Estimated population at the term of the year, 1 January 2012

A population growth of 64 700 will be the highest result ever; 2 600 higher than the previous peak in 2010. A percentage growth of 1.3 is the highest in almost 100 years, when it was 1.4 in 1920. Slightly less than 30 per cent of the increase will be due to the birth surplus, while slightly more than 70 per cent will be due to a migration surplus from abroad. By comparison, the birth surplus in the middle of the 1990s was around 70 per cent. A net migration from abroad of 45 700 will be the highest result ever recorded; 3 400 higher than in 2010 and 2 400 higher than the previous peak in 2008. A birth excess of 19 000 will be around 1 000 lower than the two last years, but before that we must go back to 1974 and earlier to find higher figures.

Growth in central populated areas continues

The population growth in the big cities and in the central areas continues. Forty per cent of the growth will take place in the counties Oslo and Akershus. Oslo will grow by 15 600 persons, Bergen by 3 200 and Trondheim by 2 800. In Rogaland, the population growth is high in Stavanger and Sandnes and in the Jæren municipalities, which combined are likely to grow more than Stavanger. Municipalities in Romerike in Akershus, such as Skedsmo and Ullensaker, will grow by between 900 and 1 000 each, while many municipalities in northern Norway and Trøndelag will lose much of their population in terms of percentage.

Tables:

• Table 1 Estimated population per 1 January 2012 and estimated population growth in 2011. Counties and municipalities