Throughout history over 200 manned lighthouses have been built in Norway, but there have never been more than 154 operating at any one time. The first lighthouse to be established along the Norwegian coastline was Lindesnes lighthouse in 1655. The last manned lighthouse to be set up was Anda lighthouse in Nordland, which was completed in 1932.

Technological developments have rendered the staffing of the lighthouses unnecessary, and today all the lighthouses are unmanned. The last lighthouse ceased to be manned in 2006. A number of the lighthouses that were closed down have been pulled down, whilst others have found new owners over the past few decades. Well over 100 of the classical lighthouses nonetheless continue to be operated as navigational installations.

Skomvær lighthouse is still owned by the State through the Coastguard

it was automated and ceased to be manned in 1978.