Immigration and crime: Norway

Are immigrants overrepresented in crime in Norway? And why?

This is part of a series. See also:

• Immigration and crime: Denmark

• Immigration and crime: Sweden

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Introduction and overview

In previous posts, I looked at the topic of immigration and crime in Denmark and Sweden. Here I continue by reviewing the data from Norway. As we will see, things that apply in Sweden and Denmark generally do in Norway as well.

Over the years, there have been several studies about immigration and crime in Norway using register data, most of which is reviewed by Skardhamar (2017). Notable examples include Andersen et al. (2017); Skardhamar et al. (2014); Skardhamar et al. (2011); Evensen (2009); and Kardell & Carlsson (2009). More recently, Statistics Norway (SSB) have published relevant data in 2020 and 2024, though without any associated detailed reports or statistical analyses.

Based on recent and prior findings, a few conclusions follow. Overall, immigrants are just moderately overrepresented in crime in Norway. This assertion, however, masks significant heterogeneity. Western immigrants are underrepresented in criminality and non-Western immigrants are substantially overrepresented. This is not specific to the Norwegian context — there is considerable consistency in relative crime rates of immigrant groups across all the Nordic countries.

Why do crime rates differ between immigrant groups, or between immigrants and natives? The usual answers given tend to be population structure and socioeconomic status. Of these, immigrants’ lower age is an important contributor. But population structure and socioeconomic status together are insufficient to fully account for the disparities.

Content

• Prisoners in Norway

• Violent crime rates by national origin

• Offense type

• Causes of immigrant crime disparities

Prisoners in Norway