What foreigners in Oslo think of the quality of life in the Norwegian capital
Approximately one-third of Oslo's residents have what's described as a foreign background, meaning they were born abroad or to two foreign-born parents in Norway.
The reason children born to two foreign-born parents are included in immigration figures is that Norway only grants citizenship to children born in the country if they have
at least one parent who is a Norwegian citizen
.
According to a public health survey from the
Norwegian Institute of Public Health
, immigrants in the Norwegian capital were lonelier, had slightly worse health, and poorer finances than Norwegians.
'The survey documents significant social and geographical health disparities in Oslo. It also points to a large gap in health and quality of life between different age and immigrant groups,' the report's conclusion read.
Some 45,480 participated in the survey, which was translated into several languages to ensure that immigrants were significantly represented in the figures.
Significant differences also exist between the capital's immigrant groups. Those hailing from Asia, South and Latin America, and Eastern Europe reported the highest levels of loneliness, with those born in Asia being twice as lonely as those born in Norway.
Additionally, those from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe had lower trust in society than the rest of the population.
Furthermore, non-western immigrants and immigrants from Eastern Europe had worse finances than other residents.
Over half of those from Eastern Europe said they struggled to make ends meet, with 60 percent of immigrants from European countries outside the EU and 70 percent of immigrants from Africa or Asia experiencing the same.
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In comparison, one in three Oslo residents in total said they had trouble making ends meet.
Healthwise, immigrants from Asia and European countries outside the EU had the lowest proportion of those saying they were in good health. However, those from the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand reported the best health – even higher than Norwegians and those from Nordic countries. ¨
'The large differences within and between districts, including variations among immigrant groups, emphasise the need for targeted measures that take into account both socioeconomic, cultural and health-related factors,' the report's findings read.
Generally, the report found that its residents considered Oslo a good place to live. Seven out of ten considered their own health to be good, and most experience Oslo as a safe city.
READ ALSO:
What is Oslo's traditional east-west divide, and does it still exist today?
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