Bakgrundsfakta
To measure and monitor internal
migration based on national
population register
IAOS Conference Ottawa, Canada
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2006:7
Befolknings- och välfärdsstatistik
The series Background facts presents background material for statistics produced by the
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Background facts on Population and Welfare Statistics
2001:1
Hälsoindex
2001:2
The role of official statistics in a democratic society: statistics as an investmentfree for users
2001:3
Co-operations project “Population Statistics”
2001:4
Uppdatering av immigrationsuppgifter med anpassning till den nya RTBstrukturen
2001:5
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2001:6
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2001:7
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2002:1
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2002:2
Ett nytt system för Register över totalbefolkningen. Bättre kvalitet och nya
möjligheter – A new population register system. Better quality and new
possibilities.
2002:3
Slutrapport: Översyn av SCB:s Intäkts- och kostandsundersökning för flerbostadshus. Bilaga: Minnesanteckningar från programmet boende. Byggande och
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2002:4
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2002:5
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2002:6
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2003:2
Översyn av HBS (HUT, HBU, Utgiftsbarometern) inför 2003 års undersökning
2003:3
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2003:4
BV-avdelningens Utvecklingsplan 2003
2003:5
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2003:5.1
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2003:6
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2003:7
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2003:9
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2003:10
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2003:11
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Background Facts
To measure and monitor internal
migration based on national
population register
IAOS Conference Ottawa, Canada
Population and Welfare Statistics 2006:7
Statistics Sweden
2006
Background Facts
Population and Welfare Statistics 2006:7
To measure and monitor internal
migration based on national
population registration
IAOS Conference Ottawa, Canada
Statistics Sweden
2006
Previous publication
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Source: Statistics Sweden, Background Facts, To measure and monitor internal
migration based on national population registration. IAOS Conference Ottawa, Canada.
ISSN 1650-4917
ISBN 91-618-1353-2
ISBN 978-91-618-1353-7
URN:NBN:SE:SCB-2006-BE96ST0607_pdf
Printed in Sweden
SCB-tryck, Örebro 2006:12
Background Facts 2006:7
Foreword
Foreword
Migration is a key aspect when describing the Swedish population. In 2005,
12 percent of the population was born abroad. When including also those
whose both parents were born abroad, the figure increases to 16 percent.
Besides migration between the Nordic countries, migration to Sweden has
for the last decades mainly constituted of refugees (in a broad sense) and
their families.
The task of the Population Unit of Statistics Sweden is to picture the size
and composition of the population as well as population changes. All
population statistics are based on the Total Population Register, which
together with other registers and surveys constitutes an outstanding source
of information, not the least in an international perspective.
The purpose of the report at hand is twofold. It exemplifies how register
statistics can be utilized for analysis; in this case to study patterns of
settlement and domestic migration among some of the larger refugee
groups in the country. The aim is to describe the system of population
registration and the availability of partly unique variables and to illustrate
possibilities of how this rich material can be of use.
Further, the report should be seen as a product within the ongoing
development of statistics, analysis and dissemination in the area of
migration and asylum in general, as a response to increasing information
needs.
The document was originally prepared as a paper for the annual
conference of the International Association for Official Statistics (IAOS)
2006, with the theme "People on the move". The presentation and results
have received attention from participating national statistical offices and
international organisations.
Statistics Sweden, December 2006
Anna Wilén
Birgitta Edberg
Background Facts 2006:7
Contents
Contents
Foreword ....................................................................................................3
Summary ...................................................................................................7
Introduction...............................................................................................9
Swedish population statistics ...............................................................11
National civil registration ...........................................................................11
Personal identity numbers .............................................................................. 12
Civil registration legislation............................................................................ 12
The Total Population Register (TPR) ........................................................ 12
Migration statistics .................................................................................... 13
Place of residence.............................................................................................. 13
Variables in the migration registers ............................................................... 14
Historic Population Register (HPR) ........................................................... 14
Register on residence permits .................................................................. 15
Confidentiality and regulations for handling personal data ........................ 15
Secrecy Act (1980:100) ...................................................................................... 15
Personal Data Act (1998:204)........................................................................... 16
Official Statistics Ordinance (2001:100) ......................................................... 16
Longitudinal databases – key databases ....................................................... 16
Immigration to Sweden .......................................................................... 17
An historical perspective ........................................................................... 17
The 1990s – a decade with high immigration ............................................ 20
Domestic migration among some immigrant groups in the 1990s ..... 23
Sweden – a sparsely populated country.................................................... 23
What factors affect domestic migration?................................................... 24
Government policies ........................................................................................ 25
Other factors ...................................................................................................... 26
Geographical patterns............................................................................... 27
Bosnia-Herzegovina.................................................................................. 27
Iraq and Somalia....................................................................................... 31
Finland...................................................................................................... 33
Example of the possibilities at local level............................................. 35
A closer look at the municipality of Örebro ................................................. 36
City districts Varberga and Hjärsta - neighbours with unequal
conditions........................................................................................................... 40
References .............................................................................................. 43
Appendix 1 .............................................................................................. 44
Variables in the Total Population Registers (TPR) of Statistics Sweden ... 44
Appendix 2 .............................................................................................. 46
Appendix 3 .............................................................................................. 47
Statistics Sweden
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6
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Summary
Summary
Patterns of settlement and domestic migration differ between immigrant
groups of diverse types and origin. This already known situation has been
confirmed by the examples given in the paper, showing patterns of
settlement and movements among immigrants from Bosnia Herzegovina,
Iraq, Somalia and Finland.
Data from Statistics Sweden on moves and usual place of residence of
inhabitants who immigrated from the mentioned countries in 1993 and
1994, years with large refugee immigration in Sweden, have been
examined. Very briefly, the picture emerging shows that the Government
country wide strategy for refugee reception which was in place during
1993 and 1994 resulted in a dispersed pattern of settlement. The first place
of residence for the people in the study was in municipalities around the
country which had agreed to receive refugees. Refugees from Bosnia
Herzegovina, by far the largest group, were already initially spread on a
larger number of towns and cities than the other refugee groups, and less
concentrated to the three major city regions.
Approximately half of the refugee cohorts moved and changed municipality during their initial year in Sweden. This reflects most likely the
transition from refugee reception into a more established living. An
examination of domestic in- and out migration indicated a clear movement
from small and mid sized towns into the Stockholm, Gotenburg and
Malmö municipalities. While the dispersal policy managed to spread
people, secondary migration concentrated people to the larger cities within
one year from immigration.
The pattern of concentration to the main cities, notably Stockholm, has
remained and been reinforced up till 2005. However, the Bosnian refugees
are still more dispersed than the other groups studied and contrary to the
others, the largest group has settled in Gothenburg.
Immigration from Finland shows a very different pattern with very little
domestic migration after arrival and with an important emigration out of
the country. The Finnish people have taken up residence along the
northern boarder and in the Stockholm area.
The Swedish statistical system also enables analysis at regional and local
level. This is illustrated in the paper by incorporating statistics on foreign
born in Örebro municipality and its local districts, including geographical
settlement. Ethnic segregation as such has not been studied.
While not attempting to give scientific evidence, the paper aims at
illustrating how the existence of the register statistics opens up for further
analysis and presentation of matters of primary interest in society.
Population statistics has been gathered since 1749. This leads to vast
possibilities for different users. The paper exemplifies how one can benefit
from the available statistics to move from 1749 to picture the population in
a residential area a couple of months ago.
Statistics Sweden
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8
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Introduction
Introduction
Migration is a major component of population change. In Sweden and
elsewhere, there is a need for further analysis of migratory flows, their
patterns and origins as well as socioeconomic characteristics of migrants.
Statistics Sweden is working to improve migration and demographic
statistics, in terms of quality, analysis and publication according to user
needs. One aspect which has so far not been explored or presented to any
great extent is the domestic migration and mobility of immigrants within
the country. This is closely linked to the much discussed and politicized
issues of integration and ethnic segregation.
The national population registration system in Sweden constitutes the basis
for unique types of data in an international perspective, allowing for
analysis of internal migration using personal identification numbers, dates
of moves, usual place of residence and other basic demographic variables.
Information from the registration system is reported to Statistics Sweden
daily, which enables to follow groups of people over time and, specifically,
when and where they move. Using a geo-coded real estate and property
register and the division of the country into SAMS units (Small Area
Market Statistics), it is possible to go one step further and study patterns of
residence in neighbourhoods, something that is being used within
segregation research.
This paper begins by describing the population registration system in
Sweden. It then illustrates how that system can be used to examine
internal migration by following some of the larger immigrant groups in
1990s, from where they lived when they arrived to where they had settled
after ten years. It should be emphasised that the aim of this paper is to
illustrate possibilities rather than to describe a final statistical product.
We have selected to study migratory and settlement patterns of persons
born in Bosnia Herzegovina, Iraq, Somalia and Finland as an example.
Refugees from Bosnia Herzegovina and their families constitute the largest
group of immigrants during the 1990s, after the group of returning Swedes.
Bosnian people arrived as refugees over a few years and the group can be
studied as an immigrant cohort. The second largest group during the
1990s, alongside people from the former Yugoslavia, came from Iraq. We
have also chosen to study migratory patterns of immigrants from Somalia
and Finland, the latter which is the largest group of immigrants from the
Nordic countries.
Although integration practices and policies are research fields that are still
regarded as underdeveloped in Sweden, there are a number of studies and
publications addressing the issues of settlement patterns and segregation
from an ethnic perspective. The paper only briefly touches upon the area of
ethnic segregation. In doing this, we refer to the work of Professor R.
Andersson at the Institute for Housing and Urban Research at Uppsala
University who has conducted extensive research in the area.
Further, the paper does not attempt to present an in-depth analysis but
should merely be seen as an example of how different users can benefit
Statistics Sweden
9
Introduction
Background Facts 2006:7
from available data to examine and illustrate the domestic migration of
population sub-groups, a subject which has so far not been included in the
official reporting of migration trends and patterns.
We would like to thank Ingvar Johannesson, Jonny Sehlin and Gustaf
Strandell of Statistics Sweden and Gunnar Nicklasson from Örebro
Municipality, for their input to this paper.
10
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Swedish population statistics
Swedish population statistics
Together with Finland, Sweden has the oldest consecutive population
statistics in the world. The first organisation for compiling population
statistics, which later became Statistics Sweden, was established in the
middle of the 18th century and has been active ever since. The basis for
annual official statistics on the stock population and population changes,
from 1749 until the present day, has been the individual records in the
national civil registration system.
Since 1969 the Total Population Register (TPR), maintained by Statistics
Sweden, is the base register for the official Population Statistics. The TPR is
updated on a daily basis with data on population changes from the nationnal civil registration.
Statistics are produced every month, quarter, half-year and year concerning the stock population and population changes (migrations, births,
deaths, civil status and citizenship) broken down by sex, age, civil status,
etc. in counties, municipalities, parishes and smaller regional areas.
National civil registration
The national civil registration system in Sweden collects and provides basic
information on the Swedish population. It is intended to meet society's
need for information on individuals, e.g. name, personal identity number,
sex, age, civil status, citizenship, country of birth, place of residence and
other fundamental data. Data are kept in special computerized registers
and there is a quick and continuous reporting of information from the civil
registration system for use in various sectors of society, e.g. for general
elections, taxation, planning of schools and hospitals, payment of pensions
and other benefits. Civil registration data are used as the basis for the
current official population statistics. In this way, the civil registration
system constitutes the basic data source for the Swedish society as a whole.
Civil registration in Sweden has ancient roots. It was originally administerred by the church, with the first mention of church registers appearing in
1571. The first national regulation on parish registration dates from 1686.
The clergy were then given the task of producing and maintaining parish
lists of the population and of population changes (register books). With
time, these register books came to be used more and more by secular
society for taxation, statistics, social care, schools etc. The priests were
therefore instructed to forward information from their registers to various
civilian authorities. One important development took place in the 1960s,
when parts of the national civil registration system were computerized. On
1 July 1991, the responsibility for national civil registration was transferred
from the Swedish Church to the National Tax Agency, who thus acquired
this new responsibility alongside their taxation duties. There are today 115
local Civil Registration Offices, which carry out the majority of the work.
Even if there have been organisational and other changes over time, most
of the core items have remained the same. However, some new variables
have been added, mainly on relations between persons and dates of events.
Statistics Sweden
11
Swedish population statistics
Background Facts 2006:7
When information in the Civil Registers is changed, the old information is
saved. For example, information about a previous name is kept. The old
church register books are also saved and kept in the Regional National
Archives of Sweden.
Personal identity numbers
Each person in the National Civil Registers has a personal identity number
as an identity code. This system dates back to 1947 when a unique personal
code based on date of birth and a three digit birth number was introduced.
A person who has once been given a personal identity number retains it for
life. This means it is not changed, for example, when they move to or from
Sweden.
The personal identity number has become widely used as an identity code
not only in civil registration but also in other administrative areas, e.g. for
taxation, as a conscript number, for national insurance, healthcare, driving
licences, passport registration and in the education system. The number is
also widely used outside the public sector, for example in company
accounting procedures and in customer registers of insurance companies
and banks.
It is common for the personal identity number to be used as a search code
in computerized registers and as a link when collating more than one
register. One such form of collation occurs when notifications of changes
are forwarded from the national civil registration to other personal
registers.
Civil registration legislation
Civil registration is regulated by two acts, the Civil Registration Act and
the Civil Registers Act, both of which came into effect on 1 July 1991.
The Civil Registration Act states when and where a person must be
registered, when a change of address has to be reported and how a civil
registration decision may be appealed against. The act is supplemented by
a Civil Registration Ordinance, which includes rules prescribing that
certain other authorities must provide the civil registry with information
concerning addresses.
The Civil Registers Act outlines the registers that must be kept, the purpose
of the registers, what they may contain and how one may search them. The
Act is supplemented by an Ordinance on Civil Registers, which describes
among other things when information is to be transferred between the
different registers.
Civil registration is also affected by other legislation, such as legislation on
names, marriages and citizenship.
For information on regulations on place of residence, domestic and international migration, see below under the section “Migration Statistics”.
The Total Population Register (TPR)
When the national civil registration system was computerised in 1968,
Statistics Sweden received a copy of the civil registers and established its
own register covering the total population. This register was named the
12
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Swedish population statistics
Total Population Register (TPR) and it contains most of the data found in
the civil registration. The register is updated daily, using data on changes
in the registered population transferred electronically from the central civil
register.
The TPR is the basis for all official population statistics as well as for most
sample surveys, which use the TPR as the sampling frame. It also supplies
information to statistics and registers of other kinds and it is frequently
used in different kinds of commissioned projects carried out by Statistics
Sweden to order.
The most frequently-used items of the TPR are personal identity number,
name, address, place of residence, sex, age, civil status, citizenship, country
of birth and relations between adults and between children and adults. On
the basis of received data, Statistics Sweden has derived some new variables,
e.g. Swedish/foreign background, number of days in Sweden since last
immigration and duration of civil status in days. A full list of TPR variables
is attached (Appendix 1).
In recent years, some new registers have been created on the basis of TPR
data. The most important are the Multi Generation Register and the
Historic Population Register, which are mainly used for medical and
demographic research and analysis.
Migration statistics
As with all other official population statistics today, migration statistics are
produced from TPR data that are provided by the national civil registration. Migration figures down to municipality level are produced monthly.
A migration occurs when a person moves from one address to another.
Migrations are divided into three main types:
– Domestic migration
– Immigration
– Emigration
Domestic migrations are changes of address that take place inside the
Swedish borders. The expected length of residence at the new address
should normally be at least six months.
Registration as an immigrant requires that the person immigrating must
intend to stay in Sweden for at least one year. Similarly, registration as an
emigrant requires that the person emigrating must intend to reside abroad
for at least one year. Citizens from countries outside the Nordic countries
must obtain a residence permit to be registered as immigrants.
The time of migration is defined as the actual day of migration if it is
reported to the civil registry within one week after the migration. If the
migration is reported after one week, it is registered as having taken place
the day it is reported.
Place of residence
The place where a person is registered is important for many rights and
obligations. For example, you are entitled to child allowance and housing
allowance if you are entered in the civil register. Where a person is
Statistics Sweden
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Swedish population statistics
Background Facts 2006:7
required to pay tax and entitled to vote depends on where they are
registered.
The primary rule is that a person is registered where they reside and they
are considered to reside where they regularly (at least once a week) spend
their period of daily rest. If a person lives in more than one place, this may
mean that they have “double residence”. In such cases, the place of primary residence is the place where the person lives with his/her family. If
the person has no family, the place of registration is primarily determined
by where the location of the place of work and, secondly, by the surface
area and standard of the places of dwelling. Full-time study at a college or
university is regarded as equivalent to work.
Variables in the migration registers
Three registers on migration, one for each type of migration (domestic,
immigration, emigration), are generated every month within the TPR
system. The variables of the registers originate from the civil registration
system with the exception of “grounds for settlement (reason for
immigration)”, which is supplied by the Swedish Migration Board.
The most used register variables are:
– Personal identity number
– Place of residence
– Former place of residence
– Sex
– Age
– Civil status
– Citizenship
– Country of birth
– Year of immigration
– Country immigrated from
– Year of emigration
– Country emigrated to
All the variables in the migration registers are listed in Appendix 1.
Additional information is occasionally requested in combination with
migration register data. In most cases, it is possible to collect the requested
information from another register within the TPR system or within Statistics Sweden’s register system. Personal identity numbers or real estate
identities are used in these cases as the keys when collating the registers.
Historic Population Register (HPR)
From 1969 onwards, a large amount of data on the stock population and on
population changes has been generated within the framework of the TPR.
Data are stored in more than 300 stock and flow registers. There has been a
need to facilitate the use of historical data and to make longitudinal studies
easier, more efficient and hence less costly. Therefore, a Historic Population Register (HPR) has been created by integrating the annual stock and
flow registers and organising data into an easily accessible database. All
14
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Swedish population statistics
individuals who have been entered in the national civil population register
of Sweden at any time since 1969 can be studied by means of the HPR,
using longitudinal methods.
For example, the HPR indicates and provides data on when a person was
born, where they are/have been living, whether and when they have
changed their marital status and citizenship, if they have migrated within
the country or abroad and if they have died.
The core variables of the HPR are:
– Personal identity number
– Sex
– Age
– Civil status
– Citizenship
– Country of birth
– Place of residence (county, municipality, parish, real estate)
– Country immigrated from
– Country emigrated to
– Dates of vital events and of stock data
As the HPR contains information with personal identity numbers and real
estate identities, additional data from any other register within the TPR
system or within Statistics Sweden’s register system can be combined with
HPR data.
The longitudinal studies in this report are mainly based on HPR data.
Register on residence permits
Every year, Statistics Sweden receives information from the Swedish
Migration Board on persons who have been granted residence permits for
Sweden. The information covers the grounds for settlement (reason for
immigration) and the date of the decision.
Confidentiality and regulations for handling personal
data
Anonymised data on individuals from personal registers kept by Statistics
Sweden can be requested for research and statistical purposes. Every
request to Statistics Sweden for the release of individual information
undergoes a confidentiality test. Statistics Sweden is subject to statistical
confidentiality rules which can be found in the Secrecy Act (1980:100). For
the automated handling of personal data, regulations in the Personal Data
Act (1998:204) also apply.
Secrecy Act (1980:100)
According to the Secrecy Act, confidentiality applies to the activities of
authorities that involve the production of statistics on data showing
individual personal or economic situations and which can be identified as
referring to that individual. The principal rule is therefore that data in
statistical activities are confidential and should not be released.
Statistics Sweden
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Swedish population statistics
Background Facts 2006:7
Exceptions to this rule have been made for information needed for research
or statistical purposes, which cannot be directly linked to the individual
through name, other identity symbol or comparable situation. Data can be
released, in these cases, when it is determined that the data can be
disclosed without causing harm or injury to the individual the data refer to
or someone close to that individual. The term individual relates to physical
as well as legal persons.
Before the release of data on the basis of one of the exceptions, an assessment must always be carried out on the risk of causing harm or injury to
the individual the data refer to or someone close to that individual. It
should be clear that the release of data can be done without risk.
Personal Data Act (1998:204)
The Personal Data Act contains certain fundamental decisions on the
handling of personal information; for example that the handling should be
legal and carried out in the correct manner and according to best practice.
The data being handled should be adequate and relevant. The information
should be handled only if it is essential to the objectives of the activity.
Particularly rigorous rules apply for the handling of sensitive personal
information, i.e. information on race or ethnic background, political views,
religious or philosophical convictions, trade union membership and health
or sexual circumstances.
The handling of sensitive personal information for research purposes is
permitted by explicit consent from the registered individual. It is
permitted even without such consent, if it is essential and approved by a
regional ethics committee or is reported in advance to the Data Inspection
Board, for advance control.
Official Statistics Ordinance (2001:100)
In the Official Statistics Ordinance, there are specific rules outlining the
extent to which sensitive information can be handled in the production of
official statistics within the different statistical areas.
Sensitive information, which can be handled for the production of official
statistics, can also be used for other statistics and research. According to
the Personal Data Act, sensitive personal data may always be handled after
explicit agreement from the registered person.
Longitudinal databases – key databases
The Official Statistics Act (2001:99), which came into force in April 2001,
states that, for research and statistical purposes, it is acceptable to release
data with a serial number, which can be linked to a personal identity
number by the statistical authority using a key. Such data can be released if
the recipient has a specific need to add additional material later, such as
the next year's information.
This release of anonymous material with a key means that the data, according to the Personal Data Act, will be considered as personal information for
the recipient. The recipient of the data then becomes responsible for personal data and is obliged to follow the rules laid out in the Personal Data Act.
16
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Immigration to Sweden
Immigration to Sweden
An historical perspective
The existence of the very long consecutive time series for population
statistics is due to the Parish Registration Act that came into force during
the 1600s. This law meant that all parish priests were required to collect
data annually on the population size and composition, and on changes in
the population. Data from all parishes were then compiled for the whole
country. One interesting fact was that, at the end of the 1700s, the size of
Sweden's population was a secret that only a few people were allowed to
know. Data were not made public since the rulers did not want the
"Russians" to find out how small Sweden actually was and.
At the end of the 1700s, there were not many people moving to or from
Sweden, or at least it was assumed that this was the case. Because of this, it
was not considered necessary to compile statistics on immigration and
emigration. Data on emigration were first compiled in 1851 when it was
believed that Sweden was being drained of people and there was a
demand to know what the actual situation was. Immigration was not
counted until 1875, probably because no-one saw any reason for people to
move to Sweden. Sweden began presenting migration statistics by
citizenship during the 1940s. This was not done earlier because it was
assumed that only Swedish citizens moved to and from Sweden.
There are therefore annual data on both immigration and emigration from
1875. This means that Sweden has the possibility of drawing up very long
time series.
Statistics Sweden
17
Immigration to Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Diagram 1. Immigration and Emigration, Sweden, 1860-2005
90 000
80 000
Immigration
70 000
60 000
50 000
40 000
30 000
20 000
Emigration
10 000
0
1850
1875
1900
1925
1950
1975
Sweden was, for a long time, an emigrating country. During the period
1865-1925, emigration to America dominated. Around 1.5 million people
emigrated during this period. The peak years were 1881-1882 and 18871888, when a crisis broke out in the agricultural sector in Sweden and there
was a booming economy in the USA. Despite a net emigration of 1.1
million people, Sweden's population grew from 3.5 million to 6 million
between 1850 and 1930.
Sweden first became an immigration country in 1930. Some immigration
did take place before 1930 but this consisted largely of returning Swedish
citizens. Since 1930, slightly over one million more people have moved to
Sweden than have moved away from Sweden. During the 1950s and 1960s,
Swedish industry was in need of labour, which was the principal reason
for immigrants coming to Sweden from our Nordic neighbours Denmark,
Norway and, primarily, Finland and also from Southern and Middle
Europe. The period between 1970 and 1985 can be seen as a transitional
phase from labour immigration to refugee and family immigration. Since
the 1980s immigration to Sweden has been dominated by refugee
immigration and, following on from this, immigration of refugees’ close
family members. Sweden has accepted large groups of refugees from a
number of countries, such as Chile, Iran, Iraq, Somalia and former
Yugoslavia.
Postwar migration has strongly affected the development of the population
in this country. Without migration, Sweden's population would consist of
1.8 million fewer people than it does today. The enormity of the effect of
migration after the Second World War in Sweden can be understood when
it is considered that Sweden only has slightly over 9 million inhabitants.
18
Statistics Sweden
2000
Background Facts 2006:7
Immigration to Sweden
Diagram 2. Population in Sweden 1750-2050
12 000 000
10 000 000
8 000 000
6 000 000
4 000 000
2 000 000
0
1750
1775
1800
1825
1850
1875
1900
1925
1950
1975
2000
2025
2050
The dotted horizontal line marks the beginning of the forecasts
Immigration has also meant that the share of foreign-born persons in
Sweden has gone from very small to 12 percent of Sweden's population in
only 50 years. On the other hand, the share of foreign citizens has not
increased as substantially. This is because a large proportion of foreignborn persons adopt Swedish citizenship after immigrating to Sweden.
Diagram 3. Share of foreign born persons and foreign citizens 1960-2005
14
12
Foreign born
10
Foreign citizens
8
6
4
2
0
1960
1970
Statistics Sweden
1980
1990
2000
19
Immigration to Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
The 1990s – a decade with high immigration
The 1990s was characterised by a high level of immigration to Sweden.
During these years, there was considerable immigration from countries
such as the former Yugoslavia, Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Lebanon, as well as
Sweden's neighbours Finland, Norway and Denmark. (See Table 1 in
Appendix 2 for a presentation of immigration to Sweden during the 1990s
by country of birth).
Sweden is, and has been for a number of years, one of the countries in
Europe with the most asylum seekers, after the UK, Germany and France,
which has been reflected in immigration from the Balkan countries in the
1990s. It should however be noted that only an eighth of all non-Nordic
immigrants during the 1990s were refugees according to the Geneva
Convention1. Roughly twice as many people received a residence permit in
Sweden on humanitarian grounds. Many more, around 4 of 10, were able
to stay in Sweden because of family ties.
Migration between the Nordic countries is dependent on the economic
situation. For example, when the economy boomed in the 1990s, there was
labour immigration of Norwegians to Sweden. Lower costs of living in
Sweden led to an increase in immigration of Nordic citizens to Sweden's
border municipalities. The construction of the Öresund Bridge between
southern Sweden and Denmark led to an increase in immigration from
Denmark.
Both the flow of refugees and immigration to Sweden as a whole have
varied considerably over the years. The level of asylum seekers and
immigration largely reflects events in different parts of the world but is
also influenced by migration policies and legislation that can, for example,
lead to an increase or reduction in the flow of asylum seekers. The war,
ethnic cleansing and eventual collapse of Yugoslavia caused around
140 000 persons from the region to seek asylum in Sweden during the
1990s. A peak was reached in 1992 with around 70 000 asylum seekers from
the former Yugoslavia, corresponding to 80 % of all asylum seekers in that
year. During 1993, the total number of asylum seekers fell to 38 000, of
which close to 80 % came from the former Yugoslavia. The fall in the
number of asylum seekers was partly due to the introduction in Sweden of
visa restrictions for citizens from Bosnia Herzegovina and Macedonia
during 1993. The total number of asylum seekers fell even further during
1994 and 1995.
1
The UN Convention on Refugees from 1951, the Geneva Convention, defines the concept of
refugee. A refugee is a person who is at risk for persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. According to
the Geneva Convention, being a refugee constitutes grounds for granting asylum. Many
countries also give persons other than refugees protection under the term "alternative
protection" or on humanitarian grounds.
20
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Immigration to Sweden
Diagram 4. Asylum seekers and immigrants
90 000
80 000
70 000
60 000
Immigrants
50 000
Asy lum seekers
40 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
0
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
The blue curve in Diagram 4 shows the number of asylum seekers in 19902005. If asylum is granted, the person in question generally receives a
residence permit. A permanent residence permit gives the right to live and
work in Sweden. A person with a permanent residence permit can also be
entered in the civil registration managed by the Tax Agency. Registered
persons are then included in Statistics Sweden's Total Population Register
(TPR). It is first once a person is registered that they are considered as
“immigrated” in the statistics, shown in the diagram by the red curve,
illustrating the total number of persons registered as immigrated during
the period 1990-2005.
Statistics Sweden's Total Population Register (TPR), gives access to a
number of variables and thereby the possibility to follow and analyse
groups of people. The TPR contains data on the reason for immigration,
presenting the possibility for identifying those who immigrated as
refugees, for example. The green curve in Diagram 5 shows refugee
immigration, i.e. the number of persons immigrating each year who
received a residence permit on the grounds of protection or on
humanitarian grounds2.
2
We have chosen to use a supplementary concept regarding the term "refugee" that, as well
as refugees according to the Geneva Convention, also includes Quota refugees (UNHCR)
and persons who, on the grounds of illness, disability or other personal circumstances have
been granted a residence permit on humanitarian grounds.
Statistics Sweden
21
Immigration to Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Diagram 5. Asylum seekers, immigrants and refugee immigration
90 000
80 000
70 000
60 000
Immigrants
50 000
Asylum seekers
Refugee immigration
40 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
0
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
As mentioned above, the largest numbers of asylum seekers arriving
during 1992-1994 came from the former Yugoslavia. A large share of this
group was able to stay in Sweden and was granted a residence permit on
humanitarian grounds during 1993-1994. This is reflected in the top of the
curve which shows refugee immigration and also, naturally, has an effect
on the total immigration.
Among persons not immigrating as refugees, roughly calculated as 40 000
people per year, approximately half were from the Nordic countries and
the other half were relatives of persons already living in Sweden. Some of
this family-related immigration has its roots in the earlier immigration of
refugees, from Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Lebanon, for example. During the
1990s, Sweden had a very low level of immigration on other grounds, such
as for work and studies. These categories have increased however during
the 2000s.3
3
With the expansion of the EU in 2004, immigration increased from the ten new member
states, largely immigration for work and studies. However this is not discussed in this
paper.
22
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Domestic migration
Domestic migration among some
immigrant groups in the 1990s
With the aim of illustrating what information is available in our Total
Population Register and how this information can be utilized, we have
chosen to follow persons who immigrated during 1993-1994 from four
countries, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Finland, Somalia and Iraq. This concerns a
total of 59 239 persons4. The focus of the study is on persons born in Bosnia
Herzegovina, by far the largest group, with immigration from the other
three countries as points of comparisons. The migration patterns of these
persons are followed over a period of 11 or 12 years since their immigration.
Immigration 1993-1994 by country of birth
Country of birth
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Finland
Iraq
Somalia
5
1993
1994
18 495
2 416
4 425
1 750
23 248
2 793
3 372
2 740
Sweden – a sparsely populated country
Sweden is a sparsely populated country, with an average of 22 inhabitants
per km2. The population is furthermore very unevenly distributed across
the country. The country is very long and narrow and Swedish people
largely inhabit the southern parts. The ten percent of Swedes living the
farthest north are spread out across an area equivalent to more the 50
percent of Sweden's entire area. This can be compared to the ten percent of
the population who live the farthest south. These people share an area
corresponding to around two percent of the country's total area. The map
shows the percentage distribution in municipalities of the Swedish population. Together the different dots in the map make up 100 percent.
4
Out of the initial cohort, a total of 51 168 persons remained on 31 December 2005.
The source of data for this study is the Historic Population Register. The register, mostly
used for research, is cleared to facilitate for external users. For instance, certain Bosnians
registered as Yugoslavians in the TPR, are registered as Bosnians in the HPR. Further, in
this study, only one immigration per person and year has been taken into consideration.
This explains discrepancies between numbers in the cohort and figures in Table 1 in
Appendix 2.
5
Statistics Sweden
23
Domestic migration
Background Facts 2006:7
9 percent of Sweden's population live in the capital city, Stockholm,
indicated by the largest dot. A full 21 percent of Swedes live in the county
of Stockholm. Other large municipalities include Gothenburg and Malmö.
A total of 17 percent of the population live in the country's three largest
municipalities.
What factors affect domestic migration?
The settlement patterns of the foreign-born population have changed
considerably since the 1970s, in connection with the transition from labour
immigration to refugee immigration (Andersson 2006). While many labour
market immigrants of earlier years settled in industrial towns or
communities, the refugees of the 1980s and 1990s and their families, took
up residence in the larger cities or surrounding areas.
Examples from the available research in the field show that migration to
Sweden during recent decades has contributed to urbanisation (Andersson
2000, Hemort Sverige, Swedish Integration Board). Foreign-born people are
largely concentrated in the country's urban areas and densely populated
regions. There is nothing to indicate that this trend is changing. On the
24
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Domestic migration
contrary, the more sparsely populated parts of the country are continuing
to lose inhabitants in the migration between regions (Andersson 2005).
Andersson's study on the settlement and migration frequencies between
types of municipalities found that foreign-born people tend to remain in
urban municipalities in larger city regions to a greater extent than the total
population. It is very rare that refugees leave larger city regions to live in
smaller municipalities. Only 10-15% of the refugee population in certain
years can be seen to have left the city five years later, which is a lower
share than among the Swedish-born population.
In addition, it has been shown that individuals from Eastern Europe, Africa
and Asia have a considerably higher level of mobility than the native
population, and that newly-immigrated persons have a higher level of
mobility in general and are more city-oriented that the population as a
whole.
Residential segregation also increased during the 1990s, due to the large
groups of refugees arriving at the beginning of the decade from
Yugoslavia, Iraq and other countries. Many of these refugees received their
first housing in areas that already had a large immigrant population; not
only the major cities but also medium-sized towns (Report Integration
2003).
Government policies
As refugees started to arrive in larger numbers at the beginning of the
1980s, the overrepresentation of immigrants in major urban areas
(Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö) was reinforced. At the same time, labour
market participation rates for immigrants decreased. Politicians argued for
a reform of the way that new refugees were received in Sweden. As a
result, the new “Countrywide strategy for refugee reception” was launched
in 1985, shifting the responsibility for the reception of immigrants from a
government authority to the municipalities. In an attempt to prevent the
further concentration of refugees in certain areas of the larger cities, the
strategy further stated that a refugee no longer could settle down where
he/she wanted to live. From 1985 to 1994, in line with the countrywide
strategy, the majority of the immigrants were dispersed across the country.
Many European countries (including all countries in Scandinavia)
introduced similar “dispersal policies”. The various arguments behind the
introduction of such policies included the distribution of the costs of
receiving asylum seekers and refugees, the prevention of the emergence of
ethnic clusters, the effective use of available housing and the distribution of
minority groups in small numbers to stimulate social integration. Dispersal
policies also have a link to regional political goals, i.e. that regions with
decreasing populations may want to compensate for this decrease by an
influx of refugees, etc. All these arguments can and have been challenged
(Andersson 2003).
Despite the dispersal programme, immigrant densities continued to increase in the Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö regions. The countrywide
strategy was partially abandoned in 1994. An evaluation showed that,
although the policy was successful in spreading people initially over the
country, secondary migration tended to concentrate people again over the
Statistics Sweden
25
Domestic migration
Background Facts 2006:7
years (Andersson 2003). Since 1994, a refugee who can arrange for his or
her own housing is entitled to do so. Today, only some 30 percent of new
immigrants are received according to the terms laid out in the original
countrywide placement strategy.
The economic crisis in the 1990s, EU membership in 1995 and the high
level of immigration all had an effect on urban policy. An action
programme was launched in 1999, with the twofold aim of promoting
economic growth and ethnic integration in Sweden’s three largest
metropolitan areas (Andersson 1999).
The objectives today are still to disperse immigrants and newly-arrived
refugees more evenly throughout the country - of Sweden's 290
municipalities, around 166 have current agreements with the Integration
Board to receive refugees - but priority is given to a more even distribution
within the cities themselves, to counteract residential segregation
(Andersson 2003).
Other factors6
Government policies are one important factor affecting the mobility of
immigrants (refugees); another is peoples’ own decisions regarding their
living situation, even if those decisions often cannot be considered to have
been made completely freely.
Research on migration issues state that persons who have left the place
they grew up are more likely to move again than persons who have never
moved. The mobility of refugees is also on average somewhat greater than
among the overall population.
Demographic factors also have an effect – the probability of
moving/migrating depends on a person’s situation in life, with a 20 year
old being more likely to move than an older person. It can also be seen that
younger persons most commonly move from smaller to larger cities.
Because refugees on average are of a younger age, they are more mobile
and more focused on larger cities than the population as a whole.
Several factors concerning migration flows can be linked to the labour
market (e.g. education, occupation and level of employment). Highly
educated persons are more mobile than persons with a lower level of
education. Some occupational groups are more mobile than others and the
lack of permanent jobs also promotes a high level of mobility.
Ethnic networks are important, particularly for newly-arrived immigrants.
However, ethnic geographical clusters are not characteristic in Sweden
even if some ”clustering” can be seen among new immigrants, particularly
after the introduction of freedom of choice regarding place of residence in
1995. Research shows that the share of refugees living in ethnic clusters
differs among the different nationalities.
It can be noted that early research in the 1980s stressed the importance of
voluntary ethnic clustering (congregation) as the dominant form of
clustering. Later research has moved away from these types of cultural
6
This section is based on a Swedish report entitled Migration to Integration? A study of
refugees who have left the larger cities in Sweden. Appendix to the Report Integration 2003
26
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Domestic migration
explanations and moved towards an explanatory framework, highlighting
the importance of social exclusion, white flight, white avoidance, blocking
strategies and racism (Molina 1997, Bråmå 2006).
Geographical patterns
Refugees arriving during the period when the dispersal policy was in force,
until 1994, were allocated housing in a municipality with which the
Swedish Immigration Board had an agreement to accept refugees. In 1993
and 1994, there were around 270 receiving municipalities across the
country, i.e. almost all the municipalities in the country. Accordingly,
refugees arriving these years have been found to be less geographically
concentrated, even in 2000, than those arriving 1995-1999 when less
compulsory dispersal regulations were in effect (Andersson 2003). After
1994, refugees with a permanent resident permit were entitled to settle
where they decided if they could organise accommodation.
Since the groups studied in this paper arrived during 1993 and 1994, one
can assume a certain degree of distribution in the settlement pattern, in
particular for the refugee cohorts. Furthermore, the geographical
concentration of refugees differs from the overall population distribution
into municipalities, patterns which will be commented in the following
sections.
The focus here is on domestic migration and we do not enter into the area
of ethnic segregation. It is sufficient in this context to note that clusters do
exist but are mostly small and scattered across many housing estates.
Instead, immigrant-dense neighbourhoods in Sweden are generally of
multiethnic character (Andersson 2003).
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnian people were, as previously mentioned, the largest category of
refugees during the 1990s. 2.2 million people, half of the population before
the war, fled their homes from the outbreak of war in 1992. Around 1
million of them moved abroad.
The majority of Bosnians seeking asylum in Sweden were permitted to stay
and 47 796 people were granted a residence permit during 1992-947. People
from Bosnia were recognized to stay in Sweden on political/humanitarian
grounds. The majority received decisions immediately. No special
legislation was passed; the decisions were taken within the framework of
the existing legislation.
In order to follow the group of Bosnian people, we need to focus on those
who were entered in the civil national registration and who are therefore
included in the Total Population Register. The number of registered
people, i.e. those officially immigrating, during 1993-94 was 41 743 people.
7
Bosnia Herzegovina was formed in April 1992 so it should be noted that those arriving
before this date were registered as Yugoslavians.
Statistics Sweden
27
Domestic migration
Background Facts 2006:7
Facts
Immigration during the subsequent years, primarily of relatives/family
members, has resulted in a total of 54 813 people in the Swedish population in
2005 who were born in Bosnia Herzegovina. There are an additional 14 366
children born in Sweden with at least one parent born in Bosnia, which gives
a total of 69 179 persons with a background in Bosnia Herzegovina.
In general, the Bosnians in Sweden are young; a large majority is under 50
years of age. Most are couples with one or two children. The educational level
is high, with approximately 90 percent having more than 9 years of education.
Education with a technical orientation seems to dominate.
Where did the Bosnian refugees live during their first period in Sweden?
The maps in diagram 6 show the distribution in Swedish municipalities of
the people in the cohort. To illustrate movements of the cohort over time
and changes in settlement patterns, different maps have been produced for
the year of arrival, after one year in Sweden and for 2005.
When the refugees from Bosnia Herzegovina arrived in 1993 and 1994,
obligatory relocation/dispersal within the framework of the countrywide
strategy was still applicable once a residence permit had been granted. This
meant that the newly arrived Bosnians were much spread out across the
country, which can also be seen in the first map. The map shows
furthermore that there was only a low concentration in the larger city
regions of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö, even in comparison with
the total population.
28
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Domestic migration
Diagram 6. Settlement of immigrants from Bosnia Herzegovina -cohort of
8
1993-1994 - on arrival, after one year and in 2005 ;
People in the cohort moved a great deal during the first year in Sweden
(see maps in Diagram 7). Roughly 24 000 individuals, i.e. more than half of
the entire cohort, changed municipality during 1993-1994. This is not
surprising, keeping in mind that the first settlement was that of refugee
reception and that people subsequently moved for work, studies etc.
Although migration patterns show that people left small and midsize
towns all over the country, in favour of the larger cities, the picture of a
wide distribution across the country remained after one year.
8
Maps show the distribution in Swedish municipalities of the people in the cohort.
Statistics Sweden
29
Domestic migration
Background Facts 2006:7
Diagram 7. Domestic out- and in migration of immigrants from Bosnia
Herzegovina, during their first year in Sweden; cohort of 1993-1994
Many newly arrived Bosnian immigrants moved into areas on the outskirts
of main towns and a relatively large share have remained in this type of
areas. In this respect, Bosnians differ from the usual settlement patterns
among immigrants. Foreign-born persons are generally under-represented
in the smaller towns and in rural areas (Bråmå 2004). The initial high
degree of dispersal has remained to some extent and, after more than 10
years in Sweden, Bosnians who arrived in 1993-94 are still relatively spread
out compared with other immigrant groups. When looking at where the
people in the cohort were living in 2005, a concentration has built up in
southwest Sweden, primarily in the Gothenburg and Malmö regions, and
also in the medium-sized towns in the mid-south region (Jönköping and
Kronoberg county). The share of Bosnians in the Stockholm region is
however surprisingly low.
To briefly mention some findings on segregation, research shows that
Bosnian immigrants are an exception in that they have not, as other newly
arrived immigrant groups, tended to live in clusters during the expansion
phase. The percentage of Bosnians (and Ethiopians and Chileans) living in
own-group densities is low and these groups are rapidly de-clustering9. A
segregation index, produced by the Swedish Integration Board, points to a
similar conclusion and shows a reduced segregation for Bosnian-born
people during the 1990s (Bråmå 2004).
9
The Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, has studied the ethnic
clustering in Stockholm city in 1995-1999
30
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Domestic migration
Iraq and Somalia
A brief comparison with cohorts of immigrants from Iraq and Somalia is
included to examine and illustrate differences between refugee groups of
different origins.
Facts
Migration from Asia began when the era of labour immigration came to an
end during the 1980s and rose rapidly during the 1990s. The majority of
people moving from Asia to Sweden came from countries suffering from
oppression, and they have been granted permission to stay in Sweden on the
grounds of need for protection or on humanitarian grounds. After the 1980s,
large groups of refugees have arrived from Iran, Lebanon and Syria. Since the
middle of the 1990s, the largest flow of migration from Asia has come from
Iraq. In 2005, there were around 72 000 people in the Swedish population who
were born in Iraq.
Immigration from Africa is from a later date and sped up at the end of the
1980s to fall again at the end of the 1990s. Half of the African population in
Sweden come from the Horn of Africa, the majority from Somalia followed by
Ethiopia. The most common grounds for the granting of a residence permit in
Sweden to Somalis are, firstly, the need for protection and humanitarian
grounds and, secondly, family ties. The number of refugees according to the
Geneva Convention has increased during the 2000s. There were around 16 000
people born in Somalia in Sweden's population in 2005.
For both groups, the country wide reception of refugees can be noticed in
the first maps, i.e. the maps showing initial settlement during 1993-1994
(See diagram 8 and 9). People were spread out in different municipalities of
the country and there were relatively large communities of Iraqis and
Somalis living in towns and cities in mid-Sweden. There were also people
placed in municipalities in the north of the country. There was however a
larger concentration of both Iraqis and Somalis in the larger city regions of
Stockholm and Gothenburg than was the case for newly arrived refugees
from Bosnia Herzegovina.
After one year in Sweden, it is clear that many people in the cohorts of
Iraqis and Somalis have left the towns with refugee reception and have to a
great extent moved to the large cities (See diagrams 16 and 17 in Annex 3,
showing domestic in- and out migration). As was noticed for the Bosnian
refugees, a very large proportion of the Iraqis and Somalis (45 percent) did
change municipality during the first year in Sweden.
The movements toward Stockholm and Gothenburg has continued over
the years and especially the Somalis are now concentrated to these two
cities. Among Iraqis living in the rest of the country, people have gathered
in a lesser number of mid-sized cities. In general, thus, the cohorts of Iraqis
and Somalis are much more focused on the larger cities and are, to a
greater extent, concentrated on fewer towns than immigrants from Bosnia.
This picture is supported by research showing that the percentage of
Somalis and Iraqis living in own-group densities is high and increasing, in
contrast to Bosnian refugees (Andersson 2006).
Because the overwhelming majority of Iraqis have come as refugees or due
to subsequent family ties, the rate of returning to their home country is low
Statistics Sweden
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Domestic migration
Background Facts 2006:7
(around 5 percent). The rate of returning home for African people is in
general higher than for people from South America and Asia, for example.
This trend can also be seen in the studied cohort of immigrants from
Somalia, of which around 22 percent had emigrated before 2005.
Diagram 8. Settlement of immigrants from Iraq -cohort of 1993-1994 - on
arrival, after one year and in 2005
Diagram 9. Settlement of immigrants from Somalia -cohort of 1993-1994 - on
arrival, after one year and in 2005;
32
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Background Facts 2006:7
Domestic migration
Finland
In addition to studying refugees arriving in the early 1990s, we have
included a section on the migratory movements of immigrants from the
neighbouring country of Finland. This is in order to see whether a different
pattern emerges compared to the movement and settlement of the large
cohorts of refugees.
Facts
Sweden and Finland, as with the other Nordic countries, have an agreement
allowing their citizens to freely move between countries for work and
residence. Persons from other countries must have a permit from the Swedish
Migration Board before they are allowed to move to Sweden. Because Finnish
people arriving during the 1990s were not required to state any grounds for
their immigration, Statistics Sweden has no statistics on the reasons for
immigration. However, it can be assumed that, to a large extent, these people
came to Sweden for work. The number of Finnish people living in Sweden is
high; around 184 000 people in the Swedish population in 2005 were born in
Finland. It can therefore also be assumed that many immigrants have relatives
in Sweden. Swedish is one of the two official languages in Finland. It is
10
obligatory in Finnish schools to learn Swedish . This means that Finns moving
to Sweden have a solid basis in the Swedish language and therefore find it
easier to enter the Swedish labour market compared with other immigrant
groups.
The increased refugee immigration was not the only cause of changes in
the settlement patterns of the foreign-born population during last decades.
Migration between the Nordic countries and the settlement of Nordic
citizens in Sweden has also changed. Housing prices in the countries began
to be reflected in the migration and settlement patterns of Nordic citizens.
For example, the comparatively low costs of housing in Sweden have
meant that towns by the Finnish borders in the north (Haparanda and
Övertorneå) have attracted Finnish people. Tornedalen in the north is
divided between Sweden and Finland, where inhabitants have friends,
employment and shops on both sides of the river (Nilsson 2004). Of all the
municipalities in the country, Haparanda has the most people with a
foreign background in relation to its population. People with Finnish
origin make up the majority of the population.
On arrival, the Finish immigrant cohort settled in the Stockholm region
and in towns along the north coast and municipalities next to the northern
border with Finland. Not many came to live in the city regions of
Gothenburg and Malmö. The geographical concentration in the east of the
country, in Stockholm and in the north, can probably be explained by the
proximity to Finland.
After one year, there had been no changes in the settlement patterns and
people in the cohort remained in the Stockholm area as well as in coastal
and northern boarder municipalities. There was very little domestic
migration among the Finnish people during the first year in Sweden, in
contrast to the large movements of the refugee cohorts.
10
Swedish is however no longer an obligatory examination subject for Finnish-speaking
people in Finnish upper secondary schools.
Statistics Sweden
33
Domestic migration
Background Facts 2006:7
In 2005, the people remaining in the cohort are still very much centred in
the Stockholm region and vicinity and on the northern coast and border.
The settlement pattern today is similar to the pattern directly after arrival.
The main difference in the migration pattern among the Finish immigrants
compared to the refugee cohorts seems to be primarily the large proportion
Finns that emigrate out of the country. The tendency of returning to the
home country is high among Nordic citizens and is roughly on the same
level as the immigration. A rise in immigration one year results in an
increase in the number returning to their home country as early as the
following year. This phenomenon has been clear when we have looked at
the Finnish people immigrating during 1993-94; a full 60 percent had left
Sweden before 2005. The corresponding share of people returning home
among the refugee cohorts from Bosnia Herzegovina and Iraq is around 5
percent.
Diagram 10. Settlement of immigrants from Finland -cohort of 1993-1994 - on
arrival, after one year and in 2005;
34
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Background Facts 2006:7
Example of the possibilities at local level
Example of the possibilities at local
level
The aim of this section is to illustrate how register statistics can be used to
reflect the situation of foreign-born people at local level, including geographical settlement. This is done through a closer look at the municipality
of Örebro. The section does not include an analysis of ethnic residential
segregation or the reasons behind this. The subject is a complex field of
research and has been studied, among others, by Bråmå, Andersson and
Solid in a recent appendix to the Report Integration 2005 (Bostadsmarknadens institutioner och grindvakter i den etniskt segmenterade staden,
200611).
The Total Population Register, TPR, contains property addresses for each
individual registered, which means that Statistics Sweden can use this
register system to create statistics on smaller areas. Using the personal
identity number, the TPR can be linked to other registers that contain the
linking variable "personal identity number", such as the Education and
Occupation Registers. Using these different registers, a range of statistics
can therefore be produced, also at local level. The majority of municipallities in Sweden have chosen themselves to divide their area into various
forms of districts based on clusters of properties, to facilitate the planning
of schools, childcare, etc. An example of how the situation in Örebro
municipality can be reflected by making use of register statistics is shown
below. The statistics have been produced using the divisions of city
districts proposed by Örebro municipality itself; permission was obtained
from the municipality before the statistics were utilized.
Only slightly over 1 400 people of the cohorts previously discussed in this
paper were living in Örebro municipality on 31 December 2005. For reasons of confidentiality, we have not focused solely on the cohort population in the following section. Instead, the entire group of foreign-born has
been included. Separate figures will be shown for all those born in Iraq,
Somalia, Bosnia and Finland, living in the municipality, regardless of the
year of immigration.
11
Institutions and gatekeepers of the housing market in the ethnically segregated city
Statistics Sweden
35
Example of the possibilities at local level
Background Facts 2006:7
A closer look at the municipality of Örebro
Örebro municipality has slightly less than 130 000 inhabitants, ranking
Örebro as the seventh largest municipality in Sweden. There are 16 000
people who were born abroad, corresponding to 12.6 percent of the total
municipality population. Of Sweden's population, 12.4 percent are foreignborn. The share of foreign-born people is not evenly spread across the
municipality but differs greatly between districts.
Diagram 11. Share of foreign-born people in Örebro municipality, percent
Foreign born
percent of population
12.1
8.3
6
5.1
0
or
to
to
to
to
more
12.1
8.3
6
5.1
(15)
(14)
(13)
(13)
(17)
A large number of the foreign-born population in Örebro lives in the
suburbs to the northwest or southeast of the centre. In the single dwelling
house areas of the municipality, the share of foreign-born people is lower
than in areas characterised by apartment buildings.
36
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Example of the possibilities at local level
Diagram 12. People born in Bosnia-Herzegovina by city district, Dec. 31, 2005
Born in Bosnia Herzegovina
percent of population
13.2
9.9
6.6
3.3
0
to 16.7 (1)
to 13.2 (1)
to 9.9 (1)
to 6.6 (6)
to 3.3 (63)
The 1 500 persons born in Bosnia-Herzegovina living in Örebro are
scattered over most of the municipality but with a slight concentration to
some specific districts. The map shows where all Bosnians in Örebro on
Dec. 31, 2005 were living, by district. Larger residential areas will automatically appear with high shares. It can be noted that a large proportion
of the persons born in Bosnia-Herzegovina has settled down in areas with
a high percentage of foreign born.
Statistics Sweden
37
Example of the possibilities at local level
Background Facts 2006:7
Diagram 13. People born in Somalia by city district, Dec. 31, 2005
Born in Som alia
percent of population
45.5
27.3
18.2
9.1
0
to
to
to
to
(1)
36.4 (0)
27.3 (0)
18.2 (3)
9.1 (68)
The slightly over 700 people living in Örebro who were born in Somalia are
not very spread across the municipality. People born in Somalia can to a
great extent be found in the area Vivalla/Lundby, on the outskirts of the
city. Forty five percent of all Somalis in Örebro live in this particular area.
In general, the Somalis are concentrated to only a few areas and nearly 80
percent live in four areas. Also the Iraqis (70 percent) are concentrated to
the same four areas. Out of the persons born in Bosnia-Herzegovina nearly
40 percent and out of the Finnish born 25 percent are living in the
mentioned four areas. Out of the persons born in Sweden, 15 percent are
currently living in these areas.
38
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Example of the possibilities at local level
Diagram 14. People born in Iraq by city district, Dec. 31, 2005
Born in Iraq
percent of population
22.8
17.1
11.4
5.7
0
to
to
to
to
to
28.4 (2)
22.8 (0)
17.1 (0)
11.4 (1)
5.7 (69)
The Iraqis are also concentrated to few areas in Örebro. As with the
Somalis, the most popular area is Vivalla/Lundby in the northwest. A total
of 28 percent of the Iraqis are living in this area. Almost the same
percentage of Iraqis is living in an area just south of Vivalla/Lundby. This
area also has a relatively large proportion of Somalis.
Statistics Sweden
39
Example of the possibilities at local level
Background Facts 2006:7
Diagram 15. People born in Finland by city district, Dec. 31, 2005
Born in Finland
percent of population
8 to
6 to
4 to
2 to
0 to
10.2 (1)
8
(2)
6
(1)
4 (10)
2 (58)
The finish population (1 800 persons) is to a much larger extent than the
Bosnians, and especially to a larger extent than the Somalis and Iraqis,
scattered over the whole of the municipality. Again the same areas as
previously mentioned are indicated in the map but it should be noted that
the percentages are much lower since the Finns are represented in more
districts than other groups.
City districts Varberga and Hjärsta - neighbours with unequal
conditions
To further show what is possible using register statistics, a description of
two city districts in Örebro -Hjärsta and Varberga – is included. The areas
are situated about 3-4 km to the west of the centre of Örebro and are separated by a relatively major road. Hjärsta lies to the north of the road and is
dominated by single dwelling houses with sole ownership. Varberga lies to
40
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Example of the possibilities at local level
the south of the road and is dominated by rental apartment buildings.
Hjärsta is considered one of the older districts in Örebro and is often
described as "expensive". The houses in Varberga are largely owned by the
municipal housing association and consist of 1 600 apartments.
2 200 people live in Hjärsta, of which 8 percent were born abroad, while
there are slightly less than 3 000 inhabitants in Varberga and 40 percent are
foreign-born. There are Bosnians and Finnish people in both these districts.
The number of Somalis and Iraqis is however very low in Hjärsta in
contrast to Varberga where relatively high numbers of Somalis and Iraqis
live.
4 percent of the population in Hjärsta between the ages of 18-64 are registered unemployed or are enrolled in economic-related programmes. The
corresponding figure in Varberga is 20 percent.
Surplus of in-migration 2004
Surplus of in migration
Varberga
Total population
Born in Sweden
Foreign-born
2
-36
38
Hjärsta
Total population
Born in Sweden
Foreign-born
7
3
4
Due to migration, the number of Swedish-born people in Varberga has
decreased while the number of foreign-born people has increased. Hjärsta,
on the other hand, appears to have gained both Swedish-born and foreignborn people due to migration. According to the population projections
produced, Hjärsta will decrease in population by 9 percent up to 2012
while the population in Varberga will increase during the same period by a
full 25 percent.
The average income from work and from capital during 2003 was 43 percentage points lower in Varberga than the average for Örebro as a whole.
Hjärsta, however, had an income from work and capital that was 38 percentage points higher than the average for Örebro. The difference between
disposable income, i.e. after taxes and payments, was however less.
Statistics Sweden
41
Example of the possibilities at local level
Background Facts 2006:7
Educational level for persons aged 16-74 in 2004, by country of birth, percent
Born in
Sweden
Foreignborn
Total
population
Varberga
No data
12
Basic education
Upper secondary education
Higher education
Total population
0
28
47
24
100
10
36
38
15
100
5
32
43
20
100
Hjärsta
No data
Basic education
Upper secondary education
Higher education
Total population
0
20
44
35
100
3
26
44
27
100
0
21
44
34
100
The educational level in Varberga is also lower than in neighbouring
Hjärsta. This applies both for people born in Sweden and those born
abroad. One third of the inhabitants have post-secondary school education
in Hjärsta while the corresponding share in Varberga is one fifth.
12
Primary education and lower secondary school education, composed of nine years of
compulsory school in Sweden
42
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
References
References
Andersson, R., 2006, Ethnic segregation and integration processes in Sweden – an
overview of social developments, research approaches, and findings. Paper
prepared for the workshop "Ethnic segregation in Germany and Europe", March
2006.
Andersson R., 2005, Bosättnings- och flyttningsmönster i ett etniskt perspektiv – en
longitudinell studie av flöden mellan Sveriges kommun typer 1996-2002.
Andersson, R., 2004, Att flytta eller inte flytta? En kvantitativ studie av socioekonomiska utfall för flyktingar som flyttat från de svenska storstäderna. Bilaga till
Rapport Integration 2003.
Andersson, R., 2003, Settlement dispersal of immigrants and refugees in Europe:
Policy and outcomes. Paper prepared for the 6th Metropolis Conference, March
2003.
Andersson, R. (1999) ”Divided cities” as a policy-based notion in Sweden. Housing
Studies, Vol 14, No.5
Bråmå, Å., Utvecklingen av boendesegregationen i mellanstora städer under 1990talet. Bilaga till Rapport Integration 2003.
Bråmå, Å., Andersson, R., Solid, D., Bostadsmarknadens institutioner och grindvakter i den etniskt segmenterade staden – exemplen Stockholm och Uppsala.
Bilaga till Rapport Integration 2005.
Integrationsverket, 2004, Rapport Integration 2003.
Integrationsverket, 2006, Rapport Integration 2005.
Nilsson, Å., Immigration and emigration in the postwar period. Demographic
Reports 2004:5, Statistics Sweden 2004
Population Registration in Sweden, Swedish Tax Agency, SKV 717B Edition 3
The Swedish System for Population Registration, Swedish Tax Agency
A new Total Population Register System - More possibilities and better quality,
Statistics Sweden 2002
Multi-Generation Register 2004 - A description of contents and quality, Statistics
Sweden 2005
Historic population Register, Statistics Sweden 2006
Statistics: SCB, Migrationsverket, Integrationsverket
Statistics Sweden
43
Appendix 1
Background Facts 2006:7
Appendix 1
Variables in the Total Population Registers (TPR) of
Statistics Sweden
M = Variables in Migration Registers
Personal identity number
Personal identity number, old
and new
Date of change of Personal
identity number
M
Name (first, middle, last)
Place of residence
M
County, municipality, parish,
real estate
M
Date of residence
M
Former place of residence
Former county, municipality,
parish, real estate
Former date of residence
M
M
M
Address for place of residence
Special mail address
Foreign address
Sex
M
Age (at the end of the year,
at the event)
M
Civil status, Date of civil status M
Former civil status, Date of
former civil status
Duration of civil status
Citizenship, Date of citizenship M
Former citizenship, Date of
former citizenship
Length of marriage (in days)
Country, County, Parish of
birth
M
Place of birth abroad
M
Swedish/foreign background
Income
Date of special protection
M
M
Date of birth
M
Number of children in delivery
Number of children born alive
44
Number of stillborn children
Accumulated number of live
births of mother
Accumulated number of still
births of mother
Birth order (number) of child
of mother
Accumulated number of live
births of father
Birth order (number) of child
of father
Date of death
Date of immigration
Place of departure (Nordic
countries)
Country immigrated from
Ground for settlement (reason
for immigration)
Date of residence permit
Last date of immigration
Days in Sweden after last
immigration
Date of emigration
Country emigrated to
Last date of emigration
Days abroad after last emigration
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
Personal identity number of
spouse/partner
Place of residence of spouse/
partner
Date of residence of spouse/
partner
Sex of spouse/partner
Age of spouse/partner (at the end
of the year, at the event, at the
event in days)
Civil status, Date of civil status of
spouse/partner
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Former civil status, Date of former
civil status,
Duration of civil status (in days) of
spouse/partner
Citizenship, Date of citizenship of
spouse/partner
Country, County of birth of
spouse/partner
Date of special protection of
spouse/partner
Appendix 1
Country of birth of biological
father
County of birth of biological father
Personal identity number of
adoptive father
Date of birth of adoptive father
Country of birth of adoptive father
Date of adoption (father)
Ceasing of adoption (father)
Personal identity number of
cohabiting person
Personal identity number of
adoptive mother
Date of birth of adoptive mother
Personal identity number of
biological mother
Date of birth of biological mother
Country of birth of adoptive
mother
Place of residence of biological
mother
Date of residence of biological
mother
Age of biological mother (at the
end of the year, at delivery, at
delivery in days)
Civil status, Date of civil status of
biol. mother
Citizenship, Date of citizenship of
biol. mother
Country of birth of biological
mother
County of birth of biological
mother
Date of special protection of
biological mother
Date of adoption (mother)
Ceasing of adoption (mother)
Personal identity number of
guardian 1
Date of guardian 1
Personal identity number of
guardian 2
Date of guardian 2
Personal identity number of other
person 1
Date of other person 1
Personal identity number of other
person 2
Date of other person 2
Family membership
Family type
Personal identity number of biological father
Date of birth of biological father
Family position
Date of paternity registration
Number of children in the family
Place of residence of biological
father
Date of residence of biological
father
Number of children under the age
of 22
Number of children under the age
of 18
Number of children under the age
of 6
Age of the youngest child in the
family
Age of biological father (at the end
of the year, at delivery, at delivery
in days)
Number of persons in the family
Civil status, Date of civil status of
biol. father
Citizenship, Date of citizenship of
biol. father
Statistics Sweden
45
Appendix 2
Background Facts 2006:7
Appendix 2
Table 1. Immigrants 1990-1999
Top 20 countries
Country of birth
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Total
Sweden
Bosnia Herzegovina
Yugoslavia
Iraq
Finland
Norway
Iran
Denmark
Somalia
Lebanon
Poland
Turkey
USA
U.K.
Ethiopia
Germany
Syria
Romania
Chile
Thailand
6 116
2 177
1 973
3 996
7 078
4 486
3 077
746
3 779
2 089
1 752
1 024
941
1 902
648
802
1 490
1 635
579
5 089
1 962
2 367
2 935
2 563
3 792
1 634
1 844
2 734
1 681
1 539
976
805
1 863
554
1 075
1 024
630
629
5 035
1 764
3 744
2 633
1 888
3 571
1 263
1 944
2 021
1 555
1 263
995
713
926
490
1 137
788
453
680
5 994
17 679
6 287
4 485
2 426
1 451
1 870
1 166
1 758
838
1 034
892
806
756
572
594
476
395
393
648
7 577
22 982
18 012
3 419
2 813
1 553
1 529
1 723
2 758
702
1 067
1 115
942
683
353
753
519
345
398
636
8 159
4 970
2 802
3 224
2 850
1 630
1 210
1 694
938
344
983
890
1 042
861
237
944
341
350
461
610
8 718
1 433
967
2 872
2 740
1 462
946
1 311
889
496
771
831
1 063
969
262
1 113
340
294
471
442
9 546
2 288
3 058
4 079
2 765
1 414
1 459
979
1 041
483
670
910
1 043
873
323
1 082
423
253
431
463
11 508
1 901
2 015
5 536
2 999
1 606
1 376
1 090
766
508
707
876
1 091
994
322
1 306
461
340
485
574
13 011
965
1 264
5 635
3 266
1 964
1 131
1 240
448
440
764
856
1 140
1 066
297
1 281
508
298
481
722
80 753
52 218
40 308
37 334
29 423
22 609
21 370
15 177
13 132
12 345
11 321
10 924
10 122
8 661
6 438
6 178
5 113
4 939
4 872
4 687
Table 2. Foreign born, immigrated since 1985 and living in Sweden 2003, by
reason for settlement
Reason for settlement
Thousands
(000)
Percent
Protection
Humanitarian
Family ties
Work
Studies
Other
Information missing
Total excluding Nordic citizens
Nordic citizens
93
134
255
16
10
4
50
564
64
15
21
41
3
2
1
8
90
10
Total
628
100
Nordic citizens can settle in Sweden without residence permit. Therefore,
the source of the information on "reason for settlement" does not exist for
Nordic citizens.
Among "Information missing", some are children born abroad by Swedish
parents.
46
Statistics Sweden
Background Facts 2006:7
Appendix 3
Appendix 3
Diagram 16. Domestic out- and in migration of immigrants from Iraq, during
their first year in Sweden; cohort of 1993-1994
Statistics Sweden
47
Appendix 3
Background Facts 2006:7
Diagram 17. Domestic out- and in migration of immigrants from Somalia,
during their first year in Sweden; cohort of 1993-1994
48
Statistics Sweden
2004:1
Örestat II, Utvidgad och integrerad flyttningsstatistik, Förstudie
2004:2
Frågebank över bakgrundsfrågor i postenkätundersökningar
2004:3
Samordning av BHU-H och HEK – Samordning 2003
2004:4
Könsuppdelad statistik – Återrapportering av ett uppdrag i regleringsbrevet
2004:5
Flergenerationsregistret 2003 – En beskrivning av innehåll och kvalitet
2004:6
Den nya HUT:en, Hushållens utgifter
2004:7
Multi-Generation Register 2003 - A description of contents and quality
2005:1
Flergenerationsregistret 2004 – En beskrivning av innehåll och kvalitet
2005:2
Multi-Generation Register 2004 - A Description of contents and quality
2005:3
Datafångst av personakter för komplettering av Flergenerationsregistrer
2005:4
Historiska befolkningsregistret (HBR)
2005:5
Migrations- och integrationsstatistik vid SCB – nuläge och utveckling
2006:1
Publikationsprojektet – slutrapport
2006:2
Översyn av forskarutbildningsstatistiken
2006:3
Historic population register
2006:4
Evalvering av utbildningsregistret
2006:5
Flergenerationsregistret 2005 – En beskrivning av innehåll och kvalitet
2006:6
Multi-generation register 2005. A description of contents and quality
Bakgrundsfakta
Svenska hälsoräkenskaper
nästa rad och så kommer
en tredje rad
Ett system för framtaget inom ramen för de svenska
nationalräkenskaperna
tredje rad
ISSN 1650-4917
ISBN 91-618-1353-2
ISBN 978-91-618-1353-7
Publikationstjänsten:
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