Norwegian 2021 Report on Migrant Costs: Extremely High, Especially for Women

A report by **Statistics Norway** from **2021** details the net cost of migrants in Norway, noting that women from Africa, Asia, and Latin America represent an expenditure of **1.75 million euros** per person.

## The Cost of Migration in Norway

A **Statistics Norway** report published in **2021** has quantified the net cost that migrants represent to Norwegian public coffers. The study calculates state expenditures and income from age 25 until the end of each individual's life. The results are striking, especially when broken down by gender and origin. Men from countries classified in 'Group 3' – which includes **Africa, Asia, Latin America** and parts of Eastern Europe outside the EU – represent an average cost of **1 million euros** per person.

## Differences by Gender and Origin

The gender difference is notable. Immigrant women from these same 'Group 3' countries represent a much higher expenditure, amounting to **1.75 million euros** per person. The situation changes drastically when analyzing Western migrants. In this group, men are net contributors, providing **520,000 euros** throughout their lives. However, Western immigrant women also prove to be in deficit, albeit to a lesser extent, with a cost of **-630,000 euros**.

## The Key Factors: Employment and Wages

The disparity in these costs is mainly explained by the relationship between employment, wages, and taxes generated versus social benefits, pensions, and healthcare expenses. When employment is low and salaries are not high, the individual tends to become a burden on the state budget. The economic justification for large-scale migration, often presented as a solution to labor shortages or broadening the tax base, only holds up if collected taxes offset generated expenses. Otherwise, migration becomes an additional obligation for the host country. In **Norway**, the proportion of first-generation migrants has risen from **4% in 1990** to **18% in 2024**.