Editing Norway (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Norway}}

=== Population ===
[[File:Annual population growth of Norway.svg|upright=1.2|thumb|left|Annual [[population growth]] in Norway 1951–2016, in thousands]]

Norway's population was 5,585,044 people in the fourth quarter of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Befolkningen|url=https://www.ssb.no/befolkning/faktaside/befolkningen|access-date=25 November 2020|website=ssb.no|language=no|archive-date=23 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323174146/https://www.ssb.no/befolkning/faktaside/befolkningen|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Norwegians]] are an ethnic North [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] people. The [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) in 2023 was estimated at 1.40 children born per woman,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/nokkeltall|title=Key figures|website=ssb.no|language=en|access-date=26 June 2019|archive-date=6 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706220530/https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/nokkeltall|url-status=live}}</ref> below the replacement rate of 2.1, it remains considerably below the high of 4.69 children born per woman in 1877.<ref>{{citation|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=NOR|title=Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries|author=Max Roser|date=2014|work=[[Our World In Data]], [[Gapminder Foundation]]|access-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807220310/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=NOR|archive-date=7 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2024 the [[median age]] of the Norwegian population was 40 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 February 2025 |title=Mean and median age in municipalities, counties and the entire populace (M) 2000 - 2025 |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/13536 |access-date=29 March 2025 |website=Statistics Norway}}</ref>

The [[Sámi people]] are indigenous to the Far North and have traditionally inhabited central and northern parts of Norway and Sweden, as well as areas in northern Finland and in Russia on the [[Kola Peninsula]]. Another national minority are the [[Kven people]], descendants of Finnish-speaking people who migrated to northern Norway from the 18th up to the 20th century. From the 19th century up to the 1970s, the Norwegian government tried to assimilate both the Sámi and the Kven, encouraging them to adopt the majority language, culture and religion.<ref>Eivind Bråstad Jensen. 1991. Fra fornorskningspolitikk mot kulturelt mangfold. Nordkalott-Forlaget.</ref> Because of this "[[Norwegianization]] process", many families of Sámi or Kven ancestry now identify as ethnic Norwegian.<ref>I. Bjørklund, T. Brantenberg, H. Eidheim, J.A. Kalstad and D. Storm. 2002. ''Australian Indigenous Law Reporter ''(AILR) 1 7(1)</ref>

The national minorities of Norway are Kvens, [[Jews]], [[Forest Finns]], and [[Romani people]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/indigenous-peoples-and-minorities/national-minorities/id1404/#:~:text=Groups%20with%20a%20long%2Dstanding,Roma%20and%20Romani%20people%2FTaters.|title= National minorities - regjeringen.no|date= 11 January 2007|access-date= 4 January 2024|archive-date= 3 February 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240203202646/https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/indigenous-peoples-and-minorities/national-minorities/id1404/#:~:text=Groups%20with%20a%20long%2Dstanding,Roma%20and%20Romani%20people%2FTaters.|url-status= live}}</ref>

In 2017, Norway's population ranked first on the [[World Happiness Report]], and in 2025, it ranked seventh.<ref name="Rankin 2017">{{cite web | last=Rankin | first=Jennifer | title=Happiness is on the wane in the US, UN global report finds | website=the Guardian | date=20 March 2017 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/20/norway-ousts-denmark-as-worlds-happiest-country-un-report | access-date=22 March 2023 | archive-date=16 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816175820/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/20/norway-ousts-denmark-as-worlds-happiest-country-un-report | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Marnie |date=2025-03-20 |title=These are the world's happiest countries in 2025 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/worlds-happiest-countries-2025-wellness/index.html#:~:text=Finland,%20Denmark,%20Iceland%20and%20Sweden,role%20too,%20according%20to%20Helliwell. |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

=== Migration ===
{{Main|Norwegian diaspora|Immigration to Norway}}
[[File:Percentage of Norwegians born to two Norwegian parents.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Norwegians of two Norwegian parents, either born abroad or in Norway as a percentage proportionally and nationally in Norway as of 2021]]
Particularly in the 19th century, when economic conditions were difficult in Norway, tens of thousands of people migrated to the United States and Canada, where they could work and buy land in frontier areas. Many went to the Midwest and Pacific Northwest. In 2006, according to the US Census Bureau, almost 4.7&nbsp;million persons identified as [[Norwegian Americans]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=ACS_2009_1YR_G00_DP2&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2009_1YR_G00_&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-format=|title=American FactFinder – Results|website=factfinder.census.gov|access-date=8 August 2017}} {{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> which was larger than the population of ethnic Norwegians in Norway itself.<ref name="Pop16">{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/nokkeltall/population|title=Population: Key figures for the population|work=ssb.no|access-date=4 September 2016|archive-date=6 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806141407/http://ssb.no/en/befolkning/nokkeltall/population|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the 2021 Canadian census, 466,500 Canadian citizens identified as having [[Norwegian Canadians|Norwegian ancestry]].<ref name="Norwegian Canadians">{{cite web |author=Statistics Canada |author-link=Statistics Canada |date=10 May 2023 |title=Religion by ethnic or cultural origins: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810034101 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224190955/https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/dt-td/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=2&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GID=1118296&GK=0&GRP=0&PID=105396&PRID=0&PTYPE=105277&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2013&THEME=95&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&D1=0&D2=0&D3=0&D4=0&D5=0&D6=0%20 |archive-date=24 December 2018 |access-date=29 March 2025}}</ref>

In 2024, approximately 931,081 individuals (16.8% of the population) of the population of Norway were immigrants. Of these, 386,559 (41.5%) had a [[Western culture|Western]] background (Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand), while 544,521 (58.5%) had a non-Western background (Asia, Africa, South and Central America). 221,459 individuals (4% of the population) were children of immigrants, born in Norway.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Facts about immigration |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/innvandring-og-innvandrere/faktaside/innvandring |access-date=9 October 2024 |website=SSB |language=en}}</ref>

The largest groups of immigrants have come from [[Poland]], [[Lithuania]], [[Sweden]] and [[Syria]], as well as [[Ukraine]] since the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] in 2022.<ref name=":0" />

Immigrants have settled in all Norwegian municipalities. In 2013, the cities with the highest share of immigrants were [[Oslo]] (32%) and [[Drammen (town)|Drammen]] (27%).<ref name="innvbef">[http://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/statistikker/innvbef Innvandrere og norskfødte med innvandrerforeldre, 25 April 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201123190440/https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/statistikker/innvbef|date=23 November 2020}} [[Statistics Norway]]. Retrieved 30 December 2013</ref> According to [[Reuters]], Oslo is the "fastest growing city in Europe because of increased immigration".<ref>Hare, Sophie. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120923173213/http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL6E7IM19S20110722 "Factbox – facts about Norway"], [[Reuters]]. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.</ref> In recent years, immigration has accounted for most of Norway's population growth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 March 2018 |title=14 per cent of population are immigrants |url=https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/artikler-og-publikasjoner/14-per-cent-of-population-are-immigrants |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229070247/https://www.ssb.no/en/befolkning/artikler-og-publikasjoner/14-per-cent-of-population-are-immigrants |archive-date=29 December 2022 |access-date=29 December 2022 |website=ssb.no |language=en}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Norway}}

==== Church of Norway ====
[[File:Wikipedia 8733.JPG|thumb|[[Nidaros Cathedral]] in [[Trondheim]]]]
[[Separation of church and state#Norway|Separation of church and state]] happened significantly later in Norway than in most of Europe, and remains incomplete. In 2012, the Norwegian parliament voted to grant the [[Church of Norway]] greater autonomy,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://digitaljournal.com/article/324906 |work=Digital Journal |title=Norway abolishes state-sponsored Church of Norway |last1=Fraser |first1=Sean |date=15 May 2012 |access-date=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614144414/http://digitaljournal.com/article/324906 |archive-date=14 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a decision which was confirmed in a constitutional amendment on 21 May 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://religionnews.com/2017/01/05/norway-and-its-national-church-part-ways/ |title=Norway and its national church part ways |date=5 January 2017 |access-date=5 January 2017 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401081739/https://religionnews.com/2017/01/05/norway-and-its-national-church-part-ways/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Until 2012 parliamentary officials were required to be members of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway, and at least half of all government ministers had to be a member of the state church. As state church, the Church of Norway's clergy were viewed as state employees, and the central and regional church administrations were part of the state administration. Members of the Royal family are required to be members of the Lutheran church. On 1 January 2017, Norway made the church independent of the state, but retained the Church's status as the "people's church".<ref>[https://kirken.no/nb-NO/om-kirken/slik-styres-kirken/kirkeordning/ny-kirkeordning-2020/ På vei mot ny kirkeordning] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213091126/https://kirken.no/nb-NO/om-kirken/slik-styres-kirken/kirkeordning/ny-kirkeordning-2020/ |date=13 December 2017 }} Den Norske Kirke. Retrieved 12 December 2017.</ref><ref>[https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/6-january/news/world/norwegian-church-passes-milestone-in-modification-of-its-links-with-state Norwegian Church passes milestone in modification of its links with State] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213090705/https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2017/6-january/news/world/norwegian-church-passes-milestone-in-modification-of-its-links-with-state |date=13 December 2017 }} ''Church Times'', 6 January 2017.</ref>

Most Norwegians are registered at baptism as members of the Church of Norway. Many remain in the church to participate in the community and practices such as [[baptism]], [[confirmation]], marriage, and burial rites. About 61.7% of Norwegians were members of the Church of Norway in 2024. In the same year, approximately 50.4% of all newborns were baptised and about 47.6% of all 15-year-olds were [[Confirmation (Lutheran Church)|confirmed]] in the church.<ref>[https://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/religion-og-livssyn/statistikk/den-norske-kirke Den norske kirke] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125173428/http://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/statistikker/kirke_kostra/aar|date=25 November 2017}} 17 March 2025 ''Statistics Norway''</ref>

==== Religious affiliation ====
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Official religious affiliation in Norway (31 December 2019):<ref name="stat2019statechurch">[http://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/statistikker/kirke_kostra/aar Church of Norway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125173428/http://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/statistikker/kirke_kostra/aar |date=25 November 2017 }} Statistics Norway 17 May 2020</ref><ref name="stat2019other">[https://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/statistikker/trosamf/aar/2020-12-08 Members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501120513/https://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/statistikker/trosamf/aar/2020-12-08 |date=1 May 2022 }} Statistics Norway 8 December 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/statistikker/trosamf/aar/2020-12-08?fane=tabell&sort=nummer&tabell=439532 Members of Christian communities outside the Church of Norway.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505075738/https://www.ssb.no/en/kultur-og-fritid/statistikker/trosamf/aar/2020-12-08?fane=tabell&sort=nummer&tabell=439532 |date=5 May 2022 }} Statistics Norway 8 December 2020</ref> 
|label1 = [[Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway]]
|value1 = 68.68
|color1 = DodgerBlue
|label2 = [[Catholic Church in Norway|Catholic Church]]
|value2 = 3.08
|color2 = DarkOrchid
|label3 = [[Pentecostalism in Norway|Pentecostal congregations]]
|value3 = 0.76
|color3 = DarkTurquoise
|label4 = [[Eastern Orthodoxy in Norway|Eastern Orthodox]] and [[Oriental Orthodoxy in Norway|Oriental Orthodox]]
|value4 = 0.53
|color4 = Orchid
|label5 = [[Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway|Evangelical Lutheran Free Church]]
|value5 = 0.36
|color5 = Aquamarine
|label6 = Other Christian denominations
|value6 = 2.21
|color6 = Indigo
|label7 = [[Islam in Norway|Islam]]
|value7 = 3.41
|color7 = Green
|label8 = [[Buddhism]]
|value8 = 0.40
|color8 = Yellow
|label9 = [[Hinduism in Norway|Hinduism]]
|value9 = 0.21
|color9 = Orange
|label10 = [[Norwegian Humanist Association|Secular Humanism]]
|value10 = 1.85
|color10 = Red
|label11 = [[Irreligion in Norway|Unaffiliated]]
|value11 = 18.32
|color11 = Honeydew
|value12=0.09|color12=Tomato|label12=Other Religion}}
According to the 2010 Eurobarometer Poll, 22% of Norwegian citizens responded that "they believe there is a God", 44% responded that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 29% responded that "they don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force". Five per cent gave no response.<ref name="eurobarometer 2010">{{cite web|date=October 2010|title=Special Eurobarometer, biotechnology|url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_341_en.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430163128/http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf|archive-date=30 April 2011|page=204}}</ref> In the early 1990s, studies estimated that between 4.7% and 5.3% of Norwegians attended church on a weekly basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dawnnorge.no/dawnnorge/vedlegg/dawn_eng_22.08.2003_00.40.49.doc |title=The People in the Church |publisher=dawnnorge.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070815191030/http://www.dawnnorge.no/dawnnorge/vedlegg/dawn_eng_22.08.2003_00.40.49.doc |archive-date=15 August 2007}}</ref> This figure has dropped to about 2%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/kirke_kostra_en/ |title=KOSTRA (Municipality-State-Reporting): Church |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |access-date=29 August 2010 |archive-date=28 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428233928/http://www.ssb.no/kirke_kostra_en/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/kirke_kostra_en/arkiv/tab-2010-06-16-02-en.html |title=Church of Norway. Church services and participants, by diocese. 2005–2009 (Corrected 28 June 2010) |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |date=28 June 2010 |access-date=7 March 2011 |archive-date=16 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016220017/http://www.ssb.no/kirke_kostra_en/arkiv/tab-2010-06-16-02-en.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2010, 10% of the population was [[Irreligion|religiously unaffiliated]], while another 9% were members of religious communities outside the Church of Norway.<ref name="Norway1">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/ |title=More members in religious and philosophical communities |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |access-date=8 March 2009 |archive-date=13 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113185254/http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other Christian denominations total about 4.9%<ref name="Norway1" /> of the population, the largest of which is the [[Roman Catholic Church]], with 83,000 members, according to 2009 government statistics.<ref name="Norwayreligion2">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/trosamf_en/arkiv/tab-2009-12-09-03-en.html |title=Members of Christian communities outside the Church of Norway |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |access-date=21 August 2010 |archive-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017114102/http://www.ssb.no/trosamf_en/arkiv/tab-2009-12-09-03-en.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The {{lang|no|Aftenposten}} (Evening Post) in October 2012 reported there were about 115,234 registered Roman Catholics in Norway; the reporter estimated that the total number of people with a Roman Catholic background may be 170,000–200,000 or higher.<ref>Andreas Sletteholm: [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Na-er-det-flere-katolikker-enn-muslimer-i-Norge-7033287.html "Nå er det flere katolikker enn muslimer i Norge"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205221337/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Na-er-det-flere-katolikker-enn-muslimer-i-Norge-7033287.html |date=5 December 2012 }}, ''Aftenposten'', 3 December 2012</ref>

Others include [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]] (39,600),<ref name="Norwayreligion2" /> the [[Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway]] (19,600),<ref name="Norwayreligion2" /> the [[United Methodist Church in Norway]] (11,000),<ref name="Norwayreligion2" /> [[Baptists]] (9,900),<ref name="Norwayreligion2" /> [[Eastern Orthodox]] (9,900),<ref name="Norwayreligion2" /> [[Brunstad Christian Church]] (6,800),<ref name="Norwayreligion2" /> [[Seventh-day Adventists]] (5,100),<ref name="Norwayreligion2" /> [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]] of the [[Assyrian Church of the East|ACOE]] and the [[Chaldean Catholic Church]], and others. The Swedish, Finnish and Icelandic Lutheran congregations in Norway have about 27,500 members in total.<ref name="Norwayreligion2" /> Other Christian denominations comprise less than 1% each, including 4,000 members in [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] and 12,000 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref name="Norwayreligion2" />
Among non-Christian religions, [[Islam in Norway|Islam]] is the largest, with 166,861 registered members (2018), and probably fewer than 200,000 in total.<ref name="autogenerated5">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/en/trosamf |title=Religious communities and life stance communities |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |access-date=9 December 2011 |archive-date=11 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811173058/http://www.ssb.no/en/trosamf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Other religions comprise less than 1% each, including 819 adherents of [[History of the Jews in Norway|Judaism]].<ref name="Norwayreligion">{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/trosamf_en/arkiv/tab-2009-12-09-01-en.html |title=Members of religious and life-stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |access-date=21 August 2010 |archive-date=17 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017120037/http://www.ssb.no/trosamf_en/arkiv/tab-2009-12-09-01-en.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Indian immigrants introduced Hinduism to Norway, which in 2011 has slightly more than 5,900 adherents, or 1% of non-Lutheran Norwegians.<ref name="Norwayreligion" /> [[Sikhism]] has approximately 3,000 adherents, with most living in Oslo, which has two [[gurdwara]]s. Drammen also has a sizeable population of Sikhs; the largest gurdwara in north Europe was built in [[Lier, Norway|Lier]]. There are eleven Buddhist organisations, grouped under the [[Buddhist Federation of Norway|Buddhistforbundet]] organisation, with slightly over 14,000 members,<ref name="Norwayreligion" /> which make up 0.2% of the population. The [[Baháʼí Faith]] religion has slightly more than 1,000 adherents.<ref name="Norwayreligion" /> Around 1.7% (84,500) of Norwegians belong to the secular [[Norwegian Humanist Association]].

From 2006 to 2011, the fastest-growing religious communities in Norway were [[Eastern Orthodoxy in Norway|Eastern Orthodox Christianity]] and [[Oriental Orthodoxy in Norway|Oriental Orthodox Christianity]], which grew in membership by 80%; however, their share of the total population remains small, at 0.2%. It is associated with the immigration from Eritrea and Ethiopia, and to a lesser extent from [[Central Europe|Central]] and Eastern European and Middle Eastern countries. Other fast-growing religions were [[Roman Catholicism in Norway|Roman Catholicism]] (78.7%), [[Hinduism in Norway|Hinduism]] (59.6%), [[Islam in Norway|Islam]] (48.1%), and [[Buddhism in Norway|Buddhism]] (46.7%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/arkiv/ |title=Religious communities and life stance communities |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |access-date=9 December 2011 |archive-date=20 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120092759/http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/arkiv/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Indigenous religions ====
As in other Scandinavian countries, the ancient Norse followed a form of [[Germanic paganism]] known as [[Norse paganism]]. By the end of the 11th century, when Norway had been [[Christianization of Scandinavia|Christianised]], the indigenous Norse religion and practices were prohibited. Remnants of the native religion and beliefs of Norway survive today in the form of names, referential names of cities and locations, the days of the week, and everyday language. Modern interest in the old ways has led to a revival of pagan religious practices in the form of ''[[Germanic Neopaganism|Åsatru]].'' The Norwegian ''[[Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost]]'' formed in 1996; in 2011, the fellowship had about 300 members. ''Foreningen Forn Sed'' was formed in 1999 and has been recognised by the Norwegian government.

The Sámi minority retained their [[Sámi shamanism|shamanistic religion]] well into the 18th century, when most converted to Christianity under the influence of Dano-Norwegian Lutheran [[missionaries]]. Today there is a renewed appreciation for the Sámi traditional way of life, which has led to a revival of ''[[Noaidevuohta]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tnp.no/norway/panorama/2792-shamanism-approved-as-a-religion-in-norway |title=Shamanism Approved as a Religion in Norway |publisher=Tnp.no |date=15 March 2012 |access-date=12 October 2013 |archive-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015233036/http://www.tnp.no/norway/panorama/2792-shamanism-approved-as-a-religion-in-norway |url-status=live }}</ref> Some Norwegian and Sámi celebrities are reported to visit [[shamans]] for guidance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kjendis.no/2012/05/08/kjendis/sjaman/geir_kvarme/mari_maurstad/21498916/ |title=Geir Kvarme gikk til sjaman for å få balanse |publisher=Kjendis.no |access-date=22 September 2012 |date=8 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715005848/http://www.kjendis.no/2012/05/08/kjendis/sjaman/geir_kvarme/mari_maurstad/21498916/ |archive-date=15 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=AV: ellen kongsnes |url=http://www.aftenbladet.no/energi/Samisk-sjaman-skapte-oljefeber-2927059.html |title=Samisk sjaman skapte oljefeber |publisher=Aftenbladet.no |access-date=22 September 2012 |archive-date=5 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905141417/http://www.aftenbladet.no/energi/Samisk-sjaman-skapte-oljefeber-2927059.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{Main|Health in Norway}}
[[File:Life expectancy in Norway.svg|thumb|Development of life expectancy in Norway]]
Norway was awarded first place according to the UN's [[Human Development Index]] (HDI) for 2013.<ref>{{cite book|last1=United Nations|title=Human Development Report 2013|publisher=United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)|isbn=978-9211263404|date=November 2012}}</ref> From the 1900s, improvements in public health occurred as a result of development in several areas such as social and [[living condition]]s, changes in disease and medical outbreaks, establishment of the health care system, and emphasis on public health matters. [[Vaccination]] and increased treatment opportunities with antibiotics resulted in great improvements within the Norwegian population. Improved hygiene and better nutrition were factors that contributed to improved health.

The disease pattern in Norway changed from communicable diseases to non-communicable diseases and chronic diseases as [[cardiovascular disease]]. Inequalities and social differences are still present in public health in Norway.<ref name="Folkehelse i Norge 1814 – 2014">{{cite web|last1=Nordhagen|first1=R|last2=Major|first2=E|last3=Tverdal|first3=A|last4=Irgens|first4=L|last5=Graff-Iversen|first5=S|title=Folkehelse i Norge 1814–2014|url=http://www.fhi.no/artikler/?id=110607|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140904132346/http://www.fhi.no/artikler/?id=110607|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2014|publisher=Folkehelseinstituttet|access-date=2 September 2014|year=2014}}</ref>

In 2024 the infant mortality rate was 2.1 per 1,000 live births among children under the age of one. For girls it was 1.7 and for boys 2.4, which is the lowest infant mortality rate for boys ever recorded in Norway.<ref>[http://ssb.no/en/dode/ "Deaths – SSB"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309032552/http://www.ssb.no/en/dode |date=9 March 2015 }}. ssb.no.</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Norway}}
[[File:NTNU.jpg|thumb|The main building of the [[Norwegian University of Science and Technology]] in [[Trondheim (city)|Trondheim]]]]
[[Higher education in Norway]] is offered by a range of seven [[List of universities in Norway|universities]], five specialised colleges, 25 [[university college]]s as well as a range of private colleges. Education follows the [[Bologna Process]] involving [[Bachelor's degree|Bachelor]] (3 years), [[Master's degree|Master]] (2 years) and PhD (3 years) degrees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bologna-berlin2003.de/pdf/Norway1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040206190401/http://www.bologna-berlin2003.de/pdf/Norway1.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 February 2004 |title=Norway – Implementation of the elements of the Bologna Process |access-date=30 May 2010 }}</ref> Acceptance is offered after finishing [[Education in Norway|upper secondary school]] with general study competence.

Public education is virtually free for citizens from EU/EEA and Switzerland, but other nationalities need to pay tuition fees.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 March 2022 |title=Are University Degrees Free In Norway? (Updated With New 2023 Information!) – The Norway Guide |url=https://thenorwayguide.com/university-degrees-free/ |access-date=11 February 2023 |website=thenorwayguide.com |language=en-US |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211163056/https://thenorwayguide.com/university-degrees-free/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=30 January 2023 |title=Tuition Fees In Norway: Detailed Guide For 2023 – The Norway Guide |url=https://thenorwayguide.com/tuition-fees-in-norway/ |access-date=11 February 2023 |website=thenorwayguide.com |language=en-US |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211163057/https://thenorwayguide.com/tuition-fees-in-norway/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tuition fees for students from outside EU/EEA and Switzerland {{!}} Study in Norway |url=https://studyinnorway.no/tuition-fees-students-outside-eueea-and-switzerland |access-date=11 February 2023 |website=studyinnorway.no |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211163056/https://studyinnorway.no/tuition-fees-students-outside-eueea-and-switzerland |url-status=dead }}</ref> Higher education has historically been free for everyone regardless of nationality, but tuition fees for all students from outside EU/EEA and Switzerland was implemented in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kunnskapsdepartementet |date=6 October 2022 |title=Utanlandske studentar skal betale for å studere i Noreg |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/nn/aktuelt/utenlandske-studenter/id2930852/ |access-date=11 February 2023 |website=Regjeringa.no |language=nn-NO}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 October 2022 |title=Norway Abolishes Free University Education For People Outside Of EU/EEA – The Norway Guide |url=https://thenorwayguide.com/norway-abolishes-free-university-education-for-people-outside-of-eu-eea/ |access-date=11 February 2023 |website=thenorwayguide.com |language=en-US |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211163056/https://thenorwayguide.com/norway-abolishes-free-university-education-for-people-outside-of-eu-eea/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The academic year has two [[Academic term|semesters]], from August to December and from January to June. The ultimate responsibility for the education lies with the [[Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research]].

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Norway|Norwegian dialects}}
{{See also|Norwegian language|Sámi languages}}
[[File:Norske Målgreiner.png|thumb|The map shows the division of the Norwegian dialects within the main groups.]]
Norwegian in its two forms, [[Bokmål]] and [[Nynorsk]], is the main national official language of all of Norway. Sámi, a group which includes three separate languages, is recognised as a minority language on the national level and is a co-official language alongside Norwegian in the Sámi administrative linguistic area (''Forvaltningsområdet for samisk språk'') in Northern Norway.<ref name=LanguageCouncilSami>{{cite web |title=Offisiell status for samisk |url=https://www.sprakradet.no/Spraka-vare/Spraka-i-Norden/Samisk/ |publisher=[[Language Council of Norway]] |access-date=19 August 2021 |quote=Samisk har status som minoritetsspråk i Noreg, Sverige og Finland, og i alle tre landa har samisk status som offisielt språk i dei samiske forvaltningsområda. |trans-quote=Sámi is recognised as a minority language in Norway, Sweden and Finland, and is an official language within the Sámi administrative areas in all three countries. |archive-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815194636/https://www.sprakradet.no/Spraka-vare/Spraka-i-Norden/Samisk/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Kven language|Kven]] is a minority language and is a co-official language alongside Norwegian in one municipality, also in Northern Norway.<ref>{{Citation|last1=Vikør|first1=Lars S.|title=språk i Norge|date=22 May 2019|url=http://snl.no/spr%C3%A5k_i_Norge|work=Store norske leksikon|language=no|access-date=26 June 2019|last2=Jahr|first2=Ernst Håkon|last3=Berg-Nordlie|first3=Mikkel|archive-date=8 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608034527/https://snl.no/spr%C3%A5k_i_Norge|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Norges grunnlov, § 108 (Constitution of Norway, article 108, mention the Sámi language specifically)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/stmeld-nr-35-2007-2008-/id519923/sec4|title=St.meld. nr. 35 (2007–2008)|first=Kultur- og|last=kirkedepartementet|date=27 June 2008|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305114621/https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/stmeld-nr-35-2007-2008-/id519923/sec4|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Norwegian====
Norwegian is a [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]] language descended from [[Old Norse]]. It is the main national language of Norway and is spoken throughout the country. Norwegian is spoken natively by over 5 million people mainly in Norway, but is generally understood throughout [[Scandinavia]] and to a lesser degree other [[Nordic countries]]. It has two official written forms, ''[[Bokmål]]'' and ''[[Nynorsk]]''. Both are used in public administration, schools, churches, and media. Bokmål is the written language used by a majority of about 85%. Around 95% of the population speak Norwegian as their first or native language, although many speak dialects that may differ significantly from the written languages. Norwegian dialects are mutually intelligible, although listeners with limited exposure to dialects other than their own may struggle with certain phrases and pronunciations.

Norwegian is closely related to and generally mutually intelligible with its neighbour [[North Germanic languages|Scandinavian languages]]; [[Danish language|Danish]] and [[Swedish language|Swedish]], and the three main Scandinavian languages thus form both a [[dialect continuum]] and a larger language community with about 25 million speakers. All three languages are commonly employed in communication among inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries. As a result of the co-operation within the [[Nordic Council]], inhabitants of all Nordic countries always have the right to communicate with Norwegian authorities in Danish or Swedish as equal alternatives to Norwegian.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 January 2017|title=Interesting Facts About the Norwegian Language (Norsk)|url=https://www.nordictrans.com/blog/interesting-facts-norwegian-language/|access-date=17 November 2020|website=Nordictrans.com|language=en-US|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024114438/https://www.nordictrans.com/blog/interesting-facts-norwegian-language/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Norwegian language was subject to [[Norwegian language conflict|strong political and cultural controversies]]. This led to the development of Nynorsk in the 19th century and to the formation of alternative spelling standards in the 20th century.

====Sámi and Kven====
Several [[Uralic languages|Uralic]] Sámi languages, which are related but not generally mutually intelligible, are traditionally spoken by the Sámi people primarily in Northern Norway and to much lesser extent in some parts of Central Norway. Around 15,000 people have officially registered as Sámi in the Sámi census (''Samemanntallet''), but the number of people of recent Sámi heritage is often estimated at 50,000 people. The number of people who have some knowledge of Northern Sámi, including as a second language, is estimated at 25,000 people, but only a minority are native speakers. The other Sámi languages are heavily endangered and spoken by at most a few hundred people. Most people of Sámi heritage are today native speakers of Norwegian as a result of past assimilation policies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://eplads.norden.org/nordenssprak/kap2/2c/01.asp |title=Nordens språk med røtter og føtter–Samiske språk |publisher=Eplads.norden.org |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=10 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410053944/http://eplads.norden.org/nordenssprak/kap2/2c/01.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Speakers have a right to be educated and to receive communication from the government in their own language in a special ''forvaltningsområde'' (administrative area) for Sámi languages.<ref>[http://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1987-06-12-56#KAPITTEL_3 "Lov om Sametinget og andre samiske rettsforhold (sameloven) – Lovdata"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225104822/http://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/1987-06-12-56#KAPITTEL_3 |date=25 February 2014 }}. lovdata.no.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/kd/dok/nouer/1995/nou-1995-18/35/2/6.html?id=337330 |publisher=Kunnskapsdepartementet |title=NOU 1995: 18 – Ny lovgivning om opplæring |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027205706/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/kd/dok/nouer/1995/nou-1995-18/35/2/6.html?id=337330 |archive-date=27 October 2014|date=4 July 1995 }}</ref> The [[Kven people|Kven]] minority historically spoke the Uralic [[Kven language]] (considered a separate language in Norway, but generally perceived as a Finnish dialect in Finland). Today the majority of ethnic Kven have little or no knowledge of the language.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kvenskinstitutt.no/kvener/ |title=Kvener – Kainun institutti |publisher=Kvenskinstitutt.no |access-date=26 March 2013 |archive-date=19 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119082455/http://www.kvenskinstitutt.no/kvener/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As Norway has ratified the [[European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages]] (ECRML) the Kven language together with [[Romani language|Romani]] and [[Scandoromani language]] has become officially recognised minority languages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fad/tema/nasjonale_minoriteter/midtspalte/minoritetssprakpakta.html?id=86936 |title=Minoritetsspråkpakten |publisher=Fornyings-, administrasjons- og kirkedepartementet |date=26 October 2018 |access-date=27 October 2014 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021722/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/fad/tema/nasjonale_minoriteter/midtspalte/minoritetssprakpakta.html?id=86936 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nn/dep/kud/dokument/proposisjonar-og-meldingar/stortingsmeldingar/2007-2008/stmeld-nr-35-2007-2008-/4/2/2.html?id=519980 |publisher=Kulturdepartementet |title=St.meld. nr. 35 (2007–2008) – Mål og meining |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141027002053/http://www.regjeringen.no/nn/dep/kud/dokument/proposisjonar-og-meldingar/stortingsmeldingar/2007-2008/stmeld-nr-35-2007-2008-/4/2/2.html?id=519980 |archive-date=27 October 2014}}</ref>

====Other languages====
Some supporters have also advocated making [[Norwegian Sign Language]] an official language.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nn/dep/kud/dokument/proposisjonar-og-meldingar/stortingsmeldingar/2007-2008/stmeld-nr-35-2007-2008-.html?id=519923 |title=St.meld. nr. 35. Mål og meining : Ein heilskapleg norsk språkpolitikk |date=27 June 2008 |publisher=Kultur- og kirkedepartementet |access-date=27 October 2014 |archive-date=27 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027091650/http://www.regjeringen.no/nn/dep/kud/dokument/proposisjonar-og-meldingar/stortingsmeldingar/2007-2008/stmeld-nr-35-2007-2008-.html?id=519923 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrk.no/kultur-og-underholdning/1.6116963 |title=Tegnspråk blir offisielt språk |publisher=NRK |date=26 June 2008}}</ref>

The primary foreign language taught in Norwegian schools is English, and the majority of the population, especially those born after World War II, is fairly fluent in English. German, French and Spanish are also commonly taught as second or, more often, third languages. Russian, Japanese, Italian, [[Latin]], and rarely [[Standard Mandarin|Chinese (Mandarin)]] are offered in some schools, mostly in the cities. Traditionally, English, German and French were considered the main foreign languages in Norway. These languages, for instance, were used on [[Norwegian passport]]s until the 1990s, and university students have a general right to use these languages when submitting their theses.

90% of Norwegians are fluent in English.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leiro |first=Eivind |date=9 May 2023 |title=Is English Language Spoken In Norway? (Is It ACTUALLY Used) |url=https://norwegiancommunity.com/guides/other-languages/england/is-english-spoken-norway/ |access-date=30 May 2024 |website=Norwegian Community |language=en-US |archive-date=31 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531145636/https://norwegiancommunity.com/guides/other-languages/england/is-english-spoken-norway/ |url-status=live }}</ref>