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Is racism a problem in Norway?

Hate crime figures, attitude surveys and where to get help.

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Short answer

Racism exists in Norway, and skin colour or ethnicity was the motive in 686 of the 1,123 hate crime reports registered by the police in 2025. In Statistics Norway's 2026 survey, 78 per cent agreed that most immigrants make a useful contribution at work, while 22 per cent saw most immigrants as a source of insecurity.

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Why

  1. The police's national hate crime unit counted 1,123 reported hate crimes in 2025, 49 fewer than in 2024, and points out that many cases are never reported.
  2. Statistics Norway's 2026 survey found somewhat less positive attitudes to immigrants than the year before, although 86 per cent said they would be comfortable if a son or daughter married an immigrant.
  3. Under the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act, ethnicity includes national origin, descent, skin colour and language, and the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud names immigrants, their descendants, Sami people and national minorities among the groups most exposed to ethnic discrimination.

Details

The Ombud's examples of discrimination include not getting a job because of your skin colour or being refused entry to a nightclub, and refusing someone goods or services because of skin colour or ethnic origin may be a criminal offence. In IMDi's Integration Barometer 2024, a photo experiment suggested that skin tone has little effect on whether people trust professionals such as doctors.

Tip

If you are the victim of a crime, call the police on 112 in an emergency or 02800 otherwise, and contact the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud if you are refused a job, housing or a service because of your ethnicity.

People also ask

  • Are Norwegians racist?
  • Is Norway safe for black people?

Sources

Information checked on 15 October 2026.

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