Partner choice among men and women born in Norway by immigrant parents

Using Norwegian register data on all first marriages among descendants of immigrants born 1972-1994 (N = 4,474), this report assesses their current pattern of mate selection. We are particularly interested in differentials across immigrant generations and region of origin. Results show that:

• 76 per cent of those born in Norway with immigrant parents had a spouse with immigrant background (either born in Norway by immigrant parents or immigrant). The corresponding shares among immigrants who immigrated prior to age 18 and majority population individuals were 70 and 92 per cent.
• 51 per cent of descendants of immigrants born 1972-1994 had married a spouse originating from the same country as their parents.
• 56 per cent of immigrants who arrived before age 18 were married to a person from their country of origin. Among majority population individuals, 89 per cent had a Norwegian born spouse without immigrant parents.
• Multivariate analyses confirmed that persons born in Norway with immigrant parents from Asia, Africa and non-EU Eastern European countries were significantly more likely to have an immigrant background spouse compared to those with parents originating elsewhere.
•  Those whose parents were born in Asia and Africa were significantly more likely to be married to a spouse from their country of origin, net of their marital age, education, place of residence, gender and year of marriage.
• Those with immigrant parents from Pakistan and Turkey were significantly more likely to marry endogamously than those with parents born in Vietnam, India, or Morocco.
• There was a negative relation between marital age and the probability of marrying endogamously.
• The primary educated, as well as those whose education was missing, were significantly more likely to marry a partner with immigrant background compared to those with a secondary or tertiary education.