How are the descendants of European migrants faring in the Nordic education systems? New figures show a predominantly positive trend, but also clear differences between the countries.
Why focus on descendants?
One of the fastest-growing groups in the Nordic countries is the group that statistical offices refer to as ‘descendants’. This refers to people who were born in the Nordic region but whose parents are both immigrants and whose grandparents were all born outside the Nordic region. This group is of interest from an integration perspective because its members are part of Nordic societies from birth, whilst at the same time potentially being influenced by their parents’ migrant background. Consequently, the educational attainment of descendants can provide us with important insights into how integration develops across generations.
However, the term ‘descendants’ is not neutral. For some, it may be perceived as a way of keeping people in a ‘migrant’ category, even though they were born and raised in the Nordic region. In this article, the term is used because it is the statistical category that makes it possible to track developments over time and compare across the Nordic countries.
Description: The number of descendants of European migrants aged 15–35, broken down by Nordic country and year of observation for the period 2020–2024.
Kilde: CITI03
A growing group across the Nordic region
When we look at the descendants of European migrants aged 15–35, the trend is clear: this group is growing across the Nordic region. In particular, the number of descendants of migrants from European countries outside the EU27 has increased significantly in just a few years. In Denmark, the group rose from 8,808 people in 2020 to 10,633 in 2024. In Finland, it rose from 4,594 to 7,159, and in Sweden from 32,746 to 39,238 over the same period. As this group grows, it also becomes more important to understand how these young people are faring within the education system. Education is of great significance for subsequent participation in the labour market, but also for well-being, independence and the opportunities to play an active role in society.
Description: The percentage of young people aged 16–29, whose parents are from European countries, who enrolled in a long-cycle higher education programme during the year, broken down by Nordic country.
Kilde: EDUC34
Younger years are crucial for education
In this article, we focus in particular on young descendants. This is partly because many undertake or complete their education between the ages of 16 and 29, and partly because most major migrant groups in the Nordic region only began to grow significantly from the 1980s onwards. Consequently, the group of adult descendants is still relatively young. Many of those we can track in the statistics today are currently at the stage of life where education plays a central role.
Significant differences between the Nordic countries
However, the picture is not the same across the whole of the Nordic region. In Norway, the proportion of descendants with parents from EU27 countries who are in education has risen significantly – from 52 per cent in 2020 to 72 per cent in 2024. A slight increase is also seen in Finland and Sweden, particularly in the most recent years of observation. Denmark, on the other hand, stands out. Here, the proportion of descendants of European migrants who are in education has generally fallen over the period. The decline is greatest among descendants of migrants from European countries outside the EU27, where the proportion falls from 53 per cent in 2020 to 46 per cent in 2024.
Education is also about well-being
Education is not just about qualifications and access to the labour market. For young people, education is also closely linked to well-being, a sense of community and the transition into adulthood. It is therefore important to keep an eye on young people who are neither in education, employment nor training – often referred to as the NEET group. If young people of migrant backgrounds are more likely than others to be outside education and work, this may be an early sign that more targeted support is needed.
Description: The percentage of young people aged 20–29 whose parents are from European countries and who, during the year, are neither enrolled in an education programme nor in employment, broken down by Nordic country.
Kilde: LABO30
When we look at this group, the figures point in a positive direction. Over the period 2020–2024, the proportion of young descendants who are neither in education nor in work appears to be falling across both groups and countries. This is an important finding because it suggests that more young descendants are moving into education, employment or other forms of active participation. Taken together with trends in education figures, this paints a picture of a group that is generally faring better over time – although differences between countries remain.
There may be several explanations for why trends vary between countries. Education systems are not the same, and factors such as the duration of programmes, entry requirements and the transition between school, higher education and work may all play a role. It is therefore not enough simply to look at how many young people are currently enrolled in an educational programme. It is also important to examine how many actually go on to complete a long-term programme of study.
More people are completing higher education
When we look at young people aged 25–29 who have completed a higher education programme, the overall trend is positive. Across the Nordic countries, the proportion is rising during the period 2020–2024. Once again, the trend is particularly evident in Norway among young people with parents from EU27 countries. It is worth noting that Norway also had the lowest baseline figure in 2020: 80 per cent among descendants of parents from EU27 countries and 76 per cent among descendants of parents from other European countries. By comparison, Sweden was already at a high level in 2020, with 87 per cent and 88 per cent respectively. Nevertheless, the figures as a whole point in a positive direction. They suggest that many descendants of European migrants in the Nordic region are achieving a level of education that provides good opportunities for further participation in society and working life. Whether this development is due to better educational support, changes in the composition of the migrant group or other factors, the figures alone cannot show. But the trend is promising.
Description: The percentage of descendants of European parents in the 25–29 age group who have completed a higher education programme, broken down by Nordic country of residence for the period 2020–2024.
Kilde: EDUC32
What does the picture show for the slightly older descendants?
It is also relevant to look at the slightly older group of descendants aged 30–34. In the Nordic education systems, many will normally have completed a higher education programme by their late twenties. However, some take longer, and this may be particularly true of young people who face more barriers within the education system. Consequently, the 30–34 age group can provide a more nuanced picture of how many ultimately go on to complete a qualification in the longer term.
For this slightly older group, the trend is more mixed. Among descendants of parents from European countries outside the EU27, there is generally a positive trend. For descendants of parents from EU27 countries, the picture varies more from country to country. In Denmark and Finland, the trend is unclear, although the rate in both countries is above 80 per cent. In Norway, the proportion is falling, whilst it is rising in Sweden.
Description: The percentage of descendants of European parents in the 30–34 age group who have completed a higher education programme, broken down by Nordic country of residence for the period 2020–2024.
A positive trend – but not for all groups
Overall, the figures show that the descendants of European migrants in the Nordic countries often do well in the education system. However, they also show that the trend is not the same in all countries or for all groups. This makes it important to monitor developments closely – not only to measure educational attainment, but also to understand whether Nordic societies are creating a supportive environment in which young people from migrant backgrounds can thrive, complete their education and find their way into adult life.
This article is based on the Nordic Statistics Database, which is managed by Nordregio. The database has been in existence since the mid-1960s and is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. It contains around 200 different datasets, including Nordic comparable integration statistics. The data has been collected from the national statistical offices in the Nordic countries with a view to ensuring comparability across definitions and data boundaries. You can explore the database here: Nordic Statistics database. If you would like to take a closer look at integration statistics that have already been visualised and made comparable, you can also visit Integration Norden’s interactive data page: Statistics – Integration Norden.
This text was translated using DeepL and reviewed by a human.