Weekly Bulletin issue 34, 1996

Stable population trends - but greater out-migration in northern Norway

Population trends in Norway are more stable than they have been for some time, Statistics Norway's preliminary population statistics for the first half of 1996 confirm. Birth and death statistics are at the same level they have been for the last couple of years. Migration patterns show little change, although there is an increased tendency to move to central areas.

In the first six months of the year 31,000 children were born, about the same number as in the first half of last year. Deaths totalled 22,400, down 200 from the year before. A total of 11,450 persons immigrated to Norway in the first half of the year, while 8,650 emigrated. These figures are respectively 600 and 850 higher than last year.

Greater out-migration in the north

The internal migration pattern between counties was basically the same as last year, with gains for the counties surrounding the Oslo fjord and losses for inland counties and all the coastal counties from Hordaland northwards. The biggest changes were increased migration to Akershus County and higher migration from North Norway. Net migration to Akershus County totalled 1,100 in the first six months of this year, against 500 in the first half of last year. The net migration loss for North Norway was 1,650 compared to 950 last year.

Norway's population at the end of the second quarter totalled 4,381,400.

New Statistics

Population Statistics. Population 1 July and 2nd quarter changes.
Statistics are published every quarter in the Weekly Bulletin of Statistics and in NOS Regional Statistics no. 7/96. More information: Anita Johansson, tel. +47 62 88 54 85, e-mail: 3@ssb.no and Kirsten Enger Dybendal, tel. +47 62 88 52 96, e-mail: 3@ssb.no.

Weekly Bulletin issue 34, 1996