Norwegian National Population Register
Folkeregisteret
The Folkeregisteret is Norway's official National Population Register, maintained by the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten), which records the legal names, addresses, and civil status of all residents in Norway.
Every person residing in Norway — whether Norwegian citizen or foreign resident — is registered in the Folkeregisteret. The register holds each individual's full legal name as the authoritative record. Name registrations, changes, and corrections are processed through this system. The Folkeregisteret assigns each resident a unique 11-digit national identity number (fødselsnummer) that ties together their legal name and all associated civil records.
Historical Context
Norway has maintained population registers since the 17th century, initially through the Lutheran Church's parish records of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths. The secular state register was established in 1905 following Norwegian independence. The modern centralised Folkeregisteret was introduced in 1964, replacing a system of municipal registers. Administrative responsibility transferred from local municipalities to the national tax authority in 2020, centralising all name registration under a single national system.
Name Registration Process
When a child is born in Norway, parents must register the child's name with the Folkeregisteret within six months. The name is then recorded as the child's legal name. Adults wishing to change their name — given name, middle name, or surname — submit a request through the Folkeregisteret's online portal. Most name changes are processed administratively within a few days. The register is the single authoritative source for legal name data used by all Norwegian government agencies, courts, banks, and public services.
- Administered by Skatteetaten (Norwegian Tax Administration)
- Birth name registration required within 6 months
- Issues fødselsnummer (national identity number) to all residents