As of 1 January 2026, 987,120 immigrants live in Norway – 17.5 per cent of the population, according to Statistics Norway (SSB). The largest immigrant groups come from Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania. Here you'll see who these groups are, when they came, and why they chose Norway.
The Largest Immigrant Groups in Norway in 2026
The three largest immigrant groups in Norway come from Poland (111,740 people), Ukraine (85,461), and Lithuania (43,065), as of 1 January 2026. These figures come from Statistics Norway (SSB), which counts as an immigrant anyone who lives in Norway, was born abroad, and has two parents born abroad.
| Country | Immigrants as of 1 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Poland | 111,740 |
| Ukraine | 85,461 |
| Lithuania | 43,065 |
| Syria | 42,040 |
| Sweden | 37,732 |
| Somalia | 27,769 |
| Eritrea | 25,819 |
| Pakistan | 24,821 |
| Russia | 22,384 |
| Afghanistan | 20,852 |
Each group has its own story. Some came to work, others fled from war. If you want to see the full development from the 1800s to today, you can read about immigration's history and the major waves.
Why Do People Come to Norway?
Family and work are the most common reasons for immigration. Of everyone who has come to Norway since 1990, 33 per cent came for family, 32 per cent for work, 24 per cent as refugees, and 9 per cent for education (Statistics Norway).
The picture changes over time. In 2025, roughly 41,000 people with citizenship from countries outside the Nordic region immigrated. Flight was the main reason, as it has been since 2022. Only 10,500 came to work – the lowest figure in 20 years.
Many stay. Of those who came as refugees during 1990–2025, 85 per cent still lived in Norway as of 1 January 2026. Among work immigrants, the proportion was 61 per cent, and among those who came to study, 37 per cent.
Immigrant, Refugee, or Asylum Seeker – What's the Difference?
An immigrant is a person who was born abroad with two parents born abroad, and who lives in Norway. The word says nothing about why the person came.
An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for protection in Norway and is waiting for an answer. A refugee is someone who has received protection. You can read how the asylum process in Norway works step by step. A work immigrant came to work, while family immigration means moving to a family member who already lives in Norway – for example, a spouse or a parent. Family immigration has been the single most common reason for immigration since 1990.
These terms are often mixed together in debates. For the civics exam, you should be able to distinguish them from each other.
Work Immigration: Poland, Lithuania, and Sweden
The largest work immigration in Norwegian history began on 1 May 2004, when Poland, Lithuania, and six other Eastern European countries became members of the EU. Through the EEA Agreement (the Agreement on the European Economic Area), EU citizens can work in Norway without a separate work permit. Many Poles and Lithuanians work in construction and engineering, industry, transport, and cleaning.
Swedes have been able to work freely in Norway for even longer. The common Nordic labour market came as early as 1954, and many young Swedes have taken jobs in Norwegian shops, cafés, and hospitals.
The first modern work immigration from countries outside Europe came in the late 1960s, in part from Pakistan and Turkey. That is why the Pakistani group is one of the oldest immigrant groups in the country.
Flight: Ukraine, Syria, Somalia, and Eritrea
Ukrainians are now Norway's second-largest immigrant group. After Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainians received temporary collective protection in Norway from March 2022. As of 1 January 2026, 85,461 Ukrainian immigrants live here – in 2022, the figure was around 6,500. Read more about Ukrainians' journey from temporary protection to work.
Syrians came particularly during the asylum wave in 2015 and 2016, during the civil war in Syria. Today, they are the fourth-largest group, with 42,040 people. Somalis (27,769) and Eritreans (25,819) came gradually from the 1990s onward, because of civil war and dictatorship. From Afghanistan (20,852), many came after the Taliban took power in 2021. What refugee groups have in common is that most stay and build a new life in Norway.
Who Are Norway-Born with Immigrant Parents?
Norway-born people with immigrant parents are people born in Norway with two immigrant parents. As of 1 January 2026, there are 238,507 people, or 4.2 per cent of the population. They are not counted as immigrants in statistics – they were born and grew up here.
The groups reflect immigration's history. Most Norway-born people have parents from Pakistan (roughly 19,000), Poland (17,500), and Somalia (16,400). That the Pakistani group tops the list shows how early this immigration started. In total, 21.7 per cent of Norway's population has an immigrant background – Norway has become a multicultural society.
Is Immigration a Topic on the Civics Exam?
Yes, immigration and multicultural society are part of the curriculum for the civics exam. You should know roughly what proportion of the population are immigrants, and why people have come to Norway. It is also useful to know that attitudes towards immigrants in Norway have become more positive over time, according to Statistics Norway.
On SamfunnPrep you will find practice questions for the civics exam and other tests, with questions about, among other things, population, immigration, and democracy. The figures in this article are exactly the kind of facts the exam asks about.
Ready to practise? Try SamfunnPrep for free.
