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Key figures
0.8 %
change in median income after tax for all households from 2018 to 2019
| After tax median income | Percentage change2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2018 - 2019 | 2014 - 2019 | |
| 1Students not included | |||
| 2In constant prices | |||
| All households | 540 300 | 0.8 | -0.3 |
| Singles under 45 years | 318 500 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| Singles 45-64 years | 351 300 | 1.4 | 0.4 |
| Singles 65 years and older | 283 700 | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| Couples without children, oldest person under 45 years | 660 500 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Couples without children, oldest person 45-64 years | 823 600 | 1.7 | 2.8 |
| Couples without children, oldest person 65 years and older | 609 200 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Couples with children 0-6 years | 822 700 | 2.2 | 0.7 |
| Couples with children 7-17 years | 956 900 | 1.9 | 1.7 |
| Couples with children, oldest child 18 years and older | 1 071 500 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| Single mother/father with children 0-17 years | 438 400 | 1.8 | -1.1 |
| Single mother/father with children 18 years and older | 589 500 | 1.8 | 1.5 |
See selected tables from this statistics
Table 1
Registered incomes for households by type of household. Average in NOK.
| 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 590 600 | 318 300 | 408 300 | 363 500 | 26 500 | 722 000 | 908 200 | 947 800 | 149 100 | 931 400 | 1 243 700 | 1 248 900 | 256 800 | 475 400 | 591 500 | 777 800 |
| Wages and salaries (NOK) | 556 700 | 309 600 | 390 500 | 342 200 | 22 100 | 704 200 | 873 900 | 888 600 | 128 600 | 885 600 | 1 167 000 | 1 171 800 | 247 600 | 454 900 | 559 700 | 725 000 |
| Net income from self-employment (NOK) | 33 900 | 8 800 | 17 800 | 21 300 | 4 400 | 17 800 | 34 200 | 59 300 | 20 600 | 45 800 | 76 700 | 77 100 | 9 200 | 20 500 | 31 800 | 52 800 |
| Property income (NOK) | 44 300 | 5 800 | 11 000 | 29 200 | 24 300 | 13 300 | 24 400 | 92 300 | 68 300 | 37 000 | 79 400 | 94 800 | 10 600 | 23 000 | 33 600 | 49 200 |
| Interest received (NOK) | 6 500 | 2 200 | 2 100 | 4 100 | 7 200 | 5 600 | 5 600 | 9 100 | 15 000 | 5 000 | 5 600 | 10 500 | 1 600 | 2 700 | 6 000 | 7 300 |
| Share dividends received (NOK) | 25 200 | 2 100 | 5 700 | 16 400 | 7 600 | 4 300 | 11 100 | 57 800 | 31 000 | 23 200 | 53 100 | 61 100 | 6 300 | 14 700 | 16 000 | 27 400 |
| Realised capital gains (NOK) | 10 900 | 1 000 | 2 500 | 7 900 | 8 100 | 2 000 | 5 800 | 21 200 | 19 900 | 9 400 | 18 300 | 18 100 | 1 900 | 4 500 | 9 700 | 10 400 |
| Realised capital losses (NOK) | 4 000 | 600 | 1 600 | 2 800 | 1 800 | 1 000 | 3 300 | 6 000 | 5 700 | 7 100 | 6 500 | 6 500 | 1 200 | 1 900 | 3 200 | 3 900 |
| Other capital incomes (NOK) | 5 700 | 1 000 | 2 300 | 3 600 | 3 200 | 2 400 | 5 200 | 10 200 | 8 000 | 6 600 | 8 900 | 11 700 | 2 000 | 3 000 | 5 100 | 8 100 |
| Transfers received (NOK) | 224 100 | 45 400 | 67 200 | 145 700 | 330 200 | 52 600 | 70 000 | 243 700 | 627 800 | 185 100 | 128 000 | 251 500 | 207 200 | 146 000 | 216 000 | 320 300 |
| Taxable transfers (NOK) | 207 200 | 33 700 | 57 900 | 138 700 | 327 700 | 34 700 | 60 800 | 239 900 | 624 600 | 141 800 | 92 300 | 240 400 | 124 000 | 87 400 | 201 200 | 288 800 |
| Social security benefits (NOK)4 | 140 500 | 22 900 | 39 500 | 100 700 | 253 900 | 18 900 | 33 300 | 148 800 | 469 600 | 21 300 | 50 300 | 163 400 | 69 900 | 55 900 | 148 800 | 204 000 |
| Old-age pensions (NOK) | 89 500 | 0 | 0 | 11 200 | 250 400 | 0 | 0 | 41 500 | 443 700 | 300 | 2 700 | 63 700 | 100 | 800 | 53 900 | 112 300 |
| Disability benefits (NOK) | 37 400 | 12 300 | 27 400 | 76 000 | 3 000 | 6 900 | 18 600 | 89 600 | 23 500 | 8 800 | 29 100 | 74 800 | 12 000 | 29 200 | 69 200 | 65 400 |
| Work assessment allowance (NOK) | 11 900 | 10 500 | 12 000 | 11 400 | 100 | 11 900 | 14 700 | 17 200 | 1 900 | 11 300 | 17 800 | 24 400 | 16 000 | 16 900 | 21 200 | 21 800 |
| Service pensions etc. (NOK) | 30 800 | 200 | 700 | 14 200 | 68 500 | 200 | 800 | 36 000 | 128 300 | 1 400 | 6 900 | 30 100 | 1 200 | 5 100 | 22 500 | 33 600 |
| Contractual pension (NOK) | 5 100 | 0 | 0 | 5 200 | 2 300 | 0 | 0 | 18 500 | 18 300 | 0 | 300 | 7 300 | 0 | 100 | 2 500 | 4 600 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) in public sector (NOK)5 | 3 300 | 0 | 0 | 3 700 | 900 | 0 | 0 | 12 400 | 11 700 | 0 | 200 | 4 300 | 0 | 0 | 1 500 | 2 800 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) in private sector (NOK) | 1 800 | 0 | 0 | 1 500 | 1 400 | 0 | 0 | 6 200 | 6 600 | 0 | 200 | 2 900 | 0 | 0 | 1 000 | 1 700 |
| Unemployment benefits (NOK) | 3 700 | 2 100 | 4 800 | 3 300 | 100 | 2 800 | 6 200 | 4 900 | 600 | 6 900 | 4 600 | 5 700 | 5 000 | 3 500 | 4 600 | 7 000 |
| Sickness benefits (NOK)6 | 16 700 | 5 400 | 10 400 | 14 500 | 400 | 10 900 | 18 000 | 30 500 | 3 900 | 29 600 | 27 500 | 32 000 | 17 800 | 20 000 | 20 800 | 25 700 |
| Other taxable transfers (NOK)7 | 10 500 | 3 100 | 2 500 | 900 | 2 500 | 1 800 | 2 500 | 1 100 | 3 800 | 82 700 | 2 700 | 2 000 | 30 200 | 2 800 | 2 100 | 14 000 |
| Tax-free transfers (NOK) | 16 900 | 11 700 | 9 300 | 7 000 | 2 500 | 17 800 | 9 200 | 3 800 | 3 300 | 43 200 | 35 600 | 11 000 | 83 200 | 58 600 | 14 800 | 31 600 |
| Familiy allowances (NOK) | 6 300 | 100 | 1 200 | 400 | 0 | 0 | 500 | 200 | 0 | 22 800 | 22 500 | 1 000 | 26 400 | 25 400 | 1 600 | 9 700 |
| Dwelling support (kr) | 1 200 | 1 700 | 1 700 | 1 500 | 800 | 600 | 700 | 300 | 100 | 1 300 | 700 | 300 | 10 100 | 4 200 | 1 100 | 1 400 |
| Scholarships (NOK) | 2 300 | 4 100 | 600 | 0 | 0 | 13 600 | 4 500 | 100 | 0 | 3 600 | 4 000 | 4 300 | 4 100 | 3 900 | 3 300 | 7 800 |
| Social assistance (NOK) | 2 700 | 4 300 | 4 400 | 3 300 | 200 | 1 900 | 2 100 | 800 | 100 | 3 400 | 2 200 | 1 500 | 16 300 | 7 600 | 4 000 | 4 200 |
| Basic and attendance benefits (NOK) | 1 300 | 500 | 600 | 800 | 700 | 600 | 500 | 800 | 1 000 | 1 500 | 3 200 | 1 700 | 1 600 | 3 100 | 1 600 | 2 300 |
| Cash for care (NOK) | 600 | 0 | 200 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 400 | 0 | 0 | 4 100 | 0 | 0 | 1 200 |
| Other tax-free transfers (NOK)8 | 2 600 | 900 | 700 | 900 | 700 | 1 000 | 1 000 | 1 600 | 2 000 | 5 200 | 2 900 | 2 200 | 20 600 | 14 500 | 3 200 | 5 000 |
| Total income (NOK) | 859 000 | 369 400 | 486 500 | 538 400 | 381 000 | 787 900 | 1 002 600 | 1 283 800 | 845 300 | 1 153 500 | 1 451 100 | 1 595 200 | 474 700 | 644 400 | 841 100 | 1 147 400 |
| Total assessed taxed and negative transfers (NOK) | 219 300 | 83 400 | 125 500 | 145 800 | 67 900 | 179 500 | 261 800 | 371 800 | 173 800 | 297 200 | 411 500 | 436 200 | 84 700 | 145 600 | 201 600 | 269 200 |
| Assessed taxes (NOK) | 214 200 | 81 500 | 121 300 | 141 500 | 67 700 | 175 000 | 254 800 | 363 800 | 172 700 | 289 000 | 401 700 | 426 600 | 81 600 | 140 500 | 196 200 | 262 600 |
| Negative transfers (NOK)9 | 5 000 | 1 900 | 4 200 | 4 300 | 200 | 4 500 | 7 000 | 8 000 | 1 100 | 8 200 | 9 800 | 9 500 | 3 100 | 5 100 | 5 500 | 6 600 |
| After-tax income (NOK) | 639 700 | 286 100 | 361 000 | 392 600 | 313 100 | 608 400 | 740 800 | 912 000 | 671 600 | 856 300 | 1 039 600 | 1 159 000 | 390 000 | 498 800 | 639 400 | 878 200 |
| Number of households | 2 436 001 | 169 625 | 212 154 | 316 952 | 282 256 | 50 120 | 67 178 | 213 643 | 254 033 | 225 841 | 259 349 | 119 083 | 25 050 | 85 085 | 63 575 | 92 057 |
Table 2
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. | ||||||||
| 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 |
| 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 |
Table 3
Property account for households
| 2019 | 2018 - 2019 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average for households with different property holdings (NOK) | Share of households with different property holdings (per cent) | NOK million | Percentage change (NOK million) | |
| 1Student households are not included. | ||||
| 2All wealth items are based on market value or assumed sales value before any tax valuation discount. | ||||
| 3From 2017 and on, it is possible to own listed shares and mutual fund holdings through a share savings account. | ||||
| 4Figures for unsecured debt are available from 2019. | ||||
| Estimated real capital | 3 723 000 | 83.7 | 7 593 721 | 4.9 |
| Estimated market value primary dwelling | 3 751 300 | 69.2 | 6 321 808 | 3.8 |
| Estimated market value secondary dwelling | 2 906 200 | 10.1 | 718 282 | 1.3 |
| Gross financial capital | 1 419 800 | 99.1 | 3 427 256 | 9.5 |
| Bank deposits | 523 900 | 99.1 | 1 264 069 | 4.7 |
| Shares and other securities | 3 293 400 | 19.7 | 1 580 206 | 15.2 |
| Share savings account3 | 448 300 | 17.5 | 191 079 | 49.5 |
| Units of mutual funds | 207 000 | 26.7 | 134 676 | 7.1 |
| Foreign taxable wealth excl. real properties | 518 400 | 3.4 | 42 963 | 17.6 |
| Estimated gross wealth | 4 562 100 | 99.2 | 11 020 977 | 6.3 |
| Debt | 1 782 300 | 85.8 | 3 724 734 | 5.1 |
| Study debt | 250 400 | 25.4 | 155 167 | 5.8 |
| Unsecured debt4 | 107 900 | 64.1 | 168 548 | . |
| Estimated net wealth | 3 009 600 | 99.5 | 7 296 244 | 6.9 |
| Positive net wealth | 3 836 300 | 81.2 | 7 585 692 | 6.7 |
| Negative net wealth | -647 600 | 18.3 | -289 448 | 1.8 |
| Property taxes | 43 600 | 15.2 | 16 114 | 6.4 |
Table 4
Percentage share of total estimated net wealth, average net wealth and lowest value in decile for households, by deciles
| 2019 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Share of total net wealth (per cent) | Average estimated net wealth (NOK) | Lowest value in decile (NOK) | |
| 1Students not included | |||
| Total | 100.0 | 2 995 200 | .. |
| Decile 1 | -3.7 | -1 107 400 | .. |
| Decile 2 | -0.3 | -80 700 | -247 600 |
| Decile 3 | 0.3 | 82 100 | 3 200 |
| Decile 4 | 1.7 | 507 500 | 230 900 |
| Decile 5 | 3.8 | 1 140 300 | 811 900 |
| Decile 6 | 6.1 | 1 838 300 | 1 477 300 |
| Decile 7 | 8.8 | 2 637 200 | 2 215 100 |
| Decile 8 | 12.2 | 3 653 400 | 3 092 100 |
| Decile 9 | 17.6 | 5 264 000 | 4 297 200 |
| Decile 10 | 53.5 | 16 016 900 | 6 554 500 |
| Top 5 per cent | 40.5 | 24 276 200 | 9 420 100 |
| Top 1 per cent | 23.1 | 69 094 600 | 21 668 300 |
| Top 0,1 per cent | 11.6 | 347 410 200 | 104 264 400 |
Table 5
Registered incomes for residents. Number of persons with amount. Amount in NOK million.
| 2018 | 2019 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 153 020 | 1 374 080.3 | 3 205 647 | 1 448 852.4 |
| Wages and salaries | 3 046 433 | 1 295 838.2 | 3 096 908 | 1 366 035.9 |
| Net income from self-employment | 317 201 | 78 242.1 | 315 830 | 82 816.5 |
| PROPERTY INCOME | 4 173 837 | 109 579.5 | 4 229 421 | 108 951.2 |
| Interest received | 4 160 312 | 12 938.9 | 4 221 038 | 16 102.8 |
| Share dividends received | 518 217 | 62 414.8 | 491 298 | 61 656.7 |
| Realised capital gains | 243 706 | 26 980.2 | 268 419 | 26 797.1 |
| Realised capital losses | 132 765 | 8 337.4 | 120 833 | 9 733.2 |
| Other capital incomes | 1 540 582 | 15 583.0 | 1 546 940 | 14 127.8 |
| TRANSFERS RECEIVED | 3 087 762 | 537 172.5 | 3 102 509 | 558 009.3 |
| TAXABLE TRANSFERS | 2 222 714 | 492 607.2 | 2 233 666 | 512 177.4 |
| Social security benefits1 | 1 394 923 | 333 933.6 | 1 416 284 | 348 247.9 |
| Old-age pensions | 889 333 | 212 125.1 | 909 509 | 222 670.9 |
| Disability benefits | 348 977 | 85 694.0 | 362 387 | 92 447.6 |
| Work Assessment Allowance | 180 705 | 32 051.1 | 168 570 | 29 094.2 |
| Service pensions etc | 864 064 | 72 377.7 | 886 006 | 76 073.5 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) | 111 920 | 11 447.4 | 121 736 | 12 454.7 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) in public sector2 | 36 182 | 7 482.0 | 36 978 | 7 945.9 |
| Contractual pension (AFP) in private sector | 75 747 | 3 965.4 | 84 780 | 4 508.8 |
| Unemployment benefits | 121 899 | 10 689.4 | 105 675 | 9 092.6 |
| Sickness benefits3 | 699 934 | 38 481.3 | 707 186 | 40 672.4 |
| Other taxable transfers4 | 258 801 | 25 677.7 | 254 511 | 25 636.4 |
| TAX-FREE TRANSFERS | 1 535 811 | 44 565.4 | 1 532 886 | 45 832.0 |
| Familiy allowances | 705 359 | 14 627.0 | 701 079 | 15 522.0 |
| Dwelling support | 127 941 | 2 684.6 | 123 753 | 2 988.6 |
| Scholarships | 394 378 | 9 025.4 | 400 482 | 9 112.9 |
| Social assistance | 130 771 | 6 866.5 | 127 838 | 6 909.5 |
| Basic and attendance benefits | 166 587 | 3 450.7 | 165 560 | 3 236.4 |
| Cash for care | 41 857 | 1 624.5 | 39 970 | 1 519.7 |
| Other tax-free transfers5 | 269 848 | 6 286.8 | 270 856 | 6 542.8 |
| TOTAL INCOME | 4 419 071 | 2 020 832.3 | 4 461 126 | 2 115 812.9 |
| Assessed taxes and negative transfers | 3 830 398 | 513 547.6 | 3 882 234 | 536 605.0 |
| Assessed taxes | 3 794 808 | 501 738.3 | 3 847 037 | 524 246.1 |
| Negative transfers6 | 1 248 189 | 11 809.3 | 1 258 790 | 12 358.9 |
| AFTER-TAX INCOME | 4 419 307 | 1 507 284.7 | 4 461 387 | 1 579 207.9 |
| NUMBER OF RESIDENTS | 5 328 212 | .. | 5 367 580 | .. |
See all figures from this statistics
About the statistics
Income and wealth statistics for households 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.
Definitions
-
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.
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.
Single pensioner, receiver of the minimum state pension
Persons that according to Statistics Norway's Household Income Statistics belong to a single-person household and are in receipt of a special allowance from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration.
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.
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Types of household are in accordance with standard classifications.
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, municipalities and urban districts in the four largest cities.
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Annually. The statistics are released in the last quarter in the year after the statistical 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 is 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 OECDs Income Distribution Database.
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Data files with individual income data that have gone through the linkage and statistics files are stored
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Background
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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
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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.
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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 in the Statistics Release Calendar. This is one of Statistics Norway’s key principles for ensuring that all users are treated equally.
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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.
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Statistics Act of 1989 §§ 2-1 and 3-2.
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None
Production
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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.
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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 (loans to students, scholarships)
- 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.
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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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Application and storage of data follow the requirements given in the Statistics act to ensure that sensitive information is not improperly disclosed.
If a variable is classified so that it contains fewer than 11 observations, numbers are not published for this classification.
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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.
Accuracy and reliability
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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.
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Not relevant
Contact
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Jon Epland
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Elisabeth Løyland Omholt
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Christian Brovold
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Lene Sandvik