Norway: Immigrants stay around

Around 70 percent of persons immigrating to Norway in the past 16 years have stayed in the country, according the Norwegian immigration directorate UDI.

A total of 254,000 persons immigrated to Norway from non-Nordic countries between 1990 and 2005, reported UDI on Tuesday. Seven of 10 are still living in Norway.

Family ties are the main reason people from non-Nordic countries move to Norway, with 43 percent of the immigrants coming to be reunited with relatives.

The figures appear in a report that UDI prepares every year for the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Net immigration in 2005 reached 19,000, up by more than 5,000 from the year before. It was the highest level of immigration ever recorded, and was attributed to Norway's labour shortage and new rules making it easier for European workers to cross borders in search of jobs.

Most of the immigrants to Norway have arrived from Poland, Thailand, Iraq and Somalia.

Source: Aftenposten (English)

See also:
Norway: 50% of original immigrants on welfare

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