THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF DEMOGRAPHIC STATISTICS
Population Structure
As in all the Nordic countries, in Norway population statistics have a long tradition reaching back to the
eighteenth century. Norway’s long union with Denmark influenced population statistics into the first half of the
nineteenth century when Norway was already in a union with Sweden. Population censuses were already
conducted in the eighteenth century, beginning with the census of 1769. A second census was in 1801; from
1815 onwards there were decennial censuses in years ending with 5 until 1875. From 1890 censuses were
conducted decennially in years ending with 0.
Since the census of 1865 the population has been covered by age, sex, and marital status. All the later censuses
(up to the present) have collected these basic population statistics. In 1865 and 1890 age was given in grouped
data for higher ages, but all other censuses give one-year age groups.
A historical account of the population censuses in Norway from 1769 to 1875 is given in Statistisk
Centralbureau (1882: 1ff. and 205ff.).
Vital Statistics
In Norway the recording of births, deaths, and marriages was introduced very early, in the first half of the
eighteenth century. Live births and deaths were already available in 1736, marriages from 1770–83 and again
from 1795, and illegitimate births from 1770–83 and again from 1801. Stillbirths are available since 1801 and
infant deaths since 1836. Divorce data became available at a much later date, in 1901, and figures on legal
separations some years earlier, in 1895.
Households and Families
Data on households (familier, husholdninger) were first expressively recorded in the census of 1845. In this
census only the number of households and their members were given. These household statistics were repeated
in the censuses of 1855 and 1865. In 1875 one-person, family, and institutional households were distinguished.
The respective members of these households were given for both sexes. The publication of these basic household
types was repeated until 1910. From 1920 to 1946 households were enumerated within the housing census,
which meant some change in the household statistics. A historical account of household statistics is given in
Statistisk Centralbureau (1882: 31ff.).
Households by size categories were first recorded in 1900, distinguishing private households from one person
to 21 and more persons. This analysis was repeated in 1920, 1930, and 1946 within the housing census.
Household composition was only analysed in the census of 1900, in which twelve different types of household
members were distinguished by sex: household heads, married women, children, sons- and daughters-in-law,
grandsons and granddaughters, parents, household servants, employees, visitors, other household members,
single tenants, and other persons living alone.
Households by profession of household head were distinguished in 1900; household heads were classified
according to profession, social position, and profession combined with social position. In 1946 household data
were again combined with the profession of the household head in 11 categories (Statistisk Sentralbyrå, 1952:
99ff.).
During the nineteenth century and until the 1930 census, a household (familie, husholdning) was defined as a
meal household, i.e. household members had to live together and form one common budget. This household
concept was last applied in Norway in the 1950 census. The household dwelling concept, i.e. all persons living in
one dwelling were supposed to form one household, was first used in 1946 and has been used steadily since the
1960 census. Because several households can live in one dwelling, the household dwelling concept slightly
underestimates the number of households (Statistics Norway, 1995: 61f.).
Family statistics were introduced in 1900 when comprehensive supplementary household statistics using the
representative method were gathered for the first time. Children and grandchildren in family households were
presented by age groups; family households were analysed by the number of children, from 0 to 12–15 children
(Statistisk Centralbureau, 1904: 98f, 106f.).
In 1920 special statistics on the ‘fertility of marriages’ were collected and published in a separate volume for
the first time. This investigation explored all major aspects of marital fertility, such as the number of children by
marriage duration and age of mother, childless marriages, number of children in different social classes, fertility
in the different parts of Norway, and fertility decline, among others. These statistics on marital fertility were
repeated in 1930 in a similar way.
Remarks (also see introductory Table 6.1)
No peculiarities.