Migrations, 2001

The geographical mobility, measured as migration in relation to the population, was at the same level as in 2000. The mobility for the population at large has not been larger since 1975. As for the last year, mobility for males are a couple of per cent higher than for females. For migrations between counties, there is a slight reduction from 2000, which was an unusual year. We have to go as far back as 1981 to find a mobility as high as in 2000. Mobility among regions was declined slightly in 2001 compared with 2000. The new tendency seems to be that most people migrate a shorter distance and fewer migrate longer distances.

Record high internal migration within the municipals

In addition to the 201 800 migrations between municipalities in 2001, 368 000 migrations were registered within municipalities, an increase of 13 000 migrations from 2000.

Akershus county had the highest internal net migration

In 2001 the county of Akerhus had the largest net migration compared with the rest of Norway, with 2 100 persons. Østfold had the second largest with 1 400. Vestfold's net migration was 1 000 persons. The migration stream in Oslo turned last year, Oslo had a net migration of 800, after a migration loss of 1 900 persons in 2000. Oslo had a net in-migration from the rest of the country during the years 1990-1997 Nordland registered the highest net migration loss last year, 1 700 persons. The two other counties in northern Norway, Troms and Finnmark, had a net loss migration with 900 persons each. Both Møre og Romsdal and Sogn og Fjordane had a net loss migration of about 1 000 individuals.

A historical view on migration and Norwegian counties during the period from 1966 to 2001 reveals that Buskerud and Vestfold had a net migration every year. Østfold also had a net migration in the entire period, except from 1991 to 1995. It is worthwhile noticing, that Hordaland for the first time in this period had an internal net migration.

On the other hand, the two counties of the northwestern part of Norway, Sogn og Fjordane and Møre og Romsdal, and the three northern counties had an internal migration loss, each year, in the period from 1966 to 2001.

Fewer immigrated from abroad

In 2001, 34 300 persons immigrated to Norway, while 26 300 emigrated. The net immigration of 8 000 is lower than in the previous year when the net immigration amounted to 9 700. Immigration declined by 2 300, whilst emigration decreased by 500.

In 2001 all the counties recorded net gains in migration from abroad. The net immigration to Oslo and Akershus in 2001 was 1 500, 400 persons more than the year before. The net immigration to Northern Norway in 2001 was 1 300 as against 2 200 in 2000. The net immigration to the northern part of Norway makes up for the net internal out-migration to some extent, in the 1990s the net immigration made up for half the figure on net internal out-migration. As last year, Hordaland had the largest proportion of net gains in migration from abroad with 12 per cent, Akershus 11 and Nordland with 9 per cent.

Highest immigrations from Iraq

The largest immigration group was Iraq with 1 000 persons. In 2001 about 800 persons immigrated from each of the following countries; Iran, Russia and Somalia. Last year, Norway had a net emigration to Yugoslavia, 1 300 people.

Norwegians migrate to Spain and Sweden

While 8 900 Norwegian citizens moved to Norway, 11 000 moved out. The net emigration of Norwegian citizens increased by 200 from 2000 to 2001. There was a net emigration to Sweden, 1 500 individuals, about at the same level as the year before. Spain had a net migration of Norwegian citizens, 700 persons. Denmark received a total of 400 Norwegian citizens.

Scope of the statistics

The statistics for 2001 mainly cover migrations that actually took place and were registered in 2001. Migrations from the previous year are included in the 2001 figures on condition that the migration is updated in the Central Population Registry in the period between 1 March 2000 and 28 February 2001. 2 187 such cases were registered; last year the figure was 1 811.

Tables:

• Table 1 Internal migration. 1951-2001
• Table 2 Immigration and emigration. 1951-2001
• Table 3 All migration. Internal and immigration/emigration, by county. 1966-2001
• Table 4 Internal migration. County. 1966-2001
• Table 5 Immigration/emigration, by county. 1966-2001
• Table 6 Immigration, by country. 1966-2001
• Table 7 Emigration, by country. 1966-2001
• Table 8 Migration within and between counties and between counties and foreign countries. 2001
• Table 9 Net migration between counties. 2001
• Table 10 Migration within and between regions. 2001
• Table 11 Net migration between regions. 2001
• Table 12 Internal migration, by sex and age of migrants, and age-specific rates for males and females. 2001
• Table 13 Internal migration, immigration and emigration, by sex, age of migrants and county. 2001
• Table 14 Internal migration, by sex, marital status and 5-year age groups. 2001
• Table 15 Immigration and emigration, by sex, age and marital status of migrants. 2001
• Table 16 Immigration and emigration, by sex and age of migrants. 2001
• Table 17 Immigration and emigration, by Norwegian/foreign citizenship and country of immigration/emigration. 2001
• Table 18 Immigration and emigration, by citizenship, 2001
• Table 19 Immigration and emigration among foreign citizens, by sex, age and citizenship of the migrants. 2001
• Table 20 Migration to/from municipalities and counties. 2001
• Table 21 Internal migration. In-migration, out-migration and net migration. Economic region. 2001
• Table 22 Migration within municipalities. 2001