Naturalisations, 2006

The largest group of foreign citizens who were granted Norwegian citizenship in 2006, 2 100 totally, were citizens from Iraq. This was the same number as in 2005. Somalis were the second largest group with nearly 1 300 naturalizations. The third largest group was from Serbia and Montenegro with 1 100 naturalizations.

Nine out of ten from non-western countries

90 per cent among those who were granted Norwegian citizenship were foreign citizens with non-western background. From the middle of the 1980s, there has been a great increase of non-western citizens who has been granted Norwegian citizenship. In earlier years, mostly foreign citizens had western background.

Among the former foreign citizens of Russia, Philippines and Thailand, three out of four persons were females. Among the former foreign citizens of Iraq most persons were men.

Highest increase for citizens of Serbia and Montenegro

The largest increase in naturalizations from the year 2005 to 2006 with 250 naturalizations, were caused from former citizens of Serbia and Montenegro. Former Swedish citizens increased with 100 naturalizations. The number of naturalizations from former citizens of Croatia, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina decreased with respectively 305, 300 and 190 persons.

Tables:

• Table 1 Naturalizations, by sex, age and previous citizenship. 2006
• Table 2 Naturalizations by previous citizenship. 1977-2006
• Table 3 Naturalizations by previous citizenship. 1977-2006
• Table 4 Naturalizations, by county and earlier citizenship. 2006