Fewer received Norwegian citizenship in 1998

Compared with 1997, nearly 2,800 fewer persons received Norwegian citizenship in 1998. Asians accounted for virtually the entire decrease of 2,100. Altogether 9,200 persons were naturalized. Forty per cent were under 18.

There were far fewer naturalizations last year compared with the three previous years. Despite the pronounced decline, the figures for 1998 are nevertheless high in comparison to the years before 1995. Pakistanis accounted for most naturalizations, with 12 percent.

91 per cent from non-Western countries

Fully 8,400 of 9,200 naturalizations were of persons who previously were citizens of non-Western countries. The number from Western countries is low and stable. Fewer Asians were naturalized in 1998 compared with the previous year, although they still account for the largest number of naturalizations, with 4,500.

As in 1997, most citizenship papers were given to Pakistanis and Vietnamese, who accounted for 1,100 and 780 naturalizations respectively, both down 500 from 1997. The next largest groups were former Somali, Turkish and Iranian citizens with between 630-740 naturalizations.

New Statistics
Populations. Naturalizations, 1998.
The statistics are published annually in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics. For more information contact: Kirsten.Enger.Dybendal@ssb.no, tel. +47 62 88 52 96 or Trude.Jakobsen@ssb.no, tel. +47 62 88 51 39. The population statistics answering service is open from 9.00 to 12.00, tel. +47 62 88 54 00.

Weekly Bulletin issue no. 13-14, 1999