Population and population change, Q1 2003

The number of live births, 13 500, was lower than in the first quarter last year, and this is the third consecutive year births decrease. Oslo, Akershus, Rogaland and Hordaland have the highest numbers of live births in absolute figures and compared to the population.

The population increased by 5 750, almost 600 lower than last year, due to an excess in births of 2 250 and net migration of 3 500. The slight decline in excess of births was outweighed by a lower number of deaths. The excess of births was slightly higher than in the 1^{s t} quarter 2002. The population growth was still lower than the previous year because the number of immigrants was lower than the number of emigrants.

Highest increase in Oslo and Akershus

45 per cent of the population growth of 5 750 found place in Oslo and Akershus, and another 30 per cent in Rogaland and Hordaland. Oslo and Akershus had a higher proportion in excess of births than from net migration. There was an increase in the population in all the counties, with the exception of Aust-Agder, Møre og Romsdal, Nordland og Finmark. In these counties the population decreased because the emigration to other parts of Norway was high.

3 500 more immigrants than emigrants

In the first quarter of 2003, 8 800 persons moved to Norway and 5 300 moved from the country. This was 250 fewer immigrations and 650 more emigrations than in the first quarter last year. As a result there was a net migration of 3 500 to the country, 900 fewer than in 2002. Among foreign citizens the highest net migration was found among Somalis citizens with approximately 400 more immigrations than emigrations. Net migration was also high among people from Iraq and Russia. Figures from one quarter alone are often caused by variations in emigration itself. It is also due to which cases that are prioritised by the immigration authorities. No changes from one or a few quarters should alone be used in a decision making process. All the counties had a net migration from abroad, and in relative terms it was highest in Finmark.

Looking at the internal migration pattern, only Oslo, Østfold and Sør-Trøndelag had a net immigration of any interest. The three most northern counties had a net migration loss to other counties of roughly 500, while Møre og Romsdal as a county alone had the highest net migration loss at about 300. In relative terms, this was three times higher than that from Finmark.