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Fewer Norwegian citizenships granted
A total of 12 400 persons were naturalised in 2012, 1 900 fewer than the year before. As in the past four years, the former Iraqi, Somali and Afghan citizens were the three largest groups who became naturalised in 2012.
| 2012 | 2003 - 2012 | Per cent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 - 2012 | |||
| Total | 12 384 | 115 835 | -13.3 |
| Previous citizenship | |||
| Europe without Turkey and Cyprus | 2 347 | 29 681 | -9.1 |
| Africa | 3 319 | 26 307 | -26.7 |
| Asia including Turkey and Cyprus | 5 395 | 52 145 | -8.5 |
| North America | 41 | 627 | -8.9 |
| South and Central America | 364 | 3 678 | -12.7 |
| Oceania | 3 | 74 | -66.7 |
| Stateless and unknown | 915 | 3 323 | 13.8 |
The largest group of foreign citizens who were granted Norwegian citizenship in 2012 (1 640 in total) was from Iraq. Former Somali citizens were the second largest group with 1 570 naturalisations. The third largest group was from Afghanistan, with 1 010 naturalisations.
Between 1977, when the statistics on naturalisation were introduced, and 2012, 263 200 persons were naturalised. The largest groups in absolute figures in the whole period were former citizens of Pakistan (20 000), Somalia (16 500), Iraq (16 400) and Vietnam (14 700).
Four out of ten younger than 18 years of age
Thirty-eight per cent of all naturalisations were granted to children. Among former Somali and Iraqi citizens, more than 55 per cent were younger than 18 years old.
About 53 per cent of those who were granted Norwegian citizenship in 2012 were women. The proportion of women was especially high among women from the Philippines and Thailand.
Additional information
The statistics are based on population register data.
Contact
-
Kristina Kvarv Andreassen
E-mail: kristina.andreassen@ssb.no
tel.: (+47) 62 88 54 71
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Minja Tea Dzamarija
E-mail: minja.tea.dzamarija@ssb.no
tel.: (+47) 62 88 50 36
