Level of Living Survey on Children and Young People's Physical Activity and Outdoor Life, 2020

Statistics Norway has a long tradition of conducting living conditions surveys, and the first surveys date back to 1973. The ordinary living conditions surveys mainly collect data on persons aged 16 and older. It is therefore necessary to conduct separate surveys among children and young people.

Statistics Norway has previously conducted surveys on children and young people's (6-15 years) physical activity, play, and outdoor life habits in 1997, 2001, 2007, and in 2013. In order to obtain new data on the topic, it was decided in 2019 that Statistics Norway should conduct a new survey among children and young people. The survey was planned to be carried out in the first half of 2020. The Norwegian Environment Agency has financed the work.

The purpose of this study is threefold. It shall (1) provide indicator information on the extent of physical activity, play and outdoor life participation, (2) how this develops over time, and (3) how it is distributed among children and young people in the population.

The sample includes 5,000 randomly drawn children aged 6-15 years. An additional sample of 2,500 children from Oslo was also drawn to the survey. In addition to the topics of physical activity, play and outdoor life, questions have been asked about sports participation. Many of the questions are taken from Statistics Norway's ordinary living conditions surveys, so that one can compare with the adult population.