Life in Norway: pros and cons, standard of living, features of adaptation and reviews of those who left

This small kingdom of the Far North, which gained its independence only in 1905, became so egalitarian and luxurious that it became a model of happiness for the whole earth. Just half a century ago, Norway, together with Greece, was one of the poorest countries in Europe. This was before oil was found in its territorial waters in 1969. At that time, everything changed, now this land of fishermen, farmers, loggers lives on the export of hydrocarbons, its pace has been growing from four to six points a year since the 1980s, which has a decisive influence on the standard of living in Norway.

The country is trying to turn its oil into a blessing for all. As soon as the first refineries were put into operation, a new legislative concept appeared, the aim of which was the long-term prosperity of the country. Despite the fact that the country twice refused to join the European Union in 1972 and 1994, according to the IMF, it has the third largest GDP per capita in the world (more than $ 60, 000) after Luxembourg and Switzerland, is much ahead of France (38 $ 000). She ranks first in the World Happiness Report, ahead of Denmark and Iceland.

Nevertheless, the northern country is very difficult for many people to live. Therefore, it will be correct if all the pros and cons of life in Norway are recognized by immigrants in advance, before deciding to move to the country.

General information about the northern state

Norway is very active in the international arena. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo. Multilateral forums of the UN, NATO, OSCE, Council of Europe are regularly held in the country on such issues as the fight against mortality, motherhood, access to medicines, the fight against climate change and the abolition of the death penalty.

Statistical and geographical data:

1. Official name: Kingdom of Norway.
2. The political system is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system.
3. The official language is Norwegian. Bokmol, a spoken language derived from Danish and Nynoric languages ​​is “new Norwegian”, in some areas of Sami or Lapp it is the official language.
4. National holiday - May 17. Celebration of the Constitution of 1814.
5. Currency - Norwegian krone (NOK), the rate has not changed since July 2016 (1 EUR = 9.4517 NOK).
6. Geographical data: area - 323 802 km ², capital - Oslo with 634 463 inhabitants.
7. Main cities: Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Tromso.

Demography:

1. Population: 5, 258, 317.
2. Demographic growth is 1%.
3. The population density is 15.9 inhabitants per 1 sq. Km. km
4. Life expectancy: women - 84.2 years, men - 80.6 years.
5. Active population -2 630 800 people.
6. Literacy rate is 100%.
7. Religions: Evangelical Lutherans of Norway (87%), Muslims (1.5%), Catholics (1%).
8. Human Development Index, UNDP rating - 0, 944 (1st place).

Positive aspects of the Norwegian lifestyle

Some foreigners living in Norway often say that the country is boring, but this is not so. Rather, we can say that it is calmer than other EU countries. That is why the pros and cons of living in Norway differ depending on the mentality of migrants. This is the most unusual northern country where the majority of the population loves to walk in nature. The focus here is on family and maximum outdoor recreation, rather than night club nights.

Norwegians love summer hiking and winter skiing. Skis are a kind of national obsession, you can use them 6 months a year. There are many advantages to living in this amazing country, but first, every immigrant needs to check whether he will be comfortable in the cold winter before deciding to move to a permanent place of residence.

Here are a few reasons why life in the country is wonderful for many foreigners.

1. Most people speak English. If an immigrant speaks this language, he will be surprised to find that Norwegians love to practice their English, as they all studied it at school. This greatly facilitates adaptation in the country. The pros and cons of living in Norway directly depend on the organization of life of immigrants. Good living conditions, reliable work and a decent level of education for children negate all the negative factors. Therefore, it is still recommended to study the Norwegian language, because most people speak it. This process can take up to 3 years and is especially necessary if the immigrant plans to study.
2. University education is free (paid by the state).
3. Nature is beautiful: stunning landscapes stretching for tens and hundreds of kilometers. There is everything: majestic mountains, waterfalls, glaciers and green hills, not to mention the beautiful fjords. From Oslo to Bergen, the trip takes 7 hours. In summer, the best fishing bases in the world work here, so life in Norway through the eyes of Russian fishermen is simply magnificent.
4. You can camp anywhere. In Norway there is a law called allemannsrett, which gives the right to put up a tent anywhere. There are some exceptions, such as private property or a national park. For those who like to go hiking and camping, Norway is becoming a paradise and saving a budget well, because hostels and hotels are very expensive.

Innovation and investment in industry

Life in Norway, the pros and cons directly depend on the country's economy. The country has a single-line economy, with more than 50, 000 engineers working on its gas and oil platforms. But this does not mean that in other sectors, such as forestry, mining and fishing, no changes are occurring. Many pulp mills are switching to bio-treatment.

The government is actively promoting innovation to demonstrate its success in modernization. People have a very short working week of 37.5 hours and long paid holidays of 25 working days, so life in Norway through the eyes of ordinary workers from the EU is a real social paradise.

Norwegian banks work great online. After a bank account is opened, you can perform almost all operations remotely.

Norway has the largest number of electric vehicles. There are currently 32, 000, which is the highest per capita in the world. The government offered incentives such as tax breaks and free parking for car owners. There is a significant reduction in air pollution in Norway, and people's lives are becoming longer.

Social Protection and Health

Health is available to everyone. According to WHO, Norwegian health is in the top five, while the United States is in 38th place. The cost of visiting each doctor is about 21 US dollars (about 1350 rubles), but the amount is paid by the government until the patient reaches the average monthly income of 1817 dollars (118 500 rubles) for the year.

Norway has a population of just over 5 million (2013 census) with a rate of 15.9 people per square kilometer, which means there is enough space for every immigrant. At the level, for example, Macau with 20 500 or Hong Kong with 6 480 people per square kilometer.

Urban infrastructure is not crushed by skyscrapers, but has a very beneficial effect due to the coziness of urban architecture. Oslo has very few skyscrapers and shopping centers. There is a magnificent opera house and the new Munch Museum.

The country is famous for its family policy. Fathers can receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave during the first three years after the birth of the child.

High level of social security for pensioners. Senior citizens over 67 years old will receive a state pension of $ 1, 000 per month (from 65, 000 rubles).

Norway's economic growth

Norway has become rich thanks to its offshore oil fields and gas. Most of this money is saved by the government and used to improve public welfare, which makes life there easier in many ways. Not surprisingly, the national pension fund is about $ 376 billion.

General statistics:

• GDP - 344.3 billion euros;
• growth rate - 8%;
• unemployment rate - 4.1%;
• inflation rate - 1.7%;
• budget balance - 6.1% of GDP;
• public debt - 6% of GDP;
• trade balance - 24.9 billion euros;
• main trading partners: United Kingdom (20%), Germany (17.8%), Scandinavian countries (11%), France (6.3%);
• major suppliers: Sweden (11%), Germany (11.3%), China (10.5%).

The Norwegian economy is stable, vibrant and rebounded significantly in 2017.

The growth is driven by large oil investments. Thanks to oil revenues, the government maintained a budgetary margin that it used to adjust its social policies. Current Norwegian gas production is expected to remain stable until 2035, including new fields.

Human rights

Life expectancy in Norway is 81 years, which is higher than the OECD average. There is less pollution, almost 100% of Norwegians are satisfied with the quality of their drinking water. When people were asked to rate their satisfaction with life from 0 to 10, the Norwegians indicated 7.5, which is above the OECD average of 6.6.

Norwegians have a high level of education. The government is estimated to spend more than 6.6% of its GDP on education. This affects the quality of life and the general cultural level.

After the terrible events, when 77 people were killed by Anders Breivik, Norway showed its commitment to a fair trial and decided to make the country a better model for a multicultural society. For example, a Muslim woman named Hadia Tajuk was appointed Minister of Culture. It is also interesting to note that 11% of the Norwegian population was born abroad.

The country has a low crime rate, only about 4, 000 prisoners. This is due to the way they treat their prisoners. They are offered more training, rehabilitation, and skill development than anywhere else in the world. They should work, but they also have free time to enjoy their holidays and engage in self-development.

Factors that Constrain Migration

Moving to a new country with a new culture is a serious step, and it is justified when the immigrant is well informed about all the pros and cons of such a decision. This does not mean criticism at all, but it is important that the whole picture is understandable before making any decisions that change life.

Negative reviews about life in Norway.

1. Weather. The first thing a southern European will do is complain about the weather. But, unfortunately, he will never get used to the Norwegian climate. What can not be said about immigrants from Northern Europe, Canada or the northern states of the USA. The climate is very different throughout the country. Along the west coast you can expect cool summers with occasional warm days, but rainy and windy days will be throughout the year. On average, in the city of Bergen, precipitation falls 220 days a year, and Stavanger is not much behind. Inland, winters are much harsher, with more snow and lower temperatures. The temperature in Oslo can drop below -30 degrees.
2. White nights may seem attractive at first, but then the opinions become different. The farther north, the worse. In the north of the country, near the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set at all. Dense window blinds are mandatory for a normal life in this country.
3. High quality of life. Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Of course, a lot depends on the lifestyle of the immigrant. Traveling to Sweden helps to save money. There are shopping centers that arose near the border, on the Swedish side. A free bus runs daily from Trondheim to take students and other thrifty people to and from the border. This is not an easy way to save - spend 4-5 hours on the road, but it is popular in the country.
4. All this means that the immigrant and his partner will need good jobs. Most Norwegian families employ both adults. Lonely citizens without a well-paid job have a difficult time with such a standard of living in Norway.
5. The crisis of identity. Norwegians have painful conceit.
6. All the dirty work in the country is performed by foreigners.
7. Drug problem. Numerous harbors and trade facilitate their delivery to the country, the problem became noticeable in the 1970s.
8. The problem with alcohol, which, incidentally, applies to all Scandinavian countries. You need to be frank and honest in a few things, considering this side of life for Russians in Norway.

Prices

The cost of living in the country, as you know, is one of the highest in the world. Oslo, in particular, is recognized in various studies as one of the most expensive cities in the world. High salaries compensated for this, as did the services offered by the Norwegian state in order to improve well-being. Due to the egalitarian social system in Norway, the difference between low and high salaries is small. Executive representatives, due to tax liabilities, have more net income than those who work in trade or services. Getting a big salary is not always profitable due to higher taxes.

It is also not easy to save money in the short term, new immigrants may find that they need to have two sources of income in order to survive at such a standard of living in Norway. There are very few in Norway, which is considered cheap compared to European prices. Fresh fish and shrimp are sold at a reasonable price, but most of the food is imported into the country with 14 percent VAT.

This is why many Norwegians travel to Sweden to stock up on food at a much lower price.

Housing is expensive in Oslo, cheaper and more affordable outside the capital. Owning a home provides several tax benefits, so if someone can afford it and plans to stay in Norway for a long time, this is the way to real savings.

Cars are very expensive, as well as entertainment, food and travel within the country. Nevertheless, it is possible to fly charter flights from Norway very cheaply, so residents enjoy this opportunity, can afford to relax in any sunny and warm place in the world, especially in the cold months from October to April. Prices may vary by service provider.

The list below shows the average prices of 2018.

The cost of housing per month (this is a huge minus life in Norway):

• one-bedroom apartment in the city -14, 000 NOK / 112, 000 rubles.;
• one-bedroom apartment outside the city - 9, 000 NOK / 72, 000 rubles.;
• two-bedroom apartment in the city - 20, 000 NOK / 159, 000 rubles.;
• two-bedroom apartment outside the city - NOK 15, 000 / 120, 000 rubles.

Food:

• eggs (dozen) - 35 NOK / 279 rubles.;
• milk (1 liter) - 20 NOK / 159 rub.;
• rice (1 kg) - 23 NOK / 183 rub.;
• a loaf of white bread - 33 NOK / 263 rubles.;
• chicken breasts (1 kg) - 110 NOK / 878 rub.;
• pack of cigarettes (Marlboro) - 110 NOK / 878 rub.;
• Coca-Cola (330 ml) - 30 NOK / 239 rub.;
• cappuccino - 38 NOK / 308 rub.;
• a bottle of beer (local) -75 NOK / 599 rub.;
• three-course dinner for two in a restaurant - 800 NOK / 6390 rub. (which is available for the standard of living of ordinary people in Norway);
• basic utilities (per month for small apartments) - 1700 NOK / 13577 rubles.;
• taxi (per kilometer) - 16 NOK / 127 rubles.;
• bus / ride in the city center - 34 NOK / 271 rub.

Tuition fees in Oslo

In Norway, higher education institutions are funded by the state, which means that they are free for students. However, students are often forced to pay between 40 and 80 euros per month for various services. Paying this amount, the immigrant becomes a member of the student association, can count on health services, sports equipment and cultural events in the hostel. As for private schools, they charge tuition fees, which are usually lower than in other countries of the world.

Student housing is Norway's largest expense (about 36% of the cost of living), and this must be taken into account primarily when an immigrant decides to study here. It is becoming increasingly difficult to rent an apartment every year. University housing is cheaper than private. Students living there pay about 570 euros per month, including expenses, Internet and television. Nevertheless, there are very few places in these residences, since only 15% of Norwegian students live in the hostel.

As for private housing, it costs an average of 1, 000 euros for a three-room apartment, in Oslo up to 2, 000 euros, depending on location. The prices are so huge because the quality standards and comfort criteria in the country are especially high.

The cost of living is rather big, so all the pros and cons of Russian life in Norway should be taken into account when planning the budget. An immigrant will have to think about all the daily expenses: transport, phone, Internet, leisure, insurance, travel, so as not to fall below the poverty line. Experienced immigrants are advised to proceed from the budget of € 3, 500 per semester excluding housing.

Family immigration

Foreigners living in Norway can apply for family immigration permission for their loved ones. Some of them apply for family immigration with a spouse, while others apply for a child living in Norway. There are different rules depending on what type of permission is required. The most common causes of failure:

1. A person living in Norway does not have the right income level.
2. The fact is established that the marriage was executed according to calculation.

The basic rule in cases of family immigration is that the applicant must apply for permission from his home country. If the application was sent incorrectly, a family visa will not be issued.