In May last year, Rima Iraki, then opinion editor at the Norwegian newspaper Romerikes Blad, threw a metaphorical grenade into the Norwegian press-pages:
Immigrant children now want to go "home" to their parents' country of origin, she wrote, adding that this was especially true of those with higher education.
"One might assume that Norwegian-born 'elite immigrants' – who are far more integrated than their own parents – would feel at home in Norway," she wrote.
But that was not necessarily the case, because some of them feel they will never be truly "Norwegian," she added.
The solution several were considering, according to Iraki, was to move to their parents' country of origin.
The reactions were instant, and op-ed pages and comment sections overflowed with strong opinions on the matter.
The debate was important, but the knowledge base weak, the Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) concluded. They therefore asked researchers from the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR) at OsloMet to find out how many descendants of immigrants actually leave Norway each year.
They have now done so.
How many actually leave?
"Emigration is relatively uncommon among descendants of immigrants in Norway. Fewer than one percent emigrate in the course of a year," says researcher Marianne Tønnessen.
Together with researcher Tone Liodden, she has examined how many Norwegian-born individuals with immigrant parents emigrated in the period 2000–2023.
The main findings, presented in a new report (nva.sikt.no), show that:
- Fewer than one percent of Norwegian-born individuals with immigrant parents aged 18–35 emigrate on average in the course of a year.
- The share has declined over time.
- Level of education plays a role. A slightly higher proportion of those with higher education (including a bachelor's degree) emigrate, compared to those without higher education.
- The majority, 80 percent, do not move to their parents' country of birth. Children of parents from Nordic and Western countries most often move to their parents' country of birth.
- Many return to Norway. After five years, 43 percent have settled in Norway again.
Does this mean the entire debate was simply a storm in a teacup?
"No. We have looked at those who have actually left Norway, not those who are considering doing so. The latter group will always be larger, and it is primarily this group Iraki was talking about," says Liodden, adding:
"If many people are contemplating emigration as an option – because they do not feel accepted in Norway, or are worried about what the future here holds for people with a minority background – that is in itself an important phenomenon that is worth examining."
Some had experienced exclusion in Norway. Living in another country can therefore partly be about being able to live somewhere where one feels greater acceptance, and where there is less risk of being subjected to negative attitudes.– Tone Liodden
Belonging and identity
In addition to studying actual migration patterns, Liodden has interviewed 13 people between the ages of 26 and 53 who have moved abroad.
Several of them recognize the sense of exclusion Iraki described when she sparked the debate a year ago.
"Some of them had experienced exclusion in Norway. Living in another country can therefore partly be about being able to live somewhere where one feels greater acceptance, and where there is less risk of being subjected to negative attitudes and behavior," says Liodden.
She believes the decision to move abroad is influenced to a greater extent by factors related to belonging and identity for descendants of immigrants than for other Norwegians who move abroad.
"That is probably especially true for descendants with a visibly minority background," says Liodden.
She argues that questions of belonging and identity become more acute for many descendants.
"They may experience greater uncertainty about who they are and where they belong. At the same time, they often have ties to other parts of the world, which can offer alternative ways of seeing themselves," says Liodden, adding:
"Emigrating may therefore be a more natural option for them when they are faced with questions of identity or other significant choices in life."
She emphasises, however, that they have interviewed only a small number of people with different backgrounds.
"This is the first study to describe some of the reasons why descendants emigrate. But it does not cover the full range of motivations among all those who leave Norway," says Liodden.
Ambitions and a sense of adventure
At the same time, the researchers stress that there are also other, strong motivations for moving abroad. Personal ambitions and a sense of adventure can be just as important.
"Ambitions and a sense of adventure as explanations received little attention in the debate last year. But it is a fairly universal reason why some people choose to move abroad, perhaps especially when you come from a small place in a small country, and realize that the world has more to offer," says Liodden.
She emphasizes that wanderlust is not unique to people with an immigrant background.
"In our analysis we see that a higher proportion of those with higher education emigrate, regardless of background. These are people who tend to be attractive on the international labour market, and who have high ambitions on their own behalf," says Liodden.
