Income statistics, persons and families, 2003

The Norwegian population received NOK 980 billion in total cash income in 2003. Total cash income includes wages and salaries, net entrepreneurial income, property income and various pensions and social security benefits. The most important income source for Norwegian households is wages and salaries (including sickness benefit), which amounted to NOK 678 billion in 2003. Property income amounted to NOK 85 billion. The two most important sources of property income are dividend income (NOK 54.5 billion) and interest on bank deposits (NOK 19.8 billion).

NOK 217 billion in pensions and social security benefits

Various pensions, social security benefits and allowances totalled NOK 217 billion in 2003, of which NOK 182 billion was due to taxation. The largest taxable transfers were pensions from the National Insurance Scheme of NOK 131 billion, followed by service pensions of NOK 36.2 billion. Unemployment benefit amounted to NOK 10.9 billion.

Various tax-free transfers amounted to NOK 35 billion in 2003. More than half of this was transfers aimed at families with children. The largest benefit is family allowance of NOK 14.5 billion whilst cash-for-care for families with small children amounted to NOK 2.9 billion.

Large rise in pensions

Total wages and salaries in Norway increased by 40 per cent (in current prices) from 1997 to 2003. Wages as a share of total household income dropped from 72 to 69 per cent in the same period. Pensions rose by 55 per cent from 1997 to 2003 and made up 20 per cent of total household income at the end of the period.

Property income has become increasingly more important for Norwegian households and doubled in value from 1997 to 2003. Much of this large increase is due to a steep rise in dividend income. Property income made up nearly 9 per cent of total household income in 2003.

Various tax-free transfers, such as family allowance, cash-for-care, social assistance and dwelling support, constituted a stable share of total household income at 3-4 per cent in the period 1997 to 2003.

Tables:

• Table 1 Income account for residents at current kroner. 1997-2003. NOK million
• Table 2 Income account for residents. Number of persons with amount. 1997-2003