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31 May, 2017

Role of international migration in population change in 2016

Home Maps Role of international migration in population change in 2016

In the Nordic Region, a trend towards ageing and population decline has been observed in many rural municipalities. As this map shows, this trend would have been even more pronounced without international migration.

During 2016 the Nordic population grew by 252 205 inhabitants. Seventy-eight percent of this increase was due to positive net immigration. At the municipal level the role of international migration is clearly visible. Three hundred and twenty-four (27%) municipalities experienced population growth due exclusively to immigration. Put another way, more than sixty percent of Nordic municipalities would have experienced population decline without immigration.

Map Facts

This map shows the role of international migration in sustaining population growth for some municipalities and regions in 2016. The map shows population change at municipal level (the big map) and regional level (the small map).

The green and yellow areas on the map show the municipalities/regions where the population increased during 2016. In the yellow areas, population growth would not have occurred without immigration whereas in the green areas population growth is apparent even without taking into account immigration. The red areas show the municipalities/regions where the population decreased during the same period even taking into account immigration.

International migration refers to persons who have moved to or from abroad. This map does not differentiate between different forms of migration. It can be migration due to work and studies, refugees who were granted asylum or citizens that have returned from abroad.

Asylum seekers are not included in the migration statistics as only those who have been granted asylum are registered as part of the population.

Map id: 02249c

Designer/Cartographer
Gustaf Norlén

Data source
NSI’s

Published 31 May 2017

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