Households' income, geographic distribution, 2006

For most household groups the income level is higher in Oslo than in the rest of the country. This is also the case for old-age pensioners.

Single persons aged 67 years or over in Oslo had a median after-tax income of NOK 183 000 in 2006 - an income level above all other counties in Norway. Single old-age pensioners in Sogn and Fjordane had the lowest income level of NOK 143 000. But also in Møre and Romsdal, Nord-Trøndelag, Nordland, Hedmark and Oppland, the median after-tax income for this group of pensioners was below NOK 150 000.

The same geographic differences are evident among couples with retirement pensions. Couples in Oslo where the oldest person is 67 years or over had an after-tax household income of NOK 376 000 in 2006. The counties with lowest income levels among single pensioners also have the lowest income levels among couples with old-age pensions.

Many pensioners in Oslo receive occupational and private pensions

Many old-age pensioners in Oslo have retired from a career with high income, resulting in higher old-age pensions and occupational and private pensions than pensioners in other counties. Among single pensioners in the capital, only 13 per cent receive the state minimum pension compared to 37 per cent in Sogn and Fjordane.

Pensioners in Oslo also receive more income from occupational and private pensions. About 80 per cent of all single pensioners in the capital city received payments from such pensions in 2006. In Sogn and Fjordane, Møre and Romsdal, Troms and Finnmark, only 60 per cent received such pensions after retirement.

Underlying data

The household income statistics include all registered income in cash received by private households in Norway during the calendar year. Since 2004, the household income statistics have been based solely on register data and include all persons in private households living in Norway at the end of the year. Persons living in nursing and retirement homes, and students, are not included in the figures. The data are described in more detail in About the statistics.

Tables:

• Table 1 Median after tax incom, by household and counties. 2006. NOK