Attitudes towards immigrants and immigration, 2000

Each year Statistics Norway (SSB) measures peoples attitudes toward immigrants and immigration policy by asking a representative sample of the population to take a standpoint on the following four statements: Norway should allow at least as many refugees and asylum seekers to live here as it currently does, Immigrants have too easy access to social assistance compared with Norwegians, Immigrants should have the same opportunity as Norwegians to work, and Immigrants are more criminal than Norwegians.

Small changes in attitudes

The only significant change from last year concerns the first statement. Sixty-four per cent think that Norway should take in as many refugees and asylum seekers as it currently does, while the percentage that disagree with this is 29 per cent. In 1999, 71 per cent agreed with the statement, while 20 per cent disagreed. There were only insignificant changes from 1999 to 2000 in the answers to the other three questions. Fifty-three per cent agreed with the assertion that immigrants have too easy access to social assistance, and 50 per cent agreed with the claim that immigrants are more criminal than Norwegians. Finally, more than 90 per cent believe that immigrants should have the same opportunity as Norwegians to work.

Many asylum seekers in the country

The opinions expressed in response to this type of question are often affected by the ongoing debate at the time the people are polled. Many asylum seekers arrived in Norway in 1998 and even more in 1999. The level has remained high in 2000 too. In the summer of 2000 many were worried that the number of asylum seekers was very high, and that the time spent waiting in asylum receptions centres for a final decision and possible settlement in a municipality was extremely long. In such a situation it is easy to believe that Norway is taking in too many refugees and asylum seekers. There were hardly any other important issues in the media that could put the large number of asylum seekers in a more conciliatory light. When the interviews were conducted in 1999, the media were absorbed with the stream of refugees created by the war in Kosovo, and there seemed to be wide support for the governments policy of allowing 6 000 displaced Kosovo Albanians temporary residence in Norway. The decline in the number of persons with a positive view of the immigration level this year must consequently be viewed in relation to the fact that an especially high number of positive answers were given the year before.

More positive throughout the 90s

The same questions have been asked since 1993. Even though there are basically small changes from one year to the next, the responses to these questions show that attitudes toward immigration and immigration policy have become generally somewhat more positive throughout the 90s.

Data are collected through SSBs Omnibus survey, second quarter 2000. Out of a gross sample of 1 987 persons, 1 395 (70 per cent) answered.

Tables:

• Table 1 Attitude towards immigrants and immigration policy. Per cent