1.1. Contact organisation
Statistics Norway
1.2. Contact organisation unit
Division for Population Statistics
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
Statistics Norway
PO Box 1400 Rasta
NO-2225 Kongsvinger
NORWAY
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
5 December 2024
2.2. Metadata last posted
5 December 2024
2.3. Metadata last update
5 December 2024
3.1. Data description
The data present the results of the 2021 EU census on population and housing, following Regulation (EC) 763/2008; Regulation (EU) 2017/543; Regulation (EU) 2017/712 and Regulation (EU) 2017/881. All data used in the Norwegian census 2021 were retrieved from statistical registers. These are mostly based on administrative registers. Statistical registers used were established before the census.
3.1.1. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on census methodology
No impact
3.2. Classification system
The following classification systems should be used:
1. Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS 2021)
2. International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED-2011)
3. International standard classification of occupations (ISCO-08)
4. Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community (NACE Rev 2)
NUTS2021, ISCED-2011,ISCO-08, NACE Rev 2
3.3. Coverage - sector
Not applicable.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
The information is given separately for each census topic.
3.4.1. Statistical concepts and definitions - Usual residence
Registered residence is reported as a substitute for usual residence. Registered place of residence is the residential address where the individual person was registered on census day according to the Central Population Register. To be registered as resident in Norway, a person should have lived, or have the intention to live, in the country for at least six months. The main rule is that a person is to be registered as resident at the address where he/she spends the majority of his/her daily period of rest. Due to Svalbard's special status under the Svalbard Treaty, no individuals are considered permanent residents on Svalbard and Jan Mayen (NUTS NO0B) in the Census.
Asylum seekers are not registered as residents before they have granted a residence permit even if they have stayed in the country for more than six months.
Unmarried third level students may choose whether they want to be registered at their parents’ address or at the address at their place of study.
Primary and secondary homeless persons are included if they are registered as resident in the country, but they cannot be identified as 'homeless.'
3.4.2. Statistical concepts and definitions - Sex
Classification as male or female as in the Central Population Register.
3.4.3. Statistical concepts and definitions - Age
The age reached in completed years at the reference date.
3.4.4. Statistical concepts and definitions - Marital status
Marital status is the (legal) conjugal status of an individual in relation to the marriage laws of the country (de jure status).A person shall be classified according to his/her most recently acquired legal marital status at the reference date. From 1993 it was possible for same-sex couples to enter into a registered partnership. In 2009 the Marriage Act was changed to allow same-sex marriages and at the same time the possibility to enter into registered partnership was cancelled. Registered partners may continue as such or have their partnership converted into marriage. Furthermore, there are in practice no legal distinction between registered partnerships and same-sex marriages. The minimum age to get married in Norway is 18 years.
'Legally separated' persons (including 'separated partners') are classified under 'married'.
3.4.5. Statistical concepts and definitions - Family status
The family nucleus is defined in the narrow sense, that is as two or more persons who belong to the same household and who are related as husband and wife, as partners in a registered partnership, as partners in a consensual union, or as parent and child. Thus a family comprises a couple without children, or a couple with one or more children, or a lone parent with one or more children. This family concept limits relationships between children and adults to direct (first-degree) relationships, that is between parents and children.
Child (son/daughter) refers to a blood, step- or adopted son or daughter (regardless of age or marital status) who has usual residence in the household of at least one of the parents, and who has no partner or own children in the same household. Foster children are not included. A son or daughter who lives with a spouse, with a registered partner, with a partner in a consensual union, or with one or more own children, is not considered to be a child. For a child who alternates between two households (for instance if his or her parents are divorced) the household is considered to be the one corresponding to the registered resident address
3.4.6. Statistical concepts and definitions - Household status
As the information required to establish households according to the 'housekeeping concept' is not available from registers, the 'household-dwelling concept' is used for Norway. This concept considers all persons living in a housing unit to be members of the same household, such that there is one household per occupied housing unit. Using the household dwelling concept, then, the number of occupied housing units and the number of households occupying them should be equal, and the locations of the housing units and households should be identical. Due to quality problems the number of private households and occupied housing units is not fully equivalent. The basic principle for identifying households is that all persons with the same residential address in the population register belong to the same household. However, a household count following this principle gives too few and too large households. Therefore, an estimation method using additional information has been developed. When members of the original household are not relatives, are not classified as living in a consensual union and did not move to the dwelling on the same day, households are in some cases divided. However, the majority of households are identified according to the basic principle.
Families are identified as persons living in the same household who are related as a couple or as parent and child, using the relationships established (see below).
Information on relationships between household members is collected from registers. Relations between spouses/registered partners and between children and parents are obtain directly from the population register. Relations between persons in a consensual union are based on estimation. To be classified as cohabitants, two persons must be living in the same dwelling. If they do not have common children, they must additionally be of opposite sex, not closely related and the age difference must not be more than 15 years. Other relations than between persons in couples and children - parents are not identified, but these are sufficient to derive all mandatory values for the variable household status.
The category 'Persons living in a private household' comprises 'Persons in a family nucleus' and 'Persons not in a family nucleus'. The category 'Persons in a family nucleus' comprises all persons who belong to a private household that contains a family nucleus of which they are a member. 'Persons not in a family nucleus' comprises all persons who either belong to a non-family household or to a family household without being member of any family nucleus in that household.
A non-family household can be a one-person household ('Living alone') or a multiperson household without any family nucleus. The category 'Not living alone' comprises persons that live either in a multiperson household without any family nucleus or in a family household without being member of any family nucleus in that household. Persons who belong to a skip-generation household and who are not member of any family nucleus in that household shall be classified in the optional category 'Persons living in a household with relative(s)'.
The term 'son/daughter' is defined as the term 'child' in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'. 'Husband/wife couple' means a married opposite-sex couple.
'Consensual union' is defined as in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'.
The category 'Partners' comprises 'Persons in a married couple', 'Partners in a registered partnership' and 'Partners in a consensual union'.
'Primary homeless persons' are persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters as defined in the technical specifications for the topic 'Type of living quarters'. 'Primary homeless persons' are included in the census if they are registered as residents in the country. However, it is not possible to identify this category separately and persons with no fixed place of residence are classified under 'Persons not living in a private household, but category not stated'.
3.4.7. Statistical concepts and definitions - Current activity status
'Current activity status' is the current relationship of a person to economic activity. The reference period is the last seven days prior to enumeration.
The 'currently economically active population' comprises all persons who fulfil the requirements for inclusion among the employed or the unemployed.
'Employed' persons comprise all persons aged 15 years or over who during the reference week:
(a) performed at least one hour of work for pay or profit, in cash or in kind, or
(b) were temporarily absent from a job in which they had already worked and to which they maintained a formal attachment, or from a self-employment activity.
The 'unemployed' comprise all persons aged 15 years or over who were:
(a) 'without work', that is, were not in wage employment or self-employment during the reference week; and
(b) 'currently available for work', that is, were available for wage employment or self-employment during the reference week and for two weeks after that; and
(c) 'seeking work', that is, had taken specific steps to seek wage employment or self-employment within four weeks ending with the reference week.
The category 'Currently not economically active' includes persons below the national minimum age for economic activity (15 years).
In ascribing a single activity status to each person, priority is given to the status of 'employed' in preference to 'unemployed', and to the status of 'unemployed' in preference to 'not economically active'.
Data from several registers are used to produce a classification of 'Current activity status' which is as close as possible to the ILO definition. For classification of persons as 'employed' and 'unemployed' a system for jointly utilizing different labour market related registers has been established. The system comprises modules for consistency management between various data sources and selection of main job. For person with more than one job, allocation to main job is based on hours worked.
3.4.8. Statistical concepts and definitions - Occupation
Occupation refers to the type of work done in a job. ‘Type of work’ is described by the main tasks and duties of the work.
Persons are classified according to the occupation they had during their most recent employment. The categories included in the breakdown 'occupation' correspond to the major groups of the ISCO-08 (COM) classification.
Persons under the age of 15 years, as well as persons aged 15 or over that were:
- not economically active during the reference week, or
- unemployed, never worked before (i.e. they have never been employed in their lives)
are classified under 'not applicable'.
The allocation of a person within the breakdowns of the topics 'Occupation', 'Industry' and 'Status in employment' is based on the same job.
3.4.9. Statistical concepts and definitions - Industry
Industry (branch of economic activity) is the kind of production or activity of the establishment (or similar unit) in which the job of a currently economically active person is located.
Persons doing more than one job shall be allocated an industry (branch of economic activity) based on their main job, which is to be identified according to the time spent on the job or (if not available) the income received.
The breakdown by industry is available for persons aged 15 or over that were:
- employed during the reference week, or
- unemployed during the reference week, but have ever been in employment
Persons are classified according to the industry they worked in during their most recent employment. The categories included in the breakdown 'industry' list the 21 sections of the NACE Rev. 2 classification and appropriate aggregates.
Persons under the age of 15 years, as well as persons aged 15 or over that were:
- not economically active during the reference week, or
- unemployed, and have never worked before (i.e. have never been employed in their lives)
are classified under 'not applicable'.
The allocation of a person within the breakdowns of the topics 'Occupation', 'Industry' and 'Status in employment' is based on the same job.
3.4.10. Statistical concepts and definitions - Status in employment
An 'employee' is a person who works in a 'paid employment' job, that is a job where the explicit or implicit contract of employment gives the incumbent a basic remuneration, which is independent of the revenue of the unit for which he/she works.
An 'employer' is a person who, working on his or her own account or with a small number of partners, holds a 'self-employment' job and, in this capacity, on a continuous basis (including the reference week) has engaged one or more persons to work for him/her as 'employees'.
If a person is both employer and employee, he/she shall be allocated to only one group according to the time spent on the job or (if not available) the income received.
An 'own-account worker' is a person who, working on his/her own account or with one or a few partners, holds a 'self-employment job' and has not engaged, on a continuous basis (including the reference week), any 'employees'.
A 'contributing family worker' is a person who:
- holds a 'self-employment’ job in a market-oriented establishment operated by a related person, living in the same household, and
- cannot be regarded as a partner (that is an employer or own-account worker) because the degree of commitment to the operation of the establishment, in terms of working time or other factors to be determined by national circumstances, is not at a level comparable to that of the head of the establishment.
A 'member of a producers' cooperative' is a person who holds a 'self-employment' job in an establishment organised as a cooperative, in which each member takes part on an equal footing with other members in determining the organisation of production, sales and/or other work, the investments and the distribution of the proceeds among the members.
In the registers available, 'contributing family workers' cannot be identified as a separate category. However, when comparing with the Labour Force Survey, most persons who belong to this category are in the census coded as 'employed persons' and classified as 'employees' or 'self-employed.'
Persons who are both employers and employees are classified by the general rule for allocation to main job that is based on hours worked. For self-employed/employers hours worked are estimated from income.
3.4.11. Statistical concepts and definitions - Place of work
The location of the place of work is the geographical area in which a currently employed person does his/her job.
The place of work of those mostly working at home is the same as their usual residence. The term ‘working’ refers to work done as an ‘employed person’ as defined under the topic ‘Current activity status’. ‘Mostly’ working at home means that the person spends all or most of the time working at home, and less, or no, time in a place of work other than at home.
Information on persons who do not have a fixed place of work but who report to a fixed address at the beginning of their work period (for example bus drivers, airline crew, operators of street market stalls that are not removed at the end of the workday) refer to that address. This group may also include individuals who travel to work, on a regular basis, across the border to a neighbouring country. Breakdown ‘No fixed place of work (inside or outside the Member State)’ includes all persons without fixed place of work but will also refer to persons such as sailors, fishermen and offshore workers for whom it may not be possible to allocate the place of work.
3.4.12. Statistical concepts and definitions - Educational attainment
Educational attainment refers to the highest level successfully completed in the educational system of the country where the education was received. All education which is relevant to the completion of a level is taken into account even if this was provided outside schools and universities.
3.4.13. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of the locality
A locality is defined as a distinct population cluster that is an area defined by population living in neighboring or contiguous buildings.
Such buildings may be either:
(a) form a continuous built-up area with a clearly recognizable street formation; or
(b) though not part of such a built-up area, comprise a group of buildings to which a locally recognized place name is uniquely attached; or
(c) though not meeting either of the above two criteria, constitute a group of buildings, none of which is separated from its nearest neighbor by more than 200 meters.
Locality is defined according to (c), that is as an area defined by population living in neighbouring or contiguous buildings. A cluster of buildings is registered as a locality (urban settlement) if it is inhabited by at least 200 persons. The distance between the buildings shall normally not exceed 50 metres. Distances more than 50 metres are allowed between larger buildings, like apartment buildings, commercial buildings, hospitals and schools. Adjacent areas that naturally belong to the urban settlement but is not densely built up (parks, recreation ground, sport facilities, industrial areas) is considered part of the urban settlement. Smaller clusters of buildings are included if situated in a distance up to 400 meters from the main cluster.
3.4.14. Statistical concepts and definitions - Place of birth
Information on the ‘Place of birth’ is collected according to the place of usual residence of the mother at the time of the birth, or, if not available, the place in which the birth took place, on the basis of international boundaries existing on 1 January 2021.
For reporting countries that are EU Member States, the sub-category under the category 'other EU Member State' that refers to their Member State does not apply. For reporting countries that are not EU Member States, the category 'Other EU Member State' shall be read as 'EU Member State'.
The category 'Information not classifiable according to current borders' covers those persons whose country of birth existed at the time of the birth, but no longer exists at the time of the census, and who cannot be allocated uniquely to one country existing at the time of the census, i.e. according to current borders.
The category 'outside any country' covers persons for whom the usual residence of the mother at the time of the birth is not known and who where born outside the borders of any country, for example at sea or in the air.
3.4.15. Statistical concepts and definitions - Country of citizenship
Citizenship is defined as the particular legal bond between an individual and his/her State, acquired by birth or naturalization, whether by declaration, option, marriage or other means according to the national legislation. A person with two or more citizenships is allocated to only one country of citizenship, to be determined in the following order of precedence:
- reporting country
- if the person does not have the citizenship of the reporting country: other EU Member State
- if the person does not have the citizenship of another EU Member State: other country outside the European Union.
'EU Member State' means a country that is a member of the European Union on 1 January 2021. The list of countries in the breakdown 'Country of citizenship' shall only apply for statistical purposes.
For reporting countries that are EU Member States, the sub-category of the category 'citizenship not of reporting country, but other EU Member State' that refers to their Member State does not apply. For reporting countries that are not EU Member States, the category 'citizenship not of reporting country, but other EU Member State' shall be changed to 'citizenship of an EU Member State'.
Persons who are neither citizens of any country nor stateless and who have some but not all of the rights and duties associated with citizenship shall be classified under 'recognised non-citizens'.
3.4.16. Statistical concepts and definitions - Year of arrival in the country
The year of arrival is the calendar year in which a person most recently established usual residence in the country.
The data for 2021 refer to the time span between 1 January 2021 and the reference date.
3.4.17. Statistical concepts and definitions - Residence one year before
The relationship between the current place of usual residence and the place of usual residence one year prior to the census.
For all persons that have changed their usual residence more than once within the year prior to the reference date, the previous place of usual residence is the last usual residence from which they moved to their current place of usual residence.
3.4.18. Statistical concepts and definitions - Housing arrangements
The topic 'Housing arrangements' covers the whole population and refers to the type of housing in which a person usually resides at the time of the census. This covers all persons who are usual residents in different types of living quarters, or who do not have a usual residence and stay temporarily in some type of living quarters, or who are roofless, sleeping rough or in emergency shelters, when the census is taken.
Occupants are persons with their usual residence in the places listed in the respective category.
'Conventional dwellings' are structurally separate and independent premises at fixed locations which are designed for permanent human habitation and are, at the reference date, either used as a residence, or vacant, or reserved for seasonal or secondary use.
'Separate' means surrounded by walls and covered by a roof or ceiling so that one or more persons can isolate themselves. 'Independent' means having direct access from a street or a staircase, passage, gallery or grounds.
'Other housing units' are huts, cabins, shacks, shanties, caravans, houseboats, barns, mills, caves or any other shelter used for human habitation at the time of the census, irrespective if it was designed for human habitation. In Norway no persons are classified as living in 'Other housing units'.
'Collective living quarters' are premises which are designed for habitation by large groups of individuals or several households and which are used as the usual residence of at least one person at the time of the census.
'Occupied conventional dwellings', 'other housing units' and 'collective living quarters' together represent 'living quarters'. Any 'living quarter' must be the usual residence of at least one person.
The sum of occupied conventional dwellings and other housing units represents 'housing units'.
The homeless (persons who are not usual residents in any living quarter category) can be persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters (primary homelessness) or persons moving frequently between temporary accommodation (secondary homelessness). Primary and secondary homeless persons are included in the census if they are registered as residents in the country. However, it is not possible to identify this category separately and persons with no fixed place of residence are classified under 'Not stated'.
3.4.19. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of family nucleus
The family nucleus is defined in a narrow sense; that is as two or more persons who belong to the same household and who are related as husband and wife, as partners in a registered partnership, as partners in a consensual union, or as parent and child. Thus a family comprises a couple without children or a couple with one or more children, or a lone parent with one or more children. This family concept limits relationships between children and adults to direct (first-degree) relationships, that is, between parents and children.
Child (son/daughter) refers to a blood, step- or adopted son or daughter (regardless of age or marital status) who has usual residence in the household of at least one of the parents, and who has no partner or own children in the same household. Foster children are not included. A son or daughter who lives with a spouse, with a registered partner, with a partner in a consensual union, or with one or more own children, is not considered to be a child. A child who alternates between two households (for instance if his or her parents are divorced) shall consider the one where he or she spends the majority of the time as his or her household. Where an equal amount of time is spent with both parents the household shall be the one where the child is found at the time on census night.
The term couple shall include married couples, couples in registered partnerships, and couples who live in a consensual union.
Registered partnerships are reported only by countries that have a legal framework regulating partnerships that:
(a) lead to legal conjugal obligations between two persons;
(b) are not marriages;
(c) prevent persons to commit themselves into multiple partnerships with different partners.
Two persons are considered to be partners in a 'consensual union' when they
- belong to the same household, and
- have a marriage-like relationship with each other, and
- are not married to or in a registered partnership with each other.
'Skip-generation households' (households consisting of a grandparent or grandparents and one or more grandchildren, but no parent of those grandchildren) are not included in the definition of a family.
3.4.20. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of family nucleus
Size of family nucleus is the number of persons living in the family nucleus.The family nucleus is defined in the narrow sense, that is as two or more persons who belong to the same household and who are related as husband and wife, as partners in a registered partnership, as partners in a consensual union, or as parent and child. Thus a family comprises a couple without children, or a couple with one or more children, or a lone parent with one or more children. This family concept limits relationships between children and adults to direct (first-degree) relationships, that is between parents and children.
Child (son/daughter) refers to a blood, step- or adopted son or daughter (regardless of age or marital status) who has usual residence in the household of at least one of the parents, and who has no partner or own children in the same household. Foster children are not included. A son or daughter who lives with a spouse, with a registered partner, with a partner in a consensual union, or with one or more own children, is not considered to be a child. A child who alternates between two households (for instance if his or her parents are divorced) are regarded as belonging to the household corresponding to his/her residential address in the population register.
The term couple shall include married couples, couples in registered partnerships, and couples who live in a consensual union.
Registered partnerships are reported only by countries that have a legal framework regulating partnerships that:
(a) lead to legal conjugal obligations between two persons;
(b) are not marriages;
(c) prevent persons to commit themselves into multiple partnerships with different partners.
'Registered partnership' couples are classified under 'married couples'; see definition for the topic 'Legal marital status'.
Two persons are considered to be partners in a 'consensual union' when they
- belong to the same household, and
- have a marriage-like relationship with each other, and
- are not married to or in a registered partnership with each other.
'Skip-generation households' (households consisting of a grandparent or grandparents and one or more grandchildren, but no parent of those grandchildren) are not included in the definition of a family.
3.4.21. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of private household
Private households are identified using the ‘housekeeping concept’ or, if not possible, using the ‘household- dwelling concept’.
1) Housekeeping concept
According to the housekeeping concept, a private household is either: (a) a one-person household, that is a person who lives alone in a separate housing unit or who occupies, as a lodger, a separate room (or rooms) of a housing unit but does not join with any of the other occupants of the housing unit to form part of a multiperson household as defined below; or (b) a multiperson household, that is a group of two or more persons who combine to occupy the whole or part of a housing unit and to provide themselves with food and possibly other essentials for living. Members of the group may pool their incomes to a greater or lesser extent.
2) Household-dwelling concept
The household-dwelling concept considers all persons living in a housing unit to be members of the same household, such that there is one household per occupied housing unit.
As the information required to establish households according to the 'housekeeping concept' is not available, the 'household-dwelling concept' is used. Information on relationships between household members is collected from registers. Only relations between persons in a couple and between parents and children are available.
The category 'non-family household'can be a one-person household ('Living alone') or a multiperson household without any family nucleus. The category 'one-family household' comprises a couple (married, in a registered partnership or in a consensual union) with or without children or a lone father/mother with children. A one-family household may also comprise persons not in a family nucleus who are living in the same household as a family nucleus.
The term 'son/daughter' is defined as the term 'child' in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'. 'Husband/wife couple' means a married opposite-sex couple.
'Consensual union' is defined as in the technical specifications for the topic 'Family status'.
The category 'Partners' comprises 'Persons in a married couple', 'Partners in a registered partnership' and 'Partners in a consensual union'.
3.4.22. Statistical concepts and definitions - Size of private household
Private households are identified using the ‘housekeeping concept’ or, if not possible, using the ‘household- dwelling concept’.
1) Housekeeping concept
According to the housekeeping concept, a private household is either: (a) a one-person household, that is a person who lives alone in a separate housing unit or who occupies, as a lodger, a separate room (or rooms) of a housing unit but does not join with any of the other occupants of the housing unit to form part of a multiperson household as defined below; or (b) a multiperson household, that is a group of two or more persons who combine to occupy the whole or part of a housing unit and to provide themselves with food and possibly other essentials for living. Members of the group may pool their incomes to a greater or lesser extent.
2) Household-dwelling concept
The household-dwelling concept considers all persons living in a housing unit to be members of the same household, such that there is one household per occupied housing unit. In the household dwelling concept, then, the number of occupied housing units and the number of households occupying them should be equal, and the locations of the housing units and households should be identical. Due to quality problems the number of private households and occupied housing units is not fully equivalent.
'Primary homeless persons' are persons living in the streets without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters.
As the information required to establish households according to the 'housekeeping concept' is not available, the 'household-dwelling concept' is used. Information on relationships between household members is collected from registers. Only relations between persons in a couple and between parents and children are available.
3.4.23. Statistical concepts and definitions - Tenure status of households
The topic ‘Tenure status of households’ refers to the arrangements under which a private household occupies all or part of a housing unit.
Households that are in the process of paying off a mortgage on the housing unit in which they live or purchasing their housing unit over time under other financial arrangements are classified under 'Households of which at least one member is the owner of the housing unit'.
Households of which at least one member is the owner of the housing unit and at least one member tenant of all or part of the housing unit are classified under category 'Households of which at least one member is the owner of the housing unit'.
3.4.24. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of living quarter
A living quarter is housing which is the usual residence of one or more persons.
'Conventional dwellings' are structurally separate and independent premises at fixed locations which are designed for permanent human habitation and are, at the reference date, either used as a residence, or vacant, or reserved for seasonal or secondary use.
'Separate' means surrounded by walls and covered by a roof or ceiling so that one or more persons can isolate themselves. 'Independent' means having direct access from a street or a staircase, passage, gallery or grounds.
'Other housing units' are huts, cabins, shacks, shanties, caravans, houseboats, barns, mills, caves or any other shelter used for human habitation at the time of the census, irrespective if it was designed for human habitation.
'Collective living quarters' are premises which are designed for habitation by large groups of individuals or several households and which are used as the usual residence of at least one person at the time of the census.
'Occupied conventional dwellings', 'other housing units' and 'collective living quarters' together represent‘living quarters'. Any 'living quarter' must be the usual residence of at least one person.
3.4.25. Statistical concepts and definitions - Occupancy status
‘Occupied conventional dwellings’ are conventional dwellings which are the usual residence of one or more persons at the time of the census. ‘Unoccupied conventional dwellings’ are conventional dwellings which are not the usual residence of any person at the time of the census.
3.4.26. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of ownership
‘Type of ownership’ refers to the ownership of the dwelling and not to that of the land on which the dwelling stands. It shows the tenure arrangements under which the dwelling is occupied.
'Owner-occupied dwellings' are those where at least one occupant of the dwelling owns parts or the whole of the dwelling. 'Cooperative ownership' refers to ownership within the framework of a housing cooperative. Housing co-operatives are governed by the Co-operative Housing Associations Act and the Housing Co-operatives Act date from 1960 and have undergone a major legislative revision resulting in two new acts in 2005. The objective of the housing co-operative is to provide its shareholders with an exclusive right of use to a housing unit in a property owned and controlled by the co-operative. 'Cooperative ownership' also includes owner-tenant flats (condominiums).
'Rented dwellings' are those where at least one occupant pays a rent for the occupation of the dwelling, and where no occupant owns parts or the whole of the dwelling.
3.4.27. Statistical concepts and definitions - Number of occupants
The number of occupants of a housing unit is the number of people for whom the housing unit is the usual residence.
3.4.28. Statistical concepts and definitions - Useful floor space
Useful floor space is defined as the floor space measured inside the outer walls excluding non-habitable cellars and attics and, in multi-dwelling buildings, all common spaces; or the total floor space of rooms falling under the concept of 'room'.
A 'room' is defined as a space in a housing unit enclosed by walls reaching from the floor to the ceiling or roof, of a size large enough to hold a bed for an adult (4 square metres at least) and at least 2 metres high over the major area of the ceiling.
Since data on useful floor space are not available in registers, 'Utility floor space' is reported as a substitute. The concept 'Utility floor space' includes all floor space within the outer walls, also storage rooms. Storage rooms which can only be accessed by going out of the dwelling are not included.
3.4.29. Statistical concepts and definitions - Number of rooms
A ‘room’ is defined as a space in a housing unit enclosed by walls reaching from the floor to the ceiling or roof, of a size large enough to hold a bed for an adult (4 square meters at least) and at least 2 meters high over the major area of the ceiling.
Number of rooms is not reported for Norway.
3.4.30. Statistical concepts and definitions - Density standard (floor space)
The topic ‘Density standard (floor space)’ relates the useful floor space in square meters to the number of occupants, as specified under the topic ‘Number of occupants’.
3.4.31. Statistical concepts and definitions - Density standard (number of rooms)
The topic ‘Density standard (number of rooms)’ relates the number of rooms to the number of occupants, as specified under the topic ‘Number of occupants’.
For Norway density standard measured by the 'number of rooms' is not reported.
3.4.32. Statistical concepts and definitions - Water supply system
Whether the conventional dwelling is equipped with piped water.
3.4.33. Statistical concepts and definitions - Toilet facilities
Whether the conventional dwelling is equipped with toilet facilities.
3.4.34. Statistical concepts and definitions - Bathing facilities
Whether the conventional dwelling is equipped with bathing facilities.
3.4.35. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of heating
Conventional dwelling is considered as centrally heated if heating is provided either from a community heating centre or from an installation built in the building or in the conventional dwelling, established for heating purposes, without regard to the source of energy.
3.4.36. Statistical concepts and definitions - Type of building
The topic ‘Dwellings by type of building’ refers to the number of dwellings in the building in which the dwelling is placed.
3.4.37. Statistical concepts and definitions - Period of construction
The topic ‘Dwellings by period of construction’ refers to the year when the building in which the dwelling is placed was completed.
3.5. Statistical unit
The EU programme for the 2021 population and housing censuses includes data on persons, private households, family nucleus, conventional dwellings and living quarters.
3.6. Statistical population
The persons enumerated in the 2021 census are those who were usually resident in the territory of the reporting country at the census reference date. Usual residence means the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage. In Norway registered residence is reported as a substitute for usual residence, see definition of the topic 'Usual residence' (3.4.1).
3.7. Reference area
Data are available at different levels of geographical detail in EU countries: national, NUTS2/NUTS3 regions and local administrative units (LAU), grids.
3.8. Coverage - Time
Data refer to the situation in the reporting country at the census reference date - 1 January 2021.
3.9. Base period
Not applicable.
Counts of statistical units should be expressed in numbers and where is needed rate per inhabitants enumerated in the country.
See the following sub-concepts.
5.1. EU census reference date
1 January 2021
5.2. National census reference date
1 January 2021
5.3. Differences between reference dates of national and EU census publications
No differences.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
National legal background for the population and housing censuses, as requested by Reg. 2017/881, Annex point 1.1. The legal base for conducting a census in Norway is the Statistics Act of 2019.
6.1.1. Bodies responsible
Statistics Norway
6.2. Institutional Mandate - data sharing
Not available.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
Confidentiality - Regulation (EU) 2017/712 Art 4 and 5
Statistics Norway is subject to the provisions of the Personal Data Act with regard to responsible processing of personal data. Statistics Norway has a dedicated data protection officer, who is approved by the Norwegian Data Protection Authority. Statistics Norway complies with the Authority’s security requirements for processing sensitive personal data, and the organisation and routines to protect our data are devised in line with these.
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
The hypercubes in the 32 total population groups were protected by the so-called small count rounding method, implemented in the R package SmallCountRounding (Langsrud and Heldal, 2022). This method alters the frequencies of unique variable combinations in the microdata. In practise, this means that the microdata is changed. Consequently, all hypercubes are produced by aggregation from this modified microdata, ensuring additivity and consistency. The rounding base used in the method was 3.
By making it unclear whether a published zero is actually zero, direct attribute disclosure is prevented. Additionally, the protection strategy includes ensuring that ones and twos are not published. This also prevents perceived disclosure, ensuring that individuals cannot identify themselves in the table.
The algorithm ensures that deviations in all the hypercubes to be published are kept at an acceptable level.
As an example, Langsrud and Heldal (2018) demonstrated this methodology by performing simultaneous protection of 21 of the hypercubes in the 2011 census. This is an improvement over SSB's original method for protecting the 2011 data, which is described in Heldal (2017).
The method employed for the 2021 hypercubes incorporates both improvements and technical differences:
- Simultaneous and consistent rounding was applied to all counts across all hypercubes in the 32 total population groups.
- To enhance safety, zeros were allowed to be rounded up (zeroCandidates = TRUE). For this to be possible, 10,000 synthetic individuals with zero frequency were added to the dataset. These individuals were drawn in a manner that prevents structural zeros.
- The sparse model matrix within the algorithm became larger than what is technically possible in the current version of R. This is due to the maximum length of data vectors in R being exceeded. Input rows that could safely remain unchanged were therefore removed. Since the execution is done in a way that should guarantee no 1s and 2s in the final result (identifyNew = TRUE), this had to be done in a thoughtful way.
- All input variables were retained in output by using the parameter, avoidHierarchical = TRUE. This ensures full control in cases where the same code is used for different hierarchical levels.
- Parameter maxIterRows = 46000 was used (1000 is default). This setting is close to the possible limit caused by the maximum length of data vectors in R. This is related to a cross product matrix within the algorithm.
- The time-consuming generation of the model matrix was done once (taking 3.5 hours), and the algorithm was executed multiple times with varied rndSeed (random generator seed) and step parameters. The best solution, based on deviations, utilised the step parameter set to 600.
References
Heldal, J. (2017): “The European Census Hub 2011 Hypercubes - Norwegian SDC Experiences”. In: Work Session on Statistical Data Confidentiality, Skopje, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, September 20-22 , 2017.
Langsrud, Ø. and Heldal, J. (2018): “An Algorithm for Small Count Rounding of Tabular Data”. Presented at: Privacy in statistical databases, Valencia, Spain. September 26-28, 2018.
Langsrud, Ø. and Heldal, J. (2022): “SmallCountRounding: Small Count Rounding of Tabular Data”. R package version 1.0.3.
8.1. Release calendar
Data are made available 27 months after the end of the reference period (March 2024).
8.2. Release calendar access
Corrsponding data on population was available nationaly from February to May 2021. Families and housholds - June 2021. Education - June 2021. Dwellings and Housing - March 2022. Labour market - March 2022.
Note: The statistics on Families and houshold, Dwellings and housing published nationaly are using a slightliy different population base than the census data delivered to EUROSTAT. These data are therefore not directly comparable to the census data.
8.3. Release policy - user access
In line with the Community legal framework and the European Statistics Code of Practice Eurostat disseminates European statistics on its website respecting professional independence and in an objective, professional and transparent manner in which all users are treated equitably.
All statistics and associated metadata published on the web-site of Statistics Norway (ssb.no) are available free of charge. Additional tabulations can be produce on request. Data are free of charge, but users will be charged for data extraction costs.
According to The Statistics Act bona fide researchers at approved research units can have access to data at an individual level. Such data may only be accessed according to special conditions. Statistics Norway normally only supplies anonymous or de-identified data. The delivery of data requires a written application including a project description. A data security agreement is required. When the project is completed, the data supplied are to be returned to Statistics Norway or deleted. Data are also avible for resarchers at this website.
Decennial
See the following sub-concepts.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
Press release(s) concerning the 2021 census, as part of the requirements of Regulation 2017/881, Annex point 3.4.
No national dissemination on the Census data deliverd to EUROSTAT.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Publications concerning the 2021 census, as part of the requirements of Regulation 2017/881, Annex point 3.4.
No national dissemination on the Census data deliverd to EUROSTAT.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
On-line database on the 2021 census, as part of the requirements of Reg. 2017/881, Annex point 3.4.
No national dissemination on the Census data deliverd to EUROSTAT but Cenus related statistics are available (on yearly base) from StatBank Norway.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Census data should be accessible as microdata, as part of the requirements of Regulation 2017/881, Annex point 3.4.
No national dissemination on the Census data deliverd to EUROSTAT
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Census Hub
10.6. Documentation on methodology
In a register-based census data are retrieved from several statistical registers that are operated continuously. Methodologies applied are documented for each statistical register, but there exist no specific census methodology reports. Some information on methodology is given in About the statistics for each of the national subject matter statistics, see annexes. Note there may be some differences between the census and some of the subject matter statistics.
Annexes (the section "about the statistics" at the bottom at each web page):
- Population statistics
- Population and land area in urban settlements
- Families and households
- Employment, register-based
- Educational attainment of the population
- Housing conditions, register-based
- Building stock
10.7. Quality management - documentation
In a register-based census data are retrieved from several statistical registers that are operated continuously. Quality management is documented for each statistical register, but there exist no specific census quality reports. For more information about the quality management in Statistics Norway.
11.1. Quality assurance
In a register-based census data are retrieved from several statistical registers that are operated continuously. Quality assurance is basically managed for each statistical register system and is not specific for the census. However, some additional measures have been taken to ensure maximum compliance with the EU regulation. In a register-based statistical system a cornerstone in quality assurance is cooperation between the statistical institute and the register authorities (register keepers). Statistics Norway reports quality problems to the register keepers who will, depending on resources available, take measure to improve the quality. For all main administrative registers this cooperation is formalized through agreements signed by the top management, involving regular reporting and meetings between institutions involved.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
Statistics Norway follows methodology and recommendations issued by the EU regarding e.g. contents and data definitions as well as classifications to be used in the data collection. 10 043 persons are only located to a specific municipality (0,19 per cent).
11.2.1. Coverage assessment
Coverage related to registered population: In the Norwegian census registered resident population is reported as a substitute for usual resident population. Given this definition, the target population could be defined as those persons who according to the regulations for population registration should be registered as resident at census time. Under-coverage is very difficult to assess in a register-based statistical system due to lack of independent data (all statistical surveys are using the registered population as frame). Registrations of births and deaths are complete and very rarely delayed. Notifications of immigration are also rarely delayed since persons legally living in Norway will indeed have self-interest to register as residents. Consequently, under-coverage will be very low.
For persons emigrating de-registration will not be as important, meaning that some persons that no longer live in Norway most probably are included in the census population (over-coverage).Emigrants who have not reported to the population register that they have left the country, will according to practice be de-registered by an administrative procedure in the population registry. Persons who potentially belong to this group are persons not registered with any kind of income or activity in administrative registers. For the calendar years 2019 – 2022 the number of persons administratively de-registered was between 15 000 – 20 000 persons.
A "signs of life" analysis is conducted. The analysis shows an estimated over-coverage of 18,279 persons in the 2021 Census. Aprox. 0,3 per cent of the population count. A description of the sign of life method and an analysis on population count data for 2022 data is available in (Norwegian only see Annex). There was 1 386 registered asylum seekers by 1 . January 2021. This group is considered as the under coverage in the 2021 Census. This represent an undercovarage of 0,03 per cent. Since we currently do not have information on the age distribution of these asylum seekers, these figures have not been included in QHC1.
Coverage related to usual resident population: For international comparisons it is useful to compare the Norwegian census population with a target population according to usual place of residence. Unmarried third level students may choose whether they want to be registered at their parents’ address or at the address at their place of study. This also applies to students abroad. In total 8 730 persons in the census population were, according to the register of education, studying abroad. Over-coverage assessed this way are most probably lower, since these were persons studying abroad during the whole semester, and also included those who stayed abroad for less than one year. In addition this was during Covid so it`s reasonable to assume that some of this studunts partly lived in Norway insted of the country ehwew they studied. Roughly estimated over-coverage in relation to usual resident population is in the order of 0.5 per cent or even less.
Asylum seekers (staying legally in the country) are not registered as residents before they have granted a residence permit even if they have stayed in the country for more than 6 months. There was 1 386 registered asylum seekers by 1 . January 2021. This group is considered as the under coverage in the 2021 Census.
Furthermore, persons staying illegally in the country are obviously not registered as residents. There are no recent study on this topic available. In a report prepared by Statistics Norway (see annex) the number of irregular resident population with non-EU origin is estimated to 18 200 by 1 January 2006 (0.4 per cent of the total registered population). The estimated lower and upper bounds of a 95 per cent confidence interval are 10 550 and 31 900.It is estimated that 12 300 were previous asylum seekers and the rest had never applied for asylum. Roughly estimated under-coverage in relation to usual resident population is in the order of 0.5 per cent.
Annexes:
Developing methods for determining the number of unauthorized foreigners in Norway
Uregistrert utvandring fra Norge
11.2.2. Post-enumeration survey(s)
No post-enumeration surveys have been conducted.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The census data disseminated by Eurostat are addressed to policy makers, researchers, media and the general public.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
No user satisfaction surveys are carried out. User inquiries are handled by the Eurostat User Support service.
12.3. Completeness
Depends on the availability of data transmitted by the National Statistical Institutes.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Overall the accuracy is considered as very good.
13.1.1. Overall accuracy - Usual residence
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic. However, it should be noticed that registered residence is reported as a substitute for usual residence.
13.1.2. Overall accuracy - Sex
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.3. Overall accuracy - Age
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.4. Overall accuracy - Marital status
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.5. Overall accuracy - Family status
Partners in same-sex consensual unions are not identified as relevant data are not available from registers.
13.1.6. Overall accuracy - Household status
Partners in same-sex consensual unions are not identified as relevant data are not available from registers.
13.1.7. Overall accuracy - Current activity status
For a small group of employees and self-employed/employers, classification by employment is based mainly on information from tax registers. For these groups there is some uncertainty attached to the whether the persons actually were employed in census week or not. The data source for unemployment is a register on unemployed kept by the national labour and welfare administration. This register only comprises those persons seeking work through an employment office. Hence only unemployed seeking work this way are classified as ‘unemployed' in the census.
13.1.8. Overall accuracy - Occupation
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic. Compared to the 2011 Census imputations are no longer needed.
13.1.9. Overall accuracy - Industry
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.10. Overall accuracy - Status in employment
'Contributing family workers' cannot be identified as a separate category.
13.1.11. Overall accuracy - Place of work
No information on place of work outside the territory
13.1.12. Overall accuracy - Educational attainment
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.13. Overall accuracy - Size of the locality
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.14. Overall accuracy - Place of birth
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic
13.1.15. Overall accuracy - Country of citizenship
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic
13.1.16. Overall accuracy - Year of arrival in the country
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.17. Overall accuracy - Residence one year before
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.18. Overall accuracy - Housing arrangements
Registered place of residence is reported as a substitute for usual place of residence. In the registers available no persons are classified as living in 'other housing units' or as 'homeless'. More information, see Comparability - geographical (item 15.1). For persons living in institutions the information on precise address is less reliable than for persons living in private households.
13.1.19. Overall accuracy - Type of family nucleus
Partners in same-sex consensual unions are not identified as relevant data are not available from registers.
13.1.20. Overall accuracy - Size of family nucleus
Partners in same-sex consensual unions are not identified as relevant data are not available from registers.
13.1.21. Overall accuracy - Type of private household
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.22. Overall accuracy - Size of private household
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.23. Overall accuracy - Tenure status of households
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.24. Overall accuracy - Type of living quarter
The number of 'collective living quarters' is estimated from the number of 'persons in an institutional household'. For some persons living in institutions the information on precise address is less reliable than for persons living in conventional dwellings, affecting the reliability of the estimates of the number of collective living quarters.
13.1.25. Overall accuracy - Occupancy status
Data on households and dwellings are produced by combining information from the dwelling register (Cadaster) and the population register. Due to some quality problems in both registers, the estimate for unoccupied dwellings is considered as less reliable than the estimate for occupied dwellings. As a consecuense there are 10 municipalities wthout unoccupied dwellings in the cenus
13.1.26. Overall accuracy - Type of ownership
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.27. Overall accuracy - Number of occupants
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.28. Overall accuracy - Useful floor space
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic.
13.1.29. Overall accuracy - Number of rooms
Statistics on this topic is not reported. Instead the preferred topic 'useful floor space' is reported.
13.1.30. Overall accuracy - Density standard (floor space)
There are no particular reasons for data unreliability for this topic
13.1.31. Overall accuracy - Density standard (number of rooms)
Statistics on this topic is not reported. Instead the preferred topic 'density standard (floor space)' is reported.
13.1.32. Overall accuracy - Water supply system
In the dwelling register information on this topic is missing for approximately 60 per cent of all dwellings. However, almost all of these dwellings have either bathrooms, toilets or a sewerage system, meaning that they most certainly should be classified as having ‘piped water‘. Using this method, more than 99.9 per cent of all dwellings would be classified as having ‘piped water‘. For the remaining dwellings it is difficult to determine whether they should be classified as having ‘no piped water‘ or as ‘not stated‘. In the 2021 census all conventional dwellings without information regarding water supply system is coded “piped water”
13.1.33. Overall accuracy - Toilet facilities
According to the dwelling register about 96 per cent of all conventional, occupied dwellings have a flush toilet. For the remaining dwellings it is not possible to determine whether they do have a flush toilet or if they should be classified as ‘not stated‘. In the 2001 census (traditional housing census) 97 per cent of the dwellings had both toilet facilities and bathing facilities. In the 2021 census all conventional dwellings without information regarding toilet facilities is coded “flush toilet in the dwelling”
13.1.34. Overall accuracy - Bathing facilities
According to the dwelling register 96 per cent of all conventional, occupied dwellings have fixed bath or shower. For the remaining dwellings it is not possible to determine whether they do not have bathing facilities or if they should be classified as ‘not stated‘. In the 2001 census 97 per cent of the dwellings had both toilet facilities and bathing facilities. This indicates that the percentage with bathing facilities in the 2011 census should be somewhat higher than 96 per cent. In the 2021 census all conventional dwellings without information regarding bathing facilities is coded “fixed bath in the dwelling”
13.1.35. Impact of the COVID pandemic on data accuracy
Register-based Census, no impact
13.2. Sampling error
Not applicable for register-based and traditional censuses.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Not applicable for register-based and traditional censuses.
14.1. Timeliness
All hypercubes were transmitted to Eurostat before 31 March 2024.
14.2. Punctuality
Deliverd to Eurostat on time.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
Usual place of residence: Registered residence is reported as a substitute. To be registered as resident in Norway, a person should have lived, or have the intention to live, in the country for at least six months, as compared to twelve months in the definition of usual residence. There are a few exceptions. Asylum seekers are not registered as residents before they have granted a residence permit even if they have stayed in the country for more than six months. Unmarried third level students may choose whether they want to be registered at their parents’ address or at the address at their place of study. This means that some third level students with place of study abroad is included in the census population even if they have stayed abroad for more than six mints. This applies to students with their place of study in Norway as well as abroad. More information about coverage, see Coverage assessment (item 11.2.1).
Family status, household status, type of family nucleus and type of private household : Partners in same-sex consensual unions are not identified as relevant data are not available from registers. 'Persons in an institutional household' only comprise those persons who are registered as residents in institutions. Some married persons are registered in private households with their spouses even if they in fact are living in an institutional household.
Status in employment: In the registers available, 'contributing family workers' cannot be identified as a separate category. However, when comparing with the Labour Force Survey, most persons who belong to this category are in the census coded as 'employed persons' and classified as 'employees' or 'self-employed.' According to the Labour Force Survey the number of contributing family workers is 6000 or 0.2 per cent of all employed persons.
Location of place of work: Information on persons resident in Norway and working for foreign employers is not available from registers.
Size of locality: A locality is a group of buildings, none of which is separated from its nearest neighbour by more than 50 metres, as compared to 200 metres according to the EU definition. However, distances more than 50 metres are allowed in areas that cannot or should not be built up.
Housing arrangements:In the Norwegian census registered place of residence is reported as a substitute for usual place of residence. According to the rules for population registration, all persons are registered with an address in a conventional dwelling or in an institution. It is known that a few persons in fact are living in 'other housing units', especially in caravans or boats. The majority of these persons are however registered with an address in a conventional dwelling. Therefore, no persons are reported as living in 'other housing units' in the 2021 census. 10 043 persons were registered with 'no fixed place of residence'. This group comprises both homeless persons and persons for whom the address is unknown. In the census they are reported with housing arrangement 'not stated '. In a survey conducted for The Norwegian State Housing Bank, the number of homeless persons in 2020 is estimated to 3 325. This figure is about half the figure reported in the metadata report for the 2011 Census. Furthermore, 'occupants living in a collective living quarters' only comprise persons who are registered as residents in institutions. Some married persons are registered in private households with their spouses even if they in fact are living in an institutional household.
Type of living quarters:Collective living quarters' only comprise those addresses where at least one person is registered as resident, see 'Housing arrangements'.
Occupancy status: 'Occupied conventional dwellings' are only those where at least one person is registered as resident. Dwellings that are in fact occupied by other persons, for instance students whose registered address is the family home, are classified as 'unoccupied conventional dwellings'
Useful floor space and Density standard (floor space): Utility floor space', which is reported as a substitute, also includes storage rooms. Especially in detached houses with a cellar, 'utility floor' space is normally somewhat larger than 'useful floor space'.
15.1.1. Geographic information - data quality
The data quality on Geographic information is high. Only 10 043 persons were registered with 'no fixed place of residence' and only have information on municipality level (LAU2).
15.2. Comparability - over time
Not applicable.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
Figures provided by Statistics Norway in the framework of the 2021 Population and Housing Census may differ from those transmitted in other statistical domains due to the cross domain differences in definitions and methodologies used.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Internal coherence is assured by the regulation.
The 2021 census was totally register-based and hence placed no burden on citizens. The cost of census related work in the period 2015-2023 is estemated to approximately 400 000 EUROS.
17.1. Data revision - policy
The principles for revision in Statistcs Norway can be found on this website.
17.2. Data revision - practice
No major data revision is planned after the first dissemination.
18.1. Source data
Register-based.
18.1.1. List of data sources
- Statistical Population Register
- Statistical register on families and households
- Statistical labour market register
- Statistical regeister on education
- Statistical register on activities
- Statistical register on households and dwellings
18.1.1.1. List of data sources - Data on persons
- Statistical Population Register
- Statistical register on families and households
- Statistical labour market register
- Statistical regeister on education
- Statistical register on activities
18.1.1.2. List of data sources - Data on households
- Statistical register on families and households
- Statistical register on households and dwellings
18.1.1.3. List of data sources - Data on family nuclei
- Statistical register on families and households
18.1.1.4. List of data sources - Data on living quarters
- Statistical register on households and dwellings
18.1.1.5. List of data sources - Data on conventional dwellings
- Statistical register on households and dwellings
18.1.2. Classification of data sources
Classification of the data sources as requested by Reg. 2017/881, Annex point 2.1.
18.1.2.1. Classification of data sources - Data on persons
02.Register-based censuses18.1.2.2. Classification of data sources - Data on households
02.Register-based censuses18.1.2.3. Classification of data sources - Data on family nuclei
02.Register-based censuses18.1.2.4. Classification of data sources - Data on living quarters
02.Register-based censuses18.1.2.5. Classification of data sources - Data on conventional dwellings
02.Register-based censuses18.1.3. List of data sources per topic
| Topic | EURSTAT code | Register |
|---|---|---|
| Georaphical area | GEO | Statistical Population Register |
| Location of work | LPW | Statistical labour market register |
| Locality | LOC | Statistical Population Register |
| Sex | SEX | Statistical Population Register |
| Age | AGE | Statistical Population Register |
| Legal marital status | LMS | Statistical Population Register |
| Current activity status | CAS | Statistical register on activities |
| Occupation | OCC | Statistical labour market register |
| Industry | IND | Statistical labour market register |
| Status in employment | SIE | Statistical labour market register |
| Educatinal attainment | EDU | Statistical Register on education |
| Country/place of birth | POB | Statistical Population Register |
| Country of citizenship | COC | Statistical Population Register |
| Ever resided abroad and year of arrival in the country from 1980 | YAT, YAT | Statistical Population Register |
| Previous place of residence one year prioe to the census | ROY | Statistical Population Register |
| Family status | FST | Statistical register on families and households |
| Type of family nucleus | TFN | Statistical register on families and households |
| Size of famliy nucleus | SFN | Statistical register on families and households |
| Houshold status | HST | Statistical register on families and households |
| Type of privat houshold | TPH | Statistical register on families and households |
| Size of private household | SPH | Statistical register on families and households |
| Housing arrangmensts | HAR | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Tenure status of households | TSH | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Type of living quaters | TLQ | Statistical register on households and dwellings, Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Occupancy status of conventional dwellings | OCS | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Type of ownership | OWS | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Number of occupants | NOC | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Useful floor space and/or number of rooms of housing units | UFS/NOR | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Density standard (floor space) | DFS | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Denstity standard (number of rooms) | DRM | Not delivered |
| Water supply system | WSS | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Toilet facilities | TOI | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Bathing facilities | BAT | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Type of heating | TOH | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Dwellings by type of building | TOB | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
| Dwellings by period of construction | POC | Statistical register on households and dwellings |
18.1.4. Adequacy of data sources
Fully Adequate
18.1.4.1. Adequacy of data sources - Individual enumeration
The characteristics of each statistical unit are recorded separately, so that each characteristic can be cross-classified with others.
18.1.4.2. Adequacy of data sources - Simultaneity
All information refers to the same point in time (reference date) except data on education (reference date 1. October 2020) and reference week for data on Labour market (Week of 47 2020).
18.1.4.3. Adequacy of data sources - Universality within the defined territory
Data are provided for all statistical units in a defined territory (for persons in particular, data are provided for all usual residents in a defined territory).
18.1.4.4. Adequacy of data sources - Availability of small-area data
Data are available for small geographical areas and for small subgroups of statistical units.
18.1.4.5. Adequacy of data sources - Defined periodicity
The defined periodicity of ten years has been followed.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Decennial.
18.3. Data collection
Register based census
18.3.1. Data collection - Questionnaire based data
Not applicable.
18.3.2. Data collection - Register based data
All census data are collected from registers. Most registers used are administrative registers kept by governmental or local authorities; the main exception being the statistical register on education kept in Statistics Norway. Data from administrative registers are combined in several statistical register that are kept in Statistics Norway on a permanent basis. These registers are used in production of subject matter statistics and updated at least annually. The same registers are used as data sources for the census and hence, the census has no separate data collection.
Some statistical registers are based on only one or just a few administrative sources, for instance the Statistical Population Register is based almost solely on the administrative Central Population Register. Other statistical registers are based on many administrative registers. For instance, the statistical labour market register is based on data from job registers, wage registers, income registers, the business register and the register on unemployment. In the statistical register on activities data from the labour market register is combined with data from registers on pensions, income and educational activities. Most of the statistical registers used in the census have existed for a number of years. The only register created specifically for census purposes was the statistical register on activities. It should be noted that this register only exists in a logical sense. In practice it is just a part of the census micro file.
18.3.3. Data collection - Sample survey based data
Not applicable.
18.3.4. Data collection - Data from combined methods
Not applicable.
18.4. Data validation
Census data are collected from several statistical register kept in Statistics Norway. These are permanent registers, and data validation is integrated in the maintenance of these register. The procedures used for validation may vary between the register systems, but some basic principles are applied. All data retrieved from administrative registers are checked for completeness and internal consistency. When data from several sources are combined, procedures have been established to ensure consistent statistical data. In some register systems it has been necessary to establish comprehensive procedures to achieve this goal. For example, in the statistical labour market register, the system comprises modules for consistency management between various data sources (jobs, self-employment and unemployment), selection of main job and classification by employment in the reference week.
Furthermore, register-based data are validated by comparing with data from statistical surveys, for instance the Labour Force Survey, household surveys and surveys on housing conditions. Comparisons are carried out both on macro and micro level.
In production of census statistics it has been ensured that census data is consistent with the corresponding data in statistics published by subject matter statistics. Census statistics for 2021 have also been compared with statistics from the previous census to ensure reasonable time series.
18.5. Data compilation
A census micro file is established by combining data from different statistical registers. Data capturing and coding is managed by each statistical register system. All data are captured electronically. Coding is mainly done in the administrative registers, that is, by the authorities responsible for the registers.
For persons the identifying variable is a unique personal identification number (PIN). The PIN is used in all registers involved in the census operation, meaning that linking of records from different registers is straight forward. Another implication is that duplicate records do not exist. For persons no record imputation or record deletion has been carried out.
Generation of households and families: Married couple and lone parent families are generated directly from information in the population register. Consensual union couple families are generated by combining other information from the population register. Two persons are classified as a cohabiting couple if they are living in the same household, are of opposite sex, are not related, are 18 years or older and the age difference between them are less than 16 years.
In principle all persons with the same residential address in the population register belong to the same household. However, a household generation following this principle fully, gives too few and too large households.
For dwellings, numerical address is the identifying variable.The main principle in the generation of households is that residents and dwellings are linked by using the dwelling address. Due to quality problems in the registers, a procedure for harmonization of dwellings and households has been developed. As a part of this harmonization, the dwelling population is adjusted by adding 48 625 units (record imputation) 1,8 per cent of all dwellings. Of these are 28 998 occupied dwellings, 1.6 per cent. After harmonization there are still 25 546 more private households than occupied dwellings (0.9 per cent of all private households). According to the definition, the number of private households and occupied dwellings should have been the same. Because of these challenges, 10 municipalities dont have unoccupied conventional dwellings in the census.
Annexes:
Micro integration of register-based census data for dwelling and household in 2011 Census
18.6. Adjustment
No adjustments.
No comments.
The data present the results of the 2021 EU census on population and housing, following Regulation (EC) 763/2008; Regulation (EU) 2017/543; Regulation (EU) 2017/712 and Regulation (EU) 2017/881. All data used in the Norwegian census 2021 were retrieved from statistical registers. These are mostly based on administrative registers. Statistical registers used were established before the census.
5 December 2024
The information is given separately for each census topic.
The EU programme for the 2021 population and housing censuses includes data on persons, private households, family nucleus, conventional dwellings and living quarters.
The persons enumerated in the 2021 census are those who were usually resident in the territory of the reporting country at the census reference date. Usual residence means the place where a person normally spends the daily period of rest, regardless of temporary absences for purposes of recreation, holidays, visits to friends and relatives, business, medical treatment or religious pilgrimage. In Norway registered residence is reported as a substitute for usual residence, see definition of the topic 'Usual residence' (3.4.1).
Data are available at different levels of geographical detail in EU countries: national, NUTS2/NUTS3 regions and local administrative units (LAU), grids.
See the following sub-concepts.
Overall the accuracy is considered as very good.
Counts of statistical units should be expressed in numbers and where is needed rate per inhabitants enumerated in the country.
A census micro file is established by combining data from different statistical registers. Data capturing and coding is managed by each statistical register system. All data are captured electronically. Coding is mainly done in the administrative registers, that is, by the authorities responsible for the registers.
For persons the identifying variable is a unique personal identification number (PIN). The PIN is used in all registers involved in the census operation, meaning that linking of records from different registers is straight forward. Another implication is that duplicate records do not exist. For persons no record imputation or record deletion has been carried out.
Generation of households and families: Married couple and lone parent families are generated directly from information in the population register. Consensual union couple families are generated by combining other information from the population register. Two persons are classified as a cohabiting couple if they are living in the same household, are of opposite sex, are not related, are 18 years or older and the age difference between them are less than 16 years.
In principle all persons with the same residential address in the population register belong to the same household. However, a household generation following this principle fully, gives too few and too large households.
For dwellings, numerical address is the identifying variable.The main principle in the generation of households is that residents and dwellings are linked by using the dwelling address. Due to quality problems in the registers, a procedure for harmonization of dwellings and households has been developed. As a part of this harmonization, the dwelling population is adjusted by adding 48 625 units (record imputation) 1,8 per cent of all dwellings. Of these are 28 998 occupied dwellings, 1.6 per cent. After harmonization there are still 25 546 more private households than occupied dwellings (0.9 per cent of all private households). According to the definition, the number of private households and occupied dwellings should have been the same. Because of these challenges, 10 municipalities dont have unoccupied conventional dwellings in the census.
Annexes:
Micro integration of register-based census data for dwelling and household in 2011 Census
Register-based.
Decennial
All hypercubes were transmitted to Eurostat before 31 March 2024.
Usual place of residence: Registered residence is reported as a substitute. To be registered as resident in Norway, a person should have lived, or have the intention to live, in the country for at least six months, as compared to twelve months in the definition of usual residence. There are a few exceptions. Asylum seekers are not registered as residents before they have granted a residence permit even if they have stayed in the country for more than six months. Unmarried third level students may choose whether they want to be registered at their parents’ address or at the address at their place of study. This means that some third level students with place of study abroad is included in the census population even if they have stayed abroad for more than six mints. This applies to students with their place of study in Norway as well as abroad. More information about coverage, see Coverage assessment (item 11.2.1).
Family status, household status, type of family nucleus and type of private household : Partners in same-sex consensual unions are not identified as relevant data are not available from registers. 'Persons in an institutional household' only comprise those persons who are registered as residents in institutions. Some married persons are registered in private households with their spouses even if they in fact are living in an institutional household.
Status in employment: In the registers available, 'contributing family workers' cannot be identified as a separate category. However, when comparing with the Labour Force Survey, most persons who belong to this category are in the census coded as 'employed persons' and classified as 'employees' or 'self-employed.' According to the Labour Force Survey the number of contributing family workers is 6000 or 0.2 per cent of all employed persons.
Location of place of work: Information on persons resident in Norway and working for foreign employers is not available from registers.
Size of locality: A locality is a group of buildings, none of which is separated from its nearest neighbour by more than 50 metres, as compared to 200 metres according to the EU definition. However, distances more than 50 metres are allowed in areas that cannot or should not be built up.
Housing arrangements:In the Norwegian census registered place of residence is reported as a substitute for usual place of residence. According to the rules for population registration, all persons are registered with an address in a conventional dwelling or in an institution. It is known that a few persons in fact are living in 'other housing units', especially in caravans or boats. The majority of these persons are however registered with an address in a conventional dwelling. Therefore, no persons are reported as living in 'other housing units' in the 2021 census. 10 043 persons were registered with 'no fixed place of residence'. This group comprises both homeless persons and persons for whom the address is unknown. In the census they are reported with housing arrangement 'not stated '. In a survey conducted for The Norwegian State Housing Bank, the number of homeless persons in 2020 is estimated to 3 325. This figure is about half the figure reported in the metadata report for the 2011 Census. Furthermore, 'occupants living in a collective living quarters' only comprise persons who are registered as residents in institutions. Some married persons are registered in private households with their spouses even if they in fact are living in an institutional household.
Type of living quarters:Collective living quarters' only comprise those addresses where at least one person is registered as resident, see 'Housing arrangements'.
Occupancy status: 'Occupied conventional dwellings' are only those where at least one person is registered as resident. Dwellings that are in fact occupied by other persons, for instance students whose registered address is the family home, are classified as 'unoccupied conventional dwellings'
Useful floor space and Density standard (floor space): Utility floor space', which is reported as a substitute, also includes storage rooms. Especially in detached houses with a cellar, 'utility floor' space is normally somewhat larger than 'useful floor space'.
Not applicable.
