Nordic Welfare Indicators

Nordic welfare indicators are based on the idea of “the social indicators” that were defined following the economic crisis in 2008.

The Icelandic “welfare watch” that was established in the year 2008 proposed to the Icelandic government to develop indicators that could reflect changes in the social situation of the population in Iceland. The social indicators were developed by a group of experts from different sectors of Icelandic society.

The social indicators were meant to increase the understanding of current and future health and social needs of the population, to monitor the well-being of the population as a whole and various groups. They are meant to follow development of the people's welfare over time and serve as a base for policy making and political decisions.

The Nordic welfare indicators are grounded on the same principle as the “social indicators” but furthermore on the idea that the Nordic countries need to, in order to keep their role as leading welfare societies in the world, strengthen their identity as competitive and sustainable societies in the face of new challenges.

The development of comparative Nordic welfare indicators would be an important tool to enhance the possibilities of planning and decision-making based on knowledge in times of changes whether the changes stem from man-made or natural challenges.

Welfare indicators need to measure outcomes for the population so that they can promote evidence-based planning and innovation and they have to address major risks and challenges that the Nordic societies face now and in the foreseeable future.

Results from the other two projects will be important to strengthen the base for determining the Nordic welfare indicators. This part of the project will be in close collaboration with Nososko and Nomesko, who will oversee the project.

Sigríður Jónsdóttir, Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Welfare, leads the project. The representatives in the steering committee are the ones who sit on behalf of their country in NOSOSKO (Nordisk socialstatistikkomité). Representatives from the university/research community, the administration and the bureau of statistics are also participating in the project. The project manager is Håkan Nyman, head of department in the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. 

Representatives in the project group:

• Preben Etwil, Denmark. Statistics Denmark.
• Timo A. Tanninen, Finland. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
• Michael Feldballe Faroe Islands. Social Ministeriet. 
• Lárus Blöndal (Statistics), Iceland.
• Elisabeth Rønning, Norway. Statistics Norway.
• Håkan Nyman, Sweden. Ministry of Health and Social Affairs.

- Information on the project plan

New Report

• A Nordic Welfare Indicator System (NOVI)
  Report for the Nordic Council of Ministers