More births in 1996

Live births in Norway totalled 60,900 last year, nearly 600 more than the year before. The number of births reached the same level recorded in 1990, which at that time was the highest since 1973. Last year was the eighth consecutive year in which the number of births totalled around 60,000.

Fertility rates increased for women over the age of 25, and most for those between 30 and 34 years of age. The average age of women giving birth for the first time is steadily rising. Last year it was 26.7, 1.7 years higher than 10 years ago. Fertility rates among women between 20 and 25 continue to decline. 1.89 children per woman

The overall fertility rate for 1996 is 1.89, against 1.87 the year before. Although the number of births in 1990 and 1996 are equal, the fertility rate for 1990 is somewhat higher (1.93 children per woman) because there were fewer women in the relevant age group that year. In recent years the fertility level in Norway has been markedly higher compared to most other European countries. The 1996 rate is believed to be higher than all EU countries, including Ireland. The average overall fertility rate for EU countries is under 1.5, while in Italy and Spain it is about 1.2.

New Statistics

Population statistics. Births, 1996.
Statistics are published every year in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics, Current Population Figures and in the Official Statistics of Norway (NOS) Population Statistics Vol II. More information: Irene Aamodt, tel. +47 62 88 52 64, e-mail: iaa@ssb.no or Kirsten Dybendal, tel. +47 62 88 52 96, e-mail: kie@ssb.no.

Weekly Bulletin issue no. 20, 1997