Oslo has traditionally had an east-west divide, with Uelands Street being the traditional informal border between east and west. The west end of Oslo has been home to the city's wealthier residents, while eastern Oslo has had a larger but poorer population.
Some of the eastern districts in Oslo have been working-class areas since the 1800s, with the city’s industry historicallly located on the east side and along the Akerselva River that runs through the city.
With so many factories on the eastern side of Oslo, wealthier residents tended to lived to the west as the wind was less likely to blow smoke, smog and fumes over into their part of town.
From the first wave of immigration into Norway in the 1960s through to today, migrants have often chosen to live in the much more affordable east – and today, eastern districts typically have a higher proportion of foreign residents than western boroughs.
Despite Norway having generally low inequality, this divide within Oslo still colours perceptions, and the economic and cultural split between the two sides of Oslo is obvious to those familiar with the city.
The Oslo Public Health Survey for 2024 by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH/FHI) shows that the traditional east-west divide still impacts residents today,
The NIPH reports that large variations in health, well-being and living conditions existed between residents on both sides of the city.
“Western districts are characterised by better health and socioeconomic conditions, while in several eastern districts, there is a higher incidence of health problems, financial difficulties and lower proportions reporting good support networks,” the NIPH wrote in its summary.
The report reported that class differences between residents impacted general health. Those with poorer finances and a lower level of education had greater physical and mental health problems and exercised less.
Just one in three of the poorest residents said they had good health compared to 90 percent of wealthier residents who said the same thing.
“In summary, the findings indicate that health and living conditions in Oslo are not randomly distributed, but follow clear geographical patterns with consistent differences between eastern and western parts of the city,” the NIPH said.
Some 45,840 Oslo residents over the age of 18 participated in the survey.
Inequality in a country with an egalitarian reputation
In a report on inequality in Oslo from the Norwegian Social Research (NOVA), a research centre at OsloMet, Professor Jørn Ljunggren said the city's higher levels of inequality set it apart from the rest of the country.
“Oslo is different from the rest of the country. There is social inequality everywhere, but it is most pronounced in Oslo,” he said.
"The divide does not fit the Norwegian egalitarian self-image very well, but at least it is being talked about more now than it was 15 years ago,” the researcher added.
While a divide exists in Oslo, it is still better off than most cities that struggle with inequality. For example, the NIPH survey found that seven out of ten considered their own health to be good, and most experience Oslo as a safe city.
Oslo’s traditional dividing lines have blurred more recently, too. Boroughs like Grünerløkka, Tøyen and Torshov are becoming trendier and more expensive as formerly working-class areas become increasingly gentrified.
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