Record Number of Deaths in Norway. One Indicator Brings Optimism
In 2025, 45,040 people died in Norway. This is 798 more than the previous year. At the same time, the mortality rate is decreasing when adjusted for the population's age.
Data on suicides are still far from the government's target.
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The data was published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (SSB), and the analysis was presented by the Institute of Public Health. The most common causes of death are cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and complications resulting from dementia. The latter have clearly risen in the statistics in recent years. These changes are related to the aging of society.
Most Common Causes of Death: This Is What the Statistics Look Like in Norway
Cancer has remained the leading cause of death since 2017. Cardiovascular diseases are in second place. Complications related to dementia are in third place. Lung diseases are fourth. The share of dementia-related complications continues to rise.
“We are living longer because more people are surviving serious illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases,” says Guri Rørtveit, director of the Institute of Public Health. Dementia is more common in older age groups. The disease mainly affects the elderly and clearly influences the structure of causes of death.
“We are living longer because more people are surviving serious illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases,” says Guri Rørtveit, director of the Institute of Public Health. Dementia is more common in older age groups. The disease mainly affects the elderly and clearly influences the structure of causes of death.
The average life expectancy in Norway is among the highest in the world, at about 83.8 years.Photo: stock.adobe.com/standard license
Norway: More Deaths, Lower Mortality Rate
The total number of deaths is rising, but the mortality rate is decreasing. It is calculated as the number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. After accounting for the aging population, the trend is downward. “Despite the high number of deaths, the mortality rate is not higher,” emphasizes Rørtveit.
The increase in deaths is mainly due to demographics. The so-called large post-war cohorts have reached old age. In the group under 70, external causes such as accidents and suicides play a larger role. In 2025, there were 656 suicides, 83 fewer than the previous year.
Most cases concern people aged 30-49. There were also 283 drug-related deaths recorded. The numbers may still rise after the completion of autopsy report verifications. The results are far from the national "zero vision" for suicides, introduced by the government in 2020.
The increase in deaths is mainly due to demographics. The so-called large post-war cohorts have reached old age. In the group under 70, external causes such as accidents and suicides play a larger role. In 2025, there were 656 suicides, 83 fewer than the previous year.
Most cases concern people aged 30-49. There were also 283 drug-related deaths recorded. The numbers may still rise after the completion of autopsy report verifications. The results are far from the national "zero vision" for suicides, introduced by the government in 2020.
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