Rapid growth hits housing market

It took Norway a few thousand years to reach a population of just 5 million. Another  million, though, is expected just 17 years from now and cities like Oslo are struggling to keep up with demand for housing, as real estate prices soar. Figures released recently by state statistics bureau SSB suggest that Norway’s population [...]

Immigration breaks new record

Around 80,000 persons moved to Norway last year, the vast majority coming from other European countries where unemployment is high. The influx exceeded the numbers expected by researchers at state statistics bureau SSB, and marks the highest level of immigration ever. More than 260,000 European immigrants now live in Norway, reported newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) [...]

Immigrants ‘save’ outlying areas

With Dutch immigrants running tourist camps in mountain valleys and Somalian refugees playing football in Telemark, it comes as no surprise that families from Estonia and Poland are settling down on the windswept island of Herøy, while Palestinians are carving out new lives in Tromsø. Many Norwegian communities far from Oslo see these new settlers [...]

Norwegians now number 5 million

It’s official: As of Monday, March 19, Norway’s population stands at 5 million persons because of record-high growth rates fueled by longer life-spans, the highest fertility rate in Europe and immigration. New residents from Poland and Sweden are accounting for much of Norway’s growth. The official population figure is based on statistics gathered during a [...]

Population approaches 5 million

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg mentioned it in his New Year’s speech over the weekend, and state statistics bureau SSB has the numbers to confirm it: Norway’s population will surpass the 5 million-mark some time this year. The country’s population stood at 4,985,000 on New Year’s Day. That’s up from 4,479,000 in 2000, and more than [...]

New census taken over the weekend

State officials undertook Norway’s first official census since 2001 on Saturday. As Norway’s population reaches, and may surpass, the 5-million mark, the census information will have a great impact on the efficiency of how the state can operate over the next decade. Census information will be used to plan construction of schools, hospitals and other [...]