Title: "What is the status of integration in Norway?"
Sub-title: " Indicators, status and development trends in 2024"

Publisher: "The Directorate of Integration and Diversity" (IMDi)
URL to original report (Norwegian + English): https://www.imdi.no/om-imdi/rapporter/2024/indikatorer-status-og-utviklingstrekk-2024/
Publication date: 28.08.2024


Note: This summary in English was created using the AI tool ChatGPT.

Summary

IMDi’s 2024 report provides an overview of key indicators of integration in Norway and highlights the following findings:

• Population and Demographics: Norway has seen a major shift in population composition over the last 50–60 years. In 1970, immigrants made up only 1.5 percent of the population, while by the beginning of 2024, immigrants comprised 16.8 percent and Norwegian-born individuals with immigrant parents made up 4 percent. Immigrants in Norway are a diverse group: half come from European countries, one-third from Asia, and twelve percent from Africa. A relatively small proportion, under five percent, come from North, Central, and South America, as well as Oceania. Immigrants arrive in Norway for various reasons, including work, study, family reunification, or as refugees from crises or conflicts.

• Education: Participation of immigrant children in the education system is increasing. Over 85% of immigrant children attend preschool, and 75% complete upper secondary school, marking significant improvement. However, there are performance disparities between children of immigrants and non-immigrants, especially among boys from immigrant backgrounds.

• Employment and Workforce participation: Although employment rates among immigrants are still lower than the general population, the gap is narrowing. Since 2015, the employment gap has decreased from 14% to 12%. Ukrainian refugees have relatively high employment rates, with 45% securing jobs immediately after completing integration programs, despite language barriers that remain a challenge for many.

• Living Conditions and Health: Immigrants face greater challenges regarding financial stability and living conditions. For instance, 28% of immigrants live in low-income households, compared to just 7% of the general population. Mental health is also a concern, with immigrants experiencing a higher prevalence of mental health issues compared to the general population.

• Social participation and Discrimination: Immigrants are less likely to participate in social activities and more likely to face discrimination. For example, 66% of immigrants report experiencing discrimination, compared to 40% of the general population. Children of immigrants born in Norway tend to have stronger social networks but also report higher levels of discrimination.

• Political and Social integration: Immigrants and their descendants are less engaged in political life than the rest of the population. In the last parliamentary election, only 50% of immigrants voted, compared to 80% of citizens without immigrant backgrounds.

Contents

Preface
Summary
Figures
1. Introduction
1.1. Background and purpose
1.2. Key terms and definitions
1.3. Content of the report
2. The population with immigrant backgrounds in Norway
2.1 How many immigrants are there in Norway?
2.2 Half of the immigrants come from European countries
2.3 Trends towards decentralisation
2.4 Higher proportion with short period of residence in 2024
2.5 Escape the biggest cause of immigration last year
2.6 Significant differences in education between different immigrant groups
3. Education and qualifications
3.1 Kindergarten attendance is increasing most among the youngest children
3.2 Stable differences in primary and lower secondary school results
3.3 Four out of ten immigrant boys do not complete upper secondary school
3.4 Nearly half of people born in Norway to immigrant parents enrol in higher education
3.5 Record-high participation in the Introduction Programme
3.6 Better Norwegian language test results among women
4 Work
4.1 Employment rate is lowest for recently arrived refugees
4.2 Small gender differences among people born in Norway to immigrant parents
4.3 Four of ten immigrant women work part time
4.4 Poorer working environment and more uncertain everyday working life
4.5 Sick leave increases more with age among immigrants
4.6 Unemployment lasts longer for immigrants
4.7 Young immigrants are more vulnerable to exclusion
5 Financial situation and living conditions
5.1 20 per cent lower income
5.2 Immigrants more often experience financial difficulties
5.3 Immigrant children still heavily overrepresented
5.4 Immigrants more likely to rent their home
5.5 One in five immigrants have cramped living conditions
5.6 Immigrants have higher life expectancy
5.7 Mental health problems most common among immigrants
5.8 Immigrants from Asia and Africa have the lowest quality of life
6 Political integration
6.1 Immigrants and people born in Norway to immigrant parents have lower electoral participation
6.2 Immigrants have lower levels of political participation
6.3 Immigrants are underrepresented in politics
6.4 There are still many who obtain Norwegian citizenship
6.5 Immigrants are increasing their use of digital media
6.6 There are varying degrees of trust in different social institutions
7 Social integration
7.1 Immigrants have less trust in other people
7.2 Increasingly more contact with immigrants in different arenas
7.3 People born in Norway feel integrated but not accepted
7.4 Poor Norwegian language skills are the biggest obstacle to volunteering
7.5 Financial situation plays a major role in whether children participate in leisure activities
7.6 The positive trend has reversed
7.7 Children of immigrants experience more discrimination
7.8 Immigrants more often exposed to violence and fraud
7.9 The right to live a free life
8 Integration of refugees from Ukraine
8.1 Demographics
8.2 Education and qualifications
8.3 Work
8.4 Financial situation and living conditions
8.5 Political and social Integration
References