Main points
Updated
Since 2015, deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) before the age of 70 have fallen by 20 per cent. The decline in deaths caused by cancer and cardiovascular diseases has had the most significant impact.
Non-communicable diseases are among the most significant causes of premature mortality among adults in both wealthy and poor countries.
The term “premature mortality” here means death before the age of 70. The non-communicable diseases included in these statistics are: heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Targets towards 2025 and 2030
In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a resolution to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 25 per cent between 2010 and 2025. This was later adjusted to a 33 per cent reduction during 2015-2030 and is included in the United Nations' goals for sustainable development. There are eight additional targets, see below. The nine targets are often described as the “NCD targets.”
In Norway, the number of premature deaths from non-communicable diseases declined from 212 per 100 000 inhabitants in 2015 to 169 in 2023, corresponding to a 20 per cent decrease.
A reduction of 20 per cent in premature mortality from 2015 to 2023 indicates that Norway is on track to reach the goal of a 33 per cent reduction by 2030, if the trend continues. A challenge for further reduction in mortality might be that Norway is not approaching the goal of reducing the population’s alcohol consumption. We are also not approaching the targets for reducing tobacco use among young people, or the reduction in the proportion of inactive individuals or halting the rise in obesity.
Norway: positive trends for four out of nine targets
The nine targets established by WHO to combat non-communicable diseases are shown in Figure 1. In addition to reducing premature mortality before the age of 70, which is target number 1, the objective is also to reduce the four most important common risk factors:
- Tobacco use
- Unhealthy diet
- Physical inactivity
- High alcohol consumption
There are also other targets concerning blood pressure, obesity and diabetes, and access to treatment for everyone who needs it.
For Norway, the development appears to be positive for four out of the nine targets, see Figure 1. We have been unable to reverse the trend for three of the targets. This concerns the targets on a 15 per cent reduction in physical inactivity, a 30 per cent reduction in salt intake, and halting the rise in obesity and diabetes. For two of the goals, we are uncertain about the development. This pertains to a 20 percent reduction in harmful use of alcohol and a 30 percent reduction in overall tobacco use.
We must closely to monitor progress closely. In several areas, we need better data over time. This applies, for example, to data on counselling to prevent heart attacks and strokes. There is also a concern that we might experience a negative trend for certain targets due to the increasing proportion of adults with obesity.
The nine NCD targets give just one of many perspectives on the population’s state of health. For Norway, it will be important to monitor whether progress is taking place within all social classes or if we are heading towards wider social disparities in health.
Summarising table
Figure 1 below shows the nine targets and Norway’s current status.
Comments on the table and links to relevant chapters:
Target 1. Premature mortality
- 20 per cent reduction in the proportion with premature deaths due to non-communicable diseases in the age group 30-69 years (2015-2023).
Target 2. Alcohol
- 3 per cent reduction in alcohol sales (2010-2023).
- No definite change in self-reported alcohol consumption (2012-2024).
- No definite change in the proportion reporting heavy episodic drinking (2012-2023).
- We lack valid indicators for alcohol-related diseases.
Target 3. Physical inactivity in adolescents and adults
- A small decline in the proportion of adults who are insufficiently physically active (inactive) 2009-2022.
- No change in the proportion of children and adolescents who are insufficiently physically active (inactive) in 2005, 2011 to 2018.
Target 4. Salt intake
- No change over time in salt intake in examinations in Nord-Trøndelag 2006/08, Tromsø 2015/16 and in Nord-Trøndelag 2017/19.
Target 5. Tobacco use in adolescents and adults
Smoking, daily or non-daily (2010-2024):
- 48 per cent reduction in the proportion of adult males who smoke
- 57 per cent reduction in the proportion of adult females who smoke
- 19 per cent increase in the proportion young males. This is solely driven by an increase in non-daily smoking. Daily smoking has decreased significantly and is now at a very low level
- 21 per cent increase in the proportion of young females who smoke. This is solely driven by an increase in non-daily smoking. Daily smoking has decreased significantly and is now at a very low level
Snus use (moist powder tobacco), daily or non-daily (2010-2024):
- 43 per cent increase in the proportion of adult males who use snus.
- 164 per cent increase in the proportion of adult females who use snus.
- No definite change in the proportion of young males who use snus.
- No definite change in the proportion of young females who use snus.
Target 6. Raised blood pressure
- 15 per cent reduction in the proportion of adult males with raised blood pressure in Nord Trøndelag during 2006-2019.
- 14 per cent reduction in the proportion of adult females with raised blood pressure in Nord Trøndelag during 2006-2019.
- 24 per cent reduction in the proportion of adult males with raised blood pressure in Tromsø during 2008-2016.
- 25 per cent reduction in the proportion of adult females with raised blood pressure in Tromsø during 2008-2016.
Target 7. Diabetes and obesity
- 54 per cent rise in the proportion of males who have diabetes in Tromsø.
- 63 per cent rise in the proportion of females who have diabetes in Tromsø.
Obesity in adolescents and adults:
- No change in the proportion of children and adolescents with obesity (2010-2019).
- 10 per cent rise in the proportion of adult males with obesity in Nord Trøndelag during 2006-2019.
- 2 per cent rise in the proportion of adult females with obesity in Nord Trøndelag during 2006-2019.
- 26 per cent rise in the proportion of adult males with obesity in Tromsø during 2007-2016.
- 18 per cent rise in the proportion of adult females with obesity in Tromsø during 2007-2016.
Target 8. Drug therapy and counselling to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
In Norway the proportion receiving drug therapy is much higher than 50 per cent. We lack data on counselling.
Target 9. Access to drug therapy for non-communicable diseases (NCD medicines).
In Norway, the proportion of individuals with access to NCD medicines is close to 100 per cent.
National group
In Norway, a national group was established to collect and present data on the nine targets. The group forms the editorial team for this publication. The data have been published on the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s web pages in the form of indicators. Each indicator is described in a separate chapter of this web publication.
There are 25 indicators in total, of which some are directly linked to the NCD targets, while others are additional indicators that underpin the NCD targets more indirectly.