News about Statistics Norway

A total of 60 per cent of the population report a good overall impression of Statistics Norway, according to Synovate’s most recent survey on the public's impression of 83 government agencies in Norway. This is very much the same result as in recent years. The average score for all agencies was 44 per cent.

"Statistics is an international language, and I am delighted with the international statistical cooperation that is increasing in scope and significance", says Øystein Olsen, Director General of Statistics Norway, in connection with the celebration of World Statistics Day on 20 October 2010.

In 1814 Norway gained independence from Denmark, and although in a loose union with Sweden until 1905, the country had its own constitution and its own parliament and other public institutions. A few years later an initiative to produce a comprehensive and consistent statistical account of the population and economic activities began to take form, which resulted in a six volume statistical description of the kingdom of Norway. In the 1830s the Department of finance, trade and customs began issuing publications containing official statistical tables in the areas of: Population, Agriculture, Trade and shipping and Vital statistics.

In 2009, the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress submitted a report recommending indicators to be used in order to establish the clearest picture of social progress. The Commission`s mandate was to examine existing goals for economic development and their relevance to the well-being of society, as well as economic, environmental and social sustainability. The Nobel Prize winner of economics, Joseph Stiglitz, headed the Commission, which was also made up of a number of distinguished economists and social scientists.