The number of people accessing their old-age pension early in Norway has increased by 10 per cent year-on-year following changes to contractual pensions (AFP) regulations, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) has revealed.

In the first quarter of 2026, 19,500 people began drawing from their old-age pensions, the highest quarterly figure since Q1 2012.

In 2025, there were 5,000 more people who started taking their retirement pensions than the year before, with this increase continuing into Q1 2026, with 750 more new old-age pensioners than the same period last year.

NAV stated that more people were taking out their old-age pensions due to reforms to AFP in the public sector.

“From January 2025, the AFP rules in the public sector were changed to make it more profitable to stay in work longer,” NAV department director, Ole Christian Lien explained.

“We saw clear effects among the youngest pensioners already in 2025, and the development will continue into 2026.”

The overall increase in people drawing their old-age pension was primarily driven by more people choosing to start taking their pension early.

In Q1 2026, 4,700 people began drawing their old-age pension from the age of 62, an increase of 10 per cent compared to Q1 2025.

This meant that one in four new old-age pensioners during that period came from this age group.

New AFP rules in the public sector mean it is possible to combine AFP with old-age pension and full-time employment.

These changes apply to people born in 1963 or later, and NAV said it expected the number of new old-age pensioners would continue to increase as more cohorts are covered by the new rules.

“Around three out of four who draw a retirement pension from the age of 62 continue to work at the same time,” Christian Lien said.

“For many, it may still be worthwhile to wait to draw a pension until they step down or stop working.”

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