Still, fewer deaths meant that the population increase was reduced only to 1 700. The provisional figures for vital statistics in the first quarter 2001 are generally lower than corresponding figures for the first quarter of 2000. We have to go back to the first quarter 1990 to find a lower increase. Net migration from abroad more than halved Immigration to Norway, among other reasons due to crises and conflict situations in Europe, has declined over the last quarters. The immigration surplus is back on approximately the same level as the first quarter 1997.
Iraqi citizens are the largest Asian group.
Among African citizens it is the countries on the Horn of Africa, Somalia and Ethiopia, that submit the highest number of citizens to Norway, a total of 400 persons in the first quarter 2001.