Fødselsnummer

Fødselsnummer, also known as the Norwegian personal identification number, is a unique 11-digit number assigned to every individual in Norway. It serves as a primary identifier for various administrative and legal purposes, including tax reporting, social security, and healthcare. The number is issued by the Norwegian Tax Administration and is used to track an individual's personal information, such as their name, date of birth, and address.

The Fødselsnummer is structured as follows: the first six digits represent the date of birth in the format DDMMYY, where DD is the day, MM is the month, and YY is the year. The next three digits are an individual number, which is unique to each person born on the same date. The last two digits are a checksum used to verify the validity of the number.

Fødselsnummer is a sensitive piece of information and is subject to strict privacy regulations. It is not intended to be shared publicly and should only be used in official and secure contexts. In cases where the Fødselsnummer is required, such as when applying for a job or opening a bank account, individuals are advised to provide it in person or through secure channels to protect against identity theft.

The Fødselsnummer system has been in place since the 1960s and has undergone several updates to enhance security and privacy. For example, the individual number was increased from two to three digits in 1990 to accommodate the growing population. Additionally, the checksum was introduced in 2001 to prevent errors and fraud.

In summary, Fødselsnummer is a crucial component of Norway's administrative infrastructure, providing a standardized and secure method for identifying individuals. Its use is governed by strict regulations to ensure the protection of personal information.