Norway’s population is increasing, SSB reports

The number of deaths increased in the third quarter of this year – but not as much as the number of births. The Norwegian population increased to 5,415,200 at the end of the quarter.

In the third quarter, 10,176 people died in the country. That is 460 more than in the same period last year. Thus, the death rate – the number of deaths per 1,000 inhabitants – rose from 1.8 to almost 1.9, Statistics Norway (SSB) reports.

At the same time, 15,200 new Norwegians were born – 1,100 more births than in the third quarter of last year – thus ensuring that the population rises. The birth rate is the highest in a third quarter since 2016 and is partly due to the fact that more women over the age of 25 had children.

More women over 25 years

“Part of the increase is due to the fact that there are more and more women in the age groups where it is most common to have children. But fertility increased even if we take these changes into account,” demographer Ane Tømmerås at the SSB stated.

The increase in the death rate is small and is expected after a long period with somewhat lower mortality, especially in the age groups over 70 years.

A key reason is that the infection control measures during the corona pandemic have protected some of the most vulnerable members of society.

Lower mortality

After a period of lower mortality, we can expect a subsequent period of somewhat higher mortality because more people are at a higher risk of dying in society, SSB points out.

“Many of the elderly among us have probably lived a little longer than they would have without the pandemic. 

“They have been less prone to infection and diseases other than corona. This may have led to a somewhat lower mortality rate for a period,” Tømmerås said.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

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