Population and Housing Census, housing conditions of immigrants (discontinued), 2001

This is illustrated by figures from the 2001 Population and housing census.

There are clear differences among the immigrant groups. Western immigrants have a pattern of living that hardly distinguishes itself from that of persons of non-immigrant background.

A great proportion of the immigrant population lives in Oslo

Norway has an immigrant population of 305 000. Of these, 210 000 are of non-western background. As much as 80 000, or 38 per cent, of non-western immigrants live in Oslo, versus 23 per cent of immigrants of western background and barely 10 per cent of persons of non-immigrant background. Since a great part of the immigrant population lives in Oslo, conditions in Oslo have a greater influence on the living conditions of immigrants than that of the rest of the population.

More residents in every dwelling among non-western immigrants

Whereas only 17 per cent of persons of non-immigrant background live in dwellings with more than four persons, as much 31 per cent of the population of non-western background live in dwellings with more than four persons. This particularly applies to persons from Asia who live in the largest households. As much as 60 per cent of immigrants from Pakistan live in dwellings with 5 or more persons. It is also common to find such large dwelling households among persons from Afghanistan, Somalia and Yugoslavia.

Whereas people from Norway and Western Europe tend to have 2 or 4 persons living together in each dwelling, figures for some groups from Africa are different. The tendency is for one person to live in each dwelling or to have 5 or more persons in each dwelling.

Non-western immigrants live in cramped dwellings

Persons of immigrant background live in more cramped conditions than persons of non-immigrant background. This is particularly true for persons from non-western countries. 54 per cent of persons of non-western background living in households of more than two persons and have less than one room per person available for their use. For immigrants from western countries the figure is 18 per cent and 14 per cent for persons of non-immigrant background (figure 1). When we look at the same figures for Oslo, we find that the differences are even more accentuated. 66 per cent of persons of non-western background who live in households of more than two persons have less than one room per person available for their use. For western immigrants and persons of non-immigrant background the figures are respectively 27 per cent and 18 per cent (figure 2).

Area

Whereas only 4 per cent of all residents of non-immigrant background lived in dwellings with less than 50 m2 utility area, the figure for non-western immigrants is 17 per cent. Corresponding figures for Oslo are respectively 11 and 19 per cent. Of those of non-immigrant background, 68 per cent lived in dwellings of 100 m2 or more. 35 per cent of non-western immigrants had a dwelling of 100 m2 or more. This pattern is also clear for the largest households. Of persons without immigrant background in households of more than 4 persons, 35 per cent lived in dwellings of 200 m2 or more. Only 7 per cent of non-western immigrants in similar households lived in dwellings of 200 m2 or more.

Great differences in types of dwellings

It is most common for persons of non-immigrant background to live in detached houses. Blocks of flats and flats are most common among non-western immigrants. In the most urban municipalities 54 per cent of persons of non-immigrant background live in detached houses, while only 19 per cent of non-western immigrants live in detached houses. Corresponding figures in the least urban municipalities are 87 and 60 per cent. In Oslo alone, 58 per cent of persons of non-immigrant background live in blocks of flats. For persons of western immigrant background this figure is 64 per cent and as much as 82 per cent for persons of non-western background.

Fewer of immigrant background own their dwelling, yet great differences

The majority without immigrant background owns their dwelling (84 per cent). Corresponding figures vary for persons of non-western background. Whereas only 19 per cent of immigrants from Iraq and Afghanistan own their dwelling, as much as 74 per cent of persons originating from India and 67 per cent from Pakistan own their dwelling. Duration of residency in Norway is probably of significance for whether one owns or rents the dwelling. Iraqis and Afghans have relatively short residency in Norway, while Indians and Pakistanis belong to the groups with longest residency. The immigrant population is also generally younger than the population of non-immigrant background. This tends to emphasise the differences we find.

Among non-western immigrants who own their dwelling, it is more common to own through housing co-operatives or limited companies than for persons without immigrant background.

Persons of non-immigrant background are sole owners or have co-ownership (73 per cent). Only 11 per cent own through a housing co-operative or limited company. More than one-third of immigrants originating from Sri Lanka, Turkey and Pakistan own through a housing co-operative or limited company. The high density of immigrants in Oslo is an important factor as Oslo has the highest proportion of housing co-operative owners.

Half of the immigrant population has access to their own garden

Only 3 per cent of persons of non-immigrant background have no access to a garden, balcony, veranda or terrace. Among persons originating from Africa the corresponding figure is almost 20 per cent. The proportion with access to their own garden is considerably greater for persons without immigrant background. More than 80 per cent of these have access to their own garden, while the proportion is barely 50 per cent among immigrants. This proportion is lower in Oslo; nonetheless the difference is about the same (40: 20). When we look at the nation as a whole and in Oslo, the proportion with access to their own garden is lowest among persons of African background. In Oslo about one-third of the population has access to a joint garden shared with neighbours. This proportion is about the same for persons with and without immigrant background.

Tables

Population, by type of household and immigrant population's country. 3 November 2001

• Table 1 The whole country.
• Table 2 The whole country. Per cent
• Table 3 Oslo.
• Table 4 Oslo. Per cent

Occupants in private dwellings, by type of building, centrality of the residence municipality and immigrant population's country. 3 November 2001

• Table 5 The whole country.
• Table 6 The whole country. Per cent

Occupants in private dwellings, by type of building and immigrant population's country. 3 November 2001

• Table 7 Oslo.
• Table 8 Oslo. Per cent

Occupants in private dwellings, by tenure status and immigrant population's country. 3 November 2001

• Table 9 The whole country.
• Table 10 The whole country. Per cent
• Table 11 Oslo.
• Table 12 Oslo. Per cent

Occupants in private dwellings, by number of occupants in the dwelling and immigrant population's country. 3 November 2001

• Table 13 The whole country.
• Table 14 The whole country. Per cent
• Table 15 Oslo.
• Table 16 Oslo. Per cent

Occupants in private dwellings, by number of rooms, immigrant population's country and number of occupants in the dwelling. 3 November 2001

• Table 17 The whole country.
• Table 18 The whole country. Per cent
• Table 19 Oslo.
• Table 20 Oslo. Per cent

Occupants in private dwellings, by utility floor space, immigrant population's country and number of occupants in the dwelling. 3 November 2001

• Table 21 The whole country.
• Table 22 The whole country. Per cent
• Table 23 Oslo.
• Table 24 Oslo. Per cent

Occupants in private dwellings, by year of construction, immigrant population's country and number of occupants in the dwelling. 3 November 2001

• Table 25 The whole country. 3. november 2001
• Table 26 The whole country. 3. november 2001. Per cent
• Table 27 Oslo.
• Table 28 Oslo. Per cent

Persons in private households, by access to facilities and immigrant population's country. 3 November 2001

• Table 29 The whole country.
• Table 30 The whole country. Per cent
• Table 31 Oslo.
• Table 32 Oslo. Per cent

Persons in private households, by type of household, immigrant population's country and tenure status. 3 November 2001

• Table 33 The whole country.
• Table 34 The whole country. Per cent
• Table 35 Oslo.
• Table 36 Oslo. Per cent