Children, 1 January 2011

Children made up 22.4 per cent of the total population. The chare of children who lived with one of their biological parents has increased. In 1989, 18 per cent of children lived with only their mother or father, while this share has increased to 25 per cent. The share of children with married parents was 56 per cent, and with cohabitant parents, 18 per cent. The share of children who live with married parents has decreased gradually, while the share of children who live with cohabitant parents has increased. In 1989, 77 per cent of children lived with married parents and 4 per cent with cohabitant parents.

21 per cent lived with mother

Among children who live with one of their parents, it is much more common to live with the mother than father. In total, 21 per cent of the children lived with their mother and 4 per cent with their father at the turn of the year. Compared with 10 years before, there has been a bigger increase in the number of children who live with their father than who live with their mother. Among children who live only with their mother or father, there will be a certain share of children who live with two adults at home, because they live with a step mother or step father.

4 200 more children last year

The number of children below 18 years of age living at home increased by 4 200 in 2010, and increased in most age groups. The difference in the number of children in each age group from one year to another corresponds to the annual cohort of births. Additionally, in- and out-migration during a year affect the difference from one year to the next. The decrease in the number of children below one year corresponds with the decrease in the number of births last year.

One sibling most common

About 208 200, or 19 per cent of children, live without siblings at home. These are normally children who are referred to as an only child, or children whose siblings have moved out of the household. The corresponding share of children without siblings was 17 per cent in 2001, and there has been a steady increase in the number of children without siblings during these 10 years.

On 1 January, 45 per cent of children lived with one sibling, which is the most common. About 27 per cent had two siblings and almost 10 per cent had three or more siblings.

In per cent, most children without a sibling lived in Oslo, i.e. 24 per cent, and Sogn og Fjordane had the most children with a sibling.

Tables:

• Table 1 Children 0-17 years, by number of parents in the family, the parents' cohabitation arrangements and the child's age. 2001, 2005-2011. Per cent
• Table 2 Children 0-17 years, by number of parents in the family, the parents' cohabitation arrangements, siblings living at home and the child's age. 2001, 2005-2011
• Table 3 Children 0-17 years, by number of parents in the family, the parents' cohabitation arrangements and county. 2001, 2005-2011. Per cent
• Table 4 Children 0-17 år, by type of siblings living at home and the child's age. 2001, 2005-2011. Per cent
• Table 5 Children 0-17 år, by type of siblings living at home and county. 2001, 2005-2011. Per cent
• Table 6 Children 0-17 years, by number of siblings and parents living at home and the parents' cohabitation arrangements. 2001, 2005-2011. Per cent
• Table 7 Children 0-17 years, by number of siblings and county. 2001, 2005-2011. Per cent
• Table 8 Children 0-17 years, by number of siblings and the child's age. 2001, 2005-2011. Per cent