Oslo - Demographics

Demographics

An estimated 29.6% of Oslo's residents are of an immigrant or non-Norwegian background (about 181,000 inhabitants), predicted to increase to between 44% and 51% around 2030. In 2008, the immigrant population accounted for about 82% of the population growth of the city. From 1970 to 2007, the ethnic Norwegian population decreased by 10.1% while the immigrant population increased by 823.6%. Pakistanis make up the singe largest ethnic minority, followed by Swedes, Somalis, and Poles (—these are the four largest ethnic minority groups. Other large immigrant groups are people from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Turkey, Morocco, Iraq and Denmark.

By June 2009, more than 40% of Oslo schools had a majority of people of immigrant backgrounds, with some schools having up to a 97% immigrant share. Schools are also increasingly divided by ethnicity, with white flight being widespread in some of the eastern parts of the city. In the borough Groruddalen in 2008 for instance, the ethnic Norwegian population decreased by 1,500, while the immigrant population increased by 1,600. From 2000–2007, 7,250 ethnic Norwegians moved out of the city, while 32,700 people of immigrant background, mostly non-western, moved in.

The population of Oslo is currently increasing at a record rate of nearly 2% annually (17% over the last 15 years), making it the fastest-growing Scandinavian capital. The increase is due, in almost equal degree, to a high birth-rate and immigration, though both are largely due to immigration, since the number of ethnic Norwegians in the city of Oslo is actually decreasing. In particular, immigration from Poland and the Baltic states has increased sharply since the accession of these countries to the EU in 2004.

Oslo is a city with various religious communities. The city has a low percentage of Christians in contrast to other parts of the country. As of 2009, 6% of the population of Oslo are Muslim, but just 3.59% are registered Muslims.