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The average Norwegian took in a total of 22.1 cultural activities in 1991. This increased to 22.7 visits in 1994. In the age group 16 to 19, the average was 42 visits, while nine was the average in the age group 67 to 79. Twenty-five per cent of the population attended more than 30 cultural activities in the course of one year.
Norwegians see or use cultural offerings an average of 22 times per year, with movies, sports events and public libraries topping the list of the most popular activities. Nearly 50 per cent of the population have never attended an opera or ballet performance, according to Statistics Norway's survey of Norwegians' culture and media habits in the first half of the 1990s.
Sports facilities and public libraries are the most widespread type of facility. Eighty-three per cent live less than five kilometres from an indoor or outdoor sports facility. On the other hand, theatre is the type of cultural offering to which Norwegians must travel the longest distance. From 1991 to 1994 access to most facilities saw some improvement.
Children and youth biggest users
Children and youth are the greatest users of most cultural activities, while elderly people use them the least. Both education and income have a positive impact on use of culture. Moreover, salaried employees in higher positions are much greater users of culture than workers. Women use most cultural offerings more frequently than men. This difference exists regardless of education or residence.
Reading
There is a higher percentage of book and weekly women's magazine readers among women, while men are periodical readers to a greater extent. These tendencies are the same even after education levels are taken into account.
One out of three participate in the media
Over the course of a two-year period almost one out of three persons has in one way or another actively participated in the media, through interviews, letters to the editor, etc. Men are the most active in most fields and people who are well educated express their opinions more frequently than others.
Weekly Bulletin issue no. 48, 1996