Demographics of Western Norway

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Western Norway had the fastest population growth in Norway in 2010, with a growth rate of 1.44%. The region’s fertility rate is higher than in other parts of the country. As of January 1, 2010, about 1.26 million people lived in Western Norway. Most people were in Hordaland (about 38%) and Rogaland (about 34%), with smaller shares in Møre og Romsdal and Sogn og Fjordane. Roughly 60% of residents were under 40 years old, and around 30% were under 20.

Many historical immigrants came from Scotland, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, and Western Norway has the largest share of immigration from the western world.

Christianity is the largest religion. The Church of Norway had about 1.05 million members, with several thousand more in other Christian churches. Islam had around 10,700 adherents, Buddhism about 2,080, and smaller numbers from Bahá’í, Judaism and other faiths. There are two mosques (in Bergen and Stavanger) and six Catholic churches in major towns. Catholicism has grown due to immigration, especially from Poland. There has never been a synagogue in the region, but there is a small Jewish community.

Protestant churches are widespread, and most Norwegians are members of the Church of Norway, though many are not active churchgoers. The region has historically been associated with the Bible Belt, but the biggest cities, like Bergen and Stavanger, are more religiously diverse.