Naturalisations, 2011

The number of naturalisations in 2011 was 14 300, which is the second highest number ever registered in Norway.

As in 2009, former Somali, Iraqi and Afghan citizens were the three largest groups who were granted Norwegian citizenship.

The largest group of foreign citizens who were granted Norwegian citizenship in 2011 (2 100 in total) was from Somalia. Former Afghan citizens were the second largest group with 1 300 naturalisations. The third largest group was from Iraq, with 950 naturalisations.

Around 41 per cent of all Norwegian citizenships granted went to Asians. The second largest group was Africans, whose total number of naturalisations accounted for 32 per cent of all naturalisations in 2011. Former European citizens made up 18 per cent of all naturalisations.

One out of three younger than 18 years of age

Thirty-three per cent of all the new citizens were children. Among former Somali citizens, almost 50 per cent were younger than 18 years old.

About 53 per cent of those who were granted Norwegian citizenship in 2011 were women. The proportion of women was especially high among women from the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, with three in four women.

4 000 in Oslo

Twenty-eight per cent of the 14 300 who were naturalised in 2011 were resident in Oslo. Sogn og Fjordane and Finnmark had the lowest percentage of naturalisations in 2011, with 1 per cent.

Tables:

• Table 1 Naturalisations, by sex, age and previous citizenship. 2011
• Table 2 Naturalisations by previous citizenship. 1977-2011
• Table 3 Naturalisations, by county and previous citizenship. 2011