The Pace of Change Is Slowing. Norway Is Moving Away from the UN Goal

According to data from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), mortality before the age of 70 due to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or lung diseases is declining. From 2015 to 2024, the decrease amounted to a total of 21 percent.

Norway has committed to reducing the rate by 33 percent by 2030. However, FHI researcher Inger Ariansen points out that the observed trend is starting to flatten.

The largest decrease was recorded in the first years of the analyzed period. Between 2015 and 2019, the number of deaths before the age of 70 decreased by 13 percentage points. In the next period, from 2019 to 2024, the decrease was 8 percentage points.

Maintaining this pace means there is a risk of not achieving the goal by 2030. The data includes deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and lung diseases.

Statistics show clear differences between the sexes. Men are more likely than women to die before the age of 70 from non-communicable diseases. According to FHI, this is mainly due to men's three times higher mortality from heart and circulatory diseases.

At the same time, this group saw a greater decrease in the number of deaths. Since 2015, it has dropped by 24 percent among men, compared to 18 percent among women.

FHI emphasizes that non-communicable diseases can largely be limited through preventive measures. The main risk factors include high blood pressure, smoking, high blood sugar, high BMI, and an unhealthy diet.

Preliminary results from the Tromsø study indicate that the increase in body weight in the population is starting to stabilize. At the same time, the proportion of people with obesity remains high at about 20 percent, and levels of physical activity and alcohol consumption still show no decline.