Population, 1 January 2015

In line with the large population growth in recent years, the number of foreign citizens has more than doubled since 2007. A total of 238 300 foreign citizens were living in Norway in 2007, which corresponds to 5.1 per cent of the total population. By comparison, foreign citizens represented 3.4 per cent of the total population in 1991, with 143 300 residents. In Oslo, foreign citizens totalled 100 000 in 2014, and the 102 000 foreigners at the turn of the year represented 15.8 per cent of the total population of Oslo. Excluding Oslo, the counties with the largest shares of foreign citizens in relation to the total population of Norway were Rogaland, Akershus, Buskerud and Finnmark, with more than ten per cent in each county. Nord-Trøndelag had the lowest percentage of foreign citizens, with less than six per cent.

Still most Poles

The largest group of foreign citizens is still the Poles, with 93 600 residents. The other largest groups were Swedish and Lithuanian, with 45 100 and 39 500 residents respectively.

31 800 more males than females

The number of males grew by 31 400 and the number of females grew by 25 300 to 2 598 800 and 2 567 000 respectively. There were more men than women in Norway for the first time in 2010. This trend seems to be continuing, and on 1 January 2015 there was an excess of males by 31 800.

The population increased by 56 700 in 2014, and all counties had an increase. The population growth was biggest in Oslo, with 13 200 more residents in 2014.

Most elderly in Hedmark, fewest in Oslo

On 1 January, 61.6 per cent of the total population was in the age group 20-66 years, and people aged 67-79 years represented 9.7 per cent of the population. The oldest, 80 years and over, represented 4.3 per cent. Seen in conjunction with the total population, Hedmark had most residents aged 80 years and over, and Oslo had the fewest.