Low population growth

Published:

Low figures for immigrations and births resulted in a low growth in the population in the second quarter. The low growth in the size of the population seen over the two past years continues.

The population grew by 10 600 people to at total of 5 278 000 on 1 July 2017, according to new figures from the statistics Population and population changes. This is the lowest population growth in the 2nd quarter since the high labour influx started in 2006 following the EU expansion in Eastern Europe.

Figure 1

Figure 1. Excess of births, net migration and population growth. 2nd quarter

About 12 400 persons were registered as immigrated and 15 100 children were born in the 2nd quarter. At the same time, 7 200 persons emigrated and 9 700 persons died. This resulted in a net migration of 5 200 people and an excess of births of 5 400. The excess of births is the lowest in any 2nd quarter since 2007. Nevertheless, the birth surplus in the last quarter contributed more to population growth than the net immigration. This has not happened in any quarter since the period of high immigration started in 2006. The reason for this is that net immigration dropped much more than the birth surplus.

Four counties had no population growth

Apart from a slight decline or an almost status quo in Oppland, Sogn and Fjordane, Troms and Finnmark, all other counties had a population growth. All counties had net immigration from abroad, but a somewhat higher domestic migration loss led to five counties, including Oslo, having a net migration loss. A large birth surplus in Oslo offset this, and consequently the population of Oslo increased by 240 people. The highest population growth was in Akershus, Rogaland and Østfold with 3 840, 1 020 and 990 more residents in the 2nd quarter. All counties apart from Hedmark and Oppland had birth surpluses.

Figure 2. Excess of births and net migration. 2nd quarter 2017

Excess of births Net migration
Finnmark Finnmárku 0.1 -0.1
Troms Romsa 0.5 -0.7
Nordland 0.4 0.5
Nord-Trøndelag 0.4 1.4
Sør-Trøndelag 1.2 -1.0
Møre og Romsdal 0.9 1.0
Sogn og Fjordane 0.5 -0.6
Hordaland 1.2 0.4
Rogaland 1.8 0.4
Vest-Agder 1.2 1.0
Aust-Agder 0.4 2.1
Telemark 0.1 1.4
Vestfold 0.4 2.9
Buskerud 0.8 1.7
Oppland -0.2 0.1
Hedmark -0.3 1.7
Oslo 2.4 -2.1
Akershus 1.3 5.0
Østfold 0.4 3.0
The whole country 1.0 1.0

Lower immigration

In recent years, the net immigration of Eastern European citizens, who mostly have immigrated because of work, has subsided, while immigration from countries with conflicts has increased. We are now also seeing a decline in immigration from countries with conflicts. Comparisons with figures from the 2nd quarter of 2016 show that net immigration from Syria and Eritrea has roughly halved. Net immigration from countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan and Somalia is also decreasing. From countries in Eastern Europe, net immigration continues to decline, while the trend of more Swedish nationals leaving than entering Norway continues.

Figure 3. Net migration by citizenship. Selected countries. 2nd quarter

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Syria 161 350 656 2926 1664
Eritrea 467 470 908 1102 495
Afghanistan 191 127 434 368 271
Poland 1459 1440 880 624 378
Lithuania 784 679 327 198 263
Sweden -18 -78 -161 -271 -293

In the second quarter, 1 940 Norwegian citizens emigrated, while 1 943 immigrated.

Clearing-up in the Central Population Register

A third of the emigrations last year concerned people that the Tax Administration has decided have emigrated. These are persons without a residence permit or persons who have emigrated a long time ago without reporting it to the authorities.

Short-term stays and Asylum seekers

Persons who stay in Norway for less than 6 months are not included in the figures. Asylum seekers are included when they are granted a residence permit.