As migration continues to shape the Nordic region, a key question arises: how can we ensure effective and sustainable integration into our societies? Integration, however, goes beyond migrants’ employment or education levels. It is also about a sense of belonging, trust in institutions, meaningful social connections, and participation in democratic life. These aspects are often overlooked in policy debates.
To gain a more complete understanding of integration and to support evidence-based policymaking, we need better information on its social and civic dimensions. They are however inherently more difficult to define and measure.
This report explores how the Nordic countries currently assess social and civic integration among migrants, comparing indicators and approaches across the region and at international organisations. It highlights both the progress made and the challenges that remain in capturing these complex aspects of integration. It also underscores the need for more harmonised, inclusive, and nuanced data in the Nordics.
When measuring integration, it is also important to remember to ask why it is being measured, for whom, and to what end. Measuring should support—not replace—human understanding and reflect integration as a complex process involving both individuals and society.
We hope this report will inspire continued collaboration and advances in the field of integration monitoring and data development. Better social and civic integration is vital not only for migrants’ well-being and participation—it is also key to a socially sustainable, cohesive, and resilient Nordic region.
This study is a collaboration between the Nordic Welfare Centre and Nordregio as a part of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ co-operation programme on integration. We would like to thank the researchers Debora Pricila Birgier, Maja Brynteson and Nora Sánchez Gassen at Nordregio for their solid work, and the representatives from the Nordic Statistical Institutes for their valuable input.
For more information about Nordic co-operation on integration and inclusion, please visit the Knowledge bank at www.integrationnorden.org.