of courses, participants and lessons by county
    Number of courses, participants and lessons by county
    2022
    CoursesParticipantsLessons total
    Both sexesMalesFemales
    Total43 312501 596209 597291 9991 187 257.00
    Viken (2020-2023)8 733100 85541 53259 323246 321.00
    Oslo5 46890 92339 10951 814159 662.00
    Innlandet4 22940 60616 12524 481110 781.00
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)3 29436 08615 32720 75995 509.00
    Agder2 48225 92111 17614 74558 353.00
    Rogaland3 61936 51815 59420 92489 240.00
    Vestland4 89556 53223 48433 048127 321.00
    Møre og Romsdal1 94522 2288 91613 31244 866.00
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage4 39248 42820 04728 381142 743.00
    Nordland - Nordlánnda2 19721 0098 19512 81457 362.00
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)2 02722 1999 95012 24954 380.00
    Svalbard31291142149719.00
    Explanation of symbols
  • Number of courses, participants and lessons, by subject
    Number of courses, participants and lessons, by subject
    2022
    CoursesParticipantsLessons total
    TotalMalesFemales
    Total43 312501 596209 597291 9991 187 257.00
    Language studies8376 3332 1764 15735 976.00
    Aesthetic subjects and handicraft14 925171 21161 424109 787605 797.00
    Humanities, philosophy and ethics4 68243 68119 14724 53499 390.00
    Social sciences63819 1846 47612 70814 122.00
    Organization and management8 918129 31660 52468 792118 615.00
    Business and ICT3633 3831 3472 0363 899.00
    Health, social and sports7 69863 81120 19543 616178 607.00
    Transport and communication501 1507913591 136.00
    Science, industry and technical subjects1 02823 34716 4086 93919 159.00
    Natural resource management, ecology, environmental protection and outdoor recreation4 11539 73620 95918 777102 004.00
    Goods and services584441502948 552.00
    Explanation of symbols
  • Number of participant, by organizations and age
    Number of participant, by organizations and age
    2022
    Participants14-29 years30-49 years50 years or older
    Total501 596137 270140 929223 397
    The Workers' Education Association of Norway20 6245 0408 9286 656
    The Adult Learning Association for Agriculture and Community11 8293 4444 9153 470
    Adult Education Association of Christian communities and organizations in Norway40 45123 7307 1139 608
    The Study Association Funkis58 4102 7918 77246 847
    Association for studies of culture and traditions55 23618 8755 06631 295
    The Sports Education Foundation47 43521 68718 4387 310
    The Adult Education Association of Music74 7698 93713 72752 105
    The Sami Adult Education Association39311789187
    The Adult Education Association of the Centre Party4 2722701 4142 588
    The Adult Education Association of Solidarity2 202601686915
    Study association for Lifelong Learning66 60425 20716 02825 369
    The Adult Education Association of Nature and Environment34 04512 85811 4689 719
    The Adult Education Association of the Liberal Party4 4577801 5962 081
    The Academic Association for Adult Education80 86912 93342 68925 247
    Explanation of symbols
  • Number of participants, by county and age
    Number of participants, by county and age
    2022
    Participants14-29 years30-49 years50 years or older
    Total501 596137 270140 929223 397
    Viken (2020-2023)100 85526 32125 24149 293
    Oslo90 92321 35039 45430 119
    Innlandet40 60610 1858 50621 915
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)36 0869 7819 11417 191
    Agder25 9217 4886 24912 184
    Rogaland36 51813 3199 96013 239
    Vestland56 53218 84314 41523 274
    Møre og Romsdal22 2285 1145 30311 811
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage48 42814 68911 71622 023
    Nordland - Nordlánnda21 0094 0164 78112 212
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)22 1996 1176 04810 034
    Svalbard29147142102
    Explanation of symbols
  • Number of participants, by subject, age and sex
    Number of participants, by subject, age and sex
    2022
    Participants14-29 years30-49 years50 years or older
    Total501 596137 270140 929223 397
    Language studies6 3331 6003 4001 333
    Aesthetic subjects and handicraft171 21137 18228 617105 412
    Humanities, philosophy and ethics43 68129 4324 00810 241
    Social sciences19 1842 60011 3935 191
    Organization and management129 31636 07352 48840 755
    Business and ICT3 3832549202 209
    Health, social and sports63 8117 64016 16140 010
    Transport and communication1 150206481463
    Science, industry and technical subjects23 3477 8228 9676 558
    Natural resource management, ecology, environmental protection and outdoor recreation39 73614 36214 25111 123
    Goods and services44499243102
    Males
    Total209 59764 65560 54284 400
    Language studies2 1765301 226420
    Aesthetic subjects and handicraft61 42414 4159 69537 314
    Humanities, philosophy and ethics19 14714 1641 6133 370
    Social sciences6 4767923 7761 908
    Organization and management60 52417 52424 66618 334
    Business and ICT1 347115428804
    Health, social and sports20 1953 2785 21511 702
    Transport and communication791137315339
    Science, industry and technical subjects16 4084 9446 3755 089
    Natural resource management, ecology, environmental protection and outdoor recreation20 9598 7297 1385 092
    Goods and services150279528
    Females
    Total291 99972 61580 387138 997
    Language studies4 1571 0702 174913
    Aesthetic subjects and handicraft109 78722 76718 92268 098
    Humanities, philosophy and ethics24 53415 2682 3956 871
    Social sciences12 7081 8087 6173 283
    Organization and management68 79218 54927 82222 421
    Business and ICT2 0361394921 405
    Health, social and sports43 6164 36210 94628 308
    Transport and communication35969166124
    Science, industry and technical subjects6 9392 8782 5921 469
    Natural resource management, ecology, environmental protection and outdoor recreation18 7775 6337 1136 031
    Goods and services2947214874
    Explanation of symbols
  • Number of participants, by county and subject
    Number of participants, by county and subject
    2022
    All subjectsLanguage studiesAesthetic subjects and handicraftHumanities, philosophy and ethicsSocial sciencesOrganization and managementBusiness and ICTHealth, social and sportsTransport and communicationScience, industry and technical subjectsNatural resource management, ecology, environmental protection and outdoor recreationGoods and services
    Total501 5966 333171 21143 68119 184129 3163 38363 8111 15023 34739 736444
    Viken (2020-2023)100 85560833 55611 00181928 12975314 3881163 5107 95223
    Oslo90 9233 46816 7883 85813 09427 6251 46810 6396358 3514 830167
    Innlandet40 6066716 8323 5252248 0222126 5461457584 23144
    Vestfold og Telemark (2020-2023)36 08612713 2773 3512 9377 661594 52801 1922 90945
    Agder25 9211397 7134 5833186 2811023 891479291 9180
    Rogaland36 51840212 1376 6781919 9351443 220569212 76371
    Vestland56 5321 13922 6514 45541814 7332166 2211092 3394 2510
    Møre og Romsdal22 228189 9311 2542285 9411222 54304911 6955
    Trøndelag - Trööndelage48 42822720 5072 91147510 2592006 48072 3224 97565
    Nordland - Nordlánnda21 009179 8261 0882274 611613 19902991 6729
    Troms og Finnmark - Romsa ja Finnmárku (2020-2023)22 1991217 9339692535 986462 110352 2352 49615
    Svalbard2910608013304600440
    Explanation of symbols
  • Number of participants, by examination and level
    Number of participants, by examination and level
    2022
    TotalOption of public examinationOption of other valid examination or certificateOption of internal examinationOption of vocational examinationNo examination or final tests
    Total501 5961 77532 0284 959744462 090
    Primary level200 293814 5391 0530184 693
    Secondary level215 0511 4716 8961 184744204 756
    Higher level15 41229610 18930404 623
    Not reported70 84004042 418068 018
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The main purpose is to show education arranged by popular education organizations from different angles. The aim is to reveal the total course activities, give information on course level, choice of subjects, as well as age and gender of the participants.

Adult education

Education specially arranged for adults.


Subject

The courses are grouped after school subjects in accordance with Norwegian educational terms.


Level

The popular education organizations can offer courses on primary, secondary, and tertiary educational level in addition to many other courses.

Lessons

One course lesson is 45 minutes.


Courses offering examination

Meaning to be a supplement to subject and level. Several courses arranged by popular education organizations give students the possibility to take an examination.

Classification of subject groups is worked out by Statistics Norway together with The Ministry of Education and Research, The Norwegian Association for Adult Education, Norwegian Association for Distance Education and Folk High School Council.

County is based on the classification of county municipality.

Name: Activities of adult learning associations
Topic: Education

3 April 2024

Division for Education and Culture Statistics

The statistics are given on national and county level. It is also possible to order tables on municipal level.

Annual.

Not relevant

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 main purpose is to show education arranged by popular education organizations from different angels. The aim is to reveal total course activities related to course level, choice of subjects and age as well as gender of the participants.

The statistics about course activities for popular education organizations started 1996 and were financed by The Ministry of Education and Research. The statistics has been published yearly since then and is financed by the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.

Users are the Ministry of Education and Research, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, other public services, researching institutions, media, the Norwegian Association for Adult Education and the association "Kompetanseforbunde", as well as individual popular education organizations.

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.

This statistics is a part of statistics of adult education in Norway.

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).

The statistics are part of the national programme for official statistics, topic Education, sub-topic Adult education.

Not relevant

All approved popular education organizations receiving grants from The Ministry of Education and Research, reports on course completions to Statistics Norway.

Each participant are reported by course subject, place of residence, and aim group in addition to course level, duration, and time when they started and finished the course.

The statistics are based on electronic reports from popular education organizations and include the entire population of these organizations.

Per 1 March in the year of census data is collected from the popular education organizations. After correcting the data, Statistics Norway put all files together to one basic file, on which the statistics are based.

Editing is defined here as checking, examining and amending data. All received data files undergo various controls, such as deleting duplicates and checking variables for valid values. In case errors are discovered, the popular education organizations will be contacted for corrections. Statistics Norway makes test tables based on corrected data, so the individual organizations get the possibility to compare own figures.

Statistics about popular education organizations is summarily only, and special analyses are not executed.

Not relevant

Employees of Statistics Norway have a duty of confidentiality.

Statistics Norway does not publish figures if there is a risk of the respondent’s contribution being identified. This means that, as a general rule, figures are not published if fewer than three units form the basis of a cell in a table or if the contribution of one or two respondents constitutes a very large part of the cell total.

Statistics Norway has published statistics on popular education organizations since 1997. The statistics for the period 1997-2009 includes courses of at least 12 lessons, but the statistics from 2010 includes courses of at least 8 lessons and is still comparable with the statistics of today.

Because of the corona pandemic,there was a temporary exception with regard to the number of instruction hours and courses lasting at least 4 hours were included in 2020.

Until the reporting for the year of 2022, the adult learning associations reported the number of hours rounded to the nearest whole number, while hours are reported with decimals from the reporting year 2023.

Mostly, errors can be traced back to data repported by the popular education organizations. Errors in coding of course completions might occur and it can be difficult to assign subject codes and level for the courses.

Statistics about popular education organizations include courses receiving grants only, and do not reflect the whole education activities.

Sampling errors and non-response errors are not relevant as the statistics are based on data from all popular education organizations.

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. For these statistics, no preliminary figures are published.

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