Moving to Norway from Syria

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Syria to Norway? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Syria to Norway, and you’d need to navigate life in Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Oslo averages 49°F vs 78°F in Damascus, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Syria to Norway.

Moved in 2023
3,116 ↑ 32% vs 2022

people moved from Syria to Norway · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Norway?

Top countries of origin for Norway's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Norway compared to Syria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SY
2.1
NO
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SY
29.9
NO
1.5

Norway performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

SY
$122
NO
$9,523
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

SY
11.9
NO
51.7

Norway generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

SY
83.0
NO
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SY
1.3t
NO
7.2t

Syria generally does better on environment, though Norway leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SY
7.3
NO
45.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SY
124.4%
NO
2.0%

Norway performs significantly better than Syria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SY
13.5%
NO
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SY
$2,900
NO
$90,500

Norway generally does better on employment & economy, though Syria leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SY
74.3 yrs
NO
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SY
15.9
NO
2.3

Norway performs significantly better than Syria across all family life metrics.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Syria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Damascus Rain: 5.3 in/yr (134 mm)
78° / 47°F

Avg. annual high / low

Oslo Rain: 30.0 in/yr (763 mm)
49° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Damascus Oslo
Jan–Mar 60°/35°F (15°/2°C) 32°/22°F (0°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 85°/51°F (29°/11°C) 59°/43°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 96°/60°F (35°/15°C) 66°/51°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 70°/40°F (21°/5°C) 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Damascus Oslo
Jan 55°/33°F (12.6°/0.4°C) 29°/20°F (-1.8°/-6.8°C)
Feb 59°/34°F (14.8°/1.3°C) 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.8°C)
Mar 66°/39°F (18.9°/3.7°C) 38°/26°F (3.5°/-3.3°C)
Apr 76°/45°F (24.5°/7.0°C) 48°/33°F (9.1°/0.8°C)
May 85°/51°F (29.7°/10.5°C) 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.5°C)
Jun 94°/58°F (34.2°/14.2°C) 69°/51°F (20.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 98°/62°F (36.5°/16.9°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.2°C)
Aug 97°/62°F (36.2°/16.5°C) 68°/52°F (20.1°/11.3°C)
Sep 92°/55°F (33.4°/13.0°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.5°C)
Oct 82°/48°F (28.0°/8.9°C) 49°/39°F (9.3°/3.8°C)
Nov 69°/39°F (20.3°/4.0°C) 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.5°C)
Dec 58°/34°F (14.2°/1.3°C) 31°/22°F (-0.5°/-5.6°C)

Data: Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department Ministry of Defence Meteorological Department, Norwegian Meteorological Institute Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Syria and Norway. To live, work, or study long-term in Norway, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Norway's immigration authority.

Syria passport

Syria passport holder visiting Norway

Visa Required
Syria passport holders need a visa to enter Norway.
Norway passport

Norway passport holder visiting Syria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Norway passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Syria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Norway?

Connectivity is usually fine (Norway: 45.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Norway offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Norway safe for expats?

Norway performs significantly better than Syria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Norway is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.1 in Syria.

How is healthcare in Norway compared to Syria?

Norway generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Syria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 51.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Norway, compared to 11.9 in Syria. Norway scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Syria: 64).

What's the weather like in Norway compared to Syria?

The average high temperature in Oslo is 49°F, compared to 78°F in Damascus. Oslo receives around 30.0 in of rainfall per year, while Damascus gets 5.3 in.

What language do they speak in Norway?

The official languages in Norway are Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. In Syria, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

SY NO
Population 21,563,800 5,553,840
Currency Syrian Pound (SYP) Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Languages Arabic Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +963 +47
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112