Population and population change, Q1 2007

The population increase in first quarter of the last two years has been clearly higher than in previous years. This year 7 500, or three quarters of the growth, is due to a net migration from abroad.

The increase of 10 400 persons is 1 300 higher than last year’s growth in the first quarter and 4 000 higher than in any year prior to the expansion of the EU and EEA with Poland and nine other countries. The excess of births has been greater before, but net migration from abroad was never larger. The net migration in the first quarter this year was 2 200 larger than in the first quarter last year, which until then was the highest ever.

Population growth in Oslo and Akershus

More than half of the increase came in the counties Oslo and Akershus, whereas the population decreased in seven counties. Birth deficit was the reason for the decrease in three of these counties - Hedmark, Oppland and Telemark. Three counties experienced population decrease due to migration - Sogn og Fjordane, Nord-Trøndelag and Finnmark, while Nordland experienced both migration and birth deficit.

All counties saw a net immigration from abroad, but only seven of them experienced an internal migration surplus. Oslo had the largest internal migration surplus (1000) followed by Akershus (600). Nordland experienced the largest migration deficit in absolute values (400). Compared with the size of the population, the internal migration deficit was largest in Finnmark and Sogn og Fjordane.

293 of Norway’s 431 municipalities, or two out of three municipalities, experienced an internal migration deficit in the first quarter of 2007.

Largest birth deficit in Hedmark

14 300 babies were born in the first quarter of 2007, 100 less than last year’s first quarter. 11 500 persons died, 800 more than last year. Six counties saw a birth deficit in the first quarter, the largest in Hedmark (200) and Oppland (100). Oslo had the largest birth surplus with 1 100 persons, followed by Rogaland (700), Akershus (500) and Hordaland (400).

253 of Norway’s 431 municipalities (60 per cent) had no excess of births.

Still high immigration from Poland

12 600 persons immigrated to Norway and 5 100 emigrated in the first quarter of 2007. The figures for the same period in 2006 were 10 500 and 5 200 respectively. Apart from the 1 700 Norwegian citizens who immigrated, European citizens made up 62 per cent of the 10 900 foreign citizens who came to Norway in the first quarter this year. Among the foreign citizens, the highest immigration was seen among Poles (2 900) - more than twice the number of 2006 - Swedes (1 100), Germans (700), Lithuanians (500) and Danes (400).