Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, 1 January 2006

The immigrant population increased by 21 900 persons in 2005, an increase of 6.0 per cent. In comparison, the total population increased by 34 000, or 0.73 per cent. The birth surplus of the immigrant population was 3 700 persons and the immigrant surplus 18 200. The immigrant population counted for one fourth of the total birth surplus and almost the entire immigration surplus.

More Iraqis

A total of 15 immigrant groups count more than 10 000 persons pr 1.1.2006. Persons with Pakistani immigrant background is still the largest group with 27 700 persons, followed by Swedes (23 500), Iraqis (20 000) and Danes (19 100). For several years, the Danes have been the third largest group, but this year Iraqis passed them due to a steady increase for the past years.

When looking at the changes during the last five years, there has been almost no increase in the numbers of people with Swedish, Danish and British immigrant background. In the same period, there has been a relatively small increase in the number of those with Pakistani and Vietnamese immigrant background. On the other hand, the number of Russians is more than doubled, and the number of Iraqis, Somalis and Poles has almost doubled. Among the largest immigrant groups, Germans is the only western group that has shown a large growth.

33 per cent more with Polish immigrant background

At the beginning of 2006, 74 per cent of the immigrant population had non-western background. In absolute numbers, people with Asian background (Turkey included) had the largest population growth in 2005, with 8 500, followed by Eastern Europeans (6 800). In per cent, the increase was largest among Eastern Europeans (11.1 per cent) and Africans (8.4 per cent).

People with immigrant background from Poland had the largest population increase in 2005 with 2 900, followed by Iraqis (1 700), Russians (1 350), Somalis (1 200) and Germans (1 000). Among Iraqis and Somalis both the birth surplus and the immigration surplus were large, while among those with Polish, Russian and German background the population increase was mainly due to a large immigration surplus. The population growth among people with Polish immigrant background was 33 per cent last year.

6.1 per cent have non-western background

A total of 285 300 persons in Norway had per 1.1.2006 immigrant background from a non-western country. This refers to 6.1 per cent of the total population. Persons with western immigrant background counted for 2.2 per cent of the total population. Five years ago, at the beginning of 2001, the total immigrant population counted for 6.6.per cent of Norway's population - 2.1 per cent had western background and 4.5 per cent had non-western background.

Almost half of those with Pakistani immigrant background are born in Norway

318 500 of the persons in the immigrant population are first generation immigrants whom themselves have immigrated to Norway, while 68 200 are born in Norway by two foreign-born parents. This means that almost one sixth of the immigrant population is born in Norway.

Among the largest immigrant groups, Pakistanis is that immigrant group with the highest ratio of persons born in Norway with 45 per cent. Among people with background from Morocco, India, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Vietnam the proportion is more than 30 per cent. Among Thais, Americans and Swedes the proportion is less than five per cent. These differences are mainly explained by differences in length of residency in Norway, but also by the different group's marital patterns.

Tables:

• Table 1 Population 1 January 2005 and 2006 and changes in 2005, by immigrant category and country background
• Table 2 Five different delimitations of persons with immigration background/foreign background, by citizenship and immigrant category. 1 January 2006
• Table 3 Three categories of immigration background, country of birth and citizenship, by country background and sex. 1 January 2006
• Table 4 Three variants of immigration background, country of birth and citizenship. 1 january 2006
• Table 5 Immigrant population and persons with other immigrant background , by country background and sex. 1 January 2006 (Corrected 18 May 2006)
• Table 6 Immigrant population and persons with other immigration background by sex, age and country background. 1 January 2006. Absolute figures and per cent
• Table 7 Population and the immigrant population by country background. 1970-2006. Absolute figures and per cent
• Table 8 Population, by Norwegian/foreign citizenship and immigrant population country background.1 January 2006
• Table 9 Immigrant population , by country background and county. 1 January 2006 (Corrected 14 May 2007)
• Table 10 Immigrant population, by country background and municipality. 1 January 2006. Absolute figures and per cent
• Table 11 Immigrant population by country of birth, (the 20 largest groups). Selected municipalities. 1 January 2006
• Table 12 Immigrant population by fife groups of country background. Urban districts of Oslo. 1 January 2006. Absolute figures and per cent
• Table 13 Immigrant population, by two groups of country background and age . Urban districts of Oslo. 1 January 2006
• Table 14 First generation immigrants, by first immigration year and country background . 1 January 2006 (Corrected 2 February 2007)