Oslo grew by over 9,000 inhabitants last year. But the birth figures were the lowest since 2003.
It has been a long time since Oslo could call itself Europe’s fastest growing capital. But the pandemic years, when the population actually decreased, are now history.
One year ago, Oslo finally passed 700,000 inhabitants. And today, Statistics Norway presents smoking fresh figures for the whole of 2023: They show that there were 9,210 more Oslo citizens last year. This means that growth is back at the “good old level”.
The increase is similar to most years in the last decade. In 2021, the number was down to 2,817 people.
More people move in than out
So what is causing the population growth to make a sharp jump? What caused growth to stop during the corona was, among other things, the record high emigration.
In 2021, almost 40,000 Oslo citizens packed up their moving luggage and headed across the city limits. The following year, the emigrants numbered just over 32,000. And after several years with a minus in the relocation accounts, we are back on the plus side. This also includes moving from abroad.
Record low birth rates
It is no surprise either that Oslo women or other Norwegian women give birth to fewer children. But last year, only 8,407 new Oslo citizens were born. This is the lowest figure since 2003.
– There are more than 1,000 fewer a year, taken as a whole, says Magnus Haug, advisor at Statistics Norway.
At the other end of the “life account” is death. The mortality rate was also somewhat higher last year than in recent years. The reason is probably both an older population and corona deaths.
Thus, the item “life and death” – or the excess of births – constitutes a solid minus in the population.
High immigration
Then we are left with what really contributes to growth: Immigration. It also fell under the corona. But with the war in Ukraine and a new flow of refugees, the numbers rose sharply. The level of immigration in general is quite normal.
But the number of Ukrainian citizens who have immigrated has increased from 570 in 2021 to 2,400 in 2022.
– It comes on top of normal immigration and accounts for much of the growth, says Magnus Haug.
Last year we finally passed 700,000 Oslo citizens. During the whole year, there was a total of 9,210 more inhabitants. So the question is: When will we pass 800,000 if this continues?
The number cruncher in SSB responds defensively:
– No, the gods know! But our latest projections suggest that it could happen in the 2040s. But these calculations are of course uncertain.
In any case, there are only three months until new quarterly figures.
