Immigration and emigration, 2004

From 2002 to 2003 we saw a considerable decrease in net immigration from Polish and Lithuanian citizens. It looks like many Poles and Lithuanians postponed their emigration to Norway by one year in the hope that their countries EU membership from May 2004 would make immigration easier.

Nevertheless, net immigration from the new EU-citizens represented only 15 per cent of the total net immigration to Norway in 2004. 36 500 persons immigrated and 23 300 left the country, giving a net immigration of 13 200.

Russian, Polish and Thai citizens had the highest net immigration with 1 400, 1 300 and 900 respectively. One explanation for this phenomenon is an increase in Russian and Thai women who received a resident permit to get married. Also refugees from Chechnya with Russian citizenship contribute to the high figures for Russians.

Decline in international migration for Norwegians

Net emigration of Norwegian citizens was 800, the lowest in five years. Both the number of immigrations and emigrations was lower than in many years. 8 600 Norwegian citizens moved back to Norway, while 9 400 left. The figures for emigrations have not been lower since 1993. For immigrations we have to go back to 1989 in order to find a lower figure.

Seven in ten Norwegians, which left the country, moved either to Sweden, Denmark, Great Britain, Spain or the USA.

The statistics can also to be found in the statbank where the users may produce their own tables.

Tables:

• Table 1 All migrations. Internal movements and immigration/emigration, by county. 1966-2004
• Table 2 Migration within and between counties and between counties and foreign countries. 2004
• Table 3 Internal migration, immigration and emigration, by sex, age of migrants and county. 2004
• Table 4 Migration to/from municipalities and counties. 2004
• Table 5 Immigration and emigration. 1951-2004
• Table 6 Immigration/emigration, by county. 1966-2004
• Table 7 Immigration, by country. 1966-2004
• Table 8 Emigration, by country. 1966-2004
• Table 9 Immigration and emigration, by sex, age and marital status of migrants. 2004
• Table 10 Immigration and emigration, by sex and age of migrants. 2004
• Table 11 Immigration and emigration, by sex, age of migrants and county. 2004
• Table 12 Immigration and emigration, by citizenship, 2004
• Table 13 Immigration and emigration, by Norwegian/foreign citizenship and country of immigration/emigration. 2004
• Table 14 Immigration, by citizenship and region. 2004
• Table 15 Emigration, by citizenship and region. 2004