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Statistics

Where people move to and from

In-migration minus out-migration per 1,000 inhabitants.

Ål has the highest net migration of Norway's municipalities at 58.32 per 1,000 (2025). The lowest is Sel at −22.23 per 1,000. Source: SSB, table 06913, processed by Morning Analytics 2 November 2026.

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58.32 per 1,000Highest: Ål
4.03 per 1,000Median of the municipalities
−22.23 per 1,000Lowest: Sel

Analysis: why are some at the top and others at the bottom?

We compared net migration with every other municipal figure we have, from Statistics Norway, NIPH and the Brønnøysund Register Centre. Below are the figures that go most closely together with net migration across the country, and what marks the municipalities at the top and bottom on those figures.

The pattern across the country

  • Municipalities that rank high on «Gross operating revenue per inhabitant» most often rank low on net migration (moderate association, rank correlation −0.32 across 183 municipalities; Statistics Norway table 12137).
  • Municipalities that rank high on «Net operating expenditure per inhabitant» most often rank low on net migration (weak association, rank correlation −0.30 across 183 municipalities; Statistics Norway table 12137).
  • Municipalities that rank high on «Centrality (Statistics Norway's centrality index, 6 is most central)» most often also rank high on net migration (weak association, rank correlation 0.29 across 183 municipalities; Statistics Norway, centrality index).
  • Municipalities that rank high on «Share aged 80 and over» most often rank low on net migration (weak association, rank correlation −0.29 across 183 municipalities; Statistics Norway table 07459).

The highest and the lowest

  • No. 1 Ål (58.32 per 1,000) The municipality does not stand out on the figures that otherwise go together with the measure. The explanation probably lies in something we have no figures for. Goes against the pattern: «Net operating expenditure per inhabitant» 115,380 kr (no. 83 of 357 from the top; Statistics Norway table 12137). Most distinctive industry: oppføring av bygninger, 5% of the jobs, 2.1 times the national share (Statistics Norway table 13470, 2025).
  • No. 2 Hitra (29.55 per 1,000) The municipality does not stand out on the figures that otherwise go together with the measure. The explanation probably lies in something we have no figures for. Most distinctive industry: produksjon av nærings- og nytelsesmidler, 21% of the jobs, 12.4 times the national share (Statistics Norway table 13470, 2025).
  • No. 3 Lørenskog (23.11 per 1,000) Fits the pattern: «Net operating expenditure per inhabitant» 66,020 kr (no. 357 of 357 from the top; Statistics Norway table 12137); «Centrality (Statistics Norway's centrality index, 6 is most central)» 6 (no. 1 of 357 from the top; Statistics Norway, centrality index); «Gross operating revenue per inhabitant» 100,571 kr (no. 351 of 357 from the top; Statistics Norway table 12137). Most distinctive industry: post og distribusjonsvirksomhet, 6% of the jobs, 10.4 times the national share (Statistics Norway table 13470, 2025).
  • No. 183 Sel (−22.23 per 1,000, among the lowest) Fits the pattern: «Share aged 80 and over» 8.1% (no. 52 of 357 from the top; Statistics Norway table 07459). Most distinctive industry: landtransport og rørtransport, 5% of the jobs, 2.2 times the national share (Statistics Norway table 13470, 2025).
  • No. 182 Volda (−12.94 per 1,000, among the lowest) The municipality does not stand out on the figures that otherwise go together with the measure. The explanation probably lies in something we have no figures for. Goes against the pattern: «Centrality (Statistics Norway's centrality index, 6 is most central)» 3 (no. 81 of 357 from the top; Statistics Norway, centrality index). Most distinctive industry: undervisning, 16% of the jobs, 2.0 times the national share (Statistics Norway table 13470, 2025).
  • No. 181 Sunndal (−11.12 per 1,000, among the lowest) The municipality does not stand out on the figures that otherwise go together with the measure. The explanation probably lies in something we have no figures for. Most distinctive industry: produksjon av metaller, 26% of the jobs, 68.3 times the national share (Statistics Norway table 13470, 2025).

The analysis describes what goes together, not what causes what. Two figures can follow each other because both depend on something else, such as size, location or industry. The figures are from the latest year available for each source, so the years can differ. Rank correlation runs from −1 to 1; values near 1 mean the municipalities lie in roughly the same order on both measures.

What explains the placing?

  • 1. Ål 58.32 per 1,000 1,349% above the median of the municipalities.
  • 2. Hitra 29.55 per 1,000 634% above the median of the municipalities.
  • 3. Lørenskog 23.11 per 1,000 474% above the median of the municipalities.
  • 181. Sunndal −11.12 per 1,000 376% below the median of the municipalities.
  • 182. Volda −12.94 per 1,000 421% below the median of the municipalities.
  • 183. Sel −22.23 per 1,000 652% below the median of the municipalities.
#Municipality County Inhabitants net migration
101 Karmøy Rogaland 43,990 3.25 per 1,000
102 Orkland Trøndelag - Trööndelage 18,840 3.25 per 1,000
103 Gjerdrum Akershus 7,478 3.22 per 1,000
104 Tinn Telemark 5,515 3.07 per 1,000
105 Risør Agder 6,683 2.99 per 1,000
106 Lyngdal Agder 10,922 2.94 per 1,000
107 Molde Møre og Romsdal 33,291 2.92 per 1,000
108 Stryn Vestland 7,319 2.87 per 1,000
109 Birkenes Agder 5,447 2.77 per 1,000
110 Alta Finnmark - Finnmárku - Finmarkku 22,074 2.74 per 1,000
111 Lier Buskerud 28,797 2.72 per 1,000
112 Sunnfjord Vestland 22,804 2.69 per 1,000
113 Holmestrand Vestfold 27,086 2.67 per 1,000
114 Harstad Troms - Romsa - Tromssa 25,204 2.66 per 1,000
115 Flekkefjord Agder 9,373 2.57 per 1,000
116 Grimstad Agder 25,569 2.56 per 1,000
117 Åsnes Innlandet 7,216 2.48 per 1,000
118 Vågan Nordland - Nordlánnda 9,905 2.43 per 1,000
119 Senja Troms - Romsa - Tromssa 14,946 2.34 per 1,000
120 Sogndal Vestland 12,552 2.24 per 1,000
121 Alver Vestland 30,285 2.22 per 1,000
122 Vefsn Nordland - Nordlánnda 13,481 2.15 per 1,000
123 Alstahaug Nordland - Nordlánnda 7,489 2.14 per 1,000
124 Skien Telemark 56,906 1.97 per 1,000
125 Tromsø Troms - Romsa - Tromssa 79,943 1.96 per 1,000
126 Arendal Agder 46,603 1.95 per 1,000
127 Midt-Telemark Telemark 11,157 1.62 per 1,000
128 Giske Møre og Romsdal 8,828 1.60 per 1,000
129 Jevnaker Akershus 7,040 1.28 per 1,000
130 Elverum Innlandet 21,937 1.14 per 1,000
131 Verdal Trøndelag - Trööndelage 15,435 1.10 per 1,000
132 Gausdal Innlandet 6,147 0.97 per 1,000
133 Sykkylven Møre og Romsdal 7,626 0.92 per 1,000
134 Sør-Varanger Finnmark - Finnmárku - Finmarkku 9,947 0.90 per 1,000
135 Ullensvang Vestland 10,929 0.82 per 1,000
136 Nes Akershus 24,948 0.72 per 1,000
137 Bamble Telemark 14,267 0.42 per 1,000
138 Steinkjer Trøndelag - Trööndelage 24,007 0.42 per 1,000
139 Øyer Innlandet 5,130 0.39 per 1,000
140 Bergen Vestland 294,860 0.39 per 1,000
141 Sula Møre og Romsdal 9,798 0.31 per 1,000
142 Nærøysund Trøndelag - Trööndelage 9,920 0.10 per 1,000
143 Brønnøy Nordland - Nordlánnda 7,841 0.00 per 1,000
144 Nome Telemark 6,529 0.00 per 1,000
145 Rauma Møre og Romsdal 7,195 −0.14 per 1,000
146 Randaberg Rogaland 11,841 −0.25 per 1,000
147 Melhus Trøndelag - Trööndelage 17,828 −0.34 per 1,000
148 Voss Vestland 16,438 −0.49 per 1,000
149 Tvedestrand Agder 6,430 −0.62 per 1,000
150 Røros Trøndelag - Trööndelage 5,638 −0.88 per 1,000

Not ranked because the municipality has fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, where a few people can move the figure a lot (174): Alvdal (−5.18 per 1,000), Andøy (4.40 per 1,000), Aremark (11.14 per 1,000), Askvoll (3.75 per 1,000), Aukra (4.52 per 1,000), Aure (−5.01 per 1,000), Aurland (22.33 per 1,000), Austrheim (12.01 per 1,000), Bardu (8.33 per 1,000), Beiarn (−15.11 per 1,000), Berlevåg (−31.46 per 1,000), Bindal (1.46 per 1,000), Bjerkreim (−9.64 per 1,000), Bokn (14.56 per 1,000), Bremanger (9.82 per 1,000), Bygland (8.61 per 1,000), Bykle (12.51 per 1,000), Båtsfjord (1.42 per 1,000), Bø (10.32 per 1,000), Dovre (3.97 per 1,000), Drangedal (3.44 per 1,000), Dyrøy (14.97 per 1,000), Dønna (−1.38 per 1,000), Eidfjord (22.75 per 1,000), Engerdal (−22.62 per 1,000), Etne (7.82 per 1,000), Etnedal (275.12 per 1,000), Evenes (25.70 per 1,000), Evje og Hornnes (2.35 per 1,000), Fedje (21.11 per 1,000), Fitjar (5.61 per 1,000), Fjaler (6.84 per 1,000), Fjord (19.95 per 1,000), Flakstad (−16.59 per 1,000), Flatanger (−4.46 per 1,000), Flesberg (2.15 per 1,000), Flå (4.48 per 1,000), Folldal (−7.79 per 1,000), Frosta (6.76 per 1,000), Fyresdal (23.09 per 1,000) …