Between 2012 and 2022, the at-risk-of-poverty rate among the Norwegian-born population was around ** percent, whereas it was around ** percent for the EU-born population, but dropped below ** percent for the the latter in 2022. However, after dropping in 2014 and 2017, the rate among the citizens born outside of the EU was above ** percent from 2018 to 2020, before dropping to ** percent in 2022.

Norway Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data was reported at 9.400 % in 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.000 % for 2018. Norway Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 7.950 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2019, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.700 % in 2016 and a record low of 5.700 % in 2000. Norway Poverty Headcount Ratio at Societal Poverty Lines: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The poverty headcount ratio at societal poverty line is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Societal Poverty Line. The Societal Poverty Line is expressed in purchasing power adjusted 2017 U.S. dollars and defined as max($2.15, $1.15 + 0.5*Median). This means that when the national median is sufficiently low, the Societal Poverty line is equivalent to the extreme poverty line, $2.15. For countries with a sufficiently high national median, the Societal Poverty Line grows as countries’ median income grows.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

In 2024, the at-risk-of-poverty rate in Norway reached around **** percent. The rate was at its lowest in 2012 at ** percent, but peaked at **** in 2018. This was still below the EU average of **** percent in 2024.

Historical dataset showing Norway poverty rate by year from 1979 to 2022.

The share of people living in material and social deprivation in Norway was much higher among the foreign-born population than among the population born in Norway. Whereas around three percent of the Norwegian-born population lived in material and social deprivation between 2014 and 2022, this increased from 7.6 to 12.2 percent of the foreigners from 2014 to 2019. It dropped by around three percentage points by 2022. The material and social deprivation rate shows the share of the population that lacks an income level to cover basic material needs and to participate in an active social life.

Yearly (annual) dataset of the Norway Poverty Rate, including historical data, latest releases, and long-term trends from 1979-12-31 to 2022-12-31. Available for free download in CSV format.

Norway NO: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: % of total population data was reported at 15.900 % in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 16.100 % for 2019. Norway NO: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: % of total population data is updated yearly, averaging 15.000 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2020, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.200 % in 2018 and a record low of 13.500 % in 2014. Norway NO: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: % of total population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;

NO: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Children: % of population aged 0-17 data was reported at 16.000 % in 2020. This stayed constant from the previous number of 16.000 % for 2019. NO: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Children: % of population aged 0-17 data is updated yearly, averaging 14.400 % from Dec 2010 (Median) to 2020, with 11 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.000 % in 2020 and a record low of 11.500 % in 2012. NO: Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: Children: % of population aged 0-17 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. ;Government statistical agencies. Data for EU countires are from the EUROSTAT;;

Of the Nordic countries, Sweden has had the highest at-risk-of-poverty rate in the entire observed period. In 2024, 13.9 percent of Sweden's population lived at risk of poverty. Since 2015, Norway, Denmark, and Finland all have had similar at-risk-of-poverty rates, around 12 percent, although since 2022, Norway's rate has reached below 12 percent.

Norway NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 0.200 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.300 % for 2018. Norway NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.200 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2019, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.500 % in 1995 and a record low of 0.100 % in 2014. Norway NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $2.15 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $2.15 a day at 2017 purchasing power adjusted prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

The rate of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Norway between 2015 and 2022 was significantly higher among the population born outside of the EU than among those born in Norway or the EU. In 2022, more than ** percent of the population born outside of Norway and the EU was at risk of poverty or social exclusion, whereas the rate was just below ** percent for the Norwegian-born and ** for the EU-born citizens.

Norway NO: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data was reported at 27.500 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 26.800 % for 2014. Norway NO: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data is updated yearly, averaging 26.800 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2015, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31.600 % in 2004 and a record low of 25.300 % in 2011. Norway NO: Gini Coefficient (GINI Index): World Bank Estimate data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank.WDI: Poverty. Gini index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. A Lorenz curve plots the cumulative percentages of total income received against the cumulative number of recipients, starting with the poorest individual or household. The Gini index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus a Gini index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Norway NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 0.200 % in 2015. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.200 % for 2014. Norway NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.200 % from Dec 2003 (Median) to 2015, with 13 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.500 % in 2008 and a record low of 0.200 % in 2015. Norway NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $5.50 a Day: 2011 PPP: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank: Poverty. Poverty headcount ratio at $5.50 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $5.50 a day at 2011 international prices. As a result of revisions in PPP exchange rates, poverty rates for individual countries cannot be compared with poverty rates reported in earlier editions.; ; World Bank, Development Research Group. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/index.htm).; ; The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than one thousand six hundred household surveys across 164 countries in six regions and 25 other high income countries (industrialized economies). While income distribution data are published for all countries with data available, poverty data are published for low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia) only. The aggregated numbers for low- and middle-income countries correspond to the totals of 6 regions in PovcalNet, which include low- and middle-income countries and countries eligible to receive loans from the World Bank (such as Chile) and recently graduated countries (such as Estonia). See PovcalNet (http://iresearch.worldbank.org/PovcalNet/WhatIsNew.aspx) for definitions of geographical regions and industrialized countries.

Out of all OECD countries, Cost Rica had the highest poverty rate as of 2022, at over 20 percent. The country with the second highest poverty rate was the United States, with 18 percent. On the other end of the scale, Czechia had the lowest poverty rate at 6.4 percent, followed by Denmark.

The significance of the OECD

The OECD, or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, was founded in 1948 and is made up of 38 member countries. It seeks to improve the economic and social well-being of countries and their populations. The OECD looks at issues that impact people’s everyday lives and proposes policies that can help to improve the quality of life.

Poverty in the United States

In 2022, there were nearly 38 million people living below the poverty line in the U.S.. About one fourth of the Native American population lived in poverty in 2022, the most out of any ethnicity. In addition, the rate was higher among young women than young men. It is clear that poverty in the United States is a complex, multi-faceted issue that affects millions of people and is even more complex to solve.

The number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in Norway amounted to ******* people in 2020. Between 2003 and 2020, the number of people at risk of poverty rose by ******* people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend.

Of the Nordic countries, Denmark had the highest rate of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024. A share of 18 percent of the people living in Denmark were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, and 17.5 percent in Sweden. Norway had the lowest rate recorded in 2024, with 15.7 percent.

Norway Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data was reported at 1.800 % in 2019. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.600 % for 2018. Norway Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.550 % from Dec 2008 (Median) to 2019, with 12 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.600 % in 2018 and a record low of 0.800 % in 2011. Norway Multidimensional Poverty Headcount Ratio: World Bank: % of total population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. The multidimensional poverty headcount ratio (World Bank) is the percentage of a population living in poverty according to the World Bank's Multidimensional Poverty Measure. The Multidimensional Poverty Measure includes three dimensions – monetary poverty, education, and basic infrastructure services – to capture a more complete picture of poverty.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Of the Nordic countries, the highest at-risk-of-poverty rate among both women and men is found in Sweden, with rates of 16.7 and 15.3 percent, respectively. Moreover, while the at-risk-of-poverty rate of women was one percentage point or more higher than that of men in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, it was roughly the same in Finland and Iceland in 2021. Over the past 10 years, the rate remained more or less unchanged in Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, while increasing slightly in Norway and falling somewhat in Finland.

NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.65 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data was reported at 0.300 % in 2019. This stayed constant from the previous number of 0.300 % for 2018. NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.65 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data is updated yearly, averaging 0.300 % from Dec 1979 (Median) to 2019, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.500 % in 1995 and a record low of 0.100 % in 2014. NO: Poverty Headcount Ratio at $3.65 a Day: 2017 PPP: % of Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Norway – Table NO.World Bank.WDI: Social: Poverty and Inequality. Poverty headcount ratio at $3.65 a day is the percentage of the population living on less than $3.65 a day at 2017 international prices.;World Bank, Poverty and Inequality Platform. Data are based on primary household survey data obtained from government statistical agencies and World Bank country departments. Data for high-income economies are mostly from the Luxembourg Income Study database. For more information and methodology, please see http://pip.worldbank.org.;;The World Bank’s internationally comparable poverty monitoring database now draws on income or detailed consumption data from more than 2000 household surveys across 169 countries. See the Poverty and Inequality Platform (PIP) for details (www.pip.worldbank.org).

Abstract

In 2007, the EU-SILC instrument covered all EU Member States plus Iceland, Turkey, Norway, Switzerland and Croatia. EU-SILC has become the EU reference source for comparative statistics on income distribution and social exclusion at European level, particularly in the context of the "Program of Community action to encourage cooperation between Member States to combat social exclusion" and for producing structural indicators on social cohesion for the annual spring report to the European Council. The first priority is to be given to the delivery of comparable, timely and high quality cross-sectional data.

There are two types of datasets: 1) Cross-sectional data pertaining to fixed time periods, with variables on income, poverty, social exclusion and living conditions. 2) Longitudinal data pertaining to individual-level changes over time, observed periodically - usually over four years.

Social exclusion and housing-condition information is collected at household level. Income at a detailed component level is collected at personal level, with some components included in the "Household" section. Labor, education and health observations only apply to persons aged 16 and over. EU-SILC was established to provide data on structural indicators of social cohesion (at-risk-of-poverty rate, S80/S20 and gender pay gap) and to provide relevant data for the two 'open methods of coordination' in the field of social inclusion and pensions in Europe.

The sixth revision of the 2007 Cross-Sectional User Database is documented here.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households;
• Individuals 16 years and older.

Universe

The survey covered all household members over 16 years old. Persons living in collective households and in institutions are generally excluded from the target population.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

On the basis of various statistical and practical considerations and the precision requirements for the most critical variables, the minimum effective sample sizes to be achieved were defined. Sample size for the longitudinal component refers, for any pair of consecutive years, to the number of households successfully interviewed in the first year in which all or at least a majority of the household members aged 16 or over are successfully interviewed in both the years.

For the cross-sectional component, the plans are to achieve the minimum effective sample size of around 131.000 households in the EU as a whole (137.000 including Iceland and Norway). The allocation of the EU sample among countries represents a compromise between two objectives: the production of results at the level of individual countries, and production for the EU as a whole. Requirements for the longitudinal data will be less important. For this component, an effective sample size of around 98.000 households (103.000 including Iceland and Norway) is planned.

Member States using registers for income and other data may use a sample of persons (selected respondents) rather than a sample of complete households in the interview survey. The minimum effective sample size in terms of the number of persons aged 16 or over to be interviewed in detail is in this case taken as 75 % of the figures shown in columns 3 and 4 of the table I, for the cross-sectional and longitudinal components respectively.

The reference is to the effective sample size, which is the size required if the survey were based on simple random sampling (design effect in relation to the 'risk of poverty rate' variable = 1.0). The actual sample sizes will have to be larger to the extent that the design effects exceed 1.0 and to compensate for all kinds of non-response. Furthermore, the sample size refers to the number of valid households which are households for which, and for all members of which, all or nearly all the required information has been obtained. For countries with a sample of persons design, information on income and other data shall be collected for the household of each selected respondent and for all its members.

At the beginning, a cross-sectional representative sample of households is selected. It is divided into say 4 sub-samples, each by itself representative of the whole population and similar in structure to the whole sample. One sub-sample is purely cross-sectional and is not followed up after the first round. Respondents in the second sub-sample are requested to participate in the panel for 2 years, in the third sub-sample for 3 years, and in the fourth for 4 years. From year 2 onwards, one new panel is introduced each year, with request for participation for 4 years. In any one year, the sample consists of 4 sub-samples, which together constitute the cross-sectional sample. In year 1 they are all new samples; in all subsequent years, only one is new sample. In year 2, three are panels in the second year; in year 3, one is a panel in the second year and two in the third year; in subsequent years, one is a panel for the second year, one for the third year, and one for the fourth (final) year.

According to the Commission Regulation on sampling and tracing rules, the selection of the sample will be drawn according to the following requirements:

1. For all components of EU-SILC (whether survey or register based), the crosssectional and longitudinal (initial sample) data shall be based on a nationally representative probability sample of the population residing in private households within the country, irrespective of language, nationality or legal residence status. All private households and all persons aged 16 and over within the household are eligible for the operation.
2. Representative probability samples shall be achieved both for households, which form the basic units of sampling, data collection and data analysis, and for individual persons in the target population.
3. The sampling frame and methods of sample selection shall ensure that every individual and household in the target population is assigned a known and non-zero probability of selection.
4. By way of exception, paragraphs 1 to 3 shall apply in Germany exclusively to the part of the sample based on probability sampling according to Article 8 of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No 1177/2003 concerning

Community Statistics on Income and Living Conditions. Article 8 of the EU-SILC Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council mentions: 1. The cross-sectional and longitudinal data shall be based on nationally representative probability samples. 2. By way of exception to paragraph 1, Germany shall supply cross-sectional data based on a nationally representative probability sample for the first time for the year 2008. For the year 2005, Germany shall supply data for one fourth based on probability sampling and for three fourths based on quota samples, the latter to be progressively replaced by random selection so as to achieve fully representative probability sampling by 2008. For the longitudinal component, Germany shall supply for the year 2006 one third of longitudinal data (data for year 2005 and 2006) based on probability sampling and two thirds based on quota samples. For the year 2007, half of the longitudinal data relating to years 2005, 2006 and 2007 shall be based on probability sampling and half on quota sample. After 2007 all of the longitudinal data shall be based on probability sampling.

Detailed information about sampling is available in Quality Reports in Documentation.

Mode of data collection

Mixed