← 1977 1976 1975 1978 in Norway → 1979 1980 1981
Centuries:	18th 19th 20th 21st
Decades:	1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
See also:	List of years in Norway

Events in the year 1978 in Norway.

• Monarch – Olav V
• Prime Minister – Odvar Nordli (Labour Party)

• 26 June – The Helikopter Service Flight 165 crash; a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter crashes into the North Sea, 78 nautical miles (144 km; 90 mi) northeast of Bergen, en route from Bergen Airport, Flesland to Statfjord A. All eighteen people on board are killed in the crash.^[1]
• 28 August – At Hopen, Svalbard, a Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 aircraft accidentally crashes at the sides of Werenskioldfjellet.^[2]
• 7 September – Skateboarding is banned in Norway.
• Undated:
  • The Norwegian short international film festival starts.^[3]

• 15 to 17 September – the 1978 World Orienteering Championships were held in Kongsberg
• 22 October – Lillestrøm wins the 1978 Norwegian Football Cup final by beating Brann 2–1.

• Harald Sverdrup, poet and children's writer, is awarded the Dobloug Prize literature award.^[4]
• Kjartan Fløgstad is awarded the Nordic Council Literature Prize, for Dalen Portland.^[5]

• 3 January – Ronny Thorsen, vocalist
• 4 January – Martin Knudsen, footballer
• 4 January – Stian Ohr, footballer
• 10 January – Kristian Aadnevik, fashion designer
• 10 January – Thomas Finstad, footballer
• 10 January – Astrid Johannessen, footballer
• 17 January – Frode Kippe, footballer
• 17 January – Maria Tryti Vennerød, playwright
• 18 January – Thor Hushovd, cyclist
• 18 January – Terje Skjeldestad, footballer
• 21 January – Inge André Olsen, footballer
• 27 January – Kai Ove Stokkeland, footballer
• 29 January – Yngvar Håkonsen, footballer
• 30 January – Jan Thore Grefstad, singer and songwriter
• 1 February – Anders Hasselgård, footballer
• 9 February – Gro Marit Istad Kristiansen, biathlete
• 11 February – Inga Sætre, illustrator and comics writer.^[6]
• 12 February – Susanne Wigene, middle- and long-distance runner
• 14 February – Endre Hansen, footballer
• 17 February – Anders Nordberg, orienteering competitor
• 25 February – Kristin Frogner, actress, musician and sculptor
• 25 February – Amund Skiri, footballer
• 1 March – Runar Normann, footballer
• 5 March – Kent Gudmundsen, politician.^[7]
• 8 March – Thor Anders Myhren, musician
• 9 March – Marianne Rokne, handballer
• 10 March – Terrie Miller, swimmer
• 13 March – Erlend Fuglum, politician
• 13 March – Gaute Heivoll, poet, novelist, playwright and short story writer
• 21 March – Arnstein Finstad, cross-country skier
• 21 March – Vegard Samdahl, handballer
• 25 March – Alexandra Koefoed, sailor
• 27 March – Marius Bakken, runner
• 27 March – Tom Stenvoll, footballer
• 1 April – Rune Berger, footballer
• 1 April – Tom Harald Hagen, footballer
• 5 April – Arild Stokkan-Grande, politician
• 5 April – Steinar Tenden, footballer
• 6 April – Stig Arild Råket, footballer
• 11 April – Martin Bartnes, ski mountaineer and cross-country skier
• 15 April – Jøran Kallmyr, politician.^[8]
• 17 April – Bjørn Dahl, footballer
• 17 April – Arild Sundgot, footballer
• 18 April – Ingrid Berntsen, freestyle skier
• 20 April – Kjetil Norland, footballer
• 23 April – Lorentz Aspen, musician
• 27 April – Knut Dørum Lillebakk, footballer
• 5 May – Ola Gjeilo, composer and pianist
• 6 May – Hilde Lindset, writer
• 12 May – Annette Bjelkevik, speed skater
• 12 May – Aslak Nore, writer.^[9]
• 17 May – Christian Berg, footballer
• 17 May – Tor Halvor Bjørnstad, cross-country skier, biathlete and winter triathlete
• 17 May – Mirjam Kristensen, novelist and non-fiction writer
• 28 May – Elin Lerum Boasson, environmentalist
• 12 June – Nikolai Astrup, politician
• 15 June – Hege Christin Vikebø, handballer
• 17 June – Mette Karlsvik, musician
• 19 June – Dagny Mellgren, footballer
• 24 June – Nikolai Eilertsen, bass guitarist
• 28 June – Truls Vasvik, politician.^[10]
• 9 July – Birgitte Sættem, handballer
• 19 July – Janne Johannessen, newspaper editor and media executive.^[11]
• 20 July – Fritz Aanes, Greco-Roman wrestler
• 26 July – Silvia Moi, opera singer
• 27 July – Vibeke Johansen, swimmer
• 28 July – Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, politician
• 2 August – Hege Bae Nyholt, politician.^[12]
• 3 August – Christer Ellefsen, footballer
• 4 August – Siri Nordby, footballer
• 4 August – Per-Åge Skrøder, ice hockey player
• 13 August – Geir Pollestad, politician
• 14 August – Petter Furuseth, footballer
• 17 August – Vibeke Stene, vocalist
• 22 August – Trond Viggo Toresen, footballer
• 26 August – Sveinung Fjeldstad, footballer
• 26 August – Knut Sirevåg, footballer
• 31 August – Morten Qvenild, jazz pianist
• 3 September – Terje Bakken, musician (d. 2004)
• 10 September – Kai Olav Ryen, footballer
• 11 September – Else-Marthe Sørlie Lybekk, handballer.^[13]
• 13 September – Peter Sunde, politician
• 14 September – Alexander Aas, footballer
• 16 September – Mads Hansen, ice hockey player
• 16 September – Ane Carmen Roggen, soprano singer
• 16 September – Ida Roggen, jazz singer
• 17 September – Martine Aurdal, journalist and newspaper editor
• 21 September – Jarl André Storbæk, footballer
• 25 September – Jan Egil Andresen, cross-country skier
• 25 September – Frøy Gudbrandsen, journalist and newspaper editor.^[14]
• 26 September – Ingfrid Breie Nyhus, pianist
• 26 September – Christoffer Sundby, sailor
• 29 September – Kurt Nilsen, pop/country singer and winner of Idol (Norway season 1) and World Idol
• 3 October – Inger Bråtveit, novelist and children's writer
• 5 October – Steinar Nickelsen, jazz musician
• 10 October – Kenneth Dokken, footballer
• 12 October – Børge-Are Halvorsen, jazz musician
• 14 October – Lars Erik Bartnes, politician
• 14 October – Siril Helljesen, equestrian
• 15 October – Truls Wickholm, politician
• 20 October – Venke Knutson, singer
• 25 October – Camilla Indset Sorgjerd, cyclist
• 26 October – Tarjei Strøm, rock musician
• 27 October – Hugo Mikal Skår, rock musician
• 30 October – Tore Bruvoll, musician
• 3 November – Jonas Howden Sjøvaag, jazz drummer
• 5 November – Jørgen Rostrup, orienteering competitor, world champion.^[15]
• 5 November – Marita Røstad, jazz musician
• 6 November – Tarjei Skarlund, beach volleyball player
• 7 November – Line Østvold, snowboarder (d. 2004)
• 9 November – Even Ormestad, bass guitarist
• 10 November – Alexander Refsum Jensenius, researcher and musician
• 12 November – Lars Ivar Moldskred, footballer
• 13 November – Marit Velle Kile, actress
• 16 November – Gyda Ellefsplass Olssen, sport shooter
• 25 November – Alexander Wefald, sprint canoer
• 28 November – Siri Hall Arnøy, politician
• 28 November – Mette Karlsvik, journalist
• 28 November – Petar Rnkovic, footballer
• 1 December – Trygve Slagsvold Vedum, politician
• 4 December – Lars Bystøl, ski jumper
• 7 December – Kristofer Hivju, film actor, producer, and writer
• 12 December – Lage Lund, jazz musician
• 13 December – Kristin Lie, footballer
• 25 December – Camilla Holth, curler
• 30 December – Julie Dahle Aagård, jazz musician

• Bjørnar Andersen, dog musher
• Fredrik K.B., sculptor
• Trond Frønes, musician
• Ray Kay, photographer

• 16 January – Otto Dahl, politician (b. 1914)
• 16 January – Svein Helling, sport shooter (b. 1910)
• 18 January – John Lyng, barrister and politician (b. 1905).^[16]
• 21 January – Olav Sundal, gymnast and Olympic silver medallist (b.1899).^[17]
• 27 January – Ernst Gervin, magazine editor (b. 1908)
• 27 January – Alf Konningen, alpine skier (b. 1901)
• 4 February – Fanny Elsta, opera singer (b. 1899)^[18]
• 14 February – Anders Hove, politician (b. 1885)
• 19 February – Olaf Ditlev-Simonsen, sailor and Olympic silver medallist, footballer, sports administrator and businessman (b. 1897).^[19]
• 21 February – Raoul Heide, fencer (b. 1888).^[20]
• 3 March – Georg Morgenstierne, linguist (b. 1892)
• 13 March – Kaare Bache, triple jumper (b. 1888).^[21]
• 13 March – Ottar Wicklund, actor (b. 1911)
• 19 March – Reidar Lund, cinematographer (b. 1897)
• 24 March – Just Lippe, journalist and politician (b. 1904)
• 27 March – Sverre Farstad, speed skater and Olympic gold medallist (b.1920)
• 29 March – Ragna Thiis Stang, historian and museum administrator (b. 1909).^[22]
• 1 April – Olaf Nygaard, cyclist (b. 1894)
• 18 April – Alex Brinchmann, children's physician and songwriter, novelist, playwright and crime writer (b. 1888).^[23]
• 19 April – Nils Lie, writer, literary consultant and translator (born 1902).^[24]
• 25 April – Arne Rustadstuen, Nordic skier, Olympic bronze medallist and World Champion (b.1905)
• 4 May – Kolbjørn Fjeld, librarian and publisher (born 1901).^[25]
• 8 May – Klara Amalie Skoglund, politician (b.1891)
• 9 May – Halvor Bunkholt, politician (b.1903)
• 20 May – Bjarne Brustad, composer and violinist (b. 1895).^[26]
• 4 June – Ingolf Rogde, actor (b. 1911)
• 9 June – Odd Erling Melsom, military officer and newspaper editor (b. 1900)
• 17 June – Niels Onstad, ship owner and art collector (b. 1909)
• 18 June – Harald Normann, military officer and non-fiction writer (b. 1893).^[27]
• 3 July – Syvert Tobiassen Messel, politician (b.1897)
• 3 July – Sigrid Stray, barrister (b. 1893)
• 27 July – Henrik Friis Robberstad, politician (b.1901)
• 31 July – Ørnulf Egge, politician and resistance member (b. 1910)
• 3 August – Einar Wilhelms, footballer (b. 1895).^[28]
• 15 August – Viggo Brun, mathematician (b.1885)
• 15 August – Hartvig Kiran, poet and radio personality (b. 1911).^[29]
• 16 August – Henry Olsen, track and field athlete (b.1887)
• 30 August – Vebjørn Tandberg, businessperson and industrialist (b.1904)
• 6 September – Ketil Askildt, discus thrower (b. 1900)
• 8 September – Borghild Hammerich, philanthropist (b. 1901).^[30]
• 30 September – Eiliv Skard, classical philologist (b. 1898).^[31]
• 2 October – Sjur Johnsen, wrestler (b. 1891).^[32]
• 15 October – Rolf Stenersen, track and field athlete, businessman, art collector, non-fiction writer, essayist, novelist, playwright and biographer (b. 1899).^[33]
• 17 October – Robert Giertsen, sailor (b. 1894)
• 17 October – Sigurd Evensmo, author and journalist (b.1912).^[34]
• 26 October – Rolf Schjerven, politician (b.1918)
• 1 November – Arne Paasche Aasen, politician, journalist and poet (b. 1901)
• 13 November – Liv Tomter, politician (b.1901)
• 4 December – Tancred Ibsen, officer, pilot, film director and screenwriter (b.1893)
• 4 December – Sverre Nordby, footballer (b. 1910)
• 6 December – Hans Heiberg, journalist, literary critic, theatre critic, essayist, novelist, playwright, translator and theatre director (b. 1904).^[35]
• 10 December – Kirsten Sinding-Larsen, architect (b. 1898)
• 31 December – Arne Gjedrem, politician (b.1890)

• Aslak Brekke, folksinger (b.1901)
• Reidar Kjellberg, art historian (b.1904)
• Kåre Kvisli, jurist and civil servant (b. 1903)^[36]
• Aagot Nissen, actress (b. 1882)
• Marius Nygaard, judge (b. 1902)
• Margrete Aamot Øverland, resistance member (b.1913)
• Erik T. Poulsson, judge (b. 1897)
• Lita Prahl, actress and costume designer (b. 1905)
• Carl Søyland, newspaper editor (b.1894)