Poverty in NorwayEdit

Poverty has substantially decreased in the Norwegian society in the past twenty years. Hundreds of thousands of people have and currently are experiencing a great increase in personal wealth, as well as living conditions. The average income in Norway is currently at its highest peak and is on a steady uphill. Despite the recent decrease in the level of poverty in Norway, there are still several correlated problems in the Norwegian economy.

Demographic not benefitting from the increased living conditions in Norway

Despite Norway’s increased level of wealth and increased attention on poverty from the government, child poverty has gradually increased since 2000. Even though poverty is not nearly as prevalent in Norway, than it is in many other countries, the child poverty rate is surprisingly higher than that of other western societies. Child poverty in determined by comparing what children have in one country, compared to several neighboring countries.

In 2006, almost eight percent of all children under eighteen years old living in Norway (85,000 children), were living in households defined as “poor” by the European Union’s poverty measurement standard. Several groups that showed more prevalence of child poverty were children...

• without working adults
• with little or unknown education
• with social security benefits (welfare)
• with non-western immigrant origins
• with many children
• with a single parent (majority of which child poverty derives from)

Long term poverty, which is three consecutive years living in poverty, has increased from 4 percent in 2000-2002 to 6.5 percent in 2005-2007. The number of children living in poverty for three years or more has increased from 35,000 to 63,000.

In 2006, 66,500 children (6% of all children in Norway) were living in households that had received welfare benefits at least one time throughout the year.

Homelessness in Norway

Statistics show that of Norway’s population of 4.4 million, there are 1.4 homeless people per 1,000 people. It would be better to consider the majority of these people to be categorized as “living in poverty,” because there are very few that are actually homeless. The majority of people living in poverty stay with friends or family, live in institutions, prisons, hostels, or shelters. The government has established facilities to lodge all whom are unable to manage and protect for themselves.

Poor Houses (Fattighus)

Citizens in the Oslo area of Norway established Poor Houses (Fattighusets), a “resource centre run by and for people who found themselves in an involuntary relationship of dependency on the State.”

The Poor Houses throughout Norway are staffed by volunteers and currently offer basic living information, counseling, aid in dealing with the bureaucracy, courses, self-help groups, courses and excursions for families with children to help them depart the city.

Comparing wealth to the United States

1. Norway has a higher productivity rate that the United States. (131% of the US Level)
2. Norway has the fastest growth of average real compensation (wages plus benefits) in the world. US is 0.3% and Norway’s growth rate is 4.3%.
3. The US has the highest child poverty rate at 21.9% and Norway has the second lowest overall poverty rate at 6.4%.

Where Norway Ranks

Per-Capita Income (using purchasing power parity exchange rate)	Total Poverty	Child Poverty
1. US, $36,102	1. US, 17%	1. US, 21.9%
2. Ireland, $33,736	2. Australia, 14.3%	2. Italy, 16.6%
3. Norway, $31,753...	3. Italy, 12.7%...	3. Australia, 15.8%...
19. Spain, $21,792	16. Norway, 6.4%	16. Norway, 3.4%
20. Portugal, $17,759	17. Finland, 5.4%	17. Finland, 2.8%