– There is a clear correlation between the level of conflict in an area and the influx of refugees and stateless individuals to Norway. In periods of armed conflicts, we have received many stateless individuals from Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, says SSB researcher Helge Brunborg.

The largest proportion of stateless individuals in Norway has Palestinian background and arrived in Norway as refugees during periods of armed conflict. In 2009, the majority of stateless individuals came from Palestine, while in 2016, most came from Syria.

Most stateless individuals become Norwegian citizens after three years, while children born stateless can obtain Norwegian citizenship after one year.

Follow these links to read more about statelessness in Norway and statelessness internationally.

Figure 1. Number of stateless residents in Norway as of January 1, 1977–2024