1 Migration to Norway Numbers, reasons, consequences, and a little on living conditions Key note address to NFU conference: Globalisation: Nation States, Forced Migration and Human Rights Trondheim 27-28 Nov 2008 By Lars Østby, senior research fellow Statistics Norway www.ssb.no 1
Definition Immigrants are persons born abroad to foreign-born parents: 381 000 - and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents (descendants): 79 000 From Asia, Africa, Latin Am, E. Europe minus EEA: 229 000 immigrants and 69 500 descendants. Total 460 000, 9,7 % of population. 1.1. 2008 2
Does our definition loose many immigrants? 1.1. 2008: Third generation: 160 persons, in a few of Oslos sandboxes Children of one descendant and one immigrant: 2 900; 1700 with Pakistani and 330 Turkish background In both groups, 93 % under 13 years of age 3
MYTH: Norway has a huge immigration. REALITY: Data is not comparable, but Norway has less foreign born than most other Western European countries. Single years might show comparatively large number of migrants, but the proportion immigrants are larger in most of Western Europe 4
Proportion Foreign Born 5
Immigrants and descendants 1970-2008 6
20 Largest Immigrant Groups. 2008. Absolute figures 7
Net migration by citizenship, 2007 8
Reason for Immigration, Non-Nordic Immigrants,1990-2007 9
Proportion still resident. By year and reason for immigration 1990-2007. 10
Proportion of Immigrants and descendants from Africa, Asia, Europe (outside EEA) 11
Population size 1950-2060 12
Immigrant population 1990-2060 13
Projected population 2050 14
Proportion married among descendants of Pakistani origin at age 18-21 years, 1998-2008 15
Births per 1000 women aged 20-24 years. Norway and immigrant population from Pakistan 1990-2007 16
Proportion attending school 2006 17
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Employment and duration of residence 21
Towards the labour market? Employed immigrants and descendants aged 25-29, by country background, 4th Q 2006. Per Cent 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Total 25-29 years Immigrants Descendants 0 In total Nordic Vestern Europe New EUcountris Eastern Europe (else) Asia (incl. Turkey) Africa Latin America 22
Persons in households with an annual income less than 60 per cent of median income. EU scale. 2005. Per cent 23
Purpose with the Survey on immigrant living conditions 2005/2006 Describe aspects of living conditions not covered by registers Compare with survey among immigrants 1996 ordinary surveys for the total population The same groups in other countries Compare with a special sample of descendants and pre-school immigrants, from Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam 24
What we already knew Diversity, immigrants are as divers as the rest of the population, and have in addition a background from 213 different countries Ten major non-western countries, no new labour immigrants Integration in Norway goes slowly, varies much between groups, but moves in a positive direction That s why country background and duration of stay should be an integral part in all analyses 25
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Percentage having experienced discrimination Kilde: Levekår blant innvandrere 2005/2006 27
Discrimination Almost 50 pct of the respondents had experienced discrimination Immigrants from Somalia, Iraq and Iran consider themselves most frequently exposed Men experience discrimination more often than women. Descendants, and young immigrants brought up in Norway, experience as much discrimination as older immigrants. 28
What we learned from the survey on immigrant living conditions: Worse housing conditions, improving Frequent contact with country of origin, few move back Virtually every immigrants wants to be naturalised Employment is improving, but large differences between the groups Worse working conditions Less exposed to criminality Religion is important for many, but not for all from Moslem countries. It is rather easy to practise ones religion 29
Most refugees have no real reason to fear persecution in their country of origin Total Slovenia Sweden 21.6 38.2 46.3 Portugal Poland Norway Netherlands Luxemburg 28.1 39.5 48.7 51.8 54.2 Italy Ireland Hungary Greece UK France 32.9 39.8 42.3 51.2 54.7 61.2 Finland Spain Denmark Germany Czech Rep 39.9 42.6 41.3 55.2 66.4 Switzerland Belgium Austria 42.9 43.1 47.1 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 30
Proportion wishing to receive refugees and asylum seekers at the same level as today. 1993-2007. Source: Attitudes Towards Immigrants 2007, Statistics Norway 31
Let many or some from another ethnic group than the majority settle in the country Total Slovenia Sweden Portugal Poland Noway 38.6 53.7 56.2 54.6 56.6 83.0 Netherlands Luxemburg Italy Ireland Hungary Greece UK France Finland Spain Denmark 13.8 14.1 37.3 57.9 46.2 50.2 54.7 51.8 48.5 63.7 65.0 Germany Czech Rep. Switzerland Belgium Austria 33.7 46.9 58.0 55.3 66.4 0 20 40 60 80 100 32
Some conclusions Reduced differences in demographic behaviour, over time and between generations Education is a success story, especially for descendants Immigrants have lower employment and higher unemployment. Improving for many groups, but not for all Income differences are persisting, at least for immigrants Discrimination occurs Health declines more rapidly with age Attitudes in Norway are better than in many European countries 33