Every year, Statistics Norway publishes figures on crimes reported to the police. According to these statistics, between two and four percent of the population fall victim to crime annually. But these figures only include incidents that someone chose to report. Until recently, crime that goes unreported has received little attention in Norway.
Asking people directly
The National Crime Survey (Nasjonal trygghetsundersøkelse) closes this gap by asking people about their own experiences. Every year, a representative sample of around 70,000 people aged 16 to 84 is invited to take part.
Participants are asked about a wide range of offences, from bicycle theft, fraud and violence to hate crime and sexual violence, as well as whether they worry about becoming victims of crime. The survey is led by researcher Mette Løvgren at NOVA, OsloMet.
Official statistics only show the tip of the iceberg– Researcher Mette Løvgren
More than one in three exposed – only one in four report
A recent survey shows that 38 percent of the population were exposed to at least one crime in 2024. Only one in four of those affected reported it to the police.
"Official statistics only show the tip of the iceberg," says Løvgren.
The hidden figures are largest for sexual violence, violence and digital crime. Unwanted sexual touching is almost never reported, and even among people who were beaten up, only around one in five incidents reached the police.
Young people bear the brunt
Age is the factor that matters most. More than 60 percent of 16–19-year-olds were exposed to at least one crime in 2024, compared with around one in five among the oldest respondents.
Young men and young women are affected in very different ways. Nearly one in three boys aged 16 to 19 experienced violence. Among young women, around one in four aged 16 to 24 experienced unwanted sexual touching, and 8 percent were raped.
Digital offences are also a growing part of young people's lives. Eleven percent of girls aged 16 to 19 experienced digital sexual violence, such as having sexual images taken, shared or threatened to be shared. The non-consensual sharing of images and videos affects young men and women almost equally.
Some groups are more exposed than others
Pupils and students, and people with an immigrant background, are more often victims of crime than the rest of the population – partly because both groups are younger on average.
Gay, lesbian and bisexual people are particularly exposed to hate speech and hate crime, while people with disabilities are more often exposed to discrimination. Crime is also more common in the most central parts of the country.
Why people stay silent
When asked why they did not report what happened, many say that it would not have helped, that the incident was too minor, or that it was a private matter. Victims of sexual violence often say that they did not want anyone to know, or that they were afraid of not being believed.
According to Løvgren, this is exactly why population surveys are essential.
"When we do not know the real extent of crime, it affects how society allocates resources," she says. "Underreporting can lead to police efforts being directed to the wrong places, support services not receiving adequate funding, and preventive measures missing their target."
Catching up with our neighbours
"Norway has been slower than our neighbouring countries when it comes to systematically and regularly measuring hidden crime," says Løvgren.
"In Sweden and Denmark, similar surveys have been carried out for decades. The knowledge they provide gives researchers, policymakers and the public a year-by-year picture of victimisation, while also revealing long-term trends. It is very positive that Norway is now gaining the same kind of insight."
About the survey
The National Crime Survey maps fear of crime and self-reported victimisation in the Norwegian population. It was first conducted in 2020, and is carried out annually from 2022 to 2026. The most recent round was answered by more than 24,000 people and covers experiences in 2024.
The survey is carried out by NOVA at OsloMet, the Frisch Centre and ideas2evidence, and is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
Reports, data documentation and an interactive tool for exploring the results are available at trygghetsundersokelsen.no.
Reference: Løvgren, M., Frøyland, L.R., Jacobsen, S.E., Høgestøl, A., Kotsadam, A. and Bjørnebekk, O.L. (2025). Nasjonal trygghetsundersøkelse 2024. NOVA Report 6/25. Oslo: NOVA, OsloMet.
The text is translated from Norwegian to English with the help of AI and quality-checked by OsloMet.
