General government revenue and expenditure, 2008

In 2008, total revenue totalled more than NOK 1430 billion. This is an increase of about NOK 150 billion from the previous year. There was a dramatic rise in the two most significant components of the income from oil extracting activities. The taxes and duties related to the extraction of petroleum and withdrawals of income from corporations increased by almost NOK 100 billion - or about 33 per cent. The increase is mainly explained by the high oil price throughout most of 2008.

General government expenditure increased from NOK 870 billion in 2007 to NOK 960 billion in 2008. The NOK 43 billion increase in final consumption expenditure was the main reason. Transfers to the private sector increased by almost NOK 25 billion, of which increased pension outlays accounted for NOK 13.5 billion, and sickness and maternity benefits etc. for NOK 4.5 billion.

General government expenditure by function

The largest share of government expenditure is connected to social protection. This category contains expenditure related to sickness and disability, old age and family and children, and constituted almost 40 per cent of total government expenditure in 2008. Two other major functions are health and education, with shares of 17 and 13 per cent of total expenditure respectively.

Large deficit for local government

Local government had a large deficit in 2008, around NOK 25 billion, measured by net lending. Total income increased by about NOK 20 billion. The two most significant are a rise of about NOK 7.5 billion in tax income and an approximate increase of NOK 12 billion in transfers from the general government. Total expenditure increased by about NOK 32 billion, of which half is due to increased wages. Local government consumption beyond wages increased by almost NOK 7 billion, interest expenses by NOK 4 billion and both transfers to the private sector and capital expenditure had an increase of around NOK 2 billion.

Local government expenditure by function shows that education and social protection are the chief functions of this level of government. The two categories combined represent about 55 per cent of total local government expenditure. Social protection is a functional category that is made up of institutions such as day care centres, home care services and kindergartens. Since 2004, the portion of total expenditure allocated to social protection has risen by about 3 percentage points. This increase is explained mainly by the efforts aimed at child care and family services. The allocation to general public services has increased by about 2 percentage points.

The figures presented are preliminary and some of the data are associated with uncertainty.

Tables

Published tables