Persons with refugee background, 1 January 2009

Out of the total population with refugee backgrounds almost 73 per cent have come to Norway as principal applicants and 23 per cent as dependents. With a total of 18 700 persons, Iraqis make up the largest group. The second largest group consists of persons with a Somali background (16 700).

At 1 January 2009, 58 per cent of the persons with a refugee background had Norwegian citizenship. The percentage varies from 11 per cent for people with a Russian background to 90 per cent for people from Vietnam. Length of residence is largely responsible for the difference since a person should, as a rule, be resident in Norway for at least 7 years before a Norwegian citizenship can be granted.

Male refugees were overrepresented, with around 9 300 more men than women as at 1 January 2009.

A total of 50 per cent of the persons with a refugee background were aged 20-39. Only 5 per cent belonged to the age group 60 years or older.

A total of 53 per cent of the persons with a refugee background have been residents in Norway for less than 10 years.

Oslo was still the county with the most residents with a refugee background; 40 300 persons. That is 28 per cent of the whole population with a refugee background, and 7 per cent of the city’s total population.

Tables:

• Table 1 Different definitions of persons with refugee status, by country background and specified status. 1 January 2009
• Table 2 Persons with refugee background. Citizenship, duration of residence and country background. 1 January 2009
• Table 3 Persons with refugee background. Age and country background. 1 January 2009
• Table 4 Persons with refugee background. Citizenship, sex and country background. 1 January 2009
• Table 5 Persons with refugee background. Refugee status and county. 1 January 2009