 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 14,320 (2025) constituting0.26% of the population. | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism | |
| Scriptures | |
| Bhagavad Gita,Vedas | |
| Languages | |
| Sanskrit (sacred) Main Tamil,Hindi,English,Norwegian |
There are about 14,320Hindus (0.26% of thepopulation) inNorway as of 2025.[1] The majority of Norwegian Hindus are ofSouth Asian descent with around 50% of those being ethnicTamil Hindus fromSri Lanka.
Hinduism was first introduced to Norway in 1914 by Swami Sri Ananda Acharya (1881-1945).
A small number ofGujarati Hindus came to Norway after the DictatorIdi Aminexpelled the Indians from Uganda 1972. During theSri Lankan Civil War of 1983, many Tamil Hindus migrated from Sri Lanka to Norway.[2]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 864 | — |
| 2000 | 1,303 | +50.8% |
| 2005 | 3,769 | +189.3% |
| 2010 | 5,175 | +37.3% |
| 2015 | 8,181 | +58.1% |
| 2020 | 12,153 | +48.6% |
| 2025 | 14,320 | +17.8% |
| Source:[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] | ||
| Year | Percent | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0.020% | - |
| 2000 | 0.029% | +0.009 |
| 2002 | 0.060% | +0.031 |
| 2004 | 0.066% | +0.006 |
| 2006 | 0.079% | +0.013 |
| 2008 | 0.096% | +0.017 |
| 2010 | 0.10% | +0.004 |
| 2012 | 0.12% | +0.02 |
| 2014 | 0.14% | +0.02 |
| 2016 | 0.17% | +0.03 |
| 2019 | 0.21% | +0.04 |
Diaspora Hindus in Norway include Tamil (Sri Lankan and Indian) families, Punjabi families, families from the Uttar Pradesh region, as well as Gujaratis and Bengalis.
Specifically among Norwegian Hindus, Sri Lankan Tamils are the dominant ethnicity constituting a large number (roughly half of the entire Hindu population or greater) of around 5,000 to 7,000 people.
There are numerous Hindu associations in Norway.
ISKCON has a Centre in NorwayAddress- Oslo, Norway, Jonsrudvej 1G, 0274, Oslode presence.
There are currently sixHindu temples in Norway[13]
Most majorHindu festivals such as Diwali are celebrated annually in Norway.
Hindus in Norway, mainly Tamil Hindus from Sri Lanka, celebrate the 12-day annual temple festival, the Mahotsav of which processions is the main feature. It is the main annual ritual gathering of the Tamil Hindus in Norway.[citation needed]
Indian classical vocalistSniti Mishra performed at a live concert in Oslo during the Holi festival in 2015. The festival is organized annually by the Norway branch of theVishwa Hindu Parishad.[16]
