The Ministry of Children and Families generally defines youth as those aged between 13 and 26. This aligns with the regulations relating to national grants for voluntary child and youth organisations.

A 2011 Official Norwegian Report (NOU), NOU 2011: 20 Ungdom, makt og medvirkning, on youth influence and participation in Norway defined youth by age in three sub-groups:

• 12 – 15 years: youth in lower secondary school
• 16 – 19 years: youth primarily in upper secondary school 
• 20 – 26 years: youth/young adults in the process of entering higher education and/or the labour market

However, the definition of youth is broad and changeable across sectors and policy initiatives. The category ‘children and young people’ is in many contexts defined up to the age of 24.