From Arrival to Participation: A review of available indicators on migrants’ social and civic integration in the Nordics

Authored by Debora Pricila Birgier, Maja Brynteson, and Nora Sánchez Gassen, the report reviews the indicators used by national statistical institutes and international data sources to assess migrants’ participation in society. It highlights both the progress made and the significant gaps that remain, particularly when it comes to capturing more subjective and relational aspects such as trust, belonging, and experiences of discrimination.

While the Nordic countries are committed to monitoring integration, the report finds that current approaches often focus on formal indicators like naturalisation and political participation. Meanwhile, everyday experiences like social connections, civic engagement, and perceptions of inclusion are harder to measure and often overlooked.

The study draws on interviews with representatives from Nordic statistical institutes, as well as a review of national and international data sources. It identifies key challenges, including inconsistent definitions, limited resources, low survey participation among migrants, and cultural or linguistic barriers. These issues make it difficult to develop a comprehensive picture of how well migrants are integrating socially and civically.

Despite these challenges, the report points to opportunities for improvement. It calls for more coherent, multidimensional frameworks that combine both quantitative and qualitative data. Strengthening these indicators would not only support better policymaking but also help ensure that integration efforts reflect the lived realities of migrants across the region.