Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents

Updated: 6 March 2023

Next update: 7 March 2024

Immigrants
Immigrants
2023
877 227
Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by country background. 1 January
Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by country background. 1 January
2023
ImmigrantsNorwegian-born to immigrant parentsImmigrants in per cent of total populationNorwegian-born to immigrant parents in per cent of total population
Total877 227213 81016.03.9
Nordic countries except Norway, EU/EFTA, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand378 07651 2746.90.9
Europe except EU/EFTA and UK, Africa, Asia, America except USA and Canada, Oceania except Australia and New Zealand, polar regions499 150162 5359.13.0
Nordic countries except Norway69 2517 3201.30.1
EU/EFTA until 2004 except the Nordic countries85 6268 8521.60.2
New EU countries after 2004207 88334 0893.80.6
USA and Canada12 7849220.20.0
Australia and New Zealand2 532910.00.0
Europe except for EU/EFTA/UK101 05822 5891.80.4
Africa105 81743 6851.90.8
Asia265 12092 2734.81.7
America except USA og Canada27 0733 9850.50.1
Oceania except Australia and New Zealand8230.00.0
Explanation of symbols

Selected tables and charts from this statistics

  • Population by country background and immigration category 1.1.2023, the whole country
    Population by country background and immigration category 1.1.2023, the whole country
    Born in Norway with two-norwegian born parentsImmigrantsNorwegian-born to immigrant parentsForeign-born with two norwegian-born parentsForeign-born with one norwegian-born parentNorwegian-born with one foreign-born parent
    Total4 020 384877 227213 81039 26540 322297 976
    Norway3 807 48900000
    Denmark34 16418 7261 9851 3694 19631 985
    Greenland136204123053216
    Finland6 3446 706748575087 152
    Faroe Islands1 6126199815991 223
    Iceland2 3646 786882533563 682
    Sweden36 90036 2103 5955 2957 01544 911
    Albania383 42568972327
    Andorra0121002
    Austria1 5961 464143992501 597
    Belarus151 569293313390
    Belgium1 1091 5091543083131 267
    Bosnia-Herzegovina33013 9705 0791172 202
    Bulgaria1417 6129955033955
    Croatia5205 7121 1587291 026
    Czech Republic8782 31341212491 029
    Estonia1554 455576264812
    France2 2256 5716813258324 225
    Germany14 30426 4333 6148872 59916 755
    Gibraltar1600613
    Greece5194 095290442081 157
    Guernsey051001
    Hungary2 1554 1168943451021 689
    Ireland5281 15260251181 060
    Italy1 4515 7004121113822 430
    Jersey090030
    Kosovo35310 7566 5295281 785
    Latvia14212 4731 7431342954
    Liechtenstein7213024
    Lithuania3542 4507 9561571 676
    Luxembourg62581703763
    Malta62100662180
    Moldova12 18135103169
    Monaco4132238
    Montenegro195552091692
    Netherlands4 5828 5531 0183218306 003
    North Macedonia2593 2111 608118814
    Poland2 962107 44216 583693167 013
    Portugal3384 07544918110958
    Romania27416 6643 005144401 737
    Russia52420 2174 5732202824 776
    San Marino053001
    Serbia5048 3712 0041330966
    Slovakia1003 835666013440
    Slovenia724878705153
    Spain1 8868 1006662207673 160
    Switzerland1 6491 6622043486221 977
    Türkiye1 18314 2957 597281774 546
    Ukraine7336 8031 254421271 641
    United Kingdom18 22416 1811 1461 2764 20621 962
    Vatican City State010000
    Algeria3531 379637317685
    Angola2352891223222
    Benin0317039
    Botswana14818183273
    British Indian Ocean Territory210002
    Burkina Faso13333019
    Burundi01 14650522123
    Cameroon3257022191288274
    Cape Verde31338614278299
    Central African Republic0493001
    Chad1459015
    Comoros352001
    Congo2394 6041 1785620359
    Congo-Brazzaville26247878553
    Côte d'Ivore44331105339189
    Djibouti66756005
    Egypt3121 5903291044635
    Equatorial Guinea0171001
    Eritrea30624 6768 16210223420
    Eswatini211106419
    Ethiopia6289 2504 075830118820
    Gabon0123018
    Gambia2541 289645013815
    Ghana1052 283965929701
    Guinea113311320055
    Guinea-Bissau393180131
    Kenya3682 3344352041931 144
    Lesotho0111026
    Liberia818763743418172
    Libya191 03220648103
    Madagascar1 0972024523955495
    Malawi1139111733
    Mali6493112131
    Mauritania16121115
    Mauritius11019047012181
    Morocco1 1136 4584 84311712 717
    Mozambique4218624916118
    Namibia1691341972
    Niger156180140
    Nigeria1662 3587151822848
    Réunion030012
    Rwanda91 11326675100
    Saint Helena21200215
    Sao Tome and Principe090000
    Senegal2134911648154
    Seychelles71640220
    Sierra Leone7549121725212
    Somalia7827 81115 7841117931
    South Africa1 2541 4971083932821 275
    South Sudan86461271118
    Sudan355 1921 70765160
    Tanzania2017891829884559
    Togo7125511140
    Tunisia2591 2165341023810
    Uganda1222 5053491354550
    Western Sahara22600012
    Zambia64478573962285
    Zimbabwe94318462530184
    Afghanistan1119 0725 75134439
    Armenia13402813150
    Azerbaijan57021503787
    Bahrain632661524
    Bangladesh2142 05950212814170
    Bhutan6363787118
    Brunei142431748
    Cambodia33491190428153
    China1 4319 6152 5912 6615682 158
    Cyprus1232247637179
    Georgia04546541474
    Hong Kong42986525914080397
    India2 20316 8905 0921 3511852 124
    Indonesia4941 693348182114812
    Iran57219 9755 33634403 309
    Iraq14823 35612 02114271 876
    Israel30276911333160780
    Japan8701 261105302197932
    Jordan50956278511122
    Kazakhstan181 283223011197
    Kuwait1250519791290
    Kyrgyzstan0294680366
    Laos0151250471
    Lebanon2683 5731 1421556749
    Macao050100113
    Malaysia1641 0371284390433
    Maldives240004
    Mongolia0163368547
    Myanmar123 3471 12612108
    Nepal542 9104627917154
    North Korea1625101017
    Oman2411121317
    Pakistan2 45822 73418 376262287 747
    Palestine1223 4631 136756266
    Philippines2 21723 9943 6617131 31311 960
    Qatar5732622137
    Saudi Arabia101 117345321989
    Singapore20949948254215376
    South Korea5 3611 4021386 0654491 591
    Sri Lanka6499 3266 783183691 244
    Syria8936 1476 250412532
    Taiwan1643774010329183
    Tajikistan0166380042
    Thailand92922 2921 2984811 4309 385
    Timor-Leste090006
    Turkmenistan20127250017
    United Arab Emirates14646167938672
    Uzbekistan58071630277
    Vietnam1 49414 5399 5802001342 631
    Yemen27432081216
    Anguilla010000
    Antigua and Barbuda0700010
    Aruba381003223
    Bahamas131804414
    Barbados152200329
    Belize51300018
    Bermuda460247
    Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba000010
    British Virgin Islands220312
    Canada3 7342 3291636756533 120
    Cayman Islands222001
    Costa Rica156203109954181
    Cuba291 146145447726
    Curaçao63214131835
    Dominica026100017
    Dominican Republic35991220253475
    El Salvador2524260012133
    Grenada211430329
    Guadeloupe020114
    Guatemala1992362221149241
    Haiti63832533
    Honduras4615130514123
    Jamaica5117626513182
    Martinique1600010
    Mexico1811 759127281441 174
    Montserrat060000
    Nicaragua25222181230171
    Panama109542965
    Puerto Rico32520630
    Saint Kitts and Nevis000130
    Saint Lucia61441211
    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines660008
    Sint Maarten020000
    Trinidad and Tobago414275163160428
    Turks and Caicos Islands020001
    United States29 90810 4557595 1004 60118 426
    United States Virgin Islands20101111
    Argentina6731 64414371149993
    Bolivia1793735218560282
    Brazil7166 3204395256543 666
    Chile1 7026 1411 8852991904 285
    Colombia2 0742 6312643 7623411 531
    Ecuador2586747822455459
    Falkland Islands012000
    French Guiana060016
    Guyana8084718118
    Paraguay62141132823110
    Peru2331 5301751881071 162
    Suriname344180155
    Uruguay9823933820204
    Venezuela631 5101811753437
    American Samoa710114
    Australia1 0101 970732545892 022
    Christmas Island800100
    Cook Islands700026
    Fiji183700648
    French Polynesia7900211
    Kiribati020013
    Marshall Islands010000
    Federated States of Micronesia1410007
    New Caledonia660047
    New Zealand3235621823122669
    Palau020002
    Papua New Guinea292223
    Samoa050016
    Solomon Islands340008
    Tokelau000000
    Tonga1260009
    Tuvalu010001
    United States Minor Outlying Islands000000
    Vanuatu010002
    Unknown003003
    1This category consists of both foreign adopted persons and children born abroad with both parents born in Norway.
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The statistics show the number of resident immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents as of 1 January every year.

For more information (in Norwegian), see subchapter 1.4 in this report.

Immigrants

Persons born abroad of two foreign-born parents and four foreign-born grandparents.

Norwegian-born to Immigrant Parents are born in Norway of two parents born abroad and in addition have four grandparents born abroad.

Country of Birth

Mainly the mother's place of residence at the time she is giving birth.

Country Background

Constructed on the basis of information about the country of birth for three generations and refers to private, or mother's, or father's, or grandparents' foreign country of birth. For people born abroad this is (with few exceptions) their own native land. For people born in Norway this is their parents' country of birth. In cases where the parents have different countries of birth, the mother's country of birth is chosen.

Age, Citizenship and Period of Residence takes values the date on which the statistics are extracted. Period of Residence is stated in whole years.

Statistics Norway's use of terms in immigrant-related statistics is taken from The Statistical Standard for Classification of Persons by Immigration Background.

The following headings are used for grouping of persons with different immigrant background:

Born in Norway to Norwegian-born Parents

Immigrants

Name: Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents
Topic: Population

7 March 2024

Division for Population Statistics

The nation, county, municipality and urban districts of Oslo.

Annual

Not relevant

Files with data at the individual level are processed and stored long term.

Together with population statistics in other subject areas, the statistics helps showing changes taking place that affect the composition of the population.

In 1991 the former Ministry of Local Government and Labour (KAD) and Statistics Norway joined forces to prepare statistics on immigrants, giving rise to the Immigrant Statistics Project. Until 1996 the project was headed by a steering committee with participants from KAD, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration and Statistics Norway.

The statistics have a broad range of users and applications such as research institutes, public administration, press, broadcasting, and private persons.

No external users have access to the statistics and analyses before they are published and accessible simultaneously for all users on ssb.no at 08 am. Prior to this, a minimum of three months advance notice is given in the Statistics Release Calendar. This is one of Statistics Norway’s key principles for ensuring that all users are treated equally.

Statistics on the immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents show population numbers. The area is clearly connected with migration statistics. Immigration and emigration numbers can be found in the Migration Statistics for each calendar year.

The Quarterly Migration Statistics should also be mentioned. These numbers are provisional, but provide a picture of the changes taking place.

People immigrate on different bases, some are refugees and others have immigrated because of work, education, family

Statistics Act § 10

Not relevant

Covers all persons who neither have parents nor grandparents born in Norway registered as a resident of Norway on 1 January (for more about the definition resident, read below the point “Definitions”, here).

Asylum seekers and persons on short-term stays (less than six months) are not registered as residents in the population register and thus not included in the statistics.

The statistics are based on population register data.

Since 1946 each municipality has had a local population registry that registers all residents in the municipality pursuant to the Population Registration Act and its regulations. The population registries receive reports of births, deaths, marriages, divorces, migration etc. from various sources.

The National Population Register was built up from 1964 to 1966 on the basis of the 1960 census, at the same time as the 11-digit national identity number was introduced as identification. The register contained everyone included in the population census and subsequently everyone who has lived in Norway since 1 October 1964. In 1995 the Central Population Register (CPR) at the Directorate of Taxes took over as the official register. The Central Office of the National Registry was transferred from Statistics Norway (SSB) to the Directorate of Taxes in 1991.

The updates in the CPR are done by the local population registry offices and the Tax Administration, and updates SSB’s own population database daily. Before January 1998, updates were done monthly. Before May 1995 SSB received messages on tape.

In addition to the checks made by the CPR, Statistics Norway performs checks for statistical purposes.

The numbers in this production are not seasonally adjusted.

If a number in a table consists of three or fewer units and disclosing these units can lead to identification of individuals, the number is rounded up or the table cell left empty.

Time: The numbers are comparable from 1995, the first year the statistics were released.

Place: Statistics Norway provides statistics for each municipality. Because the mass is small, numbers are less useful in analyses of the smallest geographical levels.

In many municipalities, particularly the small, numbers can vary widely from year to year, often due to the localization of the reception centers.

Some errors made during the collecting and processing of the data are unavoidable and include coding, data processing errors etc. Extensive efforts have been made to minimize these errors and we regard these types of errors to be relatively insignificant.

Persons without legal residence in Norway are omitted. Estimates of this group's size are very uncertain. The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration and Oxford Research AS estimated in 2014 that between 18,100 and 56,000 people are staying illegally in Norway. More on this (in Norwegian) in Chap. 6 in the report A Marginal Problem?

The quality of the data from the National Population Register is generally very good for statistical purposes. Two objections are nevertheless delayed messages and registration of residence. Delayed messages cause events to be recorded and counted in the wrong calendar year. This becomes less problematic when one adds numbers over several years.

When a person who is registered as resident in Norway will move abroad, he must report the move to the Population Register. Some people fail to do that.

Not relevant

Key figure pages

Contact

Oppdrag innvandring

oppdraginnvandring@ssb.no

Statistics Norway's Information Centre

informasjon@ssb.no

(+47) 21 09 46 42