Norway

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Reports, Norway has the highest standard of living in the world. The government provides an extensive social welfare system that claims 35 percent of the total budget. With a per capita income of $42,800, Norway is the sixth richest nation. Much of that income is derived from the oil and gas resources that were discovered in the area in the late 1960s. The Norwegian government has implemented measures to protect the country from depletion of wealth as resources are exhausted by investing abroad, and the Government Petroleum Fund is now valued at more than $250 billion. The economy of Norway is growing at a rate of 4 percent annually, and unemployment (4.0 percent) and inflation (1.6 percent) are under control. The government has developed policies designed to eradicate poverty and limit social exclusion. The extensive welfare program has produced a relatively equal distribution of income, and Norway ranks 25.8 on the Gini Index of Inequality. The richest 10 percent hold 21.8 percent of wealth, and the poorest 10 percent share 4.1 percent of wealth.

Although the National Insurance Scheme provides some funding for healthcare, programs are chiefly funded by state, county, and municipal taxes and through mandatory worker and employer contributions. Governments at all three levels are joined together to provide healthcare to Norwegians. The major responsibility for overseeing and financing healthcare lies with each state. Involvement at the county level is generally concentrated on providing hospitals and special services; and municipalities are concerned with oversight of medical activities, preventive services, rehabilitation, nursing homes, and home care. Copayments are required for primary healthcare and emergency treatment, but hospital inpatient treatment is provided free of charge.

Norwegians are highly committed to promoting health, and 16 percent of the total budget is expended on healthcare. Of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 10.3 percent is used for health-related programs, and the government allots $3,809 (international dollars) per capita to fund health initiatives. Government spending as a percentage of total expenses amounts to 83.7 percent, with 17.9 percent expended on social security, which covers the elderly, the seriously ill, and the unemployed. The private sector produces 16.3 percent of total health spending, and 95.4 percent of that amount is derived from out-of-pocket expenses. There are 3.13 physicians, 14.84 nurses, 0.49 midwives, 0.82 dentists, and 0.37 pharmacists per 1,000 population in Norway. Norway's population of 4,610,820 experiences a life expectancy of 79.54 years, which is the 20th highest ranking among nations of the world. On average, females outlive males by five years. All Norwegians over the age of 15 can read and write, and 100 percent of the relevant population is enrolled in primary and secondary school. The entire population has access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. Nearly three-fourths of Norwegian women [Page 1251]use birth control, giving birth at a rate of 1.78 children per female. All births are attended by trained personnel. The adjusted maternal mortality rate is 16 deaths per 100,000 live births.

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