Facts and Figures about Education in Norway

  • Of a population of over 5 million, more than 1,1 million people are currently undergoing education or training. In addition to this 223 000 are undergoing higher education (2015).
  • The pupil-teacher ratio in primary and lower secondary schools is 17 pupils per teacher. Schools with fewer than 100 pupils have an average of 11 pupils per teacher.
  • Compulsory education in Norway lasts 10 years. There are currently 624,000 pupils enrolled in public and private primary and lower secondary schools
  • 9 out of 10 children of kindergarten age attend kindergarten. A total of 283,600 children are enrolled in kindergarten.
  • 92 per cent of all 16 to 18-year-olds are enrolled in upper secondary education or training.
  • There are significant differences between boys and girls in terms of the study programmes they choose in upper secondary education. Girls make up 85 per cent of all pupils following the Healthcare, Childhood and Youth Development programme
  • In 2015 Norway spent NOK 150 billion on kindergartens, primary and secondary education.
  • A pupil in upper secondary education costs an average of NOK 155,100.
  • 10 per cent of young people aged between 20 and 24 are neither in education nor in employment. This is lower than most Nordic countries.