Naturalisations, 2000

The only period with a higher number of naturalizations was 1995-1997, with an average of around 12 000.

1 300 Yugoslavians received Norwegian citizenship

Persons with Yugoslavian citizenship constituted the largest group to receive Norwegian citizenship in both 2000 and the year before, with 1 300 and 1 200 naturalizations respectively. Pakistanis followed with 1 100, and Bosnians with 900. The many naturalizations of Bosnians is related to the fact that in 2000 many met the seven-year residency requirement and could therefore apply for Norwegian citizenship. Other major groups that received Norwegian citizenship were Vietnamese, Iraqis, Turks, Iranians and Sri Lankans, accounting for between 450 and 750 naturalizations.

Naturalizations of Pakistanis and Turks give the impression of far fewer naturalizations in 1999 than in preceding years and the following year. This most likely expresses fluctuations in the registration process instead of actual interest in changing citizenship. The quality of the Central Population Register, which is the source of population statistics, is generally good, but accumulations of reports due for instance to a shortage of application processing capacity can show up in the statistics.

Half went to Asians

Around half of all Norwegian citizenships granted went to Asians, who ever since the 80s have accounted for most naturalizations. In second place is East Europeans, whose total number of naturalizations increase every year and accounted for 30 per cent of all naturalizations in 2000. The increase among former East European citizens is related to the large percentage of Norwegian citizenships granted to Yugoslavians and Bosnians.

Former West European citizens made up barely 10 per cent of all naturalizations. In the past they used to make up a much larger percentage of all naturalizations, but the number has always been low. Former Nordic citizens accounted for 500 naturalizations, of which 250 were Swedes. Ever since 1977 a relatively modest number of Nordic citizens have taken out Norwegian citizenship, particularly considering the large number (28 000) of Nordic citizens living here.

Persons who were previously citizens of African states accounted for 7 per cent of naturalizations in 2000, down from 13 per cent in 1999. The decline was particularly evident among Somalis and Ethiopians.

127 500 naturalizations since 1977

There have been 127 500 naturalizations since 1977, which is as far back as the statistics go. Just over 80 per cent of the naturalizations involved previously non-Western citizens, i.e. persons with previous citizenships from Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Turkey and South and Central America.

Tables:

• Table 1 Naturalizations, by sex, age and previous citizenship. 2000
• Table 2 Naturalizations by previous citizenship. 1977-2000
• Table 3 Naturalizations, by county. 1977-2000
• Table 4 Naturalizations, by previous citizenship and county. 2000
• Table 5 Naturalizations, by sex, county and municipality. 2000
• Table 6 Naturalizations, by selected previous citizenship and age groups. 2000
• Table 7 Naturalizations. 1977-2000
• Table 8 Naturalizations. 1977-2000