Nearly 37,500 immigrants moved to Norway last year

A total of almost 37,500 non-Nordic citizens immigrated to the country last year.

Fewer immigrants seeking refuge moved to Norway in 2019, but labor immigration continued to rise. 

Labor was the most important immigration reason last year, and 16,100 people came to Norway to work during 2019, according to Statistics Norway (SSB). 

That is an increase of 889 migrants from the previous year. 

A total of 12,500 people immigrated to Norway last year for family reasons, while 4,300 people were granted residence permits in Norway as refugees. 

Both of the latter two groups have declined compared to 2018. So did the number of immigrants due to education-related reasons. 

Poles at the front of labor immigrants

However, the increase in labor immigrants nevertheless contributed to keeping the total proportion of immigrants at the same level as in 2018. 

Poles still make up the largest group of non-Nordic labor immigrants. 

3,600 Poles immigrated in 2019. In the second place, 1,800 people from Lithuania followed, and then 1,000 labor immigrants from India. 

The largest proportion of those who arrived in Norway as refugees last year was from Congo. 

1,300 Congolese were granted residence permits last year, while 1,200 refugees arrived from Syria.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today