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How many Americans call Norway home? Let's take a look at the latest numbers, where Americans tend to live, and some useful resources for US citizens living in Norway.

The links between Norway and the United States run deep. In fact, 2025 marked 200 years since the beginning of organised Norwegian emigration to America.

The small聽Restauration聽left Stavanger for New York in 1825, beginning a wave of migration that would eventually see hundreds of thousands of Norwegians cross the Atlantic.

Between 1825 and 1940, more than one-third of Norway's population emigrated to America. That history helps explain why so many聽Americans have Norwegian heritage听迟辞诲补测.

But migration has long gone both ways. Americans come to Norway for work, study, family and many other reasons.

So, how many are here today? Where do they live, and what should Americans know about making a life in Norway?

How Many Americans Live in Norway?

According to the latest figures from ,听11,192 immigrants with the United States as their country background聽were living in Norway on 1 January 2026.

That's an increase of 3.3% in just one year. Back in 2004, the equivalent figure was 6,958, meaning the American immigrant population has grown by more than 60% in a little over two decades.

There are also 801 people born in Norway to two immigrant parents with a US country background. Taken together, those two groups number almost 12,000 people.

There's an important statistical point here. These figures don't mean there are exactly 11,192聽American citizens聽living in Norway. SSB classifies people according to immigration background and country background, which is different from citizenship.

For example, some people in the group may since have become Norwegian citizens or hold dual citizenship. Conversely, an American citizen whose background is classified elsewhere may not appear in the US figure.

So, 鈥淎mericans in Norway鈥� is a useful shorthand, but US-background immigrants is the more accurate description of what these particular statistics show.

Who Are the Americans in Norway?

The American immigrant population is remarkably evenly divided by gender. Of the 11,192 US-background immigrants registered in Norway at the beginning of 2026,听5,414 were men and 5,778 were women.

Employment statistics also give us a glimpse into the community.

Among US-background immigrants aged 20 to 66,听64.8% were employed in 2025. Employment rates rise considerably with length of residence, exceeding 70% among several groups who have lived in Norway for seven years or more.

Of course, those numbers cover an enormously varied group.

Some Americans arrive for jobs in energy, technology, academia or international business. Others come to study, join a Norwegian partner, start a business, or simply accompany a spouse whose career brings them to Norway.

Where in Norway Do Americans Live?

It probably won't surprise you that American immigrants tend to gravitate towards Norway's cities.

Oslo has by far the biggest international labour market in the country, along with universities, technology companies, multinational businesses and many English-speaking workplaces.

The wider Oslo region is therefore the main centre for Americans in Norway. There are also established American communities around聽Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim.

Stavanger in particular has long had strong American connections because of the energy industry. American oil companies, suppliers and specialist workers played an important role in the development of Norway's petroleum sector from the late 1960s onwards.

Trondheim attracts international researchers and technology workers through institutions such as NTNU and SINTEF, while Bergen combines higher education, maritime industries and the energy sector.

Numbers are much lower in Northern Norway, although 罢谤辞尘蝉酶's university, hospital, research institutions and growing international profile make it an obvious focal point there.

The overall picture is much the same as for many immigrant groups in Norway: there are Americans throughout the country, but employment and education opportunities make the larger urban areas particularly attractive.

Stories of Americans in Norway

Statistics only tell part of the story.

Over the years, I've spoken with many Americans about their experiences on the 乐播传媒 Show. Here are some of my favourites:

Kelsey Barnhill: Originally from California, Kelsey moved to Norway to study for a master's degree at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. She talked about how university life differs from the US and what prospective international students should consider. Listen here.

Curtis Rojak: Curtis fell in love with Oslo's outdoor lifestyle and went on to establish a cycling tour business in the Norwegian capital. Listen here.

Kari Nixon: What is it like to learn Norwegian as a teenager in the US and then move to Norway 20 years later? Kari, a scholar of medical humanities and Victorian literature, shared her unusual route to Norwegian life. Listen here.

Jordan George: American ice hockey player Jordan George talked about living in Trondheim and gave us an insight into the world of ice hockey in Norway.

All four stories underline something important: there isn't one typical route to becoming an American in Norway.

The US Embassy in Norway

For US citizens already living in Norway, the聽聽is an important resource. The embassy provides consular services including passports, citizenship services, notarial services and assistance to US citizens in emergencies.

It moved from its former central Oslo location in 2017 and is now at聽Morgedalsvegen 36 in Oslo, close to Makrellbekken metro station. Consular services are generally provided by appointment.

Back in 2022, I spoke with the then acting head of the US Embassy in Norway about her role and relations between the two countries. Listen to the interview here.

Another useful service for Americans overseas is the US government's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, known as STEP, which allows citizens to receive relevant information and can help the embassy contact them during an emergency.

Americans Still Have US Tax Responsibilities

There's one aspect of living overseas that can come as a surprise to Americans. Moving to Norway does聽not聽automatically end your US tax filing obligations.

US citizens living abroad are generally still subject to US rules on worldwide income and may be required to file a federal tax return even when they are resident and paying taxes in Norway.

Foreign tax credits and other provisions can prevent or reduce double taxation in many circumstances, but the reporting requirements can be complicated. There may also be reporting requirements for foreign financial accounts.

This is an area where individual circumstances matter enormously, especially for anyone with investments, businesses, pensions or significant assets in both countries.

If you're unsure, take advice from someone familiar with both Norwegian and US tax rules rather than relying on general information online.

How Can Americans Move to Norway?

If you've read this far because you're hoping to join the thousands of Americans already here, the good news is that it is possible.

The less-good news is that simply being an American鈥攐r having Norwegian ancestry鈥攄oesn't give you the right to live in Norway. I've written a separate detailed guide to聽five common ways Americans can move to Norway.

For many people, the main route is a residence permit as a skilled worker. Others move through family immigration, study in Norway, transfer with an international employer, or qualify to run a business as a self-employed skilled worker.

Because Americans are outside the EU and EEA, the immigration process is considerably more restrictive than it is for most European citizens.

If you're considering university, also be aware that most degree students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland are now required to pay tuition fees at Norwegian universities and colleges.

From autumn 2026, institutions have more flexibility over the amount they charge, but tuition has not returned to being universally free for American students.

The rules change frequently, so always check your own circumstances with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, , before making plans.

American Companies in Norway

One potentially attractive route to Norway is through an existing employer. A number of large聽American companies have operations in Norway, particularly in technology, energy and professional services.

If you already work for a multinational business in the US, keep an eye on internal vacancies and international assignments.

An internal transfer doesn't remove the need for the appropriate Norwegian residence permit, but already working for the company can make finding a suitable position much more realistic than applying cold to Norwegian employers from overseas.

Stavanger and the surrounding region have especially long-standing business connections with the US because of the oil and gas industry.

Resources for Americans Living in Norway

Once you're actually living here, much of the practical information you need is the same as for anyone else moving to Norway. But there are several resources of particular interest to Americans:

:聽The first stop for US passports, citizenship matters, emergency assistance and other consular issues.

:聽Norway's immigration authority. Always use UDI rather than blogs, Facebook groups or old forum posts when checking the conditions attached to your residence permit.

:聽The Norwegian Tax Administration deals with tax, the National Population Register, identification numbers and many of the practical formalities involved in establishing yourself in Norway.

NAV:聽Norway's Labour and Welfare Administration is relevant for employment, parental benefits, sickness benefits, pensions and many other parts of the welfare system.

:聽Even if you've lived outside the US for years, don't assume your American tax reporting responsibilities have disappeared.

:聽The ACCN acts as an umbrella organisation for Norwegian-American groups and helps connect organisations interested in strengthening ties between the two countries.

:聽Founded in 1934, the club organises social events and activities and remains an active community for American women living in and around Oslo.

And, of course, the 乐播传媒 newsletter is a simple way to keep up with Norwegian news, travel, culture and everyday life in English.

Facebook Groups for Americans in Norway

Facebook remains a useful place to find informal advice and connect with other Americans, although always double-check immigration, tax and legal information with an official source.

Some of the larger groups include:

As I'm not an American citizen, I'm not a member of these groups myself, so I can't vouch for the quality of individual discussions.

But for practical questions such as where to find American ingredients, how to celebrate Thanksgiving in Norway, or simply meeting people who understand the experience of moving across the Atlantic, communities like these can be very useful.

Are you an American living in Norway? I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments. What brought you here, and what do you wish you'd known before making the move?