More are moving to Østfold and Vestfold

The pattern of domestic migration changed somewhat in 1997 compared to previous years. In the past Oslo and Akershus counties have had the highest net migration from other counties. Today, other counties surrounding the Oslo fjord are taking over more of the migration flow to Eastern Norway. Net migration from Northern Norway to counties located farther south totalled 5,800 in 1997, according to preliminary figures.

Østfold on the east side of the fjord and Vestfold on the west side each had a migration gain of 1,800 from other counties in 1997, while the figure in Buskerud was 1,300. Akershus county still attracted the most, with a migration surplus of 3,100. Oslo had (including immigration from overseas) a net immigration gain of 3,100 in 1997. Preliminary figures show, however, a migration deficit from other counties to Oslo. Experience has shown that the reporting of relocations to Oslo is often delayed, so the final figures will probably show somewhat higher figures for new arrivals to the county.

Domestic net migration from Northern Norway totals 5,800

As in the past, it is primarily the counties from Hordaland northwards that have a migration deficit vis-á-vis other counties. The three northernmost counties had a combined migration loss of 5,800 to other counties in 1997, an increase of 1,100 from 1996. In Finnmark, the migration loss to other counties accounted for more than two per cent of the population. Compared to 1996, out-migration is increasing the most in Troms. In 1997, the domestic migration loss for the county was 1,900, compared to 700 in 1995 and 1,000 in 1996. A general feature of the migration pattern is that the three most urban municipalities in Northern Norway are also experiencing a rapidly growing stream of relocations to southern Norway. This is a new trend compared to earlier periods of heavy migration from Northern Norway.

High immigration surplus from overseas

Norway's population increased by nearly 25,700 in 1997, to 4,418,400 at year end. The population growth was nearly 3,000 higher than in 1996 because of higher immigration from overseas. A total of 31,700 persons moved to Norway 1997, while 21,000 moved out of the country.

New Statistics

Population statistics. Population 1 January 1998 and changes in 4th quarter.
Statistics are published every quarter in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics and Official Statistics of Norway (NOS) Regional Statistics. For more information, contact: Kåre Høiby, tel. +47 62 88 52 97, e-mail: krh@ssb.no, or Randi Jule, +47 62 88 54 64, e-mail: jul@ssb.no.

Weekly Bulletin issue no. 9, 1998