How do immigrants in Norway tend to vote?
New figures on immigrants and the general election in 2021 – published last week by Statistics Norway (SSB) – have revealed several voting patterns.
Several interesting voting patterns have been revealed in a new SSB report on immigrants and the general election in Norway in 2021.
Lower overall turnout
Voter turnout is lower among immigrants compared to Norwegian citizens without an immigrant background.
In the last three general elections, turnout was 80 percent for other Norwegian citizens. At the same time, it was around 55 to 50 percent among immigrants.
Among immigrants overall, participation fell from 55 percent in 2017 to 50 percent in 2021.
However, among those who have had the opportunity to vote in multiple elections, nearly 8 out of 10 people with an immigrant background have voted at least once during the last five elections.
Left-leaning
According to Norway's national statistics agency, immigrants vote for left-wing parties to a far greater extent than people without an immigrant background.
That means that support for the Red Party (Rødt), the Socialist Left Party (SV) and the Labour Party (AP) is far higher among immigrants compared to other voters.
Among Norwegians with two Norwegian-born parents, support for the three parties amounted to 37 percent. At the same time, among immigrants, it ended up at 57 percent.
Only 24 percent of immigrants said they voted for the Conservative Party (H) or the Progress Party (FRP) in the last election. In comparison, 33 percent of the other voters stated that they voted for these two parties.
Groups with the highest turnout
Support for left-wing parties is highest among voters with an immigrant background from African and Asian countries.
Among those with a background from African countries, a full 78 percent voted for one of the parties on the left. For people with a background from Asian countries, the share was 64 per cent.
A clear majority of those born in Norway with immigrant parents also voted for left-leaning political parties.
Overall, 61 percent voted for the AP, SV, or Red Party, while only 17 percent voted for the Conservatives or the right-wing FRP. This group is, therefore, even more left-wing than their parents.
Among people with parents from Africa, only 4 percent voted for the Conservatives or the FRP.
Some immigrant groups vote for the FRP
But the FRP is popular with some immigrant groups.
Among immigrants from Western Europe (outside the Nordic countries), the FRP's support amounted to 19.4 percent.
Furthermore, the FRP had 17.7 percent support among immigrants from Nordic countries and 15 per cent support among Eastern Europeans. As a reminder, the FRP ended up getting 11.6 percent of the vote in the 2021 elections in Norway.
In total, 9 percent of those entitled to vote in the general election in 2021 had an immigrant background (7 percent immigrants and 2 percent children of immigrants).
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Several interesting voting patterns have been revealed in a new SSB report on immigrants and the general election in Norway in 2021.
Lower overall turnout
Voter turnout is lower among immigrants compared to Norwegian citizens without an immigrant background.
In the last three general elections, turnout was 80 percent for other Norwegian citizens. At the same time, it was around 55 to 50 percent among immigrants.
Among immigrants overall, participation fell from 55 percent in 2017 to 50 percent in 2021.
However, among those who have had the opportunity to vote in multiple elections, nearly 8 out of 10 people with an immigrant background have voted at least once during the last five elections.
Left-leaning
According to Norway's national statistics agency, immigrants vote for left-wing parties to a far greater extent than people without an immigrant background.
That means that support for the Red Party (Rødt), the Socialist Left Party (SV) and the Labour Party (AP) is far higher among immigrants compared to other voters.
Among Norwegians with two Norwegian-born parents, support for the three parties amounted to 37 percent. At the same time, among immigrants, it ended up at 57 percent.
Only 24 percent of immigrants said they voted for the Conservative Party (H) or the Progress Party (FRP) in the last election. In comparison, 33 percent of the other voters stated that they voted for these two parties.
Groups with the highest turnout
Support for left-wing parties is highest among voters with an immigrant background from African and Asian countries.
Among those with a background from African countries, a full 78 percent voted for one of the parties on the left. For people with a background from Asian countries, the share was 64 per cent.
A clear majority of those born in Norway with immigrant parents also voted for left-leaning political parties.
Overall, 61 percent voted for the AP, SV, or Red Party, while only 17 percent voted for the Conservatives or the right-wing FRP. This group is, therefore, even more left-wing than their parents.
Among people with parents from Africa, only 4 percent voted for the Conservatives or the FRP.
Some immigrant groups vote for the FRP
But the FRP is popular with some immigrant groups.
Among immigrants from Western Europe (outside the Nordic countries), the FRP's support amounted to 19.4 percent.
Furthermore, the FRP had 17.7 percent support among immigrants from Nordic countries and 15 per cent support among Eastern Europeans. As a reminder, the FRP ended up getting 11.6 percent of the vote in the 2021 elections in Norway.
In total, 9 percent of those entitled to vote in the general election in 2021 had an immigrant background (7 percent immigrants and 2 percent children of immigrants).
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