Sami Statistics Speak

We see an uneven gender distribution in STN-areas (Sami Parliament subsidy schemes for business development) in a range of fields. In these areas, there is an excess of women only in the 80 and older age category. Based on data from 2001-2005, the probability of reaching the age of 75 for 15 year olds in STN-areas is about 56% for men and 80% for women. Approximately 5% of the population received disability benefits between 2004 and 2008, slightly more men than women. In 2004, 2.1% of men and 1.2% of women received social security benefits. In reindeer herding and agricultural areas, 80% of men are either siidainnehavere (siida proprietors) or main users, and 97% have their main employment in fisheries. The register of voters has shown a small but clear majority of men in all Sami Parliament votes, and in 2009 only the constituency of ‘Sør-Norge’ had a majority of women voters. In 2009, there was a marked majority of women voters between the age of 18 and 29. In the 2010/11 school year, almost 10% more girls than boys were learning Sami as a First of Second Language at the primary and lower secondary level. At the high school level, the difference had risen to almost 12%. In STN-areas, 13% more women than men have more than three years of post-secondary education. Boys in STN-areas have a higher high school dropout rate, especially for those in vocational programs, where only about a fourth of students complete their education within five years.