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Intercultural city: Oslo, Norway
 Most people do not think of Oslo as a place of great cultural diversity. Norway was isolated from the main flows of internal European migration for many centuries and was not a colonial power. It is still a relatively new nation only recently celebrating its centenary of independence. For many years it was primarily a country of emigration as people left behind poverty for a new life in the US and Canada. Only in the 1970s, with the revival of the economy led by offshore oil production, did the tide turn and Norway became a place of attraction for immigrants and the majority of them have settled in the capital, Oslo, adding a cosmopolitan touch to this quiet capital of the North.
Population diversity
The total population in Oslo is 529,846 (2005) and it is growing rapidly. About 22% of these, 118,337, are immigrants, with the majority of these (81%) of non-western origin. About 40% of school children are of migrant background. Unlike most other cities in Norway, Oslo is a culturally diverse city in the sense that people from many different countries and with different ethnic backgrounds live there, often in long-standing communities.
However, Oslo presents a stark picture in terms of the spatial distribution of migrant communities as the map below demonstrates.
Profile and activities
Intercultural profile
Expert report
2010
Activities and projects
OXLO – Oslo Extra Large
Oslo Intercultural strategy
Intercultural Cities Index
What is the ICC Index?
Results
Additional information
Intercultural organisations in Oslo
Web site for newcomers in Oslo
Useful links
Web site dedicated to ICC
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