Adult skills

Updated: 8 October 2013

Next update: 10 December 2024

Literacy skills at level 3
Literacy skills at level 3
2012
41.6
%
 
Percentage of adults at each proficiency level, by skill. Per cent
Percentage of adults at each proficiency level, by skill. Per cent1
2012
LiteracyNumeracyProblem solving
Less than level 13.04.311.4
Level 19.310.231.8
Level 230.228.434.9
Level 341.637.46.1
Level 4-513.717.4.
1When persons without score are included, the percentages sum up to 100 per cent
Explanation of symbols

Selected tables and charts from this statistics

  • Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in literacy, by age. Per cent
    Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in literacy, by age. Per cent1
    2012
    Literacy
    PercentageStandard error
    16-65 years
    Less than level 13.00.3
    Level 19.30.6
    Level 230.20.8
    Level 341.60.8
    Level 4-513.70.6
    16-24 years
    Less than level 12.10.6
    Level 110.71.2
    Level 20.31.8
    Level 342.32.0
    Level 4-510.11.3
    25-34 years
    Less than level 14.10.7
    Level 16.61.3
    Level 220.41.7
    Level 344.62.3
    Level 4-520.81.8
    35-44 years
    Less than level 13.20.6
    Level 16.41.0
    Level 222.61.4
    Level 345.91.7
    Level 4-519.81.2
    45-54 years
    Less than level 12.70.6
    Level 17.41.2
    Level 233.51.7
    Level 341.81.8
    Level 4-511.51.0
    55 years and older
    Less than level 12.80.5
    Level 115.81.6
    Level 241.42.3
    Level 333.11.9
    Level 4-55.40.8
    1When persons without score are included, the percentages sum up to 100 per cent
    Explanation of symbols
  • Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in numeracy, by age. Per cent
    Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in numeracy, by age. Per cent1
    2012
    Numeracy
    PercentageStandard error
    16-65 years
    Less than level 14.30.3
    Level 110.20.5
    Level 228.40.8
    Level 337.40.8
    Level 4-517.40.6
    16-24 years
    Less than level 13.80.7
    Level 113.11.4
    Level 233.11.8
    Level 337.61.9
    Level 4-511.51.3
    25-34 years
    Less than level 15.70.8
    Level 17.21.1
    Level 221.71.9
    Level 340.02.0
    Level 4-521.91.8
    35-44 years
    Less than level 14.30.8
    Level 17.31.0
    Level 222.11.5
    Level 338.42.1
    Level 4-525.61.7
    45-54 years
    Less than level 13.70.9
    Level 18.11.1
    Level 230.01.5
    Level 338.31.8
    Level 4-516.91.4
    55 years and older
    Less than level 14.20.8
    Level 116.21.7
    Level 236.31.9
    Level 332.31.9
    Level 4-59.61.0
    1When persons without score are included, the percentages sum up to 100 per cent
    Explanation of symbols
  • Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in problem solving, by age. Per cent
    Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in problem solving, by age. Per cent1
    2012
    Problem solving
    PercentageStandard error
    16-65 years
    Less than level 111.40.6
    Level 131.80.8
    Level 234.90.9
    Level 36.10.4
    16-24 years
    Less than level 17.01.1
    Level 131.91.8
    Level 246.71.9
    Level 38.11.0
    25-34 years
    Less than level 15.91.3
    Level 124.81.7
    Level 244.61.9
    Level 311.71.3
    35-44 years
    Less than level 18.71.2
    Level 130.21.7
    Level 241.21.8
    Level 37.20.9
    45-54 years
    Less than level 113.71.3
    Level 138.61.6
    Level 229.01.5
    Level 32.70.7
    55 years and older
    Less than level 121.91.7
    Level 133.51.9
    Level 213.41.3
    Level 30.80.3
    1When persons without score are included, the percentages sum up to 100 per cent
    Explanation of symbols
  • Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in literacy, by sex. Per cent
    Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in literacy, by sex. Per cent1
    2012
    Literacy
    PercentageStandard error
    Both sexes
    Less than level 13.00.3
    Level 19.30.6
    Level 230.20.8
    Level 341.60.8
    Level 4-513.70.6
    Males
    Less than level 13.00.4
    Level 19.20.7
    Level 228.81.0
    Level 341.21.1
    Level 4-515.60.9
    Females
    Less than level 13.00.4
    Level 19.40.8
    Level 231.61.3
    Level 342.11.3
    Level 4-511.70.7
    1When persons without score are included, the percentages sum up to 100 per cent
    Explanation of symbols
  • Percentage of adults at each proficiency level i numeracy, by sex. Per cent
    Percentage of adults at each proficiency level i numeracy, by sex. Per cent1
    2012
    Numeracy
    PercentageStandard error
    Both sexes
    Less than level 14.30.3
    Level 110.20.5
    Level 228.40.8
    Level 337.40.8
    Level 4-517.40.6
    Males
    Less than level 14.10.5
    Level 18.40.7
    Level 224.81.1
    Level 338.11.3
    Level 4-522.21.0
    Females
    Less than level 14.50.5
    Level 112.20.8
    Level 232.21.1
    Level 336.61.0
    Level 4-512.30.7
    1When persons without score are included, the percentages sum up to 100 per cent
    Explanation of symbols
  • Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in problem solving, by sex. Per cent
    Percentage of adults at each proficiency level in problem solving, by sex. Per cent1
    2012
    Problem solving
    PercentageStandard error
    Both sexes
    Less than level 111.40.6
    Level 131.80.8
    Level 234.90.9
    Level 36.10.4
    Males
    Less than level 110.40.7
    Level 130.21.0
    Level 236.91.2
    Level 37.10.7
    Females
    Less than level 112.60.8
    Level 133.51.2
    Level 232.81.1
    Level 35.00.5
    1When persons without score are included, the percentages sum up to 100 per cent
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The statistics give an overview on literacy and numeracy skills in the population aged 16–65 years.

The information under «About the statistics» was last updated 17 June 2021.

Literacy: The ability to understand, evaluate, use and engage with written texts to participate in society, to achieve one’s goals, and to develop one’s knowledge and potential. Literacy encompasses a range of skills from the decoding of written words and sentences to the comprehension, interpretation and evaluation of complex texts. It does not, however, involve the production of text.

Numeracy: The ability to access, use, interpret and communicate mathematical information and ideas in order to engage in and manage the mathematical demands of a range of situations in adult life. To this end, numeracy involves managing a situation or solving a problem in a real context, by responding to mathematical content/information/ideas represented in multiple ways.

Problem solving in technology-rich environments: The ability to use digital technology, communication tools and networks to acquire and evaluate information, communicate with others and perform practical tasks. The assessment focuses on the abilities to solve problems for personal, work and civic purposes by setting up appropriate goals and plans, and accessing and making use of information through computers and computer networks.

Level of education is coded according to ISCED97.

Name: Survey of adult skills
Topic: Education

10 December 2024

Division for Education and Culture Statistics

Whole country

PIAAC was conducted in Norway between August 2011 and April 2012. Similar surveys are planned approximately every ten years.

Data are delivered to OCED

The basic material (survey results from the interviewers) as well as the statistical files (on the basis of revision and estimation procedures) are stored. Micro data are delivered to OECD, NSD and the Nordic PIAAC database.

PIAAC is the largest international survey of adult skills ever conducted, and Round 1, with 24 participating countries, started the data collection for the main survey in 2011. The purpose of the survey is to collect comparable international data about the skills of the adult population in three domains: literacy, numeracy and problem solving in the context of a technology-rich environment. These skills are considered “key” information-processing skills.

In addition to being comparable across participation countries, results from PIAAC can in part be compared with results from two previous surveys: The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) from 1998 and The Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey (ALL) from 2003.

By providing the relevant authorities and other users with information about skills in the adult population, PIAAC contributes to the knowledge base for policy development both in Norway and at the international level. Key users include Ministries, international organisations, researchers, trade unions and media.

Not relevant
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The Statistics Act § 2-1

Not relevant

PIAAC covers the adult population (aged 16 to 65), with the exception of persons living in institutions.

The target population for PIAAC were adults aged between 16 and 65. People without a place of residence and people living in institutions were excluded from the target population. The sample was stratified by age and educational level. Education was divided into four categories: lower secondary education and below, upper secondary education and higher education, as well as a separate category for missing. Age was divided into three groups: 16-29, 30-44 and 45-65.

The sample contained 8 506 people.

The data collection instrument consisted of two main parts. The interviewer would first ask the respondent questions from an extensive background questionnaire, and then the respondent was asked to take the assessment on either a computer or on paper.

The respondents had the options of being interviewed in their own home, in the offices of Statistics Norway or in another suitable location of their choice. Respondents were given gift certificates worth 500 NOK to participate in the survey.

The data collection period was August 2011 to April 2012.

All assessments were scored. Computer-based assessment were scored automatically, and paper-based assessments were scored by a scoring team at Statistics Norway.

Weighting and calibration was implemented according to the PIAAC Weighting and Variance Estimation Plan, which is described in more detail in the PIAAC Technical Report released by the OECD.

Not relevant
Not relevant

Results from the Norwegian PIAAC are can be compared with results from the other 23 countries that have participated in the first round of the survey. PIAAC is partially a follow-up survey of IALS and ALL, and recalculation of the data material from the previous surveys have been implemented so that the results will be more comparable over time.

The estimates from PIAAC are based on a sample of individuals. Somewhat different results might have been obtained if a different sample or a complete cencus had been taken using the same questionnaire, assessments, interviewers, processing etc. as those actually used in the survey.

The response rate for Norway was 62 %.

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