The population of Svalbard increases

SvalbardSvalbard.Photo: pixabay.com

Despite significant downsizing in Major Norwegian industries increasing number of Norwegians and foreigners are living at Svalbard. Only kindergarten children will be fewer in numbers.

The population of Svalbard as of July this year shows that in total 2,667 people live on the island.

Of those 2,162 people live in Longyearbyen and Ny-Alesund, and 495 people in Barentsburg,  according the index from Statistics Norway (SSB).

That’s an increase of 13 people in total, ten of which were in Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund and three in Barentsburg.

There was also a report of fewer children at kindergarten age residing in the area. In 2015 there there were 157 children between one and five years living on Svalbard. As of the first half of this year, the number decreased to 98.

47 percent of residents in Svalbard come from South Norway and 27 percent from North Norway. The proportion of Northern Norway is dwindling. Foreigners make up 26 percent of the population.

The largest age group living on the island are those between 20 and 44 years.

Among the foreign men are Swedes in the largest group, with Thais in second place. Among the women, most are Thais, followed by Swedes.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today

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