Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents

Updated: 7 March 2024

Next update: 7 March 2025

Immigrants
Immigrants
2024
931 081
 
Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by country background. 1 January
Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by country background. 1 January
2024
ImmigrantsNorwegian-born to immigrant parentsImmigrants in per cent of total populationNorwegian-born to immigrant parents in per cent of total population
Total931 081221 45916.84.0
Nordic countries except Norway, EU/EFTA, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand386 55952 7207.00.9
Europe except EU/EFTA and UK, Africa, Asia, America except USA and Canada, Oceania except Australia and New Zealand, polar regions544 521168 7419.83.0
Nordic countries except Norway69 4607 4471.30.1
EU/EFTA until 2004 except the Nordic countries89 0189 1651.60.2
New EU countries after 2004212 44035 0763.80.6
USA and Canada13 0779420.20.0
Australia and New Zealand2 564900.00.0
Europe except for EU/EFTA/UK132 70923 8332.40.4
Africa108 33145 4102.00.8
Asia275 10595 3835.01.7
America except USA og Canada28 2874 1150.50.1
Oceania except Australia and New Zealand8900.00.0
Explanation of symbols

Selected tables and charts from this statistics

  • Population by immigrant category and country background
    Population by immigrant category and country background
    2024
    Born in Norway to Norwegian-born parents1 ImmigrantsNorwegian-born to immigrant parentsForeign-born with one Norwegian-born parentNorwegian-born with one foreign-born parentForeign-born to Norwegian-born parents
    Total4 013 527931 081221 45940 880304 00839 248
    Norway3 794 96900000
    Denmark34 66518 5862 0014 22332 1551 382
    Greenland143195135222130
    Finland6 4596 7347705037 22259
    Faroe Islands1 6286231021021 21915
    Iceland2 4386 7108833593 76553
    Sweden37 68736 6123 6787 07845 6685 265
    Albania413 69177623487
    Belgium1 1291 6271633131 290310
    Bulgaria1587 7881 0283397350
    Andorra0131020
    Estonia1574 468591618352
    France2 2876 9887008274 307330
    Gibraltar2606120
    Greece5424 4603172101 18343
    Belarus161 713302133973
    Ireland5471 202611231 08724
    Croatia5295 8251 205271 0717
    Italy1 4956 0664443862 479109
    Latvia14513 1101 8324599713
    Malta63107621816
    Netherlands4 7078 8541 0618366 103321
    Liechtenstein7203240
    Luxembourg66661396470
    Monaco4122182
    Poland3 076109 65417 0743137 23969
    Portugal3554 28046111298818
    Romania29117 3883 089431 790143
    San Marino063010
    Lithuania3642 7338 114581 7741
    Spain1 9288 6487177783 226225
    Moldova22 56440131810
    United Kingdom18 60116 7161 1644 24222 1651 278
    Russia54421 6644 7642834 911220
    Switzerland1 6911 6892066362 008348
    Türkiye1 29614 9797 7461854 65028
    Germany14 54426 8603 7162 62517 048891
    Slovenia745089351560
    Ukraine7565 5661 6761301 73145
    Hungary2 1654 3139171031 716346
    Austria1 6151 4881492551 60799
    Vatican City State000000
    Bosnia-Herzegovina36313 9995 201182 3441
    North Macedonia2733 3111 646208511
    Slovakia1023 920691134620
    Czech Republic8892 385428521 04511
    Serbia5238 7572 161311 00313
    Montenegro215622186961
    Kosovo40910 8826 688321 8965
    Guernsey051010
    Jersey0110300
    Isle of Man000000
    Algeria3681 407647176853
    Angola2556190242232
    Botswana14778327619
    Saint Helena21202150
    British Indian Ocean Territory210020
    Burundi11 16052421332
    Comoros362010
    Benin0338390
    Equatorial Guinea0181020
    Côte d'Ivore49334109919333
    Eritrea32025 1378 90323442102
    Ethiopia6649 4804 249118855833
    Egypt3241 6913464664911
    Djibouti76657050
    Gabon0144180
    Gambia2831 319661138220
    Ghana1162 3301 015307239
    Guinea113461410570
    Guinea-Bissau5113181340
    Cameroon3347052298280127
    Cape Verde32138914482987
    Kenya3802 4644442001 183204
    Congo-Brazzaville25249915538
    Congo2444 9291 3092037856
    Lesotho0112260
    Liberia848813881818534
    Libya191 06622281044
    Madagascar1 1092015057497241
    Malawi1160137331
    Mali6503113212
    Morocco1 1966 5904 889732 74211
    Western Sahara22410120
    Mauritania26821151
    Mauritius11318648121840
    Namibia1796221724
    Niger261181400
    Nigeria1752 4757482286718
    Mozambique4319725171229
    Mayotte000000
    Réunion030130
    Zimbabwe97347502918925
    Rwanda101 45027951067
    Sao Tome and Principe0100000
    Senegal2236511681594
    Central African Republic0664010
    Seychelles71642190
    Sierra Leone7549022452122
    Somalia8827 66515 9641798612
    Spanish territories in Africa000000
    South Sudan36661361181
    Sudan355 3801 85251726
    Eswatini211004196
    South Africa1 2751 5631132881 298396
    Tanzania2208211908757898
    Chad1519150
    Togo7125541401
    Tunisia2741 2545442181810
    Uganda1252 6283645656813
    Zambia67496636229939
    Burkina Faso33230193
    Afghanistan1419 6386 11364783
    Armenia13440831553
    Azerbaijan58131598883
    Bahrain732616246
    Bangladesh2142 11754114175129
    Bhutan6361831207
    Brunei152235817
    Myanmar123 3741 16621172
    Sri Lanka7229 4786 842691 294182
    United Arab Emirates15683177938193
    Philippines2 39124 7183 8651 36712 333715
    Georgia04997421774
    Taiwan1703984028192106
    Hong Kong44586526378409139
    India2 32318 2975 3411852 1781 349
    Indonesia5051 791362113832181
    Iraq16723 60312 373312 02314
    Iran65020 3335 499413 42334
    Israel32676411916779033
    Japan8871 356110199951302
    Jordan531 063281111266
    Cambodia36501193281564
    Kazakhstan181 437228122080
    China1 4759 8392 6415682 2122 660
    North Korea1625101710
    South Korea5 5271 4191374511 6156 050
    Kuwait1351120611969
    Cyprus1262418351828
    Kyrgyzstan0311713700
    Laos0155254720
    Lebanon2923 8111 1615776315
    Macao052101130
    Malaysia1741 1091348944343
    Maldives270040
    Mongolia0171385498
    Oman3431131812
    Palestine1293 5521 191592717
    Nepal593 1645351715778
    Pakistan2 70823 56918 6622598 05226
    Timor-Leste090060
    Qatar6803013722
    Saudi Arabia121 1673702210532
    Singapore21650948214387259
    Tajikistan0185400410
    Turkmenistan20157270170
    Uzbekistan69011813830
    Syria10138 7086 971125784
    Thailand1 01222 6651 3721 4709 598484
    Vietnam1 63414 6539 6301382 712198
    Yemen27712222171
    United States Virgin Islands20201111
    Barbados172203290
    Antigua and Barbuda0700100
    Belize51300190
    Bahamas131704144
    Bermuda450572
    British Virgin Islands220123
    Canada3 8092 3671696643 169668
    Cayman Islands332110
    Costa Rica158201115518299
    Cuba291 182151497434
    Dominica027100170
    Dominican Republic391 011226554932
    Franske Antiller000000
    Grenada211433310
    Guadeloupe020141
    Guatemala2042462548247211
    Haiti64035362
    Honduras4815631151215
    Jamaica5417627131825
    Martinique2500110
    Mexico1871 8271351461 21629
    Montserrat060000
    Aruba381002233
    Sint Maarten020000
    Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba000100
    Anguilla010000
    Curaçao65214173513
    Nicaragua30235183017412
    Panama99749682
    El Salvador2624963121390
    Saint Pierre and Miquelon000000
    Saint Kitts and Nevis000301
    Saint Lucia61442111
    Saint Vincent and the Grenadines660080
    Trinidad and Tobago419276165943131
    Turks and Caicos Islands020020
    United States30 43810 7107734 67818 5515 088
    Puerto Rico32626340
    Saint Martin000000
    Saint Barthélemy000000
    Argentina6892 0381501521 00071
    Bolivia1843915463287185
    Brazil7536 6174796673 781522
    Guyana8286881191
    Chile1 8466 1241 8901934 332300
    Colombia2 1942 8052743491 5783 759
    Ecuador2657118456471225
    Falkland Islands012000
    French Guiana060160
    Paraguay63144132311428
    Peru2491 5911821091 185187
    Suriname334281560
    Uruguay10025036202098
    Venezuela651 5781985245117
    American Samoa720141
    Australia1 0261 988706082 066255
    Solomon Islands340080
    Christmas Island800001
    Cocos (Keeling) Islands000000
    Cook Islands700260
    Fiji193806490
    Vanuatu010020
    Tonga1260090
    French Polynesia7902110
    Kiribati020130
    Tuvalu000000
    Guam000000
    Nauru000000
    United States Minor Outlying Islands000000
    New Zealand3315762012567723
    Niue000000
    Norfolk Island000000
    Territory of New Guinea000000
    Micronesia, Federated States of1410070
    Papua New Guinea390222
    Pitcairn000000
    Tokelau000000
    Samoa050160
    Wallis and Futuna Islands000000
    New Caledonia670470
    Marshall Islands010000
    Palau020020
    Northern Mariana Islands000000
    1The foreign country background is related to grandparents’ country of birth. The person can have 1 to 4 grandparents born abroad. Grandmother / grandfather's country of birth is selected first if there are different countries of birth for grandparents.
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The statistics show the number of resident immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents as of 1 January every year.

The information under «About the statistics» was last updated 3 June 2021.

For more information (in Norwegian), see subchapter 1.4 in this report.

Immigrants

Persons born abroad of two foreign-born parents and four foreign-born grandparents.

Norwegian-born to Immigrant Parents are born in Norway of two parents born abroad and in addition have four grandparents born abroad.

Country of Birth

Mainly the mother's place of residence at the time she is giving birth.

Country Background

Constructed on the basis of information about the country of birth for three generations and refers to private, or mother's, or father's, or grandparents' foreign country of birth. For people born abroad this is (with few exceptions) their own native land. For people born in Norway this is their parents' country of birth. In cases where the parents have different countries of birth, the mother's country of birth is chosen.

Age, Citizenship and Period of Residence takes values the date on which the statistics are extracted. Period of Residence is stated in whole years.

Statistics Norway's use of terms in immigrant-related statistics is taken from The Statistical Standard for Classification of Persons by Immigration Background.

The following headings are used for grouping of persons with different immigrant background:

Born in Norway to Norwegian-born Parents

Immigrants

Name: Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents
Topic: Population

7 March 2025

Division for Population Statistics

The nation, county, municipality and urban districts of Oslo.

Annual

Not relevant

Files with data at the individual level are processed and stored long term.

Together with population statistics in other subject areas, the statistics helps showing changes taking place that affect the composition of the population.

In 1991 the former Ministry of Local Government and Labour (KAD) and Statistics Norway joined forces to prepare statistics on immigrants, giving rise to the Immigrant Statistics Project. Until 1996 the project was headed by a steering committee with participants from KAD, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration and Statistics Norway.

The statistics have a broad range of users and applications such as research institutes, public administration, press, broadcasting, and private persons.

No external users have access to the statistics and analyses before they are published and accessible simultaneously for all users on ssb.no at 08 am. Prior to this, a minimum of three months advance notice is given in the Statistics Release Calendar. This is one of Statistics Norway’s key principles for ensuring that all users are treated equally.

Statistics on the immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents show population numbers. The area is clearly connected with migration statistics. Immigration and emigration numbers can be found in the Migration Statistics for each calendar year.

The Quarterly Migration Statistics should also be mentioned. These numbers are provisional, but provide a picture of the changes taking place.

People immigrate on different bases, some are refugees and others have immigrated because of work, education, family

Statistics Act § 10

Not relevant

Covers all persons who neither have parents nor grandparents born in Norway registered as a resident of Norway on 1 January (for more about the definition resident, read below the point “Definitions”, here).

Asylum seekers and persons on short-term stays (less than six months) are not registered as residents in the population register and thus not included in the statistics.

The statistics are based on population register data.

Since 1946 each municipality has had a local population registry that registers all residents in the municipality pursuant to the Population Registration Act and its regulations. The population registries receive reports of births, deaths, marriages, divorces, migration etc. from various sources.

The National Population Register was built up from 1964 to 1966 on the basis of the 1960 census, at the same time as the 11-digit national identity number was introduced as identification. The register contained everyone included in the population census and subsequently everyone who has lived in Norway since 1 October 1964. In 1995 the Central Population Register (CPR) at the Directorate of Taxes took over as the official register. The Central Office of the National Registry was transferred from Statistics Norway (SSB) to the Directorate of Taxes in 1991.

The updates in the CPR are done by the local population registry offices and the Tax Administration, and updates SSB’s own population database daily. Before January 1998, updates were done monthly. Before May 1995 SSB received messages on tape.

In addition to the checks made by the CPR, Statistics Norway performs checks for statistical purposes.

The numbers in this production are not seasonally adjusted.

If a number in a table consists of three or fewer units and disclosing these units can lead to identification of individuals, the number is rounded up or the table cell left empty.

Time: The numbers are comparable from 1995, the first year the statistics were released.

Place: Statistics Norway provides statistics for each municipality. Because the mass is small, numbers are less useful in analyses of the smallest geographical levels.

In many municipalities, particularly the small, numbers can vary widely from year to year, often due to the localization of the reception centers.

Some errors made during the collecting and processing of the data are unavoidable and include coding, data processing errors etc. Extensive efforts have been made to minimize these errors and we regard these types of errors to be relatively insignificant.

Persons without legal residence in Norway are omitted. Estimates of this group's size are very uncertain. The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration and Oxford Research AS estimated in 2014 that between 18,100 and 56,000 people are staying illegally in Norway. More on this (in Norwegian) in Chap. 6 in the report A Marginal Problem?

The quality of the data from the National Population Register is generally very good for statistical purposes. Two objections are nevertheless delayed messages and registration of residence. Delayed messages cause events to be recorded and counted in the wrong calendar year. This becomes less problematic when one adds numbers over several years.

When a person who is registered as resident in Norway will move abroad, he must report the move to the Population Register. Some people fail to do that.

Not relevant

Key figure pages

Contact

Oppdrag innvandring

oppdraginnvandring@ssb.no

Statistics Norway's Information Centre

informasjon@ssb.no

(+47) 21 09 46 42