June 23, 2026
Statistics Norway has released its latest survey examining public attitudes towards immigration and refugees, based on data gathered from January 6 to February 14, 2026. This survey provides insights into evolving public opinion regarding Norway’s immigration and refugee policies, revealing significant shifts compared to the previous year.
Shifts in Perception of Immigrants’ Contributions
In 2026, 33% of respondents strongly agreed that most immigrants make a valuable contribution to Norwegian working life, a decrease from 41% in 2025 but an increase from 27% in 2017. Overall agreement rose to 45%, up from 37% last year and comparable to 44% in 2017. Conversely, only 5% expressed disagreement, with 2% strongly opposing the statement, a slight rise from 4% in 2025.
When considering cultural enrichment, 35% of individuals strongly agreed that most immigrants enhance Norway’s cultural landscape, a decline from 39% in 2025 but higher than the 33% recorded in 2017. Total agreement climbed from 32% in 2025 to 37% in 2026, while opposition fell to 8%, and those who strongly disagreed decreased to just 3%.
Concerns Over Security
The survey also explored perceptions of security. In 2026, 6% of respondents strongly believed that most immigrants are a source of social unrest, slightly up from 5% in 2025 but down from 9% in 2017. Overall, 16% of participants expressed agreement with this statement, a reduction from 17% last year. In contrast, 31% disagreed, and 29% strongly disagreed.
Attitudes Toward Refugee and Asylum Policies
Responses concerning access to residence permits for refugees and asylum seekers have notably shifted. Only 7% of respondents in 2026 felt it should be easier for these groups to obtain residence permits, a drop from 13% in 2025 and 16% in 2017. Meanwhile, 49% preferred the status quo, down from 52% in both 2025 and 2017, while those advocating for stricter measures surged from 24% to 32% in 2026.
Long-Term Attitudinal Trends
Data collected from 2017 to 2026 indicates a transformation in attitudes towards key statements. In 2026, 71% strongly agreed that all immigrants should have equal employment opportunities as Norwegians, a drop from 74% in 2025, though still an improvement from 64% in 2017. Overall agreement remained unchanged at 18% since last year.
Additionally, 14% of respondents strongly believed immigrants should strive to assimilate closely with Norwegians, down from 15% in 2025 and 23% in 2017, while overall agreement saw minimal change, moving from 25% in 2025 to 24% in 2026. When considering the economic contributions of labor migrants from non-Nordic countries, 30% strongly agreed in 2026, a decline from 33% in the previous year.
Regarding concerns that most immigrants exploit the Social Security system, 6% strongly agreed in 2026, up from 4% in 2025, whereas overall agreement declined slightly from 15% to 14%.
Personal Comfort and Interactions With Immigrants
The 2026 survey also assessed personal comfort with immigrants in various roles. A substantial 93% expressed comfort employing an immigrant as a home care aide, while 96% felt similarly about having an immigrant doctor. Moreover, 86% felt at ease if their child wished to marry an immigrant, with 97% comfortable working alongside immigrants.
Contact with immigrants across different sectors reached 87% in 2026, marking the highest level since 2017, while those reporting no contact decreased to 14%, down from 15% in the previous year. In workplaces, contact increased to 63% this year from 60% in 2025. Additionally, relationships among friends showed 48% of individuals having contact, rising from 44% in 2025, and neighborhood interactions remained steady at 37%.
The survey targeted Norwegian citizens aged 16 to 79 and was conducted by telephone interviews as part of Statistics Norway’s Travel and Social Survey. Sample sizes in recent years ranged from approximately 1,000 to 1,200 respondents, with results weighted to account for educational distribution skewed since 2010.
