In spring 2025, Rima Iraki, society editor at Romerikes Blad, sparked a lively debate about so-called “elite immigrants” who are considering leaving Norway.
She described young adults with immigrant backgrounds, high levels of education, and strong ties to their parents’ country of origin, who are now looking abroad, whether for work, quality of life, or a sense of belonging.
The debate highlighted a topic that has received little scholarly attention: emigration among descendants of immigrants. While immigration has been extensively studied, we know far less about who chooses to leave Norway, and why.
“We know a lot about who comes to Norway, but far less about who leaves. That also applies to descendants of immigrants,” says project leader Tone Liodden.
Liodden is a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR) at OsloMet.
What will the project investigate?
The researchers aim to map out:
- Who are the descendants of immigrants who emigrate from Norway?
- Where do they go, and why?
- Do they return, or do they settle permanently abroad?
The project combines register data analysis with qualitative interviews to provide a nuanced picture of emigration patterns and motivations.
“We want to understand both the structural and personal reasons behind the decision to move. Is it education, job opportunities, discrimination—or perhaps a desire to explore another identity?” says Liodden.
Project timeline
The project runs from August to December 2025.
“This is a first attempt to shed light on a topic that many have strong opinions about, but which we currently know little about. We hope the project can contribute to a more knowledge-based public debate,” Liodden concludes.
The project is funded by The Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) and carried out by researchers Marianne Tønnessen and Tone Liodden at NIBR.
