Immigration

Facts about immigration

Do you wonder how many immigrants live in Norway, what are the most common reasons for immigration or where do the immigrants come from? Here you will find the numbers.

Immigrants

Immigrants in Norway
Ikon av person og globus
Immigrants in Norway
2024
931 081
persons
6.1 % from the year before
Norwegian-born to immigrant parents
Ikon for voksen med barn
Norwegian-born to immigrant parents
2024
221 459
persons
3.6 % from the year before
Proportion of immigrants,Proportion of Norwegian-born with immigrant parents

Proportion of the population

Proportion of immigrants
2024
16.8
%
0.8 percentage points from the year before
Proportion of Norwegian-born with immigrant parents
2024
4.0
%
0.1 percentage points from the year before

Immigration and emigration

Net immigration
Ikon av voksen og barn
Net immigration is the number of people who have moved to Norway minus the number of people who have moved from Norway in the specified year.
2023
52 578
persons
-5 361 persons from the year before
Net immigration¹

¹ Net immigration is the number of people who have moved to Norway minus the number of people who have moved from Norway in the specified year.

Projected population in 2060

The main alternative for projecting Norway's population in 2060¹

¹ There is great uncertainty associated with the figures.

Origin

Country background for immigrants

Country background for immigrants and Norwegian-born with immigrant parents

Reason for immigration

Immigrants by reason for immigration¹

¹ Nordic citizens are not included in the statistics.
Article / 25 october 2022
Increased family immigration after the corona year 2020

Family immigration rose significantly in 2021 compared to the previous year. However, the number of family immigrations did not rise as much as other types of immigration. Fewer persons came to establish family with persons without immigrant background compared to before the pandemic.

Refugees

Number of refugees and family members of refugees living in Norway
ikon av to voksne ett barn
Number of refugees and family members of refugees living in Norway
2023
280 018
personer
35 358 persons from the year before
Country background of refugees living in Norway

Asylum seekers

Statistics Norway publishes statistics on those who have legal residence in Norway. We do not have statistics on asylum seekers, ie people who have applied for protection (asylum) in Norway, but have not had their application finally decided.

Statistics and information about asylum seekers can be found at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)

Emigration

Annual emigration¹

¹ Only emigrations to other continents (overseas countries) before 1951.
Where do Norwegian citizens move?

Where do those who move out again come from?

Integration

Proportion of participants in the introductory program who are employed and / or in education one year after completing the program
Ikon av person
Proportion of participants in the introductory program who are employed and / or in education one year after completing the program
2021
61
%
-1 percentage points from the year before
Proportion of participants in the introductory program who are employed and / or in education one year after completing the program

Introduction programme

Introduction program and introduction benefit for newly arrived immigrants is a mandatory scheme for all Norwegian municipalities. Teaching Norwegian language and social studies is central to the introductory scheme, together with work practice and other measures that prepare for participation in working life and / or education.

Electoral turnout

Electoral turnout at general election, muncipal council and country council elections

More statistics on integration can be found at the Directorate for Integration and Diversity.

Naturalisations

Foreign citizens who received Norwegian citizenship
Ikon av flagg
Foreign citizens who received Norwegian citizenship
2022
39 369
persons
-1 723 persons from the year before
Foreign citizens who have been granted Norwegian citizenship

Education

Children in kindergarten

Lower secondary school marks

Completion rates of pupils in upper secondary education¹

¹ Share of pupils/apprentices who have completed upper secondary education within five/six years
Students in higher education¹

¹ Proportion of registered cohort (19-24 years)
Educational attainment of the population

Educational attainment of immigrants

Working life

Employment by country background

Economy

Average monthly salary for immigrants
ikon av mynter
Average monthly salary for immigrants
2023
50 270
NOK
Average monthly salary for other residents
ikon av hånd med mynter
Average monthly salary for other residents
2023
58 190
NOK

Living conditions

Fertility

Total fertility rates¹

¹ Average number of live births per woman during life

Living conditions

Ownership of persons

Crowded dwelling

Attitudes

Attitudes towards refugees' and asylum seekers' access to residence permits in Norway. Compared to today, should it be easier, more difficult or remain the same as today?

Most immigrants make an important contribution to Norwegian working life,Most immigrants abuse the system of social benefits,Most immigrants enrich the cultural life in Norway,Most immigrants are a cause of insecurity in society

Allegations about immigrants

Most immigrants make an important contribution to Norwegian working life
2023
87
% strongly agree or agree on the whole
Most immigrants abuse the system of social benefits
2023
13
% strongly agree or agree on the whole
Most immigrants enrich the cultural life in Norway
2023
79
% strongly agree or agree on the whole
Most immigrants are a cause of insecurity in society
2023
14
% strongly agree or agree on the whole

Religion

Christians outside the Church of Norway,Muslims,Buddhists,Hindu

Religious communities in Norway that receive public support

Christians outside the Church of Norway
2023
376 555
members
2 903 members from the year before
Muslims
2023
182 607
medlemmer
6 518 members from the year before
Buddhists
2023
22 212
members
216 members from the year before
Hindu
2023
13 141
members
501 members from the year before